Jeani Read
Province
JON MURRAY — THE PROVINCE
Vita, the first tower of two planned to become a gateway to the downtown core comes with fabulouse city views from the living area, right and below left; the well-appointed bathroom, below centre, has state-of-the-art Kohler shower tiles that spray water without visible fixtures; there’s a nicesize office space, far right; and more spectacular views from the master bedroom, below. PHOTOS BY JON MURRAY — THE PROVINCE
Who knew? With all the talk of Vancouver’s centre moving east, the actual centre of the city is also due for a little Renaissance.
But when you think about it, it’s obvious: between Yaletown and the downtown core sits that big old middle area we keep ignoring, yet that is currently undergoing lots of renewal. Developments like Robson & Richards, L’Hermitage, eventually the old Capitol 6 building and now, Vita, where the selling point is yes, the sweet life. Just like the website says. No surprise that after this first tower is sold, the second tower will be called Dolce.
Symphony Place, the name of the completed project, will be “at the heart of all that rejuvenation,” says Chris Norton, vice-president of Maverick Real Estate, Symphony Place marketing. “It will connect everything up.”
What Solterra, the developer, wanted to do is create a landmark in the way that the library is, says Norton. “Nobody has to tell you the address of the library, you just know where it is.”
Even more dramatic, says Norton, is that Symphony Place is planned to become a gateway to downtown. Located on the land best known for being two parking lots — right across Seymour from The Orpheum — it will feature a 120-ft. coloured Cadenza art-glass wall that will reflect traffic lights in a spectacular way.
Two towers joined by porte-cochere to impart a sense of grandeur, plus a four-storey office podium, will create a real landmark, and the location makes pretty well the whole city walkable, says Norton. Restaurants and boutiques are planned along Smithe to make it fun and pedestrian-friendly. Where will people park to attend The Orpheum now? In a specially designed parkade inside the office podium. Voila!
Interiors at Vita have been planned with every square inch and every design detail in mind, so much so that you almost want to use Maverick’s marketing term “tower residences” instead of “condos” for the homes. From state-of-the-art Kohler shower tiles that spray water without visible fixtures, to Euro-sized and designed kitchen appliances that look like cabinets, to art-glass walls that slide to maximize space, Solterra has taken “all those little things in life, all those small details, and made them better,” says Norton.
Even the dishwasher rocks: it’s a Fischer-Paykell dish drawer that’s like a big pot drawer with regular wash capacity, which also looks like cabinetry. Kitchen? It may be the centre of the action but really, when you look around, design central, too.
Lots of amenties at Vita: indoor and outdoor play areas for kids, since more and more condo dwellers are staying downtown even after they start families; a club room with a big-screen TV; an outdoor hot tub and a large gym with a difference. Instead of regulation stationary bikes, there will be a virtual spinning area with a big programmable screen so you can make a boring ride into a visit to, for example, the hills of the Napa Valley or any number of other scenic spots that will give a good workout.
At Vita, every courtesy is being shown the already enthusiastic potential buyers. No lineups or bracelets here, says Norton. People can visit the presentation centre time and again to look over what will be a big investment. These previews continue through Thursday, but sales won’t start until Saturday. A civilized attitude?
Priceless.
QUICK FACTS
VITA AT SYMPHONY PLACE
What: 146 condominiums in downtown Vancouver
Where: 565 Smithe St. (site)
Developer: Solterra
Sizes: 503 sq. ft.-1,820 sq. ft.
Prices: $299,900 to $2.2 million
Open: Noon to 8 p.m. daily except Fridays at 897 Richards St. (presentation centre)
Info: 604-676-8828, www.thesweetlife.ca
© The Vancouver Province 2006
