Princeton

Six ultra-luxury buildings rose here in phases starting in 2002, with lower-profile buildings adjacent to the Bow River pathway and two high-rise towers closer to Eau Claire Avenue. Phase One was the low-rise Princeton Cityscape at 660 Eau Claire Avenue, Princeton Hall tower at 690 Princeton Way, and the low-rise Princeton Waterfront at 670 and 680 Princeton Way, which is really the semi-circular garden-lined driveway through the development leading off and back to Eau Claire Avenue. With the completion of Phase Two the driveway is divided by a fence, so each is a cul-de-sac leading to the lobbies and the parking garage ramps.

Phase Two saw three new buildings to the west mirror the first three, making the entire development reasonably symetrical. The new low-rise buildings are named Cityscape Two on Eau Claire Avenue and Waterfront Two back closest to the Bow River, and the 19-storey Princeton Grand tower. The three Phase Two buildings are unified under a single Condominium Plan. A third phase to the west was cancelled and the land has been sold to a Vancouver Architect and a friend, who may now wait (2009) for a stronger market before starting a new development.

PHASE ONE'S PRINCETON HALL, 690 Princeton Way, 14 floors:
Luxury is the word for all the Princeton buildings, so it certainly applies for the 43 homes in this 14-storey concrete, steel, brick, and stone tower completed in 2002. Suites range in size from large to larger, and two high-speed elevators know from your security card which floor to whisk you up to. A third elevator is used by staff and reserved for those moving. The entrance has a covered drive-through pickup/drop off area, and the lobby is ornate; I'll spare you the usual Realtor superlatives.

Princeton Hall offers 24-hour staffing, a social space called the board room, a wine cellar and tasting room, hot tub, gym, change rooms with steam sauna and showers, a guest suite, indoor visitor parking, carwash bay, and electronic security throughout. The building is air conditioned and heating is by in-floor hot water. As far as I know all suites are separated by concrete walls. A large single-level parkade underlies all three buildings of Phase One, with many suites having more than one titled indoor stall. Visitor parking is also indoors, and there are storage lockers, as well.

PHASE ONE'S PRINCETON CITYSCAPE (one), 660 Eau Claire Avenue, four floors:
Twenty homes here are generally smaller than in the other Princeton buildings, but include four two-level townhouse-style suites that front onto Eau Claire Avenue. A mix of one and two-bedroom suites make up the balance of 16 suites, all with spacious balconies and all served by a quick-quick elevator from the parkade and lobby. This building joins the low-rise Waterfront One building in a single condominium corporation, with exterior gardening and various maintenance work coordinated with the other Princeton buildings. There are fewer amenities for the low-rise Phase One buildings, but that also means that the condo fees are lower than at Princeton Hall.

PHASE ONE'S PRINCETON WATERFRONT (one), 670 and 680 Princeton Way, four floors:
Fifteen large suites here enjoy light from both back and front and thus views of the garden/driveway area and north or west to the Bow River and its pathway, as the building design with two elevators avoids hallways running the length of the building; 'good idea! In an "L" shape with a long curve and recessed on upper floors of the four stories, the building looks elegant. Although suites won't have the long views afforded to higher-up suites at Princeton Hall, these have human-scale views of the parkland along the Bow. 'Very nice. All the usual standards apply, such as indoor parking, visitor parking, air conditioning, etc.

PHASE TWO'S PRINCETON CITYSCAPE (two), 650 Eau Claire Avenue, but I've seen it referred to as 1 Princeton Way, four floors:
A twin to its Phase One sister, but with 12 single-level suites and rounded corners.

PHASE TWO'S PRINCETON WATERFRONT (two), sharing the Grand tower's address of 600 Princeton Way, four floors:
Pretty much a twin, but a bit larger than its Phase One sister, with 17 single-level suites, also with suite views in at least two directions, and three directions for end-of-building suites. The Grand tower's lobby also acts as the lobby for Waterfront Two, and the buildings share their recreation facilities. Owners from Cityscape Two can walk over.

PHASE TWO'S PRINCETON GRAND, 600 Princeton Way, 19 floors:
Largely a twin to its Phase One sister, Princeton Hall, with 44 suites enjoying similar amenities and staff, again with some suites taking up an entire floor, with direct to-your-suite elevator service.

Exterior windows and doors in all Princeton buildings are common property for maintenance and eventual replacement. Unit factors for all suites were assigned in proportion to floor areas. I have on file original marketing materials and all the Condo Plans.