Heather and Seventeenth 717 West 17th Avenue 16 homes in a 4 storey low rise by Terra Blanka Developments
Heather and Seventeenth to take its place in an established city location
Michael Bernard
The Vancouver Sun
Heather and Seventeenth
Project Address: 717 West 17th Ave., Vancouver
Project Scope: A total of 16 homes — 10 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom units — in a four-storey concrete building
Price: From $1.7 million to about $2.8 million
Developer: Terra Blanka Developments
Architect: GBL Architects
Interior Design: Cristina Oberti Interior Design Inc.
Sales Centre: 3246 Cambie St.
Sales Contacts: Elise Yu, Multiple Realty; Su Huang, Sutton Realty
Sales phone: 604-620-8817
Sales Centre:Hours: noon — 5 p.m., Sat — Thurs
Website: LiveHeather17.com
Completion Date: Fall 2019
Sometimes architectural statements are made on a grand scale, standing out because of their height, massive footprint or use of lavish materials. In contrast, the Heather and Seventeenth new-home project — so named for its Vancouver location — reflects the low-key neighbourhood where it will be built: a simple four-storey structure that quietly and unobtrusively blends into its surroundings of largely single-family homes.
“It’s very rare to have a four-storey site like this off a main corridor,” said Dave Bauman, sales and marketing director for Magnum Projects. “Heather and 17th is a very quiet-tree-lined street with a bike lane and lots of pedestrians.’’
“There are a lot of single-family homes around there, but there is a very unique situation on Heather. It is not a very busy arterial, but it is still zoned C2 for commercial and mixed use.”
So far, the building has attracted downsizers from the surrounding area seeking the convenience of smaller, but well-appointed homes, Bauman said.
The four-storey structure will have two commercial spaces on its ground level — perhaps for a grocery or yoga studio — and 10 two-bedroom suites and six three-bedroom homes on the top three storeys. The largest suites top out at about 1,570 square feet, with an average suite with two bedrooms and two bathrooms totalling about 1,400 square feet.
Fitting into the neighbourhood was a priority, said building architect Daniel Eisenberg of GBL Architects. “We wanted to design a building that was mindful of its surroundings, of its context, but yet could be crafted in a very contemporary way and more minimalistic than you would find in that neighbourhood.”
The balconies are built into bays in the face of each side, offering protection from the weather. There are private rooftop gardens accessed through stairways and roof hatches in each of the four penthouse homes.
What makes Heather and Seventeenth unusual is that it is made of concrete, unlike the vast majority of boutique-style condo buildings, which are wood-frame, Eisenberg said.
“We don’t usually do four-storey concrete buildings, but the client wanted something really special,” said Eisenberg. “We came to the conclusion that it had to be exposed concrete and the client was open to that. It’s a very honest material that you don’t usually see in Vancouver (in buildings of this size.)
“It was crafted in a contemporary way. For example, we give individuality to each suite by expressing the bays, which give a rhythm to the building, give it more of a residential character and break down the scale.”
Inside, the homes are notably spacious with their nine-foot-four-inch ceilings and sleek engineered hardwood floors. The presentation centre at 3246 Cambie has “vignette” style displays providing examples of the kitchens and bathrooms in the building. Both are designed by the Arclinea, a high-end Italian specialist wood workshop founded in 1925.
The smooth gloss finish upper and lower cupboards in the kitchen display feature hidden stainless steel handles. Countertops are made from three-quarter- inch square-edged quartz, framed by a full-height porcelain slab tile backsplash. The kitchen island, which seats four, has elegant detailing and a waterfall edge. Under the upper-level cabinetry is convenient LED lighting.
The kitchen is equipped with a premium Sub Zero and Wolf appliance package, a 30-inch four-burner gas cooktop, 30-inch wall oven and hood fan. There is also a 30-inch fully integrated Sub Zero refrigerator with freezer drawer.
Premium additions in the penthouses include a 24-inch Sub Zero under-the-counter wine fridge and 30-inch Wolf steam oven, a 36-inch five-burner Wolf gas cooktop and a 36-inch refrigerator-freezer with internal water dispenser. The dishwasher is by Scandinavian manufacturer ASKO, while the microwave is by Panasonic and comes with the stainless steel trim package.
The bathroom comes with the same Armour finish as the kitchen as well as quartz vanity countertops. Mounted above the counters are Kohler vanity basins with wall-mounted Grohe fixtures. Main and ensuite bathrooms have floor and backsplash tiling is made of large format porcelain. Showers are frameless glass and have Grohe hand and head showers, while there are frameless glass shields on all bathtubs, which are contemporary soaker style with a tiled apron.
Each home comes with two underground parking stalls, bicycle storage and one storage locker. The homes are scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2019.
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