A View from the Lakes
The community — from its modest beginnings as the largest privately-owned development in the state of Michigan — is always changing.
That can be seen in the building of new homes on lots scattered throughout the community, the investment in businesses and developments and a change in population and demographics.
GROWTH
In 1995, the development corporation that controlled the land turned the area over to the property owners, creating the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation. Since then, the number of homes, businesses and support services has increased.
CLPOC General Manager Greg Babbitt believes there are many reasons for the growth.
“It is a result of people, for a variety of reasons, realizing that Canadian Lakes offers a great lifestyle,” he said. “Our natural beauty and desirability as a place to live, our outstanding recreational and social activities, and our financial soundness and sustainability, are just some of those reasons.”
Chip Issette, associate mortgage broker at Century 21 White House Realty said he attributes the continued growth to careful and precise planning.
“One major reason is because this area has never been allowed to get stagnant. There are always different projects on the horizon,” he said.
CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT
Coldwell Banker Lakes Realtor Bob Marsh said he doesn’t expect the growth to slow anytime soon.
“We will continue to see more people coming to Canadian Lakes to buy homes,” he said. “There will always be the distribution of ages of people, but the biggest change, and I hope to see it, is more people coming from the local area.”
Issette said he believes that number should increase, due to the number of Baby Boomers retiring from larger cities looking for a destination resort or retirement area.
Marsh noted that there are currently around 5,500 lots in Canadian lakes, with some 2,200 developed for homes.
“Typically, we see 50 to 100 new homes being built each year,” he said. “Those numbers remain pretty steady. We have a significant population of younger people who have become a real part of the community.”
Babbitt said Canadian Lakes is a retirement community but he is seeing more and more families moving into the community.
“Canadian Lakes can accommodate a wide variety of lifestyles and interests. We value and depend upon the leadership and participation of the many different demographics of our members. They assist us with our governance activities of the community and in keeping our membership informed,” Babbitt said.
Even as it grows, Issette believes that there will always be space for newcomers.
“The township has the area set up so it won’t outgrow itself,” he said. “At some point, I imagine, there will be no more room, but we won’t see that in our lifetime.”
LIFESTYLE
As much as Canadian Lakes is a place, it also serves as a lifestyle for the residents, Rocky Voci believes.
“It’s a rural atmosphere, but members have fun in terms of various activities, clubs and the golf,” said Voci, who serves as president of the Canadian Lakes Property Owners Corporation board or directors. “For many folks, they wanted to get away from the larger cities like Livonia and Detroit. Canadian Lakes has that cabin-in-the-woods kind of feeling that is unlike the large developments of condominiums in other states.”
Along with the amenities provided to members, Babbitt said, there are numerous social groups and clubs for differing interests. Members pay a yearly fee to have access to the numerous amenities, like the library and events at the Castle.
“(The activities) are opportunities for members to mingle with one another and make new friends. We value participating in activities and supporting the diverse and changing interests of our members,” he said.
Babbitt said Canadian Lakes is different than neighboring towns or cities because there are between 200 and 300 volunteers who accomplish quite a bit for the community.
In the community, there is a need for the residents to have a good grasp on current activities and issues. One way the CLPOC gets the information out is through the bi-monthly publication, the Communiqué.
OPEN COMMUNITY
There is always room for more people to join the community, Babbitt said.
“We value our history and its ideals of friendliness, mutual support, affordability and shared responsibility of our natural environment,” he said. “We are a private community, but we definitely don’t want to be a secret community.”
The organization provides opportunities for members to pursue their varied recreational, social, educational and civic interests, and works hard to protect its outstanding natural environment and homeowners’ investments,” Babbitt said.
“We (also adhere) to disciplined growth and development and continued maintenance of a high-quality infrastructure.”
While there are hilltop homes that dwarf others throughout the area, there also are many single-family homes. About 25 percent of homes sold by Coldwell Banker Lakes Realty in 2007 have been under $100,000.
“There are definitely affordable homes here that people have chosen to buy because they have jobs in the local area and have chosen this area as their home,” Marsh said.
Issette agreed.
“We cater to a very broad spectrum,” he said. “There are homes here that are priced at $50,000 as well as those that are well over $1 million. Sure, this is a tremendous place to retire, but there are a lot of families with kids that live here.”
INVESTMENT
Whether it’s a home or an important piece of infrastructure — businesses and support services — Canadian Lakes is seeing growth every day.
In August 2007, long-time golfers to the area Robert, Richard and Ronald Marino, along with their uncle, renowned real estate developer J. Peter Ministrelli, announced an initial $30 million investment in the Villages of Tullymore.
The project includes construction of 340 luxury homes, condos and fractionals, as well as a 13,000 square-foot clubhouse at the golf course.
“We’re interested in building a community that will be here for residents all year round,” Robert Marino said of the investment.
The investment also calls for the building of even more amenities for members, including an Olympic-sized pool and fitness center.
In August, work began on a new building that will house a new Shell gas station and Mancinos located in the Country Corner Plaza.
“When you see others like the Marinos who are will to invest in this community, it makes you feel good to also invest,” said Gale Hixson, who is leasing the gas station. Lenora Rodenbeck, who along with family partners, Dave and Pat Rodenbeck, Jeff and Erica Rodenbeck and her husband, Greg, said the new Mancinos location is an opportunity for them to offer their unique food to a different market.
Issette said the investments add value to the community.
“When we see people that continue to put money into the infrastructure of Canadian Lakes, nothing can stay stagnant and nothing sits around … it continues to grow,” he said.
Babbitt explained that each investment adds to the splendor of Canadian Lakes.
“I think the principles involved in the Villages of Tullymore and (the investors’) financial contributions to that project is a result of realizing Canadian Lakes and its surrounding areas provide a significant business opportunity,” he said.
“This neighboring community could prove to be very beneficial for all parties as it will attract more people to the Canadian Lakes area and allow them to become familiar with what we have to offer. This area can accommodate a wide variety of lifestyles.”
Issette added there will be more investments in the Canadian Lakes area in the years to come.
“The amenities and facilities, as well as the infrastructure here being like it’s never been, will continue to grow,” he said. “The association, being committed to constantly changing the landscape to keep it current, fresh and new, keeps asking how they can better market their community to keep it looking fresh and attractive to new buyers.
“Between the developers, the CLPOC, members and the real estate brokers, everyone has a common agenda … they will add value to be part of the larger goal, a great place to live.”
By Brandon Fountain, Discover Staff Writer