Donovan Penthouse Premium Package Indulge Wood grained cabinetry with brushed nickel

hardware Designer selected round ceramic tile backsplash Recessed pot lighting and convenient under

cabinet task lighting Luxurious polished square edge granite

countertops Stainless steel undermount rectangular sink with

striking gooseneck kitchen faucet Stainless steel and frosted glass accent pantry-

storage cabinet Panasonic stainless steel under counter

microwave oven Live Geothermal heating and air-conditioning for year-

round energy savings Large, private rooftop patio complete with hot tub,

outdoor kitchen with Vermont Casting BBQ, undercounter bar fridge and sink.

Pre-wired and installed Audio-Visual package including large screen TV and stereo throughout your home including your rooftop patio

Pre-wired and installed security system Wide plank 4 ¾ “ hardwood flooring throughout

(except den) and 4 ½ “ baseboards Whirlpool stacking front loading extra capacity

washer and dryer Soothe Custom-made vanity countertops with integrated

sink, brushed nickel single lever faucet and designer vanity lighting in main bathrooms

Deep soaker tub with ceramic tile tub surround and designer selected brushed nickel single lever faucet

Frameless glass shower with tile surround, scored tile flooring, oversized brushed nickel showerhead and single lever shower faucet

Polished square edge stone countertop with double square undermount sink with brushed nickel single lever faucet in ensuites

Sub Zero & Miele Sub Zero refrigerator with custom cabinet panel

finish Miele stainless steel gas cooktop with overhead

Miele slimline stainless steel hoodfan Miele stainless steel convection wall oven Miele 6 wash cycle dishwasher with custom

cabinet panel finish and incognito controls Quality Solid concrete and glass construction by Cressey

with a reputation for innovative design, excellence in workmanship, quality materials and outstanding customer service

Architecturally crafted by Rafii Architects At Donovan, the Telus Future Friendly Home

means every connection is pre-wired and multifunctional for all of your internet, television and phone service needs. One connection. Endless possibilities.

Premium 2-10-10 year home warranty from Willis Warranty offering:

2 years of material and workmanship coverage

10 year water penetration which is double what the government requires and what most builders offer

10 year structural coverage Pamper Luxurious relaxation centre with steam room and

sauna complete with change rooms and spa lounge

Fully equipped 3000+ square foot fitness center with yoga studio

Designer lounge with kitchen and media centre suited for all your entertaining needs

Rooftop landscaped terraces perfect for outdoor lounging

The developer reserves the right to make modifications to floorplans, project design, materials, and specifications to maintain the high standard of this development.

www.polyhomes.com

“True love stories never have endings.”

Richard BachHOMESWESTCOAST S E C T I O N

K

‘ - - - - - - - - ’ GREEN I L6 LEARNING REAL ESTATE I L6EDITOR MICHAEL SASGES 604-605-2467 • SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2006 • E-mai l homes@png .canwest .com

GLENBROOK DEVELOPER TRANSFORMS TOWNHOUSES WITH A BACK-TO-THE-FUTURE CANVAS | L1

A spare palette of material finishes and built-instorage (ABOVE) are the first-causecontributors to efficient, stylish residency in asmaller home.The Cressey development company and theDonovan interior designer have introduced bothinto the Donovan tower-residences. (LEFT) “A little bedroom” is the original, 17thcentury meaning in Spanish of the word,alcove. In their alcoves women with therequisite time and treasure could entertainvisitors and hold salons. In the Donovan alcoves residents will bothstore and snore – belay that, sleep. The“captain's bed” in the show home is notincluded in the purchase price, but can beordered. (Donovan project profile, K2)

So much gain, so little painDOWNTOWN I Donovan developer adds a moral imperative to usual material incentives

What do you think?To prepare profiles of new homeprojects, we at WestcoastHomes frequently visit “master-planned” communities — butonly rarely share with readerswhat we see and hear. We want to change that record— and change it this month.We can’t do very much, however,without the expertise and experi-ence of our readers.So, if you are making your homein a “master-planned” communi-ty or have recently done so (andhave since moved away), writeus.Questions include … What is a “master-planned”community? What isn’t a “mas-ter-planned” community? (Howwould the lost motorist, at dusk,know one when he or she is inthe middle of one? Homes,maybe, that demonstrate thesame architectural style? How?Why? A clubhouse surroundedby homes, perhaps, the fire inthe lounge hearth as much testi-monial to the vitality of the placeas the youngsters playing broom-ball in the basement? Whostokes the fire? Who suppliesthe kindling and logs? )Our e-mail address ishomes@png.canwest.comPut “master” in the subject line,please.

The Look? MetallicFrom Paris, via Los Angeles,comes a bit of material news:Metallic will be a big finish ininterior decor, The Los AngelesTimes reports from the Parisianfurnishings show, Maison &Object.“Silver, gold and bronze leatherupholstery appeared on table-tops, lamp bases and pillows,”the newspaper reports from theshow, a showcase for more than2,500 home-decor companiesfrom around the world. A golddog bowl, by German designerKuhn Keramik, may be the ulti-mate illustration of metallic-fin-ish veneration.On the other hand, the reportnoted, minimalism is still big: “Ifa piece wasn't metallic or '80sslick, it probably was natural,stripped and unfinished.”

Door correctionOne of the pleasures of new-con-struction journalism is therecording of local expertise andability. One of the disappoint-ments, accordingly, is themissed opportunity. David Bran of Advanced GlazingSystems Ltd., writes to say theBurnaby company is the manu-facturer of the oversized doorsthat will connect interior andexterior living spaces in theCoast new-home project(Heavenly Stairway, WestcoastHomes, Jan. 27).

