Toronto Star January 14, 2006 by Roberta Avery - After more than 15 years of building single-family homes in this resort community, the "Bungalow King" has branched out into low-rise condominiums — and business is booming.

Baywood Homes launched Treetops, a three-storey condominium project earlier this year and has already sold more than half of the 55 units, said Baywood's Gianna Iafrate.

"It's going really well and from what the sales people are telling me, it's not just retirees. A lot of first-time homebuyers are interested in this project," said Iafrate.

With a population of 14,000, a number that's more than tripled in the past 20 years, Wasaga Beach is already the fastest-growing town in Ontario, and all indications are it will continue to grow in leaps and bounds, said the town's manager of planning, Ray Kelso.

On average, 250 homes a year are built in the community and, by 2024, the population is projected to reach 30,000.

With that kind of growth projection, Baywood, which has been building bungalows in Wasaga Beach since the early 1990s (earning the moniker "Bungalow King"), decided on a condominium to offer buyers a choice beyond the developments that have become standard here.

Treetops is located away from the hustle and bustle of the main Beach Area One, but close to the quieter beach areas, a new superstore at the corner of Mosley and 45th Sts. and the Oakview Community Centre.

Baywood chose this location because it's tailor-made for those who want to enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle in a resort setting that's only just over an hour to Toronto, said Iafrate.

The first occupancy in the two- and three-bedroom condominiums at Treetops is slated for August.

Prices start at about $155,000 for The Maple, a 932-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath model, and top out with The Redwood, a 1,286-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom unit, with a top price of $204,990. Prices include five appliances and, for a limited period, one parking space.

The building will feature elevators, a party room with kitchen and a security system linked by intercom to each unit. There will be a playground and optional storage lockers.

The sales office, which is open Monday to Thursdays 1 to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closed Fridays), is on the south side of River Rd. W. at Bell's Park Rd.

To reach the sales office, take Highway 400 to Highway 27 Barrie, then Highway 27 northwest to Highway 92 in Elmvale, and then Highway 92 to Wasaga Beach. Highway 92 becomes River Rd. and the sales office is on left. The Treetops site is farther west along River Rd. at Westbury Rd.