The wraps are of and one of
West Vancouvers’ best-kept
secret. is a secret no More.
Months of planning and
negotiation have culminated
in what promises to be an
exceptional new addition ta
the heart of Ambleside Village.
fourteen charming new
granite, brick and glass
homes. all facing south

toward the sea, with grand,
expansive balconies and
patios. With the hoardings
finally up. and work well
under way at the corner of
Marine Drive and Nineteen’:
Avenue, interest in this
hitherto mysterious enterprise
is intensifying. Completion is
scheduled for winter 1998.
Ocean Walk was envisioned
by Rick Browning, president
of Pacific Western Realty. as
the best way to take advantage
of the singular location -
facing Bellevue Avenue and
the seawall promenade, in a
well-established area of gently

sloping streets and majestic,
old-growth wees. At the same
time, he wanted to create a
small, discrete community
that would meet the needs of
neighborhood residents
downsizing from larger family
homes, but without sacrificing
quality or long-term
investment value. This is in
part why he determined the
three-storey building would
be concrete construction,
rather than wood frame, with
brick facing and a granite
base, the same granite used
on the seawall and the local
library. Concrete enabled the
architects to design
exceptionally large windows
which, in turn,

effect a light, airy feeling in
the imerior of every home.

SOLID VALUE, LONG-
TERM SECURITY

“We've moved away from the
frame building because we

92 - Friday. May 8, 1998 - Nortn Snore News

wanted to accommodate more
knowledgeable buyers who
would have dehnite concerns
about their investment.”
exphiins Browning,
“Vancouver is oae of the most
seasoned condominium
markets in Nonh America

because the building
community has been doing it
for so long Our buyers are
among the most discerning ia
the world and they want solid,
top-quality materials with a
superior quality of
construction. Basically we've

designed Ocean Walk for
these who enjoy the
sophisticated tifestyle of West
Vancouver and investment that
offers solid value and security
for the long term.”

Simplicity of design is another
of Ocean Walks’ attractive
aspects. Interiors are simple,
neutral, both classical and
contemporary, inviting home
environments. There is
nothing extrancous or
superfluous; the right setting
in which to enjoy a low-key,
worry-free lifestyle. Browning
tefers to it as “not flashy, but
avery honest, high-quality
building.”

For those needing assurances
that downsizing needn't mean
a step down, a perusal of the
plans for these luxurious,
superior-quality residences
banishes any qualess. Room
dimensions are generous -
over 1,600 square feet - with
a wide variety of floor plans.

ecret’s

the most expansive with No
bedroous, fami room and
hving room with a sculpted
sone fireplace. coz and
comfortable are words that
come to mind, referring both
lo interior and exterior
blueprints. With only fourteen

residences, the scale is sniall
yet distinctive.

Mytiad thoughtful touches
distinguish Ocean Walk from
its neighbors, such additions
as an interior drop-off area.
similar to a porte-cochere, for
residents or visitors arriving
or being picked up by car,
judicious given our
sometimes inclement weather.
Security has been carefully
considered, guaranteed by the
state-of-the-art Chubb system
with a ceatral co.iputer in the
building. Other amenities
include a ntedic alert option,
secured underground parking
and storage.

A LIMITED EDITION ON A
RARE SITE

“The building's fabulous,”
says Elaine Biggan. of Sussex
Realty, and a 30-vear resident
of West Vancouver. “Once it's
completed, it will look quite
wonderful, with all the glass,
balconies and patios, and
marvellous landscaping.

There are very few new

now

condominium apariments on
the market in West Vancouver
sind Ocean Walk is located on
one of the last remauning
sites. ts definitely 2 limited
edition, with ons fourieen
opportunities to own We have
the sea and the mountains at
our fingertips and literally,
you don’t need a car. The
whole area has that wonderful
village eling.” Ocean Walk,
she notes, 's seconds frora the
seawall, down a gene,
sloping walk. five minutes
from the library. banks,
Safeway. Shoppers, the West
Vancouver Recreation and
Seniors’ Centre and medical
clinics, ten rainutes from golf
courses and the post office.
One of the most intriguing
aspects of Ocean Walk is its
inixed-use configuration, &

concept with which Browning
is well familiar. As president
of the Pacific Western Realty
Group. with more than 25
years in the industn. he has
an impressive track record in
this imaginative melding of
residential and commercial
real estate, having won
numerous awards for his
work. Twice winner of the
Urban Development Instinite’s
Award for Excellence (once
for The Carlyle, an impressive.
20-sturey residential and
commercial building, once

for Bollert Place. an
inagnative hertage project),
Ke adso received the City of
Vancouvers

Merit Award

for Heritage

Development

for Bollert

Place wy 1906,

PURHY

PROPESSIONAL

PROJECT

TEAM

“The exciting

thing we've

dene here is

that we've

taken a

collection of

experiences in

developing this spe of

housing and we've distilled

them” says Browning. “I don't
think you could
find much wrong
with Ocean Walk
in terms of
planning. t's a
good example of
the builder
listening to the
marketplace”.
Much of his
success can be
directly attributed

to the strength of his solid.

professional project team of

engineers and architects

which has worked together

for the past seven years, some

of its members for more than

two decades.

At Ocean Walk, the bvo

complementary facets -

residential and commercial -

have been segregated

horizontally, a far more

effective blending than the

usual vertical layout. Shops

and offices open direcily on

to Marine Drive, offering

excellent expoaure and easy
pedestrian access. Tucked
away to the south, residences
écce Bellevue
Avenue and
Burrard Inlet,
their sloped
terrices facing
the sea.
Overall,
architects
Hancock.
Bruckner. Eng
and Wright have
created a
masterful piece
of work. A
courtyard in the
font of the
building
overlooks a water
feature, which echoes the
nearby creek in
Memorial Park. Commercial
and residential areas are
effectively separate; the only
shared area being the
parkade entrance. Residents
drive down, past a security
gate to their own elevator,
whereas commercial tenants
gain access through 4
separate elevator. There is na
crossover In either entering
or exiting Ocean Walk zs one
would expect from such a
well-planned building. All
homes are covered by tiie
five-year New Home Warranty
Program.
“I've already picked out my
new home, but | won't tell
you which one,” says an
enthusiastic visitor to the site
one recent sunny day. “} can
picture myself on the patio,
watching the boats go by as
the sun sets, or just strolling
along the seawall.”

For information about Ocean Walk, please contact Elaine Biggan or Lee Chapman,
at Prudential Sussex Realty 925-2911