Vancouver’s newest purpose-built rental building, Art on 6th, is being constructed with a degree of quality and finishings we have come to expect in high-end condos.
It’s all in keeping with the overarching philosophy of the project’s developer and manager, Austeville Properties.
You’ll be forgiven if you are not familiar with Austeville. This local, family-owned company keeps a low profile. Nevertheless, it has a big footprint in Vancouver – owning and managing more than 25 commercial, retail and industrial spaces, and 10 rental buildings throughout the Lower Mainland.
Over its 50 years in business, Austeville has not wavered from its buy and hold strategy – never developing its properties for resale, instead improving them and leasing them to residents or businesses.
“Our philosophy is based upon our belief in Vancouver. It’s an amazing city and we are trying to be part of its growth by providing great spaces for people to live and work. We’re vested in Vancouver. We’re here for the long term,” explains Austeville CEO Andrew Abramowich.
In the case of South Granville’s Art on 6th, this meant designing and constructing a 12-storey, 97-unit residential building that fills a void in a neighbourhood Abramowich says was “forgotten for many years.” He adds that now that more people want to live close to downtown without actually living in downtown, and with a resurgence of businesses along Broadway, the time was right to develop the 6th and Fir location.
Because Austeville directly manages all of its properties, the company is heavily invested in how those structures will stand the test of time. In the case of Art on 6th, that means Austeville staff members are on site every day to ensure the building and its rental suites adhere to the highest quality construction standards and include first-rate systems and finishings.
“We know that we’re going to service this product from inception through its lifetime, so we carefully considered the long-term interests every step of the way in the design and construction process,” says Abramowich.
Art on 6th apartments for rent
For example, Art on 6th features higher R-value insulation and a better HVAC system than required, but the higher up-front costs will provide savings in operating costs and repair bills for a lifetime. Likewise, the Austeville team has chosen finishings like stone countertops that require care, but will last considerably longer than alternative, lower quality finishes.
As well, Art on 6th is registered for LEED® certification, targeting LEED® Certified Gold.
Austeville hopes these kinds of choices and more – think induction cooktops, luxury vinyl plank flooring and washer-dryers in every one of the one-bedroom, one-bedroom + den and two-bedroom units – will attract tenants who appreciate the differences Austeville and Art on 6th offer.
The fabulous views of Vancouver’s downtown, the North Shore and English Bay won’t hurt either.
And, when they move in later this summer, residents will also enjoy services and amenities often reserved for condo buildings – like live-in, onsite building managers, car and bike e-charging stations, a residents-only bright and welcoming fitness facility, a guest suite and a seventh-floor outdoor plaza.
But Austeville is not just focused on its buildings and amenities; it also has a real commitment to creating a community for its clients and neighbours. Art on 6th’s Neighbourhood Partnership Program helps building residents and their community neighbours get to know one another. Elysian Coffee, RYU and EQ3 Furniture Canada are only a few of the established Vancouver enterprises that have partnered with Art on 6th in this welcoming endeavor.
In this way, with Art on 6th and its other residential properties, Austeville is meeting its key objective: to be responsible landlord that creates safe and welcoming communities for its 1,200+ tenants across the Lower Mainland.
Interested prospective tenants can sign up for the Art on 6th Priority List at arton6th.com. The Art on 6th Rental Centre will open by appointment on June 6.