HOMETHOUGHTS

BY MICHAEL SASGES WESTCOAST HOMES EDITOR

The Donovan new-home projectis a well-priced demonstrationof design and commercial pro-f iciencies. The mastery of

space by architect and interior designerand the transformation or translation oftheir skills into value-rich homes bydeveloper-builder are exemplary.

Don’t believe me? Then listen to whatthe new-home shopper is saying.

The Cressey development companyhas registered more than 1,800 expres-sions of interest in Donovan, reportsTracy Chong, Donovan's developmentmanager. The company will begin sell-ing the homes next month.

My conviction that Donovan is a spe-cial addition to the downtown skylinehas three components.

One is price. With Cressey asking anaverage square-foot price of $699, aDonovan residence is expensiveabsolutely, but not relatively or compar-atively.

The benchmark price right now fornew-construction tower-residencesdowntown is $800, the average in thelast two quarters of 2006, Pricewater-houseCoopers reported last month.

That average, of course, includes some

PETER BATTISTONI/VANCOUVER SUN

WESTCOAST HOMESK2 THE VANCOUVER SUN, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2007

Good design is a lways

in s t y le. Rich, au thentic

de ta il s re ta in a t imeless

a ppe a l at w illow.

N O WS E L L I N G

Steps from firs t- cl a ss

shopping a nd firs t- r ate

school s. Willow’s

t wo bedroom & den

Tudor - inspired

tow nhomes offer

the perfect ba l a nce.

o a k r i d g e

P R I C E D F R O M $ 6 4 8 , 8 0 0

6 0 4 . 2 61. 3 0 0 0

5639 Willow Stree t

Open Noon – 5 pm da ily,

closed Friday

w w w.w illow li v ing.com

WESTMINSTER HWY

No

4R

D

GA

RD

ENC

ITY

RD

tag sale starts this Saturday!

Open daily noon - 5 pmEnter off Westminster Hwy

Richmond

www.adera.comtel: 604.273.5100

PRICESTOO HOT

TO PUBLISH!

ALL REMAINING

2 & 3 BEDROOM

APARTMENTS MUST

BE SOLD, HURRY FOR

BEST SELECTION.

Red Adera Projects Ltd.2200-1055 Dunsmuir, Vancouver, BC 604-684-8277

GOLD GEORGIE WINNER 2006BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM

- 4TH YEAR IN A ROW

BUILDER OF THE YEAR: MULTI-FAMILY

SoutherncomfortEventual partywallneighbours from floorsseven to 18 in theDonovan new-homeproject. The residentsof the 22 apartmentsrepresented by theplans reproduced herewill enjoy protectedviews to the south.As a Vancouver city hallcommentary on theDonovan propertyreports: “The remainingfour 25-foot lots . . . tothe south of this sitewill not meet the criteriafor a tower develop-ment.”The larger B plan(GREEN) will faceRichards Street and, tothe south, HelmckenStreet, and the smallerC plan (BLUE) will facethe lane betweenRichards and Seymourstreets and, to thesouth, Helmcken.The B plan is a two-bed-room +den, two-bathhome, with a total areaof 880 square feet. Bplan prices start at$579,900.The C plan is a one-bed-room +den, one-bathhome, with a total areaof about 715 squarefeet. C plan prices startat $400,900.

Donovan tower-homesdemonstrate design,

business proficienciesCressey addition to downtown skyline generates

expressions of interest from 1,800 potential customers

DonovanLocation: 1055 Richards, Vancouver Project size: 10 townhouses, 142 apart-

ments, 18-storey building Residence size: Apartments, 573 sq. ft. –

998 sq. ft.; townhouses, 1,040 sq. ft. –1,216 sq. ft.; penthouses, 1,008 sq. ft. –1,777 sq. ft.

Prices: $396,000 – $2.1 million Presentation centre: 1295 Seymour, at

DrakeTelephone: 604-696-9030‘Preview’ hours: noon – 5 p.m., Sat - Sun Web: donovanlife.comDeveloper: Cressey Architect: Rafi’i Architects Interior design: InSight Design Group Inc. Tentative occupancy: Fall, 2008

NEW HOMES

PROJECTPROFILE

See PRICE IN LINE K5

K5

WE

STC

OA

ST H

OM

ES

TH

E V

AN

CO

UV

ER

SU

N,

SAT

UR

DA

Y,

FEB

RU

AR

Y 1

0, 2

00

7

oFf t

he m

ost e

xpen

sive

new

-con

-st

ruct

ion

in C

anad

a, o

n V

anco

u-ve

r’s w

ater

fron

ts. C

ress

ey, i

n ot

h-er

wor

ds, i

sn’t

ask

ing

$100

les

sth

an e

very

body

els

e; ju

st $

100

less

th

an a

wid

ely

cir

cula

ted

num

ber.

Tha

t $6

99, i

n t

he f

ull-

ness

of t

ime,

will

pro

ve p

roba

bly

very

mu

ch i

n l

ine

wit

h o

ther

dow

nto

wn

new

-hom

e pr

ojec

tsth

at w

ill g

o on

sal

e th

is y

ear.

An

oth

er r

easo

n t

o w

elco

me

Don

ovan

is th

e ef

fici

enci

es in

tro-

duce

d in

to b

uild

ing

and

hom

esby

arc

hite

ct F

o’ad

Raf

i’i a

nd in

te-

rio

r d

esig

ner

In

Sigh

t D

esig

nG

roup

.W

he

n b

uil

t, t

he

Do

no

van

hom

es w

ill b

e th

e m

easu

re o

f a

lifet

ime

of th

e liv

able

sm

all h

ome

for

all t

hose

who

mig

ht r

esid

e in

one

or v

isit

, by

virt

ue o

f a s

harp

lyed

ited

mat

eria

l pal

ette

and

def

tob

serv

ance

of

the

firs

t pr

inci

ple

of s

mal

l-ho

me

resi

denc

y.K

itch

en s

tora

ge w

ill b

e de

fine

dm

ore

by t

he m

illw

orke

r an

d le

ssby

the

met

al w

orke

r, w

hose

con

-tr

ibu

tio

n f

ulf

ills

a c

ameo

, or

acce

nt, f

unct

ion.

