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The New Kid on the Block: Era Condos Combine Style and Sustainability

In March, real estate developer Concert Properties opened Era, a 157-unit condo building in downtown Victoria. Located at 728 Yates Street between Douglas and Blanchard Streets, the 16-storey building has a contemporary flair with touches like chrome fixtures and recessed lighting, but it retains the façade of the original structure built at that location in 1905. 

"We're such a nice blend of the old and the new, I think it really defines the building," says Alison Wedekind, senior sales manager in Victoria for Era. "One really nice feature is when the sidewalls of the [original] building came down, the brick was retained and a lot of that brick makes up the east wall of the lobby. It has that old feel to it, a really rich textured look in the lobby." 

Five commercial spaces line the building's first floor, although none have been officially leased yet. Three of those spaces run along Millie's Lane, an alley named after the late and beloved local businesswoman Millie Hawkes. 

When we spoke to Wedekind in late May, Era was 82 per cent sold out and owners had begun moving in. "It's attracted a very diverse demographic," Wedekind says. "They range from university age to into their eighties."  She attributes the demographic variety of residents to the downtown location's walkability (in fact, Era has a Walkscore of 100, the highest possible score). 

Era's prime downtown location was a big draw for Marv Gandall and his wife Walker Jones, retirees who recently purchased a two-bedroom condo in ERA after relocating Victoria to escape Ottawa's harsh winters. "The building is right in the heart of downtown," Gandall says. "The panoramic views looking south to James Bay and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and west to the West Shore mountains also attracted us." 

At less than 800 square feet, their unit is smaller than the two other condos they've owned in Ottawa, but Gandall feels it's well-designed. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide ample sunlight too. "We were happy to find this northwest corner available because the floor to ceiling windows give us a lot of indirect sunlight without the baking heat [of facing south, as their Ottawa condo did]," Gandall adds. 

The building's secure underground parkade has 109 parking stalls (including ten spots for visitors), so units smaller than 540 square feet do not include parking. However, those who purchase a suite without parking get a complementary membership to modo cars, a local car-sharing co-op that has 23 vehicles in Victoria. "It's a pretty nice alternative to owning a vehicle form a cost point of view," Wedekind says. Each suite does come with a storage locker and residents have access to an extensive bike storage facility. 

In addition to its bike storage facility and a large recycling facility, Era has a green roof and was built to LEED silver standard of sustainable. "Ceilings are 8 feet 10 inches, so that results in larger windows and more natural light," Wedekind says. "All the appliances are Energy Star-rated and the concrete construction keeps your energy costs down." 

The building's second-floor landscaped terrace providers a communal indoor/outdoor space for residents (complete with a BBQ and fire bowl) while reducing storm water run-off and improving the building's thermal efficiency. It also has a full-time residential manager. 

That part of Yates Street has seen several new retailers and other construction projects in the past few months (in fact, the former Dalton Hotel across the street is being transformed into rental apartments). "I think the addition of 157 residences adds a lot of vibrancy to the block," Wedekind says of Era. "The retailers on the block have been overjoyed, and we're really starting to see life in the building. We have move-ins every single day. You'll probably see that continue at a fairly good pace until the end of June." 

Era Quick Facts: 

  • Located at 728 Yates Street and designed by Rafii Architects in collaboration with Richard Henry Architect and interiors by Portico Design Group. 
  • Includes 157 units on 16 stories, including 22 studios, 76 one-bedrooms, 50 two-bedrooms, one two-bedroom plus den, two lofts and six penthouses. 
  • 2 – lofts
  • Built to LEED Silver green building standard, with 75% of construction waste diverted from landfill.
  • Parkade includes 109 parking spots (including ten visitor spots) 
  • Amenities include bike storage facility, recycling facility, communal lounge with adjoining landscaped terrace and a full-time residential manager. 

Learn more about Era