When a beloved neighbourhood landmark has to move to make way for a new development, it’s not unusual for community residents to express concern or opposition.
What is rare, though, is when the company behind the development understands that worry, welcomes the feedback and then fosters a mutually beneficial solution.
For Jawl Residential, community engagement with the existing neighbourhood and building longstanding relationships with the community and homebuyers is at the heart of their development philosophy. So, before architectural ideas are put to paper, this family-owned, Victoria-based enterprise reaches out to residents for their input for the project.
“The suggestions that we receive ultimately make it into the project in one form or another,” says Peter Jawl, partner, Jawl Residential.
“That’s a pretty important part of our process not only for the building’s benefit and the project’s benefit but also to get a sense of what the concerns are from the community so that we can respond to them in our design.”
For the Redfern, Jawl’s next project, helping the GardenWorks store, which was on the building site property, find a new location just down the road on Oak Bay Avenue is one example of addressing residents’ concerns.
Jawl says retaining the garden centre in the immediate vicinity was high on the wish list for people and believes that it benefits both the larger community and the garden centre.
The Redfern, at four storeys high, will have retail space on the street level and three levels of condominiums above.
Including neighbourhood favourite Discovery Coffee in the new retail space is another example of listening to neighbourhood feedback, as is adjusting the outdoor spaces and window placement on the north side of the building to ensure the privacy of the adjacent homes.
Creating a sense of community factors prominently in all of the company’s projects, says Jawl.
They intentionally design outdoor spaces as a way for people to meet and engage with one another. At the Redfern, that intention has manifested as a rooftop garden space.
“It will be an outdoor patio space where we will have planter boxes for residents to grow herbs and veggies,” Jawl explains,.”It will be sized in a way that will promote many people in the building to use the space.”
Situated just on the outskirts of Oak Bay but still residing in Victoria proper, the Redfern is perfectly positioned for convenience and a sustainable lifestyle. It’s minutes from downtown and within walking distance to the beach, with a host of amenities virtually on the doorstep.
Jawl believes that the Redfern is an opportunity for people in the area looking for the convenience and amenities of a condo, but who also want the space and comfort of a single-family home.
The building was initially approved for 35 homes, but was reduced to 29 so that each residence can be decidedly roomier, with one-bedroom homes starting at 550 square feet, two bedrooms starting 1,031 square feet, and the exclusive three-bedroom suite being 1,625 square feet.
“We made it a focus on this project to build larger suites than we might normally construct,” Jawl observes. “We feel there is a strong demand from people who have lived in homes for 20 to 30 plus years, and they’re looking to downsize, but they can’t currently downsize in this area.”
If there is a theme underpinning the Redfern’s design, Jawl describes it as condo living without compromise. Yes, every home will be aesthetically beautiful with its classic yet fresh interpretation of the transitional style. Still, it is the functionality, use of space and unique details usually found in custom-built homes that create the feel of a single-family home.
Think wine fridges in large walk-in pantries, double-thick quartz countertops, LED clothing rods in ensuite closets, curbless walk-in spa-inspired showers, and pull-out laundry hampers in the bathrooms.
Homes also feature a walk-in laundry room with custom millwork and quartz countertops with a front-load washer and dryer and lots of storage.
Jawl says there is “a level of detail and thought that goes beyond what you might expect.”
Kitchens, which open out onto the light-drenched living rooms, are spacious with expansive islands for food prepping and dining. Full-size Wolf and Fisher Paykel appliances are seamlessly integrated into the Italian-crafted wood cabinetry—in either blonde or honey hues depending on which of the two colour palettes the buyer opts for.
Bathrooms offer underfloor heating and luxurious marble-patterned finishes, quartz countertops, under-cabinet lighting, rainfall showers, and Italian millwork with the two-bedroom homes featuring elegant, freestanding soaker tubs.
Adding to the air of a single-family dwelling is an upscale yet invisible feature: the heating and cooling system.
Jawl says the building will have a filtered air system for heating and cooling through ducting. This means integrated vents rather than conventional baseboard heaters, which makes furniture placement more flexible.
Each suite comes with additional storage in the secured underground parkade, along with a parking spot. Still, there are also private, double-car garages available as well as more oversized storage. In keeping with the sustainable yet homey approach, there’ll be a DIY bike repair station and EV charging, in addition to handy dog bathing and car wash areas.
All the thoughtful design details to increase space and comfort reflect the unique vision for the Redfern, Jawl says.
“We felt it was important to design these suites in a way that did not really feel like condos, and I think we’ve done it.”
