SPEAKING ABOUT LOCATION
Davie and Nicola so named for the West End site where it will rise
The West End, with its proximity to English Bay, Stanley Park and the city’s financial and entertainment district, has been viewed by many as a neighbourhood offering the best of all worlds.
At the same time, the opportunities for buyers have been limited, especially in the last few years, notes Jonathan Cheung, senior project manager at Rennie Marketing Systems. That makes one of Rennie’s newest developments — the 128 units at a project called Davie and Nicola — especially attractive to both professionals and downsizers looking to locate themselves within reach of everything at a reasonable price.
“For the last year, there really has been nothing new for sale,” he said. “The last project was at Alberni on Robson and it was selling at the $3,000-a-square-foot-plus range. “We have been hovering around the $2,000-square-foot range.”
Cheung said the pull of those prices is readily evident with how many have been registering at davieandnicola.com. People are drawn to its excellent location and views of the water and mountains and the fact that the project is situated in a pocket that is a bit removed from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the West End.
“The whole idea is that you are close to work, where you eat and where you entertain, yet in a really nice neighbourhood,” he said.
At 21 storeys, it is also a desirable size.
“You are not living in a behemoth of a building where you are taking elevators all the time,” Cheung said. “It is a boutique tower that is a very human scale.”
A bonus is that the concrete highrise will be located right across from the historic Gabriola Mansion, he said, which means the views are protected because nothing will be built on top of that site.
About 30 per cent of the 128 homes will be in the one-bedroom and one-bedroom-and-den category, starting at 517 square feet, while two-bedroom and two-bedroom-and-den homes account for 63 per cent of the total, with space starting at 683 square feet. The remainder are the three-bedroom homes and the three townhouses. All homes have either a balcony or courtyard space averaging about 113 square feet.
Inside, Vivagrand Developments has paid homage to the tradition of luxury and quality in the West End, Cheung said. The homes are equipped with top-end appliances by Wolf and Sub-Zero that are complemented by cabinetry by Binova, a well-respected Italian manufacturer. The look is rounded out by quartz countertops with waterfall edges and marble backsplashes.
Kitchens will come with a Kohler stainless steel under-mount single sink and Kallista single-control pull-down faucet, and recessed pot lights and LED under-cabinet accent strip lighting. The Binova cabinetry has soft-close hardware, with convenient additions, such as cutlery organizers, non-slip liners and an under-sink recycling centre.
Buyers will have a choice of light or dark designs provided by Cristina Oberti Interior Design. There will be engineered hardwood flooring throughout with a ceiling height of eight-foot, six-inches in the main living area. Over-height solid core doors are seven feet high for added sound proofing. Windows will all be triple glazed for additional acoustic protection. All homes feature high-efficiency heating, with heat-recovery ventilation and air conditioning.
Bathrooms will be encased in marble with oversized tiles on the floor and walls and with an oversized shower in a frameless glass enclosure with marble mosaic-tiled base and linear drain. Plumbing fixtures, including the hand shower and ceiling mount head shower, are by Kohler in a chrome finish and the showers include a custom niche. Select homes will feature a deep soaker tub. Bathrooms will have in-floor heating by Nuheat with the thermostat controllable by a smart phone or the NEST system in the master suite.
The building’s amenities will include a well-appointed gym with cardio equipment, and a social gathering area, a landscaped and illuminated communal patio with barbecue, seating and dining areas and a hotel-inspired grand entry lobby and library lounge, and full concierge service. Parking below includes electric vehicle charging outlets in some parking stalls, and a secure and accessible bicycle storage room with bike lifts and electronic charging in select homes.