R

efri

gera

tors

in

lux

ury

new

-h

om

e p

roje

cts

are

inev

itab

lyfa

ced

in

sta

inle

ss s

teel

. Th

eD

onov

an f

ridg

es, h

owev

er, w

ill

be

face

d i

n t

he

sam

e "w

oo

d-

grai

n" d

oors

that

will

face

all

the

othe

r ki

tche

n st

orag

e, o

nly

wid

eran

d hi

gher

. T

hat’s

an

exam

ple

of t

he e

dit-

ing

of

the

ho

mes

by

in

teri

or

desi

gner

and

dev

elop

er, a

dec

i-si

on t

hat

redu

ces

mat

eria

l "ve

r-b

iag

e"

an

d,

co

nse

qu

en

tly,

impr

oves

"na

rrat

ive.

" B

ed

roo

m s

tora

ge

wil

l b

ede

fine

d by

the

mill

wor

ker

alon

e,an

d no

t th

e m

illw

orke

r an

d dr

y-w

alle

r. In

mos

t hom

es, t

here

will

be n

o cl

oset

.D

onov

an b

edro

om s

tora

ge w

illbe

loc

ated

on

eac

h si

de

of a

nd

abov

e th

e be

d, a

des

ign

that

nes

-tl

es th

e be

d in

an

alco

ve.

Tha

t’s a

n ex

ampl

e of

the

obse

r-va

nce

of th

e pr

inci

ple

that

eve

ryit

em a

dded

to

a sm

all s

pace

or,

put a

noth

er w

ay, e

very

item

that

take

s aw

ay fr

om h

abit

able

spa

cein

a s

mal

l spa

ce, m

ust

serv

e tw

ofu

ncti

ons.

Func

tion

ing

firs

tly

as s

tora

ge,

the

mil

lwor

k fl

anki

ng a

nd o

ver

the

bed

will

func

tion

as

an e

xtra

spac

e, c

ozy

and

com

fort

able

and

all

the

mo

re a

ttra

ctiv

e fo

r it

sim

prob

able

or

unex

pect

ed p

res-

ence

. T

he a

lcov

es c

hapt

er in

Th

e E

lle

Dec

or

Ho

me

(200

5) a

nd th

e in

tro-

duct

ory

rem

arks

in S

ma

ll A

pa

rt-

men

ts(2

005)

are

the

sou

rces

for

my

adm

irat

ion

of t

he D

onov

anbe

dro

om-a

lcov

es. (

Tho

se w

how

ill

slee

p in

the

Don

ovan

bed

-ro

oms

will

sle

ep in

goo

d co

mpa

-ny

, the

Ell

e D

eco

rbo

ok r

epor

ts:

Cou

turi

er B

ill

Bla

ss p

asse

s hi

sN

ew Y

ork

nigh

ts in

a b

ed in

an

alco

ve, h

is g

uard

ian

ange

l a b

ig"

eq

ue

str

ian

b

ro

nz

e

of

Nap

oleo

n.")

Th

e D

on

ova

n b

uil

din

g is

a

nei

ghb

ou

rly

bu

ild

ing.

Wit

h a

heig

ht o

f abo

ut 17

0 fe

et, t

he to

w-

er i

s ab

out

130

fee

t u

nd

er c

ity

ha

ll’s

ma

xim

um

pe

rmit

ted

heig

ht. B

ut, w

ith

a w

idth

of a

bout

97 fe

et, i

t is

seve

n fe

et o

ver

city

’sha

ll’s

idea

l wid

th.

Rel

ief

from

the

wid

th r

ecom

-m

enda

tion

was

gra

nted

bec

ause

the

low

er h

eigh

t w

ill n

ot in

ter-

fere

wit

h th

e vi

ews

from

nei

gh-

bour

ing

high

-ris

e ho

mes

, act

ual

and

an

tici

pat

ed, a

nd

wil

l n

ot

impo

se s

hado

win

g on

them

.T

he

Do

no

van

bu

ild

ing

is a

smar

tly o

rgan

ized

bui

ldin

g. R

afi’i

and

Cre

ssey

pu

t th

e in

teri

or

amen

ity

spac

e at

gra

de a

nd a

t the

back

of t

he b

uild

ing

and

the

out-

door

am

enit

y sp

ace

four

flo

ors

ab

ov

e,

ato

p t

he

bu

ild

ing

’s

podi

um.

A d

ivis

ion

of

amen

itie

s th

atso

me

mem

ber

s o

f ci

ty h

all’

sU

rban

Des

ign

Pan

el t

ho

ugh

tm

igh

t re

sult

in

les

s u

se o

f th

eam

enit

ies,

it

has

an

ad

mir

able

purp

ose,

and

that

is "

to k

eep

the

resi

den

tial

un

its

off

th

e la

ne"

betw

een

Ric

hard

s an

d Se

ymou

rst

reet

s.T

he la

st r

easo

n fo

r w

anti

ng t

osh

are

my

enth

usia

sm fo

r Don

ovan

was

som

ethi

ng C

ress

ey’s

Tra

cyC

hong

sai

d w

hile

she

was

tak

ing

me

arou

nd

th

e D

onov

an s

how

hom

e."W

ho d

oesn

’t w

ant t

o do

som

e-th

ing

abou

t the

env

iron

men

t the

seda

ys?"

she

sai

d in

adv

anci

ng t

hene

w-h

ome

proj

ect’s

geo

ther

mal

Pric

e in

line

wit

h ot

her

dow

ntow

n pr

ojec

ts

Fro

m K

2

See

MA

TE

RIA

L, M

OR

AL

K8

WE

STC

OA

ST H

OM

ES

K8

TH

E V

AN

CO

UV

ER

SU

N,

SAT

UR

DA

Y,

FEB

RU

AR

Y 1

0, 2

00

7

The

Cres

sey

deve

lopm

ent

com

pany

has

sele

cted

app

lianc

es fr

om a

Ger

man

com

pany

, Mie

le, f

or t

he D

onov

anki

tche

ns.

