Condo Living

June 24, 2024 Published by Toronto and Area Chapter - By James Russell

Condo Profile: Landmark II - YRCC 794

From the Spring 2024 issue of CCI Toronto Condovoice Magazine.

Landmark Of Good Governance

Landmark II's reputation as one of Thornhill's premier communities has much to do with its generous amenities, prestigious location, and their outstanding management team by GPM Management Inc., but central to their success is its board's steadfast focus on good governance and community.

Often referred to as, "the best kept secret in Thornhill", Landmark II's impressive three hundred and thirty-seven suite, fifteen storey, striking green and pristine stone physique stands with distinction amid Thornhill's urban landscape.

Completed in 1990, and built on the former site of Beamish Construction's sizeable footprint, Landmark II is one of three Landmark buildings, comprising nine hundred and forty-seven units on a twenty-four acre footprint at the intersection of Bayview Ave. and Green Lane, in what residents still refer to as Thornhill. Once an independent, suburban village, Thornhill was incorporated into, what was back then, the Town of Markham in 1971.

Thornhill, settled in 1794, has been home to such Canadian celebrities as actor Hayden Christensen (Star Wars), world-renown gospel, blues and jazz singer Jackie Richardson, Group of Seven painter J.E.H. MacDonald, and Canadian songbird Anne Murray, Companion of the Order of Canada and a Thornhill resident for forty years.

Landmark II's residents enjoy luxurious amenities such as their pool, saunas, whirlpool, squash court, basketball court, large party room, two guest suites, combination TV, games, and library room, gym, barbecue patios - one for private bookings - a tennis court and a board room, which is also available for residents to rent.

"I had never thought I would ever find an affordable place in Toronto with five-star hotel facilities. My whole family was very happy that we made the right choice," says long -time resident Fatima Merchant.

The "right choice" that Ms. Merchant mentions is shared by the residents of Landmark II', many of whom raised families and saw their grown children become Landmark II residents themselves.

"We are proud of the generational family groups that have been born and raised in Landmark II and who carry on with the next generation living within the building," says Landmark II's Senior Condominium Manager Lynn Samuels.

Landmark II's multi-cultural demographic is reflected in the building's range of social events, organised by their active Social Committee made up of Val, their Chair, Nobue, Jo and Carol. Persian festive dinners, Chinese New Year's celebrations, kid's and adult's Halloween, and religious themed celebrations such as Christmas allow residents to not only honour their cultural and national heritages, but to meet their neighbours. The Committee's Muffin Mornings, Pizza Lunches, BBQs, and Games Nights are equally well-attended.

"I have been with this wonderful community for just under two years and have already felt it to be my home for decades to come," says resident Kwok-chi Shum.

Long-time resident Michale Chau agrees, "My wife and I made the decision to move to Landmark II after selling our house in Richmond Hill. We spend a considerable amount of time searching through over 100 condo listing, and ultimately, we knew Landmark would be the perfect home for us. Looking back, it was truly one of the best decisions we've ever made."

Of course the credit for creating and maintaining that 'perfect home' for hundreds of residents goes to Landmark's staff, management and especially their Board, who work tirelessly to ensure that their building maintains its status as the 'landmark' of condominium communities.

Landmark II's five member Board is made up of: Pilar Weisselberg, President; Randee Korman, Treasurer; Jules Vaisberg, Secretary; K.C. Shum, Director and Vice-President, Victor Li who points out: "The success of a building is three pillars: the Property Manager, the Board's good governing approach, and residents who want to participate."

Landmark II excels at all three pillars as demonstrated when Landmark II's Board, management and other residents, aware that the building's aging population needed special consideration, moved quickly to develop programs that provided those residents with help communicating with their utility providers, wellness programs, and hands-on assistance with life's routine paperwork, which can be overwhelming for some seniors. "We have several I.T. 'smarties' who have been available to assist residents with telephones and T.Vs (set up and use), says Lynn.

Management and Security staff also help residents who are struggling with those technology-challenges.

The Landmark community's Share Facilities Committee, which includes Victor and Pilar and headed by Lynn, is made up of representatives from all three buildings and meets every two to three months. The Committee is tasked with ensuring that the common grounds, holiday lighting and their three, always popular, outdoor patios - one per building - are well-maintained and resident-friendly.

The Board and management communicate with residents via their dedicated web portal, emails, physical display boards, town halls, and their yearly AGMs, which are conducted virtually. Lynn's weekly updates provide residents with reminders, news and, in her words, "Happy Holiday thoughts." The management office uses texts to keep in contact with residents who either don't have email or check their emails infrequently.

"(Landmark II is) a great place to live in", says resident Yusuf Jiwan "the building is managed very well and is in excellent shape."

It is Landmark II's Board, management and staff that share the credit for the "excellent shape" of their building and grounds. With a yearly operating budget just shy of five million dollars and a healthy reserve fund, Landmark II, despite being more than three decades old, has maintained and even improved its physical and fiscal health.

Recent projects include:

• Installation of energy efficient pumps and motors
• Last year's renovation of all the resident's corridors, ground floor and P1 and P2
• Replacement of the squash court flooring
• Installation of LED lighting throughout
• The addition of pickle ball lines to their tennis court
• Renegotiating their Rogers bulk internet and TV service
• Replacement of the ground floor patio stones
• Installation of a monitored irrigation system with automatic shut off to prevent leakage

Landmark II's upcoming projects include:

• Exterior caulking
• Cooling tower replacement
• Exterior painting of all metal facets
• And installation of an EV charging infrastructure, as, to date, more than two dozen residents responded to a recent survey expressing interest in having chargers installed in their parking spots. Five of those respondents already owned EV vehicles.

Landmark II's Senior Property Manager, Lynn Samuels, is an amazing, industry anomaly in that she has been Landmark II's PM from day one. Celebrating her thirty-fourth year at Landmark II this past January, Lynn is one of the foundations of Landmark II's success and holds Landmark II's Board in high regard.

"The Board of Directors, past and present have worked very hard to develop a warm and giving community while looking after the property… and they have taken ownership in the property to ensure that the property is well maintained to ensure the owner's investment," says Lynn.

During Lynn's tenure at Landmark II she has received consistent high marks from successive Boards and even accolades from the City of Markham, for "going above and beyond to assist and support seniors and residents of your condominium." In addition to her position at Landmark II, Lynn serves as the property manager for the exterior grounds, which includes the areas surrounding all three buildings.

Interestingly, no superintendent suite was incorporated into any of the three building's plans so the Board of Landmark II converted a portion of their management office into a two bedroom suite for David Chu, Landmark II's live-in superintendent, his wife and two sons. While David, who works Thursday through Monday, is an employee of Landmark II, the building's security staff of four, three full-time cleaners, and one weekend cleaner concierge staff are contracted. The two other Landmark buildings make-do with live out superintendents. Assistant Property Manager Dimitrios Boucovalas, has served as Lynn's 'right hand' for the past two years.

Vinit, their Security Supervisor for the past 16 years, says of working at Landmark II "it's more fun than work. Great team, excellent management and fabulous people in the building. What more can one ask for?"

When asked if Lynn could provide some clue as to her longevity as Landmark II's Property Manager she answered, "(working here) feels like family. It feels like home."

Long-time resident Adele Rich couldn't agree more, "This is my home, I could never dream of living anywhere else - ever." And I think we can all agree that a 'forever' home is the best home ever.

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James Russell, Newsletters et Cetera