Grandview

Here's a luxury building if ever there was one. Built across the street from the Elbow River and pathway at Mission's south end in 2000 by Streetside Development Corporation, there are 56 sprawling suites with as many as four parking stalls and several storage lockers each. Reaching up 16 concrete floors plus topped with a chateau-style sloping copper roof (hints of Chateau Frontenac, Hotel Vancouver, etc.), the Grandview's homes have some of Calgary's best views of downtown and the Elbow River Valley.

Many suites here have two balconies, with a few having up to five. Two penthouses have three-sided glass sunrooms and decks that give views in several directions. Of course, the property is staffed around the clock, so guests and deliveries are received in person at the lofted-ceiling lobby. The historic Lang house that used to sit on the site was moved east to allow the Grandview to occupy the corner of 26th Avenue and Second Street SW, which avoided blocking the adjacent Riverscape Condos' view of the Elbow River. The house is accessed through the lobby and is the development's clubhouse with meeting/dining space, a fireplace-warmed reading room and billiard table, plus a large garden-surrounded patio.

Standard suite finishings included nine-foot ceilings, central air conditioning, tinted windows, pre-wired for security systems, extra-wide suite entry doors, glass balcony railings and various upgraded flooring, fixtures and appliances. Two guest suites were originally part of the building's package. I say "originally" because condo corporations sometimes sell these off some years down the road. This is a luxury building with a fine location walking distance to downtown but away from the hub-hub, and next to the river. 'Nice.

Exterior windows and doors at Grandview are common property for maintenance and their eventual replacement. I have on file all original marketing materials and suite floor plans, plus the Condo Plan.