Apartment Look

Today’s generation of new apartment buildings looks nothing like its dated predecessors. Built to emulate high-end condominiums but with the services and amenities of upscale hotels, these extraordinary vertical communities boast beautiful designs and common spaces to die for. Here’s a look at some of the new, state-of-the art apartments emerging in cities all across Canada and a list of their featured amenities. From East to West and top to bottom, apartment living today is anything but bland. The Alexander Location: Halifax Owner/Manager: Killam Apartment REIT Opening: October 2017 At 22 storeys, The Alexander is a brand new residential development located on Lower Water Street in downtown Halifax. A blend of  modern and historic with its ironstone base and a soaring glass tower , The Alexander will provide residents with convenient access to the popular Brewery Market Square where on- site retailers abound . Building amenities include : a spacious 800+ square foot lobby; a...

When it comes to condominium development , Cascadia’s two largest cities couldn ’t be more different. Last year nearly 60 percent of new housing starts in the city of Vancouver, BC , were condominiums; meanwhile, Seattle saw no new condominium buildings open . And that’s not changing anytime soon: less than 10 percent of all building slated for downtown Seattle in the next three years will be condos. What’s the difference—why the blossoming of condominium construction in one city and the almost complete dearth in the other? The short answer is economics. In Vancouver, apartments are saddled with an unfavorable tax code , making condos the more lucrative multi- family housing investment even despite high rental demand . In Seattle’s skyrocketing rental market , one that’s climbed even faster than the condo market in recent years, apartment buildings are much more financially attractive, while condos come with bigger risks and, typically, lower returns. Compounding this profit differe...