42 - Friday, September 13, 1485 - North Shore News

Waterford House

building more high-rises, but they sav that least

this one does not look like a shoe box?

A. Thank you. [think that Romses Kwan Architects
did a fine job of designing a very attractive building.
Perhaps it is the brick facade that helps, We agon.
ized for several weeks over the colour of the bricks.
Finally, | chose an amber rose brick made from
clays found in eastern Washington State. ft seems
to have come off quite well combined with the
while concrete base.

Q. You also used a number of other imported
materials, | befieve?

A. Oh. yes. We selected some of the best materials
from Canada and abroad. The entrance lobby floor

Q. Could vou deseribe the layout?

A. There are two apartments per floor, each with a
large living room on the ocean side. The two bed-
room unils are approximately 1,600 square feet and
the three bedroom units are about 1,800 square
feet. If anyone is seriously interested, we would
welcome their making an appointment to visit the
Waterford House,

Q. Can | ask what type of people have been buying?

A. As I think you would expect, they are largely
senior executives or retired people moving out of
large homes into a residence closer to shopping
and amenities such as the library and the seawall.
Thev are mainly West Van people although one or

two purchasers are couples with international busi-
ness interests who need a pied 4 terre in British

An interview with Michael Audain, president of Columbia. ‘ ;
Polygon Properties Limited, the developer of Q. What do you think attracted them to Waterford
Waterford House, a luxury condominium located House?

ai 1972 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver. : : - So

is pernise marble from Italy The hardwood floors
in the kitchens come from West Germany A number
of the Koehler plumbing fixtures are imported from
the US., and some of the lighting comes from

Michael Audain ,

Q. Waterford House has been the talk of the West
Vancouver real estate market in the past year as
people saw it rising 20 stories above the seawall.
What prompted Polygon to build this luxury apart-
ment building on Bellevue Avenue ala time when
the housing market was in a bit of a slump?

A. That's simple, when you have such a unique

and choice waterfront location, there is never really
a bad time to build. No matter how poor the econ-
omy, there are always people who demand and can
afford the best ina place to live.

Q. T have heard stories about your sales success
which vary from people who sav thal you are al-
ready sold out to others who asser* i s have
been a disaster. What's really ha:

A. Well. 1am pleased to set" ght. The
building was completed ii now sold
a total of 18 of the 31 resic. wu. we have a
couple of the remainder on hoi.

Q. Wow! Such a sales achievement is quite excep-
tional these days. You must be very satisfied?

A. Yes, Waterford House has done very well. But,
if the resale home market had been stronger, we
would have probably been sold out on completion.
Some of our prospective purchasers just couldn't
sell their homes for the price they had in mind.

Q. Is this still a problem?

A. Fortunately, the West Van resale market has
turned around in the last couple of months, Re-
cently we had an instance ofa purchaser selling
their present home within a week of listing it on
the market. | guess ifs a case of peaple also be-
coming more realistic about what their home is
worth today.

Q. What about Waterford prices? Are they really all
over $100,000?

A. Notat all! We have several residences priced in
the mid-$300,000's and we even have a one bed-
room apartment that can be bought for $298,000.

Q. Almust $300,000 fora ane bedroom, vou've got
to be kidding?

A. Well. i's probably the largest one bedroom
apartment in Greater Vancouver! It actually has a
larger living area next to the Geean than same of
our three bedroom residences. [In fact. we split the
living roam inte three for one purchaser! There is
also a den which could also be used as a spare
bedroom ina pinch.

Q. fo have heard several favourable comments
about Waterford House's appearance. As fam sure
you know, many West Vancouver people are against