Vancouver area: Oak + Park a new Marpole icon

Change is in the air in Westside Vancouver’s Marpole neighbourhood. And if the thought of being on the leading edge of this evolution gets you excited, here’s a newsflash you’re going to love.
Oak + Park’s showroom is opening soon at Alabaster Homes’ head office.

Oak + Park is the company’s third collection of townhomes in this popular Vancouver neighbourhood, and judging by the buzz of enthusiasm here, it’s going to be even more popular than Osler Residences and Shaughnessy Residences just down the street.

“People are realizing that Marpole is Vancouver’s next prestige neighbourhood — which is why we’re so committed to the area,” says Yosh Kasahara, director of sales and marketing. “Oak + Park will be our flagship development here, an icon on one of the most prominent corners along the Oak Street corridor.”

I can’t wait to get more details.

Elegant by Design

One glance at the scale model, and I confess I’m smitten. The architecture is an engaging blend of neo-classical charm with a contemporary West Coast twist. Three buildings, each in a different coloured brick, wrap around an inviting central courtyard with a gatehouse-style entry at the north end — all creating a sense of arrival and place.

Still, it’s Oak + Park’s many small details I find most fascinating. Above each front door is a precast concrete slab imprinted with an abstract interpretation of a leaf. Directly above that, an ornamental metal grill in the same leaf pattern can be backlit that will surely introduce a charming shadow play at night.

Yosh points out how the black metal window mullions complement the meticulously proportioned gabled rooflines, and give the entire façade a visual cadence. There’s even a classic, circular doorknocker — now really, when was the last time you saw a genuine doorknocker on a townhome?

Designed for families

Inside, these homes are going to be a celebration of active, urban living. “Our floorplans range from 1,300 to 1,600 square feet, all with three-bedrooms, den, and large storage room downstairs,” Yosh says pointing to a ‘dollhouse’ cross section on one of the monitors. “You’ve also got two ground-level patios and underground parking beside a door that takes you directly into your home.” Now that’s intelligent design.

Being a confirmed barbeque fanatic, I’m also delighted to see most homes have not just one, but two ground-level patios. As I’m scrolling through some renderings on one of the showroom’s three wall mount monitors, an image of one with an enormous outdoor sofa grouping catches my eye. Wine and appies with some friends after work? You bet.

I’m just taking a closer look at the flat panel cabinetry and retractable, slim-profile hood fan in the kitchen rendering when Yosh hands me an iPad. “For this project we’re also debuting our 360-degree experience, so using the tablet of your choice, you feel like you’re actually standing in each room.” Sure enough, the device gives me a virtual tour so I get a sense of how beautifully the entire home functions as a place to live.

Unprecedented value

Need one more enticement? Let’s talk bottom line. “These homes will start in the $1.1 millions — an unprecedented price point in today’s market,” Yosh says. “Where else in Vancouver Westside can you find a brand new, three-bedroom and den townhome for under $1.3 million? This unmatched value makes Oak + Park a perfect place to live
and invest.”

He adds that Oak + Park will be the largest townhome development currently underway in Westside Vancouver. “Even though the City of Vancouver has very proactively zoned this area to accommodate more ground-oriented housing for families, the logistics of the land assembly are challenging. But ultimately, having a property of this size means we’ll be able to create a complete townhome community with a level of landscaping and social gathering spaces you don’t see in new townhomes projects these days. This is a legacy project for Alabaster Homes.”

Trusted reputation

Alabaster Homes is a Vancouver-based partnership that brings over 25 years of experience building townhomes, apartments, and single-family homes throughout Metro Vancouver. “We are committed to bringing thoughtful design, quality construction, and outstanding customer service to our buyers,” Yosh says. “An Alabaster Home is one you can count to give you comfort and enjoyment for generations.”