When retirement arrives, the country club starts to look like an appealing place to spend some quality time. But what if the country club was where you lived? That’s the idea Hearthstone Communities designers had in mind when they designed their condominium towers with a built-in club chock full of amenities and activities.
The newest is Hearthstone By The Bay, poised to rise on the Lake Ontario shoreline in Etobicoke, at the corner of Lakeshore Boulevard West and Marine Park Drive.  The 19-storey tower, like its counterpart Hearthstone By The Lake in Burlington, will devote two floors to its Hearthstone Club, says Christine Brennan, director of sales and marketing with the builder Davies Smith Developments.
The club floors include a fireside dining room with dance floor as well as a private dining area for special occasions and outdoor eating areas overlooking the lake. There’s also a pub with pool table and games room, adjacent fireplace lounge, a home theatre, library and chapel. For the fitness minded there’s a pool and fully equipped fitness area extending to an outdoor rubberized surface for open-air exercising.
There’s also a wellness centre and a greenhouse for the gardeners in the house. And, for added convenience, a tuck shop and salon with optional spa and hair services are included.
Having the club facility built in is one of the aspects that sets Hearthstone apart from other condo developments, Brennan says. As well it combines ownership of the units with a variety of supportive services.
Service packages are available at different levels, starting with the basic package that includes access to club and social programs organized by a full-time activities director plus 24-hour concierge service. Other packages include access to the health and wellness centre — which offers a variety of medical services from medication and dietary counselling to monitoring weight, glucose levels or blood pressure — and monthly credits toward meals in the Lakeview Dining Room. A variety of a la carte services are also available including homemaking and laundry, grocery shopping, handyman assistance, escort to appointments and help with daily tasks such as bathing. There’s even a specialized program for the memory impaired offered on the a la carte menu. The building is also equipped with a 24-hour emergency-response system.
"Everything is designed for ultimate convenience, flexibility and peace of mind for whatever lifestyle the owners are looking for," Brennan says.
The building’s 127 units range from one bedroom to two-bedroom plus den with prices starting at just over $220,000. At this point, during pre-sales, complete customization is also available.
Construction on Hearthstone By The Bay is slated to start in late fall and occupancy is scheduled for circa December 2007.
A sales centre with a two-bedroom model suite is open at 2077 Lakeshore Boulevard West, open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday,