Fairview Slopes is the new ‘in’ place with the arrival of Boxwood Green townhomes. GERRY KAHRMANN — THE PROVINCE

CREDIT: Gerry Kahrmann, The Province Spa time: master bath at Boxwood Green townhome offers serenity in the heart of the city.

CREDIT: Gerry Kahrmann, The Province Boxwood Green from top left: master bedroom; kitchen; den and bike room or wine cellar (above).

Fairview Slopes: so tickety-boo when the development of the slope started, spun out of the excitement of the early days of Granville Island and False Creek. So troubled when the leaky-condo crisis hit, along with so many other Lower Mainland neighbourhoods and now dedicated to salvaging its reputation and rising above the past.

Projects like Boxwood Green are part of the new Fairview, in every sense of the word, according to marketer Ken Leong. Subscribing to the building codes that have been in place for a reassuring number of years, these cool, sophisticated boutique townhomes are aesthetically more than alluring as well. The smart design and beautiful finishings go into creating what are effectively airy retreats. Quite an achievement in a district so populated that it’s clearly a favourite Buster’s Towing haunt — the trucks prowl routinely and take no prisoners.

Smart, then, for Boxwood Green to provide double secured garages for its townhomes, with direct access into the lower level. Homeowners here will likely feel sequestered from the madding crowd as soon as the first set of gates closes behind the car. Whew! Made it again.

Turn off the engine, get the groceries and come on up. Way up — these townhomes have four levels counting the garage level. In the display home, enter (I guess this would be the basement) to a neat study and sweet three-piece bath with shower and pedestal sink. The bike-storage area has been converted to a wine cellar, but this little flex room could serve a lot of purposes.

Up the first flight to the official front door level — and here’s a living space to really love. A sleek open floor plan with nine-foot ceilings and midships kitchen: long, narrow plumbed island, eating bar at one end, with the rest of the kitchen running parallel along the wall. Midships? The living room, with bay window and electric fireplace, opens through French doors onto a private patio and is at one end of the kitchen. The dining area is at the other. Granite counters, stainless and manufactured hardwood are standard. Entertaining is probably standard, too.

Of course some people would not love this much openness: for them, the more conventional floor plans of the mews townhouses behind, with kitchens set to the back.

Upstairs again (technically the second floor) to two bedrooms, here designated as kids’ room and media room, plus bathroom with tub and yet another elegant pedestal sink.

But the piece de resistance really is the master suite at the top, with deck and the best ensuite we’ve seen since somebody made over a bathroom on HGTV a few weeks ago. Deep soaker tub and glass surround shower, water closet, stone counters, undermount sink, porcelain tile floors, lots of natural light, huge wall mirror — voila. A spa.

Location-wise Boxwood Green is more than enviable. Across the street from Charleson Park in False Creek and a third of the way from Granville Island to the future Olympic Village, the development is on a direct route downtown, and just a few feet from the Laurel overpass that leads to the seawall and Market. Fairview, positioned close to South Granville shops and Broadway’s countless amenities, is also littered with useful little mini-malls of all kinds that have sprung up to serve the community, which leads to another great touch, right next to Boxwood Green’s front door. Yes, it’s a Starbucks you could call your own.

Spa time: master bath at Boxwood Green townhome offers serenity in the heart of the city. GERRY KAHRMANN — THE PROVINCE

Boxwood Green from top left: master bedroom; kitchen; den (above) and bike room or wine cellar (right). GERRY KAHRMANN — THE PROVINCE

FAST FACTS

WHAT: Boxwood Green is 24 townhomes on Fairview Slopes in Vancouver.

WHERE: 834 West 6th Ave., Vancouver.

DEVELOPED BY: Larc Developments.

SIZES: Two-bedroom to three-bedroom-andden townhomes, 1,174 sq. ft.-1,589 sq. ft.

PRICES: $464,900-$523, 500 and up.

OPEN: Noon to 5 p.m. daily except Friday, 834 6th Ave., Vancouver, 604-876-2366.

© The Vancouver Province 2004