One of the silver linings born out of the B.C. Lower Mainland’s depressed pre-sale condo market is the availability of top development and construction talent, says a local developer active in Surrey and Langley.  

Apcon Group, which is launching a new condo project in Surrey’s City Crossing neighbourhood, has several other housing projects in sales mode in Langley and Surrey — two markets about which the Vancouver-based developer remains bullish. 

Andrew Beimers, Apcon's director of construction, told RENX the firm continues to focus on those markets and is pressing forward with projects despite broader economic and market challenges. 

"When other (developers) are laying (people) off, we're picking up," Beimers told RENX. "We are gaining steam as a company right now."

As an integrated developer and builder, Apcon is adding development and construction management positions as it advances several projects through the approval, sales and construction process, he said. 

Apcon readies to launch Interchange in Surrey

In particular, Apcon is trying to earn some attention on Interchange. 

Interchange is a planned mid-rise development of 133 homes in two five-storey buildings at 141st St., just below 104 Blvd. The property is in Surrey's burgeoning City Crossing neighbourhood located between Guildford and Surrey City Centre. 

Beimers said the company recently held a realtor preview for the project and is working on getting its presentation centre set up in January before launching the sales program. Homes at Interchange will start in the mid-$300,000s.

Beimers said Apcon is confident in the demand it will see from people who already live and work in Surrey. It is also aiming to provide attractive amenities. 

"We have the kitchen and social lounge," he said, "we've got a games room, co-working space, fitness room; a great outdoor amenity area (and) social patio.... we really focused on the end user to lift the amenities on this project specifically."

‘There’s a lot of product out there right now’

Asked about launching a project when other condo pre-sales in the Vancouver region are struggling, Beimers agreed that "there is a lot of product out there right now."

"I believe in our location and the value of the product that we're selling," he added. "I'm very aware of our competitors and what they're selling.”

He said Apcon is conducting its own analysis and trying to find the right mix of square footage, offerings and convenient locations for its projects that match where people will want to live and where they can access. 

“Everybody knows we're in a tough market right now, but we have a lot of confidence with this product, and we're looking forward to getting started as soon as possible."

Apcon bullish on Langley and Surrey

Last summer, Apcon told RENX that Langley still offers plenty of underdeveloped areas. Willoughby is one of those districts, a region that has changed dramatically with housing projects of all types coming under development since Apcon started seeking development sites there roughly eight years ago. 

In Willoughby, Apcon is now selling Hive 2, which comprises 156 units in a six-storey condo building. The company is also selling a townhome project called Park Avenue, a community with 32 townhomes.

In Surrey, Apcon has three projects that are selling in addition to Interchange. Those include Harmony and Havenwood, two townhome projects in the Sullivan Heights neighbourhood; and an 11-lot single-family subdivision in Cloverdale.

"This is not an investor market, it's an end-user market," Beimers said, noting that consideration remains front-and-centre for Apcon in where it decides to build. "We really feel that Langley and Surrey… is where families want to be.”