Greystones

Two buildings were set at jaunty angles atop their in-ground two-level concrete parkade here in 2004. These are of modern frame construction with structural floor joists and light concrete topping which houses the in-floor hot-water heating. There are 52 suites, seven of which are two-storey loft homes which also have roof-top decks with terrific downtown views. Downstairs are 61 titled parking stalls, so nine suites have two stalls each, plus there's indoor visitor parking and a large assigned storage locker for every suite, separated from the dust of the garage.

The minimalist square and grey exteriors hint at the modernist luxury of the suites inside. Every home has nine-foot ceilings and rising to 18 feet in the lofts, hardwood flooring with a slate entryway, stainless-steel appliances, granite counters, gas fireplace and elaborate kitchens with gas ranges plus many other touches. Every suite has at least a small balcony, most being larger and patios being largest of all, plus the roof-top decks for that lucky view. The smallest suite at the Greystones is 749 sq. ft., but it's rare. Many suites are roomy two-bedroom two-bathroom homes (a few have three of each) with the largest offering 1,533 sq. ft. Most one-bedroom suites have a den. The buildings are irregular shapes, so every suite is more interesting than a simple rectangle layout.

The builder left some a water-seepage problem for a most-uphill ground-floor suite and on the buildings' faces where there are slate tile highlights. No doubt the owners have or will soon remedy those issues, which are surprisingly common in new buildings. The new-home warranty program should ante up to solve those issues if the builder doesn't. These are attractive sleek buildings with glitzy interiors, and I particularly like the huge storage locker for each suite. Exterior windows and doors are common property for maintenance and future replacement.