Development is small, luxurious, high-end and designed to fit into the community
Jeani Read
Province
Living spaces are designed to be luxurious; the view goes forever from a rooftop garden the finishing in bathrooms is smart and deluxe
the kitchen is equipped with topof-the-line appliancesPhotograph by : Jon Murray, The Province
The dining area flows into living and work space P
the view goes forever from a rooftop garden
Dunbar, one of the last bastions of the single-family home on the tree-lined urban street, is slowly giving way to pockets of multiple dwellings.
Tasteful pockets, that is. Small, tasteful pockets. Luxurious, small, tasteful pockets. Smart. High-end.
Like Duke.
“It’s time,” says Cressey vice-president Hani Lammam, who lived in Dunbar while he was going to university and loves it — so it’s kind of personal for him. “Dunbar has been a sleeper neighbourhood so far; it hasn’t seen a lot of development. Unless you live there, you don’t know about Dunbar.”
But Duke is part of the start.
There it stands at 18th and Dunbar, close to traditional retail spots and right at the edge of the neighbourhood. Central to the rest of the city, it’s a mere 20 minutes to downtown depending on traffic and offers easy access to the University of B.C.
It’s five minutes away from Stongs, the neighbourhood’s favourite independent grocer, and close to tons of neat boutique shopping, such as Jools clothing and jewelry and Pinks gifts for home and garden.
And there’s also the Dunbar library and community centre just up the hill.
“It’s all about community,” says Lammam. “Parents are buying in Duke for their student kids and people are buying for their parents. And, of course, for themselves.”
John Langley is one of the above. His parents have been living with him and his wife Joanne in their Dunbar house for three years, since the older couple moved here from the English countryside.
“Now that they’re acclimatized, it’s time for them to move on,” says Langley. But not too far.
The small business owner has had his eye on Duke, conveniently situated at the other end of the block from his home, since work started on the site.
“I love it,” he says. “It’s a great location, and I think that part of Dunbar is going to improve.”
In terms of Duke’s floorplan, there’s a big focus on the kitchen, which features stainless KitchenAid appliances — including built-in fridge with bottom-mount freezer plus a built-in wine fridge — stone counters and undermount sinks.
Floors in the living area are wide-plank manufactured hardwood and there’s a gas fireplace. A special social feature is the rooftop garden with a plot per home (great puttering for Langley’s parents), barbecue, compost — and a stunning view.
All homes have part of this view, Lammam says, which is basically the water-and-mountain vista you get turning east down the long 16th Avenue hill from Dunbar — spectacular.
Each home has a parking space and storage downstairs. Move-in dates are soon: this summer. Which reminds us: There’s air conditioning throughout.
The Facts
WHAT: Duke on Dunbar is 18 condominiums and five townhouses on Vancouver’s west side
WHERE: Dunbar at 18th Avenue
DEVELOPED BY: Cressey Development Corp.
SIZES: 663 sq.ft. — 1,524 sq.ft.
PRICES: $419, 900 to $1.18 million
CONTACT: Open Saturdays and Sundays 2-4 p.m., 3595 West 18th Ave, 604-734-3853, dukeondunbar.com
© The Vancouver Province 2007