Granville and Drake residential building sure to be a Vancouver original

Province

The Facts

WHAT: 187 units in a 23-storey tower
WHERE: Granville at Drake
 DEVELOPER: Rize Alliance Properties Ltd.

SIZE: 461 sq. ft. -890 sq. ft.
PRICE: From $300,000

OPEN: Sales centre: 999 Seymour Street (at Nelson); hours: noon -5 p.m., Sat –Thur (opens mid-May)

The Rolston, a 23-storey new-home project that will be rising from the roots of the old Cecil Hotel, promises to be a Vancouver original — much like the woman who shared its name.

In the early 1950s, Tilly Rolston was B.C.’s education minister, and a member of W.A.C. Bennett’s Social Credit Party. She was also co-founder of the B.C. Council of Women.

“Tilly Rolston was someone who was very pioneering,” says Will Lin, chief executive officer of Rize Alliance, the developer behind the 187-unit Rolston project. “Architecturally, the building feels very original to us, as though it says, ‘I’m strong and I belong here.'”

The Rolston — the name has also been given to a Granville-area street called Rolston Crescent — will be located at the site of the Cecil, an infamous strip joint adjacent to the Yale Hotel at Granville and Drake.

The Rolston project was initiated by Wade Luciak, the long-term owner of the Yale and a previous owner of the Cecil. Lin says Luciak aimed to do a sensitive redevelopment, and that refreshing the Yale was also a priority. Yale Hotel housing will be modernized with 44 rooms renovated for single-room occupancy.

Meanwhile, design of the new Rolston tower and residences is suitably daring.

The building has a dynamic tiered exterior expression, a strong juxtaposition next to the heritage neon face of The Yale. Without being fussy, it’s a multi-faceted tower worthy of anchoring the north side of the Granville Street Bridge, signifying the emergence of the lively new neighbourhood tagged Midtown.

The Rolston steps backs politely from itself at level 16, with The Terrace protecting the coveted downtown view corridor while offering residences a generous amenity for barbecues and outdoor living. On a higher level The Garden terrace has a long communal party table, adding to a sense of openness, with space for all the necessities of city living: yoga, chilling and urban farming.

Inside, design and layout of the units by Vancouver’s Cause + Affect is unique and alluring.

“Rather than a predetermined floor-plan design,” says Bill Szeto of Otezs Marketing, who is charged with selling the units, “here, owners can decide between two layouts or what we call personalities, for almost every suite.”

The residences are outfitted for style, ease and entertaining with lots of glass and a generous balcony in each. A suite of full-sized stainless steel appliances means business in the kitchen, while custom-designed built-in wardrobes and closets add efficiency, blending in seamlessly.

Here and there, stylish little touches such as the Blanco undermount kitchen sink and tile-surround soaker tub stand out. In addition to the boudoir finery, the Cecil layout also offers a cool built-in credenza for entertainment systems, plus a dining space.

“It’s going to be a person who’ll treat the coffee shop, the pub, the bagel store downstairs or in the nearby streets as an extension of their living room,” says Lin of his buyer. “Mostly singles or young couples who are a little more creative in terms of their selection process.”

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This entry was posted on Sunday, April 18th, 2010 at 10:30 am and is filed under Real Estate Related. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.