With downtown Vancouver increasingly busier with new construction, road work, and struggles around managing complex social issues, many people are considering a move out of the downtown core. This is being compounded by more people working from home and needing more space. This trend will likely be temporary as downtown will always be the centre of the city, with head offices, world-class tourist attractions and a vibrant dining and entertainment scene.
This being said, one can still find quieter living along the downtown core’s waterfront. But, this obviously comes with a price. So, semi-waterfront can help to decrease the buy-in cost. Though, this can still be costly. For example, 18 condos have sold via the MLS in 2020 (as at September 23, 2020) in the renowned Vancouver House building. The average $/sq. ft. for these sales was $1,472/sq. ft. Vancouver House is about one block from the waterfront.
As an alternative, 809-1500 Howe Street is on the market and ready for its next owner! Only one building back from the Seawall, this newly renovated gem by Tatianna Taylor-Tait was designed with the Vancouver House interiors in mind. Featuring gorgeous Herringbone wood floors, a mini-bar area with wine fridge, and a full laundry room, this home is sure to impress.
Listed at $1,049,000, and measuring 968 sq. ft., the list price translates to only $1,083/sq. ft. – much less than the above noted example.
The unique home has plenty of custom lighting and storage in all rooms, smoothed ceilings, and a thoughtful layout.
The sleek, minimal kitchen features Bosch and Blomberg appliances including integrated refrigerator, efficient microwave drawer, quartz countertops and backsplash, and under cabinet lighting. The cabinetry extends up to the ceiling and offers plenty of storage despite its minimalist design. The kitchen gets a lot of natural light due to the large glass sliding doors that lead to the patio, which offers the perfect view of the Rodney Graham ‘Spinning Chandelier.’
Both bathrooms blend modern and timeless beautifully. Vanities were built custom for each bathroom. The master vanity offers extra counter and storage space, and incorporates a double-angle back-lit mirror system. A unique yet neutral tile serves as the floor-to-ceiling backsplash. The master bathroom has a separate tub and frameless glass shower. The powder room features a stunning stone floating vanity with integrated LED lighting, floor-to-ceiling mirror & tile backlash, and pendent lighting. All plumbing fixtures are matte black.
The master bedroom is spacious, easily fitting a king-size bed plus side tables on each side. Custom cabinetry was used to build a closet and drawer solution. There is also a nook with custom cabinetry for additional storage plus a home for a large TV or for art. The second bedroom is also spacious, easily fitting a queen-size bed. This room also gets a built-in custom closet solution. Both bedrooms face the internationally renown ‘Vancouver House’. Outlets include USB integration for device charging. Thermostats or Mysa and heat can be controlled via smart phone.
This home comes with parking and external storage. 1500 Howe (called ‘The Discovery’) is a well-run and -managed concrete building that allows rentals (minimum 3 month lease terms), but does not allow pets. This would be one downside for some people, but workable for non-pet owners, or for those that don’t like living amongst pets. The building was constructed in 1989, so is an older building. However, any maintenance costs that come up in the next 10 years would never come close to the cost of buying the same size suite in a newer building in a similar location. So, there is excellent value here!
To view the listing and for more information, contact Shawn Brown or Steven Forlin of the West Haven Group. Or, check out the property and our team on Instagram or Facebook.
