CLOSE TO THE ACTION
The Oak takes a site in the heart of Vancouver’s Marpole neighbourhood
Residents of The Oak, a collection of 16 townhomes in the heart of Vancouver’s Marpole neighbourhood, will benefit from its location close to the area’s many amenities while they will also appreciate the residential setting of the nature-inspired project, says developer Harp Lalli, principal of Triton Group.
Construction has started on the site of the two- and three-bedroom homes at the corner of Oak Street and Park Drive with completion scheduled for fall 2021, says Lalli.
“At The Oak, we are building homes that are comparable in square footage and layout to single-family homes aimed at small and young families who want to live on the West Side of Vancouver without paying the price of a detached home,” says Lalli.
“A typical detached home is often about 2,200 square feet, and some of our units are about 1,750 square feet, so we’re really trying to cater to families who want the additional space without the headaches that go with a single-family residence,” he adds.
The development comprises three buildings that form a functional courtyard.
There are five homes along Park Drive, a building with four units along the lane and a building with seven homes facing Oak Street. The courtyard will be landscaped with pavers and include shrubs (some in signature concrete planters) to reflect the influence of nearby Oak Park.
The five-hectare Oak Park offers a range of recreational amenities such as tennis courts and a water spray park for those hot summer days in addition to pathways for relaxed walks and picnic areas.
Lalli believes The Oak’s location is one of the development’s major assets.
“There is easy access to Richmond, YVR and it’s a 15- or 20-minute drive to downtown Vancouver,” he says, noting The Oak is conveniently situated to Marine Gateway, also the location of a SkyTrain station (on the Canada Line), and not far from Oakridge Centre.
The architecture, by Raymond Letkeman Architects, and interior design by Cristina Oberti, both showcase contemporary flair with a touch of traditional.
Black-framed windows give the exteriors a modern appearance while the dormer windows and the brick accents are a nod to a time-honoured look. Inside, homebuyers can choose from two colour schemes, the lighter Oak palette, and Park, slightly darker with grey tones.
The two schemes include laminate floors in the entry, kitchen, dining and living areas with carpeting on the stairs and upper-level bedrooms.
“Both colour ranges have some warmth, and although they are contemporary, they still have a traditional feel,” says Lalli, noting the extensive use of marble-look tiles in the bathroom.
The white with grey veining porcelain floor and wall tiles combined with the quartz countertop, floating vanity, frameless glass shower enclosure and the marble mosaic shower base give the space a light and airy quality, he adds.
Special attention was paid to the lighting in the bathroom with LED strip lights under the cabinets and LED lights in the built-in mirrors.
Lalli also notes that selecting all the fittings from the Kohler range — including the thermostatic wall mount faucet, undermount sinks, soaker tub and dual-flush toilet — gives the space a cohesive look. “By not having too much contrast, the space looks elegant, very clean and has a calm,” he says.
In the kitchen, the Linea D’Italia Fiero cabinets are European designed while the countertops and the fullheight backsplash are quartz. With its generous overhang to accommodate a few kitchen stools, the kitchen island has waterfall edges to enhance continuity in the space.
Major appliances are by Bosch and include a 30-inch refrigerator with bottom freezer, a 30-inch gas cooktop and wall oven with hood fan, and a 24-inch dishwasher.
The microwave is by Panasonic.
In keeping with the design selections in the bathroom, the undermount sink and the polished chrome pullout faucet are by Kohler.
Lalli says that while the interiors are contemporary with a hint of traditional, they are designed to provide buyers with a neutral enough backdrop to enable them to furnish and decorate their homes in their own style.
The Oak is served with one level of underground parking where each homeowner has one parking space (additional spaces are available) that includes an electric vehicle charger.
There’s also a dog-wash station — to clean up after walks in the nearby park — and most homes have basement storage space.
Bearing in mind the young families most likely to make The Oak their home, Lalli notes the many nearby schools and extensive offerings — programs for seniors, daycare and sports such as table tennis and martial arts — at the Marpole Oakridge Community Centre. Schools include Sir Winston Laurier Elementary, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, while Langara College is also close by.
With residents expected to enjoy the outdoor space —back and front patios and roof decks off the master bedroom — the natural gas hookups on the main level patios make barbecues and al fresco dining an easy option for the long days of summer.
The presentation centre is open by appointment.