Chard Development’s condominium offerings in downtown Victoria are nearly sold-out following a surge in sales at the builder’s Nest and BC Housing-backed Haven developments.

 

Targeted at Victoria’s workforce or middle-income buyers, available homes at upper Johnson Street’s Haven (comprised of 104-suites across six levels) are limited to just six homes sized between 375 square foot studios and 513 square foot one-bedroom layouts. Floorplans are priced from $325,000.

 

Yates and Cook streets’ Nest – an up-market, 12-storey big brother to Haven featuring industry-leading finishings at its 107 residences – has seen similar sales success. Just five two-bedroom homes ranging from 840 to 955 square feet of interior living space, plus 110 to 130 square foot balconies, are priced from $809,900.

 

“Nest and Haven represent two unique condominium projects that are helping deliver much-needed, cross-spectrum housing to Victoria’s core,” says Jackie Ross, Chard Development’s Director, Sales. “We’re thrilled to see the market responding so positively to both projects.”

 

Construction crews have begun ground work as part of the two-building development spanning Cook Street between Johnson and Yates streets in an evolving part of the city. Completion is slated for late 2023 or early 2024, Ross confirms.

 

Nest’s ground floor will also feature new retail amenities plus a daycare on the second level. The commercial spaces will play a key role in supporting a rapidly growing community in downtown Victoria with services for families and modern storefronts for local businesses.

 

“The eastern border of downtown Victoria is undergoing significant change, with multiple residential towers already underway and many more planned,” said Heather Harley, Chard Development’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications. “This corner of Fernwood at Cook Street is quickly becoming a highly desirable place to live, shop and work. Our purchasers will be right at the centre of many positive changes with beneficial impacts on their real-estate investments.”

 

As two distinct offerings, Nest and Haven are targeting different groups of buyers depending on factors like whether they currently own real-estate, or if their financial situation qualifies them for an affordability initiative from the province.

 

Haven is positioned for individuals who may benefit from a leg-up to step into Victoria’s highly competitive real-estate market. The project features a novel government-backed concept that matches a purchaser’s deposit of 10%, effectively doubling their total deposit to 20%. This decreases the purchaser’s monthly mortgage payment, avoids Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation mortgage insurance, and helps buyers qualify for a mortgage. Studio and one-bedroom layouts at Haven have served as the real-estate market entry point for many buyers, and Harley says the time to take advantage of the few remaining units is drawing to a close.

 

“A program like BC Housing’s partnership at Haven can make the difference between becoming a homeowner, or spending several additional years working towards a down payment. Nearly 100 purchasers have already benefited from this one-of-a-kind opportunity, and we continue to see strong interest in Haven’s remaining studio and one-bedroom floorplans as we near a sell-out,” Harley says.

 

Citified covered BC Housing’s Affordable Home Ownership Program here, which delves into the details and lays out the qualifications. If you believe this program could be for you, be sure to check out that article.

 

At Nest, a market-priced pre-sale, Chard’s two decades of homebuilding in British Columbia have reached their pinnacle, bridging avant-garde new technologies like HRV fresh air circulation and in-suite air heating and cooling for year-round comfort, with expansive views of Victoria’s burgeoning skyline, the Salish Sea and Washington’s Olympic Mountain Range.

 

Designed by Vancouver-based Proscenium Architecture + Interiors, Nest will stand as a landmark at the eastern entrance to downtown, delivering market-leading condominiums that have propelled its 107-homes to near-sold-out status at one of the fastest rates in recent history.

 

The deciding factors for many buyers at Nest, Harley says, were the Chard brand’s custom European kitchens that have developed a loyal following among purchasers with their integrated Fisher & Paykel appliance packages, and investment into style and function. Kitchen accents include chrome-finished Grohe faucets, under-cabinet LED lighting, soft-close technology throughout, and square-edge quartz countertops with matching quartz backsplashes. Integrated wine fridges are an enviable element of many floorplans, including the six suites remaining.

 

Exquisite spa-like baths and ensuites are adorned by large-format terazzo-inspired heated porcelain tile floors paired with crisp white porcelain tub and shower surrounds. Quartz countertops accentuate beautiful square profile deep soaker tubs, while oversized framed mirrors and custom millwork medicine cabinets provide added storage space above lux vanities.

 

Living areas benefit from ample use of large-profile, double glazed argon-filled windows to protect from UV rays, significantly reduce exterior noise, not to mention providing abundant natural lighting in every layout. Attention to detail is apparent through the built-in backing for wall mounted TVs and an integrated snorkel to conceal cables. Spacious decks and terraces average over 100 square feet in size.

 

A dog-wash station plus a dedicated dog run ensure all members of the family are considered. And Nest's flooring is market-leading, with maintenance-free vinyl plank technology emerging as a must-have particularly in households with young children or pets.

 

To learn more about Nest and Haven and to preview remaining homeownership opportunities, connect with the Chard Development sales team by visiting the official website for Nest here, and Haven here. The presentation centres, situated at 856 Yates Street, are open Saturday through Wednesday from noon to 5pm, or by appointment.

 

Meanwhile, Harley and her team are busy planning a three-tower residential project at the former site of downtown Victoria’s White Spot restaurant along Douglas Street between Discovery Street and Caledonia Avenue. A mix of rental residences and condominiums have been proposed in towers up to 21-storeys tall, along with a grocery store, offices and retail spaces. Although the concept is in its relative infancy, municipal approvals could be granted by late 2022 or in early 2023. C

 

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