Solo District's Altus rising

As Altus continues to rise, the Stratus tower is beginning to disappear when viewed from the east.

October occupancy for Solo's Stratus

The Stratus tower in Solo District is now tentatively scheduled for occupancy by October this year.  The original occupancy had been August.  However, Whole Foods may open earlier than the occupancy date.

The Whole Foods sign has already been installed on the retail level of the complex.

Solo District's Stratus taking form

As the Stratus tower and Whole Foods continue to evolve, the Altus tower will begin to rise shortly.  When Whole Foods goes in there in 2015 with Shoppers Drug Mart arriving later, food choices will significantly increase.  With Loblaw having purchased Shoppers Drug Mart, the new Shoppers will surely begin to carry Loblaw food products.  These two additions will complement the existing Save On Foods on Lougheed and the Costco on Still Creek.

Photo taken this morning

Solo District in NewsLeader

The Solo District development at Willingdon and Lougheed is beginning to receive a lot of press as it gets set to rise and temporarily become the site for the tallest building in Burnaby.  The 70-story towers at Brentwood Mall's redevelopment will eventually take that distinction once they are built over the next few years.

As the story below mentions, the developer of this project will build a City-owned 4000 square foot space and contribute $30 million to the density fund pool dedicated for amenities in the Brentwood area.  The use of the City-owned space has yet to be decided and announced.  The project is situated south of Lougheed, and east of Rosser Ave to the west of Willingdon Ave.

Burnaby NewsLeader article

Burnaby's tallest tower underway

By Wanda Chow - Burnaby NewsLeader
Published: June 18, 2013 2:00 PM

The Brentwood neighbourhood will be home to Burnaby's tallest tower after the second phase of the SOLO District development held its groundbreaking ceremony Saturday.

The project by Appia Developments will stand more than 550 feet tall, second in B.C. only to the Shangri-La in downtown Vancouver. The 55-storey building will have 48 "floors" due to some levels being double height.

Commercial units, including office space, will take up the first 14 floors, while 280 residential units will make up floors 15 to 48. A 5,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor amenity space for building residents, dubbed "Club 55," will take up the rooftop.

A public preview of the new homes was held last Saturday with sales to start this weekend, on June 22.

Recent reports of a slowing real estate market and concerns about an oversupply of condos don't concern Jim Bosa, president of Appia.

The way he sees it, he doesn't have a whole lot of competition at the moment. While the redevelopment of Brentwood Town Centre mall, kitty-corner across Lougheed Highway and Willingdon Avenue, is in the planning stages, construction has not yet begun. That makes SOLO the only project currently selling at that intersection closest to Brentwood SkyTrain station.

"I think where I am I'm in a pretty good position, [there's] not much that's going to be starting anytime soon, not much competition, good area," Bosa said. "The people that buy from me they really want to stay there."

He said many of the buyers in the existing project are familiar with Brentwood or are from there and like the proximity to transit and services.

Rather than being in a downturn, Bosa believes the current condo market is getting back to what should be normal.

"Everyone got too used to selling out overnight and everyone expected that was the norm," he said with a laugh. "After a few years of doing that they got used to it and then they started to get scared when it wasn't selling out overnight.

"I've been doing this for 20-plus years, for the first 10, 15, that wasn't the case at all. You get a good little chunk [of sales] in the beginning when you launch, and then if you can trudge along and get a good number every month, eight to 10 a month, you were doing good. That was considered a good market," he said.

"Ultimately, by the time you came to completion of the project, if you had maybe a handful of units left, well what was there to complain about?"

Stratus, the first phase of SOLO, has so far sold 230 of its 360 units, Bosa said. Construction is expected to be completed by May 2015. Burnaby's first Whole Foods supermarket is expected to open just before that, also in spring 2015.

Construction on Altus will start in about a month once permits are in place, with completion of the condominiums by the third to fourth quarter of 2016. The retail space will be ready for occupancy by late spring of 2015, and the offices by the fall of 2015.

When all four phases of SOLO District are complete, the 6.5-acre development will house about 3,000 people in more than 1,400 homes.

Through Burnaby city hall's density bonus program, Appia will also be contributing $32 million in community amenities, including a city-owned 4,000-square-foot community space and $30 million in cash to be used for amenities elsewhere in the neighbourhood.

SOLO District is being developed with several green features, including geothermal heat exchange systems, individual gas meters in each condo unit and electric car charging stations.

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com

twitter.com/WandaChow

Solo District's Stratus set to rise

This time last year it was Vantage that lit up the sky near Lougheed and Willingdon.  This year, the crane to begin construction of the Stratus building at Solo District which will include a Whole Foods below it is ready to go.  With the Brentwood Mall Redevelopment at the opposite corner inching forward, we can expect a flurry of activity over the next few years.

Solo crane today.

Vantage crane last year

Vantage crane

Solo sells out in 2 days

Solo District's phase 1 residential tower, Stratus has sold out its first 200 available units in the first 2 days.  Its location across the street from Brentwood Station and Mall makes Solo District a sought-after place to live regardless of the prevailing view that housing in Metro Vancouver is cooling.  It also doesn't hurt that the Bosa quality is behind the development by APPIA.

