Wesgroup’s Paradigm project in Vancouver?s River District targets millennials
Michael Bernard
The Province
With millennials as its major target group, Wesgroup Properties has spent much time and energy considering what this demographic group needs and wants in a first home. The result of its efforts is Paradigm, Wesgroup’s newest residential project in Vancouver’s River District.
“We approached Paradigm a little differently than our other projects,” said Brad Jones, Wesgroup’s vice president of development. “We started by asking, ‘What does the first-time buyer need right now to get into the market?’ ”
Price point was obviously pretty important and Wesgroup made sure that a healthy chunk of the 268 homes in the 22-storey concrete highrise overlooking the Fraser River were under $500,000. Two bedroom homes start from $699,900 while the three bedroom units start from $919,900. Also included in the total are 10 three-level townhouses, giving young families an option for moving up when the time comes.
Just as critical though, was meeting the other needs of the demographic group, Jones said, like creating opportunities, spaces and contact points for young families to engage and socialize. For instance, there is a shared outdoor terrace that has a harvest dining table. The lobby area is built large—two storeys high with a pass-through from the front door to an interior courtyard with a prominent staircase in the middle connecting it to the parkade. “We tried to design a building where people are meeting and congregating while having good access to outdoor space.”
Other contact points to attract the younger crowd include a yoga room and TRX training gym. The fitness studio has floor-to-ceiling windows allowing in lots of light with a separate playroom for kids.
Wesgroup designed some of the smaller units in Paradigm with no designated dining room space, said Erin Kenwood, Wesgroup’s vice president of interior design, choosing instead to focus on making the kitchen island serve that function. “We wanted to appeal to the 25- to 35- year-old age group,” she said. “It’s an affordable project but we haven’t excluded anything. We haven’t foregone any finishes — there is a stone countertop, laminate wood flooring, wood on the bottom and a painted look on the top of the cabinets for quite a contemporary look.”
Kenwood, whose design team worked on the interiors as well as the common amenity spaces, said the goal was to provide alternatives for people who have limited space within their own home. “We tried to program and be purposeful in those common areas and not just have ‘left-over spaces’. Anything they could need is downstairs. There is even a dog wash station downstairs to clean your dog rather than try and do it in your bathroom. And there is some lounge room for cycling enthusiasts.” There is also a spacious social room that opens up to the adjacent courtyard. Recognizing that more and more millennials are self-employed entrepreneurs, there are work hub office booths, a ping-pong table, a media lounge and kitchen, and meeting room spaces, she said.
At Level Six, there is an indoor lounge and kitchen which open to a rooftop terrace with harvest table, outdoor BBQ, seating nooks, a trellis and urban agriculture.
Inside the homes, buyers have a choice of two designer colour palettes in grey and wood tones, smooth finish interior doors, a full-size front-loading Whirlpool washer and dryer and master bedroom with built-in shelving. All windows come with modern roller blinds, including black-out blinds in bedrooms. All homes have balconies or patios.
The kitchens feature stainless steel KitchenAid appliances including a 30-inch gas range and 30-inch fridge with bottom freezer, a dishwasher, a pull-out hood fan and double-bowl sink with pull-down Kohler faucet. Bathrooms feature porcelain flooring, a frameless glass shower in the ensuite and soaker tub in the main bathroom and a vanity medicine cabinet.
Paradigm is particularly well situated for young families with plans for the new community centre to be built kitty-corner to the highrise and an elementary school planned for nearby.
Planning for the area, located south of Champlain Heights and west of Boundary Road and formerly home to the White Pine sawmills, began around 2002, said Susan Haid, City of Vancouver’s deputy director of planning for long range and strategic planning. A lot of planning and community engagement went into creating a community plan that was adopted by council in 2006, the same year that Wesgroup Properties purchased the 128 acres. “It was seen as a real opportunity to create a more complete and sustainable community,” she said, adding it is the largest master-planned community within the city of Vancouver. “It is really a 25-year phased development strategy that has been developing from west to east.”
About one third of the plan is built out and is really taking shape, she said. “There are a lot of young families and it is a very vibrant area. It is really encouraging to see some of the main town square area and shops and retail areas opening. With more services there are opportunities (for it) to become a live-work-play area down there.”
Paradigm
Project Scope: A total of 268 one-, two- and three-bedroom homes in a 22-storey concrete highrise tower, including a five-storey midrise and three-storey townhomes. Units range from 455 sq. ft. to 1,600 sq. ft. with over 50 per cent of these being one-bedroom units. Amenities include an eight-hour concierge, work spaces, fitness centre, indoor lounge and rooftop terrace. A two-kilometre walk along the Fraser River, a new community centre, grocery stores and restaurants are steps away.
Prices: One bedroom from $419,900, two bedrooms form $699,900, and three bedroom homes from $919,900.
Developer: Wesgroup Properties
Architect: Dialog
Interior Design: In house
Sales Centre: 3202 Riverwalk Ave.,Vancouver
Centre Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Sales Phone: 604-438-8862
Website: [email protected]
Completion Date: Expected late summer 2023
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