The

gas

cook

tops

, con

vect

ion

oven

s an

dho

od fa

ns w

ill b

e cl

ad in

sta

inle

ss s

teel

,bu

t the

refri

gera

tors

and

dis

hwas

hers

will

be fa

ced

with

the

sam

e pa

nnel

ling

as th

edo

ors

that

enc

lose

mos

t of t

he k

itche

nst

orag

e.Th

e do

ors

of fr

oste

d gl

ass

fram

ed b

yst

ainl

ess

stee

l als

o en

clos

e st

orag

e, in

som

e of

the

hom

es in

the

form

of a

wal

k-in

pan

try.

Polis

hed

gran

ite w

ill to

p co

un-

ters

; the

sta

inle

ss s

teel

sin

ks w

ill b

em

ount

ed u

nder

the

coun

ters

; and

the

goos

enec

k de

sign

of t

he fa

ucet

s wi

ll ar

t-fu

lly p

retti

fy th

e pr

osai

c (le

ft).

Big

show

erhe

ads

serv

e th

e sa

me

pur-

pose

in th

e Do

nova

n ba

thro

oms

(far l

eft).

Cr

esse

y ha

s el

ecte

d to

inst

all “

spa”

con

-te

nt in

the

mas

ter b

athr

oom

s at

Don

o-va

n.

Resi

dent

s wi

ll sh

ower

in s

talls

of f

ram

e-le

ss g

lass

and

tile

d wa

lls a

nd s

oak

inde

ep tu

bs.

By c

ontra

st, s

ome

deve

lope

rs a

re e

limi-

natin

g tu

bs fr

om “

thei

r” m

aste

r sui

tes.

Othe

rs c

ontin

ue to

rest

rict s

howe

ring

and

soak

ing

to th

e tri

ed-a

nd-tr

ue s

howe

r-tub

com

bina

tion

incl

uded

in th

e Do

nova

nsh

ow h

ome,

a C

pla

n ho

me

in w

hich

ther

e is

one

but

one

bat

hroo

m (S

EEFL

OORP

LANS

, K2)

.Th

e tre

atm

ent o

f tub

ski

rtin

g is

a s

weet

exam

ple

of th

e po

wer o

f edi

ting.

The

tub-

skirt

will

be

face

d in

the

sam

e po

rcel

ain

tile

that

will

cov

er th

e flo

ors.

The

ski

rt is

both

a li

tera

l ext

ensi

on o

f a m

ater

ial fi

n-is

h an

d a

figur

ative

ext

ensi

on o

f the

spac

e.Th

e ab

senc

e of

two-

bowl

van

ities

in th

em

ain

bath

room

s is

com

pens

ated

for b

yth

e pr

esen

ce o

f van

ities

that

sea

mle

ssly

inco

rpor

ate

one

wide

bow

l and

of d

rawe

rsun

dern

eath

that

add

a s

tora

ge p

urpo

se to

all t

oo o

ften

dead

spa

ce.

‘Spa

’ con

tent

inst

alle

d in

Don

ovan

ens

uite

s

heat

ing

and

cool

ing

as t

he o

neD

on

ovan

fea

ture

sh

e w

ants

Va

nco

uve

r S

un

read

ers

to k

now

abou

t.A

n ev

eryd

ay o

bser

vati

on, i

tis

an

ex

trao

rdin

ary

sig

nal

,b

road

cast

ing

an e

scal

atio

n,

from

the

mat

eria

l pla

ne to

the

mo

ral

real

m, i

n t

he

reas

on

sde

velo

pers

and

bui

lder

s gi

veth

e n

ew-h

om

e sh

op

per

fo

rfa

vour

ing

one

prod

uct

over

aco

mp

etin

g p

rod

uct:

Her

e, a

tD

onov

an, C

ress

ey is

say

ing,

is

Mat

eria

l,m

oral

cro

ssat

Don

ovan

Fro

m K

8

See

DO

IT

PA

INL

ESS

LYK

10

PE

TER

BAT

TIS

TON

I/VA

NC

OU

VE

R S

UN

WE

STC

OA

ST H

OM

ES

K10

TH

E V

AN

CO

UV

ER

SU

N,

SAT

UR

DA

Y,

FEB

RU

AR

Y 1

0, 2

00

7

Dono

van

a th

orou

ghfa

read

ditio

nW

hen

built

, the

Don

ovan

build

ing

will

be

anas

sert

ivel

y sy

mm

etric

alpr

esen

ce a

long

one

of

met

ro V

anco

uver

'sim

port

ant

tran

spor

tatio

nar

terie

s, R

icha

rds

Stre

etin

dow

ntow

n Va

ncou

ver.

Town

hous

es w

ill fa

ce th

est

reet

at g

rade

, com

mon

-sp

ace

terra

ces

abov

e.

The

Cres

sey

deve

lopm

ent

com

pany

will

inst

all a

chi

l-dr

en's

pla

y ar

ea o

n th

eso

uth

terra

ce.

The

verd

ict a

t city

hal

l? T

hebu

ildin

g is

a “

well

reso

lved”

sol

utio

n to

“th

ech

alle

nges

ass

ocia

ted

with

achi

evin

g a

hand

som

efo

rm w

ith th

e lo

wer b

uild

ing

heig

hts

requ

ired

by th

evie

w co

ne."

