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Welcome to Fairview. Aptly named, the views are one of the big attractions to this
neighbourhood, especially from the slopes of 7th and 8th Avenue. Home to Vancouver
General Hospital, BC Cancer Agency and several other medical institutions, the demand
for housing here is always strong. West Broadway is a key thoroughfare, providing the
main link through the area including the new B-Line service) as well as numerous stores
and restaurants. The major shopping attraction here though is Granville St (known to
some as South Granville). From 7th to 16th Avenues, Granville St is enjoying a strong
resurgence, combining high-end fashion and home furnishing stores and restaurants with
big newcomers like Chapters, Starbucks, and the Cactus Club Café. The Vancouver School
Board also relocated here in 2000. Take a short stroll down the hill from Fairview to
False Creek and you're on the Sea Wall or Granville Island. Downtown is easily
accessed over the Cambie/Granville St Bridges. It may be less famous than
neighbouring Kitsilano but for convenience, accessibility and some wonderful
views, Fairvew could be a strong contender in your search.
Three main ideas to look at here. A rarity on the Westside, Fairview offers a good
selection of high-rise opportunities. Their advantage over the downtown high-rises
is that they are more dispersed, so you don't have to pay waterfront prices to get a
spectacular view of English Bay. In addition, the views of the city itself with the
Northshore mountains in the background are quite breathtaking, especially at night.
However, you don't have to live in a high-rise to enjoy a view here.
Your second choice is Fairview Slopes (6th to Broadway). In the 80's many California-style
townhouse complexes were built here and specifically designed to take make advantage of the
views. Open walkways, large private decks, big picture windows and multi-level living were
commonplace. Many of these buildings were well constructed and remain extremely sought-after
for the above reasons. Unfortunately some were not able to cope with the extremes of our
rainforest climate and as in other parts of the lower mainland, a number of the buildings
here have had to undergo substantial repair.
As with Fairview Slopes, it is important that you research your buildings here and an informed
guide could save you a lot of time and potential heartache. There are many excellent buildings,
whose values may have been unfairly tainted by concerns over neighbouring buildings and general
nervousness within the marketplace. As the public becomes more educated these is no doubt
that the quality buildings will command a far greater premium that they currently enjoy.
This is therefore an excellent time to make an intelligent purchase.
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Watch for listings in these buildings. They may not reach the market as frequently as some but are well worth waiting for:
Bollert Place at 10th & Alder. Heritage style strata
incorporating an original mansion, developed in 1996. Georgie award winner.
One and two bedroom apartments at 2588 Alder plus townhomes facing onto 10th Avenue.
Traditional finishing plus some vaulted ceilings in the townhomes.
Manhattan West. 1590 West 8th Ave. Quality high-rise close to everything. Four units per floor,
all corner suites. Mainly spacious two bedrooms with views from all 4 plans. Good alternative to Downtown.
Pine Ridge. 1710 West 13th Ave. Pride ownership here. Older low-rise with
large contingency. Good size rooms. Rentals declined. Lovely tree-lined block.
Hycroft Towers. 1445 Marpole Ave. Very affordable and solid as a rock since 1951. On the South
Granville strip. Big views from North side. Great suites to renovate. Featured in October 2000 Western Living.
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Parks/Recreation
- Choklit Park - vantage point off 7th Avenue for views of the city.
- Laurel overpass - landscaped walkway over 6th Avenue, connecting the slopes of Charleston Park, False Creek and the Sea Wall
Shopping
- West Broadway - restaurants, stores, cafes, Futureshop, London Drugs, Toys 'R' Us
- Granville St - restaurants, cafes, high-end fashion and furnishings, Chapters, Meinhardt
- City Square - mall at 12th and Cambie, includes stores, food hall, Safeway.
Duncan's Tips
Outside Links
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Royal LePage Westside
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