Environmentally conscious living in the heart of Victoria

New residential projects in the heart of downtown Victoria are as modern as they come. With a green approach, Chard Development Ltd., a British Columbia-based developer, is creating spaces with the future in mind.

As young professionals shoot for independence and look to buy their first piece of real estate, they look for places that are easily accessible by public transit, energy-efficient and located in neighbourhoods surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops and retail. That’s where The 834 comes in, providing affordable spaces for first-time buyers without sacrificing quality and attractive presentation.

Chard Development president Dave Chard says he strongly markets environmentally conscious features carefully built into each project. The company’s “Bright Green” approach integrates the latest technologies with common sense like the location of the developments and accessibility. The 834 development, for example, has parking built only for 60 per cent of its units in order to push buyers to think twice about owning a car. “People have to ask themselves, ‘Do I really need a parking space, do I really need a car?’ We were very positively surprised at the number of people who bought into the program,” says Chard. Other green instalments like Energy Star appliances and grey water heat exchange systems make it easy for buyers to understand how they’re saving their money and the environment.

Located in the city’s north end, The 834 project is a 14-storey, concrete, steel and glass building to be completed in fall 2011. With a modern interior and exterior, the building truly demonstrates the best in value and looks. The project was launched at the depth of the recession in 2009, timing that emphasized cost and energy efficiency in unit designs. Now 75 per cent sold, remaining suites are priced from $245,000 with penthouses from $469,000. Units are smartly designed to allow residents to see how much energy they’re consuming. “It’s been a neighbourhood in transition and we like to think that we have been a major catalyst for this transition,” says Chard  about the emerging hot spot.  

  On the other end of the spectrum is The Sovereign, a smaller project located two blocks from Victoria’s Inner Harbour and the iconic Empress Hotel in a prestigious area of the downtown core. The building is targeted to higher-end consumers looking to downsize from a house to a comfortable condominium. Besides a prominent address at 608 Broughton St. in the city’s historic district, the 11-storey development maintains a luxurious state of mind with 36 contemporary, boutique suites that feature rich finishes, luxury GE appliances and innovative elements such as a rooftop kitchen, fireplace, garden and lounge overlooking the harbour, and a one-bedroom guest suite for the use of all residents. The Sovereign was launched in Spring 2010 and is now 35 per cent sold and on-track for completion in fall 2012.

Recently, the company completed two Victoria buildings sprucing up the city’s north-end neighbourhood and paving the way for future projects – both Chard’s and those from other developers. Juliet is a 14-storey, mixed-use building located at the corner of Johnson and Blanshard Streets. With a curved glass face, rooftop patio, BBQ kitchen and an outdoor movie theatre, the building freshened the area upon its completion in 2008.  Located just two blocks north, Corazon is a smaller, 12-storey residential building completed in 2006. Due to their successes, several other residential developments have been built surrounding Juliet and Corazon, proving that the city’s core is worth investing into and ideal to live in.

The company is heavily involved in the revitalization of downtown Victoria with two major projects completed, two on the way and one just launching. The next step for Chard is the 640 Michigan St. project, to be located in Victoria near the beautiful landmarks of the Provincial Legislature and Beacon Hill Park. The building is set to hold approximately 80 units within two buildings. Chard wants residents living in their developments to be able to take a stroll and easily come across shops, dining and entertainment. With a large demographic ranging from recent graduates buying their first home to retired couples looking to downsize, building locations are in touch with the finest in cuisine, art, culture, nature and history.

But leading the future of condominiums is not the only thing that the company does best. About two decades ago, Chard Development started off by designing shopping centres and office spaces across Canada before focusing on projects in Victoria in 2004. With clients like the Hudson’s Bay Company, Mountain Equipment Co-op and Zellers under their belt, in 2003 they expanded to incorporate residential developments. As members of the Canadian Green Building Council, the company works with the community and nearby businesses when designing their projects. Chard takes the time to listen to the experience and ideas of locals, nearby businesses and the community in order to satisfy residents. “We really like to work with the community that we’re in. We work very closely with the City of Victoria to make sure we’re providing the type of products that people living there want to live in,” says Chard. •

 

Contact the Chard Development staff at 604-682-6046 or visit their website for more information, charddevelopment.com.
 

For information on The 834, visit the834.com or call 250-382-6001. Prices from $245,000 and up.
 

For information on The Sovereign, visit thesovereign.ca or call 250-383-2999. Prices from $389,000 and up.