Inside Vancouver April 29, 2023

Building better living experiences

Gryphon Development has once again partnered with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra (VMO) to launch its Life in Balance concert series. During the free event, which happens May 3, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Art Gallery, the VMO will perform a selection of classical pieces as well as new music, including ‘Life in Balance,’ a song composed by VMO Maestro Ken Hsieh for Gryphon’s latest development project. “At Gryphon, we believe that building better living experiences begins with artistic collaboration,” says Jason Hsu, chief executive officer of Gryphon Development. Guests will be invited to participate in a paint-by-numbers activity, will get a sneak peek at the project, Marco Polo, and have a chance to win tickets to the VMO’s 20th season finale concert at the UBC Chan Centre for Performing Arts. Reserve your free ticket at eventbrite.ca/e/gryphon-development-presents-life-in-balance-art-music-experience-tickets-615155325137

Now selling

Located in the heart of downtown Kelowna, Nolita is a six-storey building consisting of 60 residences comprised of 55 studio, one- and two-bedroom condos, and five garden-style townhomes. “Kelowna has beautiful buildings with great architecture, so it’s important for us to maintain the unique character of this downtown location with a building that will stand the test of time,” says Johannes van Leenen, president of Fifth Avenue Properties. Nolita is a short stroll from the Cultural District and the waterfront boardwalk and beaches. Prices start in the mid-$300,000’s, with a 10 per cent deposit and a limited time zero-per cent assignment fee.

A greener lifestyle for owners

Ashton, the eighth project from Fairborne in North Vancouver, is the first release in the company’s newest master-planned community, Lynn Creek Village. Ashton will feature two, six-storey wood-frame buildings featuring 40, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes. These energy-efficient buildings will be fossil-fuel free, reducing the buildings’ carbon footprint while offering a greener lifestyle for its owners. Ashton is close to nature as well as transit and services, including a grocery store. Building amenities include a social lounge, co-working room, dog wash/grooming room, bike wash and maintenance room, and EV charger included with parking. Register at ashtonliving.ca.

Coming in May

Intracorp will introduce Gardena, a master-planned community featuring four buildings, including two concrete towers — 42-storey Lotus and 17-storey Magnolia — offering 536 condo residences. In addition, there will be two mid-rise buildings with 250 rental homes. Situated behind Como Lake Avenue in Burnaby’s emerging Burquitlam neighbourhood, amenities include an outdoor rooftop movie theatre, spa with fire pits, barrel sauna, and outdoor shower with cold plunge Nordic waterfall. There’s also a Secret Garden, which will have greenery climbing the walls and five-storey columns soaring above. Registration is open at intracorphomes.com/communities/gardena/. Magnolia is set to complete in spring 2026 and Lotus in early 2027.

Did you know?

The city of Burnaby recently began demolishing the historic C.G. Brown Memorial Pool, paving the way for the new Burnaby Lake Aquatic and Arena Facility.