As a follow-up to our earlier post about the re-packaging of Gastown, and as an update of our previous coverage of the area (click here), we wanted to add to our list two more Gastown projects that are worth mentioning.
First, Concord Pacific's Smart Gastown sold out rather quickly this past January. The 90-unit building, located on Powell Street, will be 9 storeys high when it's completed.
Apparently, several people from the architectural firm that designed the project bought suites there, according to this article from the Sun. The main attraction? Interior courtyards, which focus residents' attention on the building's quieter, interior space, rather than the outside streets.
Despite this admirable feature, the building still seems a little ugly to us - perhaps we're missing something...?
The second project is the Bowman Lofts, which are being marketed by the Concord Pacific alumni team who struck out on their own to form the Salient Group.
The Bowman Lofts are located in the 'up-and-coming' (to use realtor-speak) Beatty Street area, right around the corner from the new Espana development, and sort of behind Paris Place at International Village. (Click here to see Twarog's coverage, with maps).
The refurbished building will be 6 storeys high, and contain 38 new condo units. Completion is scheduled for September 2006.
Agreed on Smart looking architecturally, um, utilitarian. There's no rhythm or symmetry to the Powell St. facade - hard to see how it "fits" into the Gastown fabric other than maybe an alligned cornice. WRT the courtyard - it faces south - so I'd be interested in seeing what's across the lane to the south.
Posted by: ron | Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 12:19 PM