Mirr

or o

n ce

iling

Reso

lute

is p

roba

bly

ago

od w

ord

for t

he p

rese

nta-

tion-

cent

re tr

eatm

ent o

f the

build

ing

mod

el d

warfi

ngCr

esse

y’s

Trac

y Ch

ong

(RIG

HT).

A ce

iling

mirr

or p

erm

its v

is-

itors

to s

ee w

hat C

ress

eyan

d ar

chite

ct F

o’ad

Rafi

’iha

ve p

lann

ed fo

r the

top

ofth

e Do

nova

n bu

ildin

g,ro

ofto

p te

rrace

s fo

r the

use

of th

e pe

ntho

use-

resi

dent

sbe

low.

Th

e m

irror

, of c

ours

e, a

lso

mak

es a

big

mod

el b

igge

r.

an o

pp

ort

un

ity

fo

r 15

2h

ouse

hol

ds

to l

esse

n t

he

cons

eque

nces

of t

heir

foot

-fa

ll o

n t

he

envi

ron

men

t;“H

elp

sav

e th

e w

orl

d,”

Cre

ssey

urg

es v

isit

ors

toth

e D

onov

an w

ebsi

te.

For

bo

th C

ress

ey a

nd

Raf

i’i, g

eoth

erm

al is

kno

wn

terr

itor

y. R

afi’i

is th

e ar

chi-

tect

of

the

firs

t ge

oth

er-

mal

ly h

eate

d a

nd

co

ole

dre

sid

enti

al t

ower

dow

n-

tow

n (

un

til

som

eo

ne

com

es f

orw

ard

an

d s

ays

not

so),

Pom

aria

bet

wee

nth

e G

ranv

ille

and

Bur

rard

bri

dge

s. C

ress

ey's

lat

est

tow

er h

omes

in R

ichm

ond

will

be

geot

herm

ally

hea

t-ed

and

coo

led.

It is

the

crea

tion

of a

sac

-ri

fice

-fre

e op

port

unit

y to

emb

race

a m

ora

l ch

oic

ean

d do

the

rig

ht t

hing

tha

tis

par

ticu

larl

y im

pres

sive

.A

rchi

tect

and

dev

elop

erar

e no

t as

king

any

ow

ner

or r

esid

ent

to a

band

on t

heau

tom

obile

. Par

king

will

be

secu

re a

nd

ple

nti

ful,

on

thre

e un

derg

roun

d le

vels

.O

ther

new

-hom

e pr

ojec

tsdo

wnt

own

have

bee

n ch

al-

leng

ing

sells

bec

ause

of t

heab

senc

e of

sec

ure

and

plen

-ti

ful p

arki

ng.

The

y ar

e no

t as

king

any

owne

r or

res

iden

t to

suff

erth

e s

lee

p-i

nte

rru

pte

dni

ghts

of

a su

mm

er in

the

city

bec

ause

the

apar

tmen

tw

ind

ows

are

all

op

en t

oad

mit

coo

ling

bree

zes,

but

equ

ally

ad

mit

tin

g st

reet

nois

e, v

ehic

ular

and

ped

es-

tria

n. T

he D

onov

an h

omes

will

be

air

cond

itio

ned,

hot

air

geot

herm

ally

rem

oved

and

plan

ted

in t

he g

roun

dun

der

the

build

ing.

Add

itio

nall

y, C

ress

ey is

putt

ing

actu

al n

umbe

rs t

oth

e re

duct

ion

in h

ouse

hold

op

erat

ing

cost

s “o

ff t

he

grid

” ge

othe

rmal

hea

tin

gan

d co

olin

g co

uld

gene

rate

at D

onov

an.

It e

xp

ects

a D

on

ova

nho

me

wil

l be

60-

per-

cent

less

exp

ensi

ve t

o he

at a

ndco

ol a

nnua

lly t

han

hom

esin

whi

ch h

eati

ng a

nd c

ool-

ing

are

co

nv

enti

on

ally

pow

ered

."D

on

ova

n i

s a

“gre

en”

opp

ortu

nit

y m

ade

all

the

mor

e ge

rman

e, o

r ri

cher

, by

its

do

wn

tow

n l

oca

tio

n.

Re

sid

en

ts o

f c

om

pa

ct

neig

hbou

rhoo

ds c

an w

alk

ever

ywhe

re, l

ower

ing

thei

rco

ntr

ibu

tio

n t

o g

reen

-ho

use-

gas

emis

sion

s an

d,po

tent

ially

, the

ir c

ost o

f liv

-in

g.

As

We

stc

oa

st

Ho

me

sco

lum

nis

t B

ob

Ran

sfo

rdco

mm

ente

d la

st w

eeke

nd:

“Res

earc

h h

as s

ho

wn

that

peo

ple

wh

o l

ive

inne

ighb

ourh

oods

in w

hich

they

can

wal

k fr

om t

hei

rho

mes

to

stor

es, s

choo

ls,

rec

rea

tio

n a

nd

pu

bli

ctr

ansp

orta

tion

hav

e a

muc

hlo

wer

cos

t of

liv

ing

— o

rm

ore

acc

ura

tely

co

st o

fho

usin

g —

tha

nks

to t

heir

low

er

tra

nsp

ort

ati

on

cost

s.”

ho

mes

@p

ng.

can

wes

t.co

m

Mik

e S

asg

es a

nd

his

wif

e,

Ma

rise

, wil

l m

ak

e th

eir

nex

t h

om

e

in a

Ra

fi’i

Arc

hit

ects

’ bu

ild

ing.

Do

it p

ainl

essl

yat

Don

ovan

,C

ress

ey in

vite

sF

rom

K8

TO A

DVER

TISE

IN W

ESTC

OAST

HOM

ES C

ONTA

CT F

RANK

FRAN

CO –

TEL

: 604

-605

-237

3E-

MAI

L: F

FRAN

CO@

PNG.

