Residents of Foundry will be able to be in their homes in time for the 2010 Olympics
Sun
Kitchen ( top) features muted colours with light woods; units in the development ( above) are larger than those offered in typical downtown projects.
Foundry, a 13- storey concrete tower with 16 multi- level townhomes and 90 condos, will be located on First Avenue near Crowe Street, just a short distance away from the Olympic Village. PETER BATTISTONI/ VANCOUVER SUN
Southeast False Creek promises to become the next big thing in local real estate.
Not only is it on the waterfront, with views of the city and North Shore mountains beyond, but the area has been selected as the site for the 2010 Olympic Village.
There’s no doubt this emerging neighbourhood on False Creek will become as vibrant as its counterpart on the north shore, with new shops, a community centre, school, parks and other neighbourhood amenities planned for the area. It’s ideally located close to public transportation, and will be connected by pedestrian and cycling paths to the waterfront seawall.
Polygon, which has been building residential projects in the Lower Mainland since 1980, obviously knows a good real estate location when it sees it. Foundry, a 13- storey concrete tower with 16 multi- level townhomes and 90 condos, will be located on First Avenue near Crowe Street, just a short distance away from the Olympic Village.
The project got its name from the fact it is on the former site of one of the city’s largest foundries.
“ This is the first offering [ of a multi- family residential project] in southeast False Creek,” says Polygon representative Ralph Archibald. “ The whole southeast False Creek area is going to be a very livable area when it’s all done, with the Olympic Village and the parks. It is Vancouver’s last [ undeveloped] waterfront area.”
Archibald also points out buyers will be able to be in their homes in time for the Olympics, with no occupancy restrictions, because it is located outside the Olympic Village security zone.
Archibald says many buyers have come from the Yaletown area because they want to be close to the action of downtown but away from the “ hustle and bustle” of downtown. And like the first buyers into Yaletown, they recognize a good investment, he says.
“ Historically, people who are the first to buy into an area do the best on an investment gain,” he says.
Another reason buyers are moving from downtown is knowing they can get more for their money. Archibald points out that a one- bedroom unit in the Foundry, between 650 to 720 square feet, is larger than what is typically offered in downtown Vancouver condo projects.
The Foundry will be built to Leed Silver certification standards to promote eco- friendly urban living, with a carshare an option for homeowners, a community garden with specially select plant species to cultivate a butterfly garden and collected storm water to help irrigate the gardens.
Besides water conservation, energy efficiency is key to the homes, with Low- E window glazing, a central district heating system to reduce longterm energy consumption and energy star- rated appliances.
The residence will feature floor- toceiling windows to provide expansive views of the city and overheight ceilings will make the most of natural light.
Helping to keep that expansive feeling, the interiors will be done in muted colours with lots of light woods and natural fibres. Homes will either have a solarium, balcony or terraces so homeowners can enjoy outdoor living.