REW.ca spoke with Appia Developments' sales manager Lisa Murrell about the SOLO community. Whole Foods, a high street, business, retail and relaxation all help form the legacy of this development.
With plans to make Lougheed Highway more pedestrian friendly and the long-term vision of the Brentwood Mall redevelopment, there is lots to suggest this pocket of North Burnaby has bright and growing future.
Great transit links, a cycle way and lots of amenities nearby make this a very liveable area and help to give this development a pretty high walk score, but there is one factor which seems to really grasp people's attention...
"Whole Foods has a lot of confidence in the project," says Lisa.
If the SOLO project was harbouring a dream of the perfect anchor tenant then it has likely come true. The US organic food chain has a reputation second to none indeed, it even has its own catchphrase: "the Whole Foods Effect." "Whole Foods is coming? Time to buy," declared Salon.com earlier this year.
The demographic in North Burnaby is perfect for Whole Foods, says Lisa: "North Burnaby loves North Burnaby." It is this mixed demographic of students, first-time buyers, young professionals all the way through to older couples looking to downsize that appeals to Appia's president Jim Bosa and SOLO's anchor tenant. It also ticks a number of other boxes: nearby there is also plenty of employment, Lisa highlights Bridge Studios as a large employer, Simon Fraser University and BCIT, and about a 15-20-minute commute on Skytrain to Downtown.
And while Lisa remained tight-lipped over other businesses, retailers and restaurants lined up to move in, she are excited by their calibre.
As well as appealing to the local market, Appia wants to attract people to North Burnaby. Part of the city's mandate is to increase the density around the transit hubs. "It's about getting people out of their cars," says Lisa. "You don't have to drive to the grocery store, you just go downstairs." And just a short walk on the other side of Lougheed is Brentwood Mall, home to more shops and restaurants, and set for redevelopment itself.
A mix of sizes caters to the diverse market, but what sets this development apart from most others in Burnaby is that it comes fully air-conditioned, with nine-foot ceilings and an efficient geothermal heating system.
This last point has two major benefits: it's green and it will reduce energy bills.
And let's face it, when you live in a beautiful area, views are important. Bosatown, as SOLO and its nearby high-rises are dubbed, is what Lisa describes as a "co-operative build as opposed to a competitive build." The Bosa clan Nat, Jim and Ryan have worked to ensure view corridors are intact. "We looked at the three projects all in a row and made sure that not only was the architecture going to be complementary but that there was a co-operative plan to redevelop this little North Burnaby pocket. As you move down, you pay attention to what you've done."
Each residence will also get a pre-paid 12-month car-share membership with Modo. It's another move designed to help people reduce their reliance on their own cars.
There are many aspects to a community but an integral ingredient is people. Manda and Cory Sayers are one of the couples who will be taking occupancy. There were a number of factors that appealed to them but one stood out. Any ideas what it might be? "Whole Foods moving in was a big draw," says Manda. "We currently live in the area and noticed the towers going up. We found the location really convenient, and easy to get Downtown, to Coquitlam and elsewhere."
North Burnaby is an area on the high rise. SOLO provides considerable savings on energy bills, a high-street community, a car-share scheme and good transit links. With the wider area also benefitting from redevelopment, there are plenty of reasons to be cheerful. Oh, and Whole Foods is coming... Is it time to buy?
Types of units Junior/studio 3-bed penthouse and 'Skyvilla' Size range 479-489 sq. ft. 1785 sq. ft Range of outside space Balconies; and roof-top bbq and wet bar, dog park, green space and gardens Price range $271,000 - $1,328,900 Standard features Geothermal heat exchange system, central air conditioning, 9 foot ceilings or higher, imported Italian Armony Cucine cabinetry in kitchen and bathrooms, stainless steel appliance packages featuring Blomberg, Bosch, Fisher & Paykel Building amenities Detached rooftop fitness studio featuring his/hers change rooms and sauna rooms, double-height party room with full kitchen, poker, ping pong and pool table, covered rooftop terrace bbq area, landscaped rooftop green space and gardens, fully fenced rooftop dog park