CANW

EST.

COM

SUNDAYHOMESSECTION E

HOUSE SMART: Renovate your kitchen at a fraction of the cost PAGE E5

WESTCOAST LIVING HARDIP JOHAL (EDITOR) • 604-605-2782 • hjohal@png.canwest.com ❘ SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2007

amacon.com

YALETOWN DONOVAN-STYLEStylish sanctuary in the most happening part of town is attracting youngprofessionals who want to nest as well as enjoy the urban scene PAGE E3

DEVELOPMENT

BY JEANI READSTAFF REPORTER

Donovan is Cressey’s latest devel-opment in Yaletown, and you cantell Tracy Chong, Cressey develop-ment manager, is really proud of it.Yes, it is her job to be proud, butChong clearly has a fondness forDonovan and for Yaletown that goesbeyond the call of duty.

This is one of those cool, super-marketed projects that goes so faras to feature a five-chapter miniInternet lifestyle movie called a “viralvideo’ that people can pass along.

Storyline? Cute girl breaks up withboyfriend, goes to the big city where

gay friend lives in cool Donovanapartment, parties are held, wine isdrunk, romantic confusion ensuesin attractive square footage — hownot to feel affection for somethingthat smartypants?

“Donovan is a sexy project,” saysChong. “And Yaletown has it all. Youdon’t need to go anywhere else.There’s a little bit of everything foreveryone. There’s Urban Fare, Choic-es, the seawall — everything. Forme, it’s the best part of downtown.”

With Donovan they’re trying to sella lifestyle, says Chong, and for once,all of Yaletown’s charms aside,they’re trying to sell the idea of stay-ing home as well as going out.

“The intention is to be warm, com-fortable and intimate,” says Chong.“We all work so hard that our homeshould be our haven.”

With hi-tech geothermal heatingand air conditioning that is energy

efficient and eco-friendly, Donovanalso goes high-end with appliances— Miele — and finishes, includinggorgeous wide-plank hardwoodflooring in all the living areas andmany of the bedrooms. Bedroomsfeature huge headboard built-insfor storage, and one upgrade is to aplatform bed with more storageunderneath. The bathrooms featuredramatic square rain-shower show-erheads, drop-in tubs and customsinks that are of a piece with thecounters.

The amenities area, too, is part andparcel of what they wanted, in termsof lifestyle and of home being ahaven, says Chong. There’s a fireplacelounge, a full kitchen, pool table, TVand 3,000 square feet of fitness space,complete with steam room, sauna,yoga space, spa — “It’s almost likeliving at a hotel,” says Chong.

Financial management student

and Bank of Montreal customer-ser-vice rep Darveen Sidhu says she’slooking forward to using thoseamenities when she gets home toDonovan at night, from her busy life.She and her dad picked Donovanas being a good spot for her at agood moment.

When Donovan’s completed andit’s time to move in, it will also betime for 20-year-old Sidhu to trans-fer from B.C. Institute of Technolo-gy, where she is studying now, to theUniversity of B.C.

Location was prime in her mindwhen it came to finding her firstplace on her own. From Surrey,where she lives with her family, UBCis “quite the commute: three hours,”she says. “When I’m at UBC, Yale-town will be best for me.”

Sidhu says she liked what she sawright away at Donovan’s show home.“I’d heard so many good things

about Cressey, and I loved the lay-out, the finishings, the dark-choco-late colour scheme — it was perfectfor me,” she says. “It’s a one-bed-room, and for me being just a stu-dent it was very attractive. I was sold.I’m so fortunate to be able to get anice place.”

Yaletown is also a draw for her. “It’sthe most happening place in Vanc-couver, especially for younger peo-ple in their 20s and 30s. And thereare lots of celebrity sightings.”

And although she hadn’t yet seenthe viral video on donovanlife.com,her courses in marketing have madeher totally appreciate the compa-ny’s strategy. “I like the marketingscheme. I like the way it attracts acertain generation.”

Which would be young profes-sionals and soon-to-be young pro-fessionals, that is. Just like Sidhu.

jread@png.canwest.com

Quick facts

DONOVANWhat: 142 condos in an 18-storey tow-

er plus 10 townhouses in downtown Van-couver

Where: YaletownDeveloper: CresseySizes: Apartment homes, town homes,

penthouses from 573 sq. ft. to 1,777 sq. ft.Prices: $395,900 to $2.1 millionOpen: By appointment daily, 1295 Sey-

mour, between noon and 5 p.m. (exceptFridays)

Contact: Register at www.donovan-life.com or call 604-696-9030

Yaletown a fine venue for DonovanCOOL VIRAL VIDEO:Idea is to want tocome home here

THE PROVINCE ❘ HOMES ❘ E3SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2007

From above and going clockwise, compactwork station has both style and utility; the

dining area shows off trendy wide-plankhardwood flooring; high quality materials

such as this granite countertop anddesigner stainless sink are standard; the

living room offers cozy comfort, somethingthe owners will want to come home to.

JASON PAYNE — THE PROVINCE

***MEDIA RELEASE***For Immediate Release Tuesday February 6, 2007

“DONOVAN LIFE” A FIRST FOR REALESTATE MARKETING

Viral video series already headed for TVpilot

(Vancouver) – In what’s believed to be a first for real estate marketing inNorth America, Cressey Development Group has sponsored and launched“Donovan Life,” a viral video series directed by local rising star Roger EvanLarry, and in conjunction with the up- coming sales for their latestdowntown luxury condo project, Donovan.

“We’ve seen realtors using viral videos to show properties, but this is thefirst time a developer has ever partnered with a filmmaker to produce afictional series about a lifestyle,” says Cameron McNeill of MAC MarketingSolutions, the sales agents for Donovan.

