Today, the Sophia is little more than a hole in the ground. When it's finished, the complex at the corner of Inverness Road and Glasgow Avenue will comprise 43 condos over underground parking. Prices range from about $270,000 to $460,000. Layouts include 25 two-bedroom units, 10 one-bedroom units and 8 one-bedroom plus den units.
Meanwhile, all there is to see is a presentation centre in a little trailer at the side of a construction site. Pictures shown here were borrowed, with permission, from the Sophia website.
Inside the presentation centre, there's a little plastic model showing how the building will look when it's finished. This is enough to convince a lot of people -- the complex is already more than half sold. I'm not very good at visualizing things that aren't yet in existence. Real estate agent Kyle Porter, who was manning the presentation centre the day we visited, has no such problem -- he paints word pictures of how the site will look and how the complex will function.
Sophia promises to be an attractive building when it's complete. The site is designed with lots of space for landscaping, so it will look appealing from the street.
The architect, VDA Architecture Ltd. has won CARE and Georgie awards for other projects. They did the NOVA building in Fernwood and the new aquatic centre in Westhills.
The builder, Homewood Constructors Ltd., also did the Dallas Point townhouse project featured in this blog a few weeks back. This complex will be done to Built Green Gold certification standard.
The location is great, within walking distance of Uptown and Mayfair shopping centres, it's kitty-corner from Routlege Park and a short bike ride from the Galloping Goose trail. There are coffee shops, restaurants and the wonderful Italian Bakery at Quadra and Tolmie all within a short walk.
We'll revisit this building when it's complete. Meanwhile, the presentation centre is worth a visit if you're thinking of condo living within a short bus or bike ride of downtown.
Address: 100 Inverness, Victoria
Developer: Inverness & Glasgow Properties Ltd.
Builder: Homewood Constructors Ltd.
Real estate rep: Kyle Porter of the Victoria Real Estate Team