Burnaby NewsLeader article

Solo sells out first 200 condos in two days

By Wanda Chow - Burnaby NewsLeader
Published: July 26, 2012 4:00 PM 
Updated: July 26, 2012 4:58 PM

The first 200 condo units in Appia Developments' Solo District sold out in two days despite media reports of a cooling real estate market.

When completed in early 2015, the first residential tower, the 45-storey Stratus, will include almost 400 homes at the corner of Lougheed and Rosser Avenue. Additional units will be released for sale in the fall, with the date and numbers still to be determined.

Before sales opened on July 21, previews of the sales centre attracted thousands of people who waited up to two hours to see the show suites.

"We quickly realized that community demand was there and that people wanted to start buying," says Jim Bosa, president of Appia Developments, in a press release. "We decided to release a few homes as an introductory release and we've had an excellent response. We've sold out our first release and we're also oversubscribed for the next round."

Prices started at $229,900 for a junior one-bedroom, $289,900 for a one-bedroom,  $389,900 for a two-bedroom and $589,900 for a junior one-bedroom.

"Our first Solo District buyer on Saturday morning was a first-time homebuyer in her late 20s who had grown up in the area," Bosa said. "Like many other buyers she knew the area well, saw the potential in the community and wanted to be a part of it."

The overall Solo project will comprise four towers ranging from 38 to 55 storeys, and totalling about 1,400 homes at the southwest corner of Lougheed Highway and Willingdon Avenue. It will also be home to more than 100,000 square feet of retail space, including Burnaby's first Whole Foods store, and 40,000 square feet of office space. It's located kitty-corner from Brentwood Town Centre and Brentwood SkyTrain station.

wchow@burnabynewsleader.com

twitter.com/WandaChow

Advertising for Solo District begins

The Solo District Project is kicking into next gear as the site is in the late stages of clearing and a Solo District sign has been erected at the the corner of Willingdon and Lougheed.  According to the sign, the first phase of the project, a 45-story tower, is titled "Stratus".  Westcoast Homes & Design Magazine has also published an advertisement for the project (below).  The write-up reveals the origins of the name, "SOLO District".

Westcoast Homes & Design

February 27, 2012

Appia Developments’ quartet of towers in Burnaby, SOLO District, will be a clean, green commercial and residential neighbourhood offering everything within a short walk or bike ride.

Neighbourhoods with abbreviated names have been popular ever since New Yorkers copied London’s swingin’ Soho district with their very own SoHo – short for “South of Houston” in the mid-1980s. Now, this hip neighbourhood-naming trend is reaching into Burnaby, where Jim Bosa’s Appia Developments will soon be pre-selling SOLO District – “South of Lougheed.”

Over the past 15 years, coordinated planning between the City of Burnaby and the Appia/Embassy/BOSA Developments family has created Brentwood – the centre of vibrant urban life that is anchored by a major SkyTrain station on BC Transit’s Millennium line. SOLO District is the next logical stage in this community planning process – a self-contained, clean, green neighbourhood where everything you could possibly want is within a short walk or bike ride. This four-phase mixed commercial and residential development will eventually feature four gleaming towers with 1,400 new homes. As Burnaby’s Most Livable Urban Community, SOLO District will truly put Brentwood on the radar as a shopping, dining, and professional services centre.

Located on the southwest corner of Lougheed Highway and Willingdon, SOLO District is in line with the City of Burnaby’s vision to urbanize North Burnaby. SOLO District will make Brentwood one of the fastest growing communities in the next 10 years, making it an excellent investment opportunity. George Wong of Magnum Projects says: “There is excitement and value in high-speed growth. With a combination of City-mandated change and mass market receptivity, SOLO District will propel population growth and home values will appreciate.”

Burnaby residents have been very receptive to this project and are anticipating SOLO District’s arrival. There is a wide appeal to local residents, from young buyers to empty nesters. This will also draw buyers from all over Metro Vancouver, including downtown, East Vancouver, as well as other parts of Burnaby.

SOLO District is in the middle of it all, whether by transit or by car. The Brentwood Town Centre Station of the Millennium Line is steps away, connecting to downtown Vancouver within 20 minutes. By car, Lougheed Highway and Highway 1 are instantly accessible. North Burnaby is already a local entertainment destination – with Joey Burnaby, Brown’s Social House, Cactus Club, all within a two-block radius.

At SOLO District, there is a home for everyone, from first-time homeowners through to the downsizer and everybody in between. Even the most budget-conscious buyer is able to get in, with luxurious and spacious suites catering to those who want to pursue their dream home. Pre-sales for the first tower will launch spring 2012, with close to 400 homes to be released and anchored by a major food store. Residences in this stunning 45-storey tower will boast panoramic views of the North Shore mountains, Mount Baker and downtown Vancouver.

SOLO District’s energy-efficient, sleek glass buildings will cater to the changing demographics of North Burnaby – younger, highly educated urban professionals who perhaps work in downtown Vancouver and who value an uncrowded yet vibrant neighbourhood with an urban ambience.

SOLO At A Glance

Show Homes: Opening spring 2012, one block South of Lougheed on Willingdon
Total Number of Units: 350-plus (Phase 1 only)
Square Footage: From 480 to 1,700-plus square feet
Website: www.solodistrict.com