Video viral campaigns have become an increasingly important part of theentertainment and advertising world. A successful viral can reach hundredsof thousands of people in a very short amount of time through emails,blogs, and websites like YouTube – a kind of virtual word of mouth thatmany companies covet as part of their sales strategy.

“Collectively, we recognized the tremendous growth of the significance ofon- line video for reaching people,” says Cressey Vice President HaniLammam. “We wanted to create a high quality series that would representthe lifestyle we envision at Donovan and that would, of course, entertainpeople. We’re really happy with how it turned out, and we’re excited torelease it.”

“Donovan Life” is a lifestyle comedy in the tradition of “Sex and the City”,“Will & Grace,” and “Friends”. It tells the story of Anya, a 20- somethingprofessional woman who seeks exile from her commitment- phobicboyfriend in her best gay friend Dougal’s luxurious new Yaletownapartment in the Donovan building. Over the course of the five webisodes,Anya tries to decide whether to go back to her boyfriend, or start her lifeanew by moving into Donovan.

“”Donovan Life” is really a universal story about young urban professionalsfull of energy and ambition who are looking for a comfortable environmentto enjoy the best the city has to offer,” says series Director Roger Evan

Larry.

Produced by Larry’s film and TV production company, Relevision, “DonovanLife” stars Crystal Bublé, Matty Finochio, and Sebastian Spence. Larry’s firstfeature film, the award- winning “Crossing”, will be released in theatresacross Canada in March, and also stars Bublé and Spence.

“Though “Donovan Life” is a very different project from “Crossing”, thesexual chemistry between Crystal and Sebastian is so steamy, I knew theywould be perfect for this project,” says Larry. “And Matty’s comedic timingand energy makes him a must- see in the role of Dougal.”

“As we were developing the concept, I got so excited about the script andthe cast we’re already in the process of turning “Donovan Life” the viralseries into a TV pilot. We think it’s a natural for a sitcom, ” concludes Larry.

The first episode in the series will be released the morning of WednesdayFebruary 7th on www.donovanlife.com. The remaining four episodes will belaunched consecutively on Friday February 9th, Monday February 12th,Wednesday February 14 th, with the finale on Friday February 16th.

- - - 30—

For more information, contact Marcella Munro, Media & CommunicationsManager for Cressey, desk 604- 895- 0462 or cell 778- 899- 4999.

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday September 7th, 2006

CONCRETE JUNGLE MEETS CONCRETE CULTURE Cressey-sponsored Contemporary Art Gallery exhibit “Concrete Language”

opens in Vancouver’s Yaletown tonight

(VANCOUVER) – Lower mainland developer Cressey has made a concrete commitment to not only their latest Yaletown project, but also to the cultural vitality of the city.

Donovan, Yaletown’s upcoming contemporary homes by Cressey, is the title sponsor of the Contemporary Art Gallery’s blockbuster fall show, ConcreteLanguage.

Concrete Language brings together works by 15 local and international artists. In each of the works, language is central and used as both a formal and material element, suggesting a way to view words and language outside the way we commonly use or view language. (See attached example.)

When approached to support Concrete Language, Cressey Vice President Hani Lammam saw a perfect match between the show and the spirit behind Donovan.

“We build concrete structures, but we’re building much more than that too. With Donovan we are designing around lifestyle for a very distinct clientele. Our focus is not just constructing a building, but creating and sustaining the cultural, social and environmental sustainability that makes Yaletown living so great.”

Cressey’s commitment to the urban environment can be found not only in their sponsorship of the CAG, but from the bottom up in the Donovan’s building, including the 3R team hired to do the demolition, and the geothermal technology that will be used to heat the building.

Donovan’s sponsorship of Concrete Language concretizes Cressey’s desire to ensure the ongoing vitality of the downtown core in the face of rapid urbanization.

“The Donovan lifestyle is not about being a part of the concrete jungle, but about being a part of the community. Concrete Language is a really unique exhibit and breaks language down to a fundamental level and I think Donovan is doing something similar with downtown living,” says Lammam.

Construction has begun at Donovan, which will offer 152 homes in a distinctive 18 storey tower located in the heart of vibrant Yaletown. Designed with a sense of ‘home’ in mind, Donovan residences are warm and welcoming with clean, contemporary lines.

Slated to open its sales centre doors in February 2007, you can find out more about Donovan by registering on the website http://www.donovanlife.com/.

In the mean time Concrete Language runs September 8th through November 5th

at the CAG (555 Nelson Street). The CAG is a non-profit gallery, and is open Wednesday to Sunday, from 12-6 pm. More information about the gallery can be had on-line at www.contemporaryartgallery.ca.

-30-

Media Contact: Marcella Munro or Pamela Groberman Pamela Groberman Media & Public Relations Inc. 604.677.7474

Buildings becoming stars in Web storiesTrying to appeal to savvy, technology-oriented young consumers, real estate developers turning to edgy online films to create a buzz

By Mary UmbergerChicago Tribune staff reporterPublished February 12, 2007

When we last saw Anya, she was taking a break from her afraid-of-commitment boyfriend by chilling, for a few weeks, in her gay buddy Dougal's condo.

But it's not just any condo--it's, like, such a fabulous condo. Really.

"It's amazing, it's perfect," the twentysomething, wide-eyed blonde tells Dougal as she surveys the living room's decorated-to-perfection splendor.

Dougal and Anya are fictional characters. Their onscreen story is "Sex and the City" meets "Will & Grace." But there's another character in the mix, and it is the building.

The building is the Donovan, a soon-to-be-real high-rise in the hip Yaletown neighborhood in Vancouver. It's a major player in "Donovan Life," a professionally produced sitcom introduced online Wednesday.

The video story line, released in five brief Webisodes every few days and culminating Feb. 16, was created at the request of Cressey Developers, a major builder in Vancouver that was looking for a new way to generate buzz. The firm decided to gamble on "advertainment," an emerging medium that kicks product placement to another level.

