Love the outdoors? Get closer to nature
Kate Webb
Province
The Branches development is close to three mountain parks, Lynn Valley Shopping Centre, the new Library Square and a wide choice of North Vancouver schools.
The family-sized units have two bathrooms.
North Vancouver‘s Lynn Valley is an outdoor playground that beckons to those who have ever frolicked in its lush forests or cycled its sublime slopes.
That’s the reason Polygon senior marketing vice-president Ralph Archibald thinks so many buyers at Branches, a new condo development sprouting on the North Shore, are Lynn Valley locals.
“A lot of our buyers have been people who grew up here and now want to come back,” said Archibald. “Lynn Valley is a real hidden jewel. This whole area is about hiking, it’s about mountain biking, it’s about sports in the winter. The whole North Shore has that outdoor enthusiast vibe to it.”
True to its tree-lined location, Branches is all about feeling at one with nature. The Pacific Northwest architecture stands out with warm wood panelling in the lobby, flat-panel birch suite entry doors, electric fireplaces with limestone tiles and two soothing designer colour schemes, Walnut and Honey, from which to choose.
“You’ve got the use of a lot of natural elements in here,” said Archibald. “You’ve got stone granite countertops and real wood cabinets, which really fits in with the whole outdoor feel.”
The laminate wood floors and maple, shaker-style cabinets are contemporary, while still giving off a cottage-type feel.
Appliances included are all top-of-the-line, from the Whirlpool Energy Star dishwasher and gas range stove to the Fisher & Paykel fridge. The stainless steel undermounted sink is conveniently set in the middle of a large slab of counter space and right across from a granite-topped kitchen island — which means big fun for serious cooks.
There are four layouts to choose from, each designed with a different client in mind.
The Birch Series, the most popular and also the most in-supply, offers a large master bedroom overlooking a patio with side-by-side ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet and a second bedroom next door.
That extra bedroom also has a view of the more formal deck space, which is accessible through a door in the living room.
The Cedar and Dogwood Series are what Archibald calls the “mingles” plans (made for singles who live together), because the two bedrooms are built at opposite ends of the apartment for maximum privacy.
The kitchen in the Dogwood layout scheme is outfitted with a quaint dining nook separated from the deck or patio by an oversized window, which means it will provide a perfect view for owners first thing in the morning while sipping their coffee.
The Fir Series is decidedly the most suitable for families. With three bedrooms — the master suite distanced from the two smaller bedrooms by the open concept living and dining room — two bathrooms, and nearly 1,100 square feet of space, these flats could easily accommodate a growing brood.
Just as Branches is inspired by its serene setting, its developers have committed to minimizing its impact on its surrounding ecosystem and environment.
Just a few examples are the area
in the courtyard that has been set aside for composting, a storm-water management plan to limit the potential pollution of natural water flows, and the bathrooms with
low-flow faucets and dual flush
toilets to reduce water use.
Perhaps the biggest pollution saver of all, however, is that Branches is located just at the edge of the Lynn Valley Shopping Centre and the new Library Square, which means residents will never have to get in a car to run their daily errands.
The possibilities for peaceful, nearby pastimes are endless. Lynn Canyon Park, the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve, Mount
Seymour Provincial Park and the Karen Magnussen Recreation
Centre are all within close range of the site, in addition to a wide
choice of schools.
When it’s time for a taste of city life, the SeaBus to downtown Vancouver and Lonsdale Quay Market are just a 10-minute drive, or an easy jaunt on public transit.
After just a couple of months on the market, Branches is 65 per cent sold out of its first phase. Move-ins begin in February 2009.
BRANCHES
What: Three new, four-storey buildings with 134 condo units.
Where: 2601 Whiteley Court, North Vancouver.
Developer: Polygon
Sizes: Two to three bedrooms, from 890 sq. ft. to 1,101 sq. ft.
Prices: $429,900 to $559,900
Open: Presentation centre with display vignettes open from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday to Thursday
at 217-1233 Lynn Valley Rd.
More information:
www.polyhomes.com
© The Vancouver Province 2008