Inside Vancouver - June 11, 2022

The importance of wellness and social interaction: icona Properties understands the connection between wellness and social interaction. Its new project, Ortus, has interwoven wellness, social and cultural elements into the boutique six-storey concrete building. Residents will have access to SkyHaven, five distinct zones in a hub for neighbours, family and friends to get together. What makes this rooftop retreat unique are in the thoughtful details, like its own Ortus Living playlist collection of soothing tunes, swinging chairs for reading or relaxing, a local artist’s art mural and an illuminated pergola.

It’s all about connectivity

There is always such a buzz about connectivity; people want everything at their doorstep, from services and shopping to transit and parks. Century City Holland Park by Century Group is a new master-planned community that is redefining that concept. Located in the epi-centre of downtown Surrey that is already known as a centre of education and technology, Century City Holland Park will consist of several towers. The project borders the 25-acre Holland Park and is situated directly across from the King George SkyTrain Station, with SFU, KPU, Central City Shopping Centre, UBC’s future location and Surrey Memorial Hospital all a short walk away.

Did you know?

TransLink’s 2022 Investment Plan was recently approved by the Mayors’ Council on Regional Transportation and TransLink’s board of directors. As well, the province announced it will commit $2.4B for TransLink’s new SkyTrain and electric buses.

Okanagan Lake and endless vineyards

Imagine grabbing your golf clubs to walk to the Tower Ranch Golf Course or lacing your hiking boots to walk the Tower Ranch Mountain Park or the trail system backing your new home. Sitting up on the hillside, that’s what Solstice at Tower Ranch offers and more. Kelowna’s spectacular region is at the top of most people’s dream list of places to live, wine lover or not. It’s no surprise that Solstice at Tower Ranch is now selling its last phase.

Market cooling?

With another Bank of Canada rate hike this year — the latest one on June 1 — the red-hot Vancouver real estate market has experienced some cooling down. Is it a game-changer for homebuyers? According to the Royal Bank of Canada, yes. RBC forecasts that benchmark prices will peak this spring, with a modest decline in pricing over the remainder of the year. This downward price trend is expected to be felt in Canada in pricier markets, especially Vancouver and Toronto. RBC predicts average home prices in the province will hit $1.06 million this year – up 6.8 per cent from a year ago – before falling to $1.02 million by the end of 2023.

Canadian National Championships comes to Langley

The 2022/2023 Canadian National Championships will be held at Langley’s McLeod Athletic Park from June 22 to 26, and Vesta Properties is a sponsor. The last time the Canadian track and field championships were held in British-Columbia was in Victoria in 2004. Olympic award-winning athletes Andre De Grasse and Damian Warner, as well as local athletes such as Jerome Blake (B.C. Olympian and silver medalist on the 4x100 relay team at the Olympics) and Christabel Nettey (B.C. Olympian and Canada record holder in long jump 6.99m), will compete. Considered Canada’s fastest man, De Grasse has won six medals in his first two Olympic Games, becoming the country’s most decorated male Olympic medallist.