The best-known example of advertainment is the BMW Hire series, nine online, award-winning videos produced by such established moviemakers as Ang Lee and John Frankenheimer several years ago at the behest of the car company. The constant in their plot lines was a BMW.

"We do a lot of elegant high-rise buildings, and [the marketing] becomes quite formulaic," said Cressey Vice President Hani Lammam. "How do you capture the audience's attention when it is constantly being bombarded by so much media?"

The episodic peek into the travails of young, single professionals is designed to entice potential buyers to the developer's Internet site at www.donovanlife.com. But its director-writer aims to reverse the traditional route and take his series from the Internet to television or the big screen.

"This is not a commercial. It is not an industrial-film sales pitch," said Roger Larry, a Vancouver moviemaker who wrote the "Donovan Life" script with his wife, Sandra Tomc.

The advertainment technique is starting to gain traction, said Ann Handley, chief content officer for MarketingProfs.com, a California-based online trade publication. She said that last year, for example, the Dove soap brand capitalized on the popularity of "Desperate Housewives" actress Felicity Huffman in creating three Webisodes in which Huffman, as directed by Penny Marshall, is transported back into classic sitcoms.

Handley said that after initial resistance the real estate industry is figuring out what to do on the Web.

"Today I spend as much [money] on my Web site as I do on my brochures," said Garry Benson, chief executive of Garrison Partners, a national real estate marketing company based in Chicago.

"Historically, a third of our traffic is going to come from traditional media such as newspapers, a third from signage and a third is from other forms of outreach, such as the Internet.

"But that has started to shift. The Web-based marketing is starting to rival the print media."

Benson said a large-scale development usually budgets 2 percent to 3 percent of the gross sales price of the project for marketing.

Lammam declined to specify how much the firm invested in sponsoring the "Donovan Life" series, though he said its cost was lessened by piggybacking production with "Crossing," a movie Larry was working on in December, when most of "Donovan Life" was shot with the same actors.

The promotion has been noticed. Hits on "Donovan Life" site had been averaging 672 a day after a traditional post card and print ad campaign for the building began Jan. 8, said Cressey spokeswoman Marcella Munro.On Wednesday, when the video series began, they leapt to nearly 21,000.

"Those numbers don't surprise me," said Dominic Adducci, managing director of Mesirow Financial Real Estate in Chicago, which used its own online video series to promote R+D659, a West Loop high-rise.

The Mesirow videos, however, are less like TV programming and more like light-hearted commercials extolling the building and its neighborhood. They are premised on a character named Artie, a butcher, who emerges from a 99-year sleep in the freezer of his old shop (don't ask) and sets out to catch up with modern life. Visitors to the site, ArtiesAdventures.com, can register for free admission to the building's launch party Feb. 15.

Adducci presumes that most attendees will be of a demographic comparable with the one Cressey is seeking at "Donovan Life": ages 25 to 45, single or couples with above-average salaries.

"This group is very technology-oriented and very sophisticated in terms of the very hard direct sell," Adducci said. "The young professional responds more to image and lifestyle than to a traditional sale."

He said about 8,000 visitors have viewed the Artie videos since they premiered in late January.

Where Artie is a genial, aw-shucks character, Anya and Dougal and neighbor Jack, the object of their mutual interest, are more on the randy side. The Web site for the Donovan, whose marketing tagline is "Get Intimate," urges parental discretion for viewers of "Donovan Life" and warns that it may not be suitable for some.

Lammam doesn't expect that to be a problem.

"From our perspective, it needs to get a reaction. Whether it's good or bad, whether you love it or hate it, it causes you to sit up and take notice," he said.

Talk is key, agreed Charles Falls, president of Demi & Cooper advertising in Elgin, which develops marketing strategies for builders.

"This younger demographic is very heavy on buzz," he said. "If there's talk about it, people will check it out."

Handley, the marketing publisher, said there were unlikely to be negatives in such a campaign, even with sexual content.

"As an approach for this particular product, the Donovan building, it's not bad. In fact, it's rather good," Handley said. "The show clearly defines the demographic--people who will want to live there--and the reasons for it. It's hip, it's cool, it's fun.

"Plus, a really cute guy might live next door. What isn't appealing about that?"

----------

mumberger@tribune.com

Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune

The developer reserves the right to make modifications to floorplans, project design, materials and specifications to maintain the high standard of this development.

Plan PH-1 ~ Two bedroom & den

T O T A L A R E A 1450 sq ft L E V E L 20

S TO R A G E

B E D R O O M

D I N I N G

R O O FD E C K

D E N

L I V I N G R O O FD E C K

K I TC H E N

B ATH

D W

L O W E R F L O O R

M W

U P

01P H - 1

02P H - 1

03P H - 2

0 5P H - 2

P E NTH O U S E

R O O F D E C K

U P P E R F L O O R

E N S U I T E

W / DW A L K - I NC L O S E T

M A ST E RB E D R O O M

D N

U P

R O O F D E C K

H OT TU B

R O O F D E C K

D N

The developer reserves the right to make modifications to floorplans, project design, materials and specifications to maintain the high standard of this development.

Plan PH-2 ~ Two bedroom & den

T O T A L A R E A 1777 sq ft L E V E L 20

S TO R A G E

L I V I N G

D I N I N G

D E N

B E D R O O M

R O O FD E C K

R O O FD E C K

B ATH

K I TC H E N

L O W E R F L O O R

U P

M WD W

01P H - 1

02P H - 1

03P H - 2

0 5P H - 2

R O O FD E C K

U P P E R F L O O R

E N S U I T E

W A L K - I NC L O S E T

M A ST E R B E D R O O M

D N

W / D

D N

R O O F D E C K

H OT TU B

R O O F D E C K

D N

P E NTH O U S E