Parade of Homes

sherwin-williams.ca Kindle your passion for colour with our single greatest work, Emerald ® paint by Sherwin-Williams. FIND A NEW FLAME. 192150-1_13101_ParadeofHomes-BannerAd-key3.indd 2 7/24/19 9:27 AM The apartment-style building's common areas include a gym and a party room, and it's home to a surprisingly large number of social animals. "It's funny because there's so many dogs in the building … all the dogs kinda get to know each other and you don't know the people's names but you know the dog's name, which is hilarious," Fiks says. "You'll say, 'Good morning Rigley,' and you have no idea what Rigley's parents' names are. I would say half the people on our floor have dogs — big ones, small ones, it runs the gamut." Finding a condo that welcomes big dogs can be a challenge, as Jeff and Julie Hodge discovered last summer, when they decided to sell their South Pointe house and move to a smaller, low-maintenance home with their five- year-old golden retriever Guapo (Handsome in Spanish). Julie says Jeff did most of the searching, and he found that even though many condos accept pets, they typically have size restrictions. "Our dog is about 90 pounds, close to that. He's very quiet, he's very well behaved, he's not a big barker, but with the size restrictions it's hard to find a place that would accept that size," she says. Eventually, they landed on StreetSide's The Rise in Bridgwater Centre. Close to walking paths and a growing number of shops, eateries and services in the pedestrian- friendly village centre, the apartment-style condo is in their preferred neighbourhood, and it has several other benefits that suit their lifestyle. "We wanted to strike much more balance in our lives. We are fairly busy at work, both of us, and we don't want to come home and start cleaning and doing the maintenance of the house," Julie says. "We were just looking for the right fit for us and The Rise is it." StreetSide marketing coordinator Margaux Braund says all the company's condominiums are pet- friendly, and it lifted weight and size restrictions about two years ago. With the exception of Bluestem Condominiums in Sage Creek, where one pet is allowed, buyers may have up to two pets, subject to board approval. "So far, we're hearing a lot of positive feedback from buyers about being pet-friendly," she says. "We recognize that animals are just as much a part of someone's family as anyone and we embrace that." While Jeff Hodge is thinking of retiring in another 10 years or so, the couple are not your average empty-nest downsizers. They don't have children, and while the concrete construction was one factor in choosing The Rise, it was less about enjoying the peace and quiet and more about being able to listen to music at a comfortable volume. "Sometimes, you know, you just feel like blasting the radio," Julie says. After heating a large house with a vaulted ceiling, she adds that she can't complain about the Hydro bills, and while they enjoy hanging out with Guapo on their large outdoor patio, she and Jeff are happy to trade yard work for more pleasurable pursuits. "Sometimes you can't put a price on your time — and time spent with family and doing the things you like." YOU'LL SAY, 'GOOD MORNING RIGLEY,' AND YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT RIGLEY'S PARENTS' NAMES ARE. POH Parade of Homes fall 2019 105

• Cover