DON'T BUY PROPERTY IN FOREST CROWNE

jelea · New Poster Joined: Dec 29, 2006 Posts: 2

Why draw such a hard line between recreation property and residential? The "cottages" in Forest Crowne have the same lot size and square footage as an ordinary home in town. Some of the owners plan to live there, and no doubt, some of the owners of the larger homes don't spend the whole year there. Making a big deal over thier proximity seems pointless to me.

Also; The developer does not sell fractional ownerships or time shares period. Friends or family can buy recreational property and share it themselves, as they could anywhere, but that's the only kind of part-time ownership you could arrange for yourself in Forest Crowne.

Thirdly, I suggest that you go to their web site and look at the future developement plans. They do include comercial zoning.

It seems to me that most of the major gripes; lost trees, no road yet, no storefronts on site, are just too shortsighted. It's still under construction for Pete's sake!

KO626 · North Star Level Joined: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 315

mtler · Blarchmont Level Joined: Oct 07, 2006 Posts: 53

Canred-y · Chapman Camp Level Joined: Jan 14, 2007 Posts: 26

I am an owner in Forest Crowne. When we were looking at the development in the fall of 2005, there WAS a section in the "Cottages" area where they were trying to sell quarter shares.

Seems like there wasn't much interest so they changed that area to individual ownership like the rest. You see no mention of fractional ownership any more on the website.

KO626 · North Star Level Joined: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 315

I think Forest Crowne has much more potential as a regular neighbourhood than it does as a "premier resort destination." I'm glad to hear the focus is now on full ownership. Hopefully the development (and the way it and the rest of Kimberley is being promoted) will continue to evolve to the point where full-time ownership is the norm as well.

connlonn · New Poster Joined: Jan 30, 2007 Posts: 1

Could you elaborate Ike?

KO626 · North Star Level Joined: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 315

Returning to the aspect of this thread that dealt with zoning in Forest Crowne, it would seem that at least some of the properties there are zoned for weekly rental: click to view Timberwolf Lodge

Canred-y · Chapman Camp Level Joined: Jan 14, 2007 Posts: 26

I don't have information on the zoning but the covenants and rules of the homeowner's association do allow short term rentals. The owner of the "Timberwolf Lodge" cottage is probably trying to recoup some of their costs in owning a vacation cottage by renting it out when they are not using it.

nogrow · Townsite Level Joined: Dec 07, 2006 Posts: 215

IlikeIke is right on the money in my book when it comes to the two new land developments (subdivision) in Kimberley.

Wish I had more time to elaborate but the two kids (2yrs & 4 months) are priority at the moment.

Can't wait to move to Kimberley in March. Hopefully someone in the family has a job beyond Parental leave so we can buy a house if there is still any for sale under $200,000! Confused

Love this blog; great discussion!

KO626 · North Star Level Joined: Sep 10, 2005 Posts: 315

Fisher · Chapman Camp Level Joined: Oct 11, 2006 Posts: 27

All I can say to the semi-retired lot owner in Forest Crowne is that if you are planning on walking to town to do errands, to the library, etc., you are obviously going to have a heck of a lot of time on your hands. Good on you - your body and mind and our environment will be better off for it, but from Forest Crowne to the centre of town......that's one heck of a walk!

Tigerwords · New Poster Joined: Dec 29, 2009 Posts: 3

Interesting blog and now that its been over 2 years since the last comment I think its time the Forest Crowne debate should start again.

Firstly, I live in Forest Crown or Forest Gump or even Crowne Royal as some call it. And have done since last year.

Secondly, I live here full time and own the small but perfectly portioned house that suits ours needs. I am also not retired or even close too it!! I wish

Thirdly, We looked at Kimberley town site before finding our home and all we could only come up with was something Bubbles would be happy living in. Yes there are some wonderful homes in Kimberley, but some wonderful prices to go with them.

Fourthly, Lets face it, Kimberley needs every thing it can take right now. If the wealthy recreational buyers of Forest Crowne are spending there money in Kimberley, What really is the problem? Are they not paying tax? shopping in Kimberley? eating in Kimberley? buying GAS in Kimberley keeping some people from Kimberley in work?

Very Happy

ktersmette · New Poster Joined: Dec 14, 2007 Posts: 4

I currently live in Forest Crowne and have loved it since the day I bought the lot a year and a half ago. I agree that the layout may be a little different from what Kimberley is used to and it may be a lot like the big cities but where do you think the people that buy lots and build homes are coming from? I have lived in Kimberley for almost four years now and wish more people would move here. Its a great town and the people are great. I love the fact that Kimberley has the old world charm and is also willing to merge into the new world (albeit very slowly). Kimberley has not seen a new development in quite a while and I think for those of you who don’t like Forest Crowne, don’t buy or go there. I agree that living there means you may have to drive anywhere but when you think about it if you live in Chapman camp, Townsite or Marysville you will have to drive to get to a grocery store or movie store. I have lived in Marysville and Chapman Camp so I can vouch for that. You are never going to be right next to everything even in a small town like Kimberley. I agree with canred-y, there are the paths and they are great, for those of us that love to ride our bikes and walk its actually not that far to Overwaitea or down to Marysville. I also know that most people who buy in Forest Crowne love to walk and ride their bikes so the distance is not an issue. And they understood before they purchased the lot that the shops are three kilometres or more away and that may have been the reason they purchased there.
So please try to look at both sides to a place before you pass judgement. To say that Forest Crowne on a whole is a bad place to live, I ask you, is it better to live in the big city or maybe even Cranbrook? I have to say I would prefer to live in a separate community like Forest Crowne then in a city like Cranbrook where at almost every turn there is a dishevelled building or roads that are worse than logging roads.
So I say again, if you don’t like the development, stay away, those of us who live there don’t want you around if all you are going to do is complain about it.