So when “boutique developer” Providence Development Group acquired a piece of property in Kensington in hopes of developing apartment-style condos there, everyone warned them that they would be fighting an uphill battle. However, after a number of months and amendments to the plan, Providence received unprecedented unanimous support from the community association planning committee.

“It’s been very synergistic,” says Gary Beyer, president of Providence Development Group. “We’ve had good support from the community, the city, the aldermen and all the stakeholders.”

With the ongoing input of the Hillhurst-Sunnyside community association, the Providence of Kensington was designed to include 51 units, with an exterior design which complements the surrounding mix of traditional architecture and contemporary design. Composed of sandstone and brick with modern-classic black accents, the project will feature balconies or terraces with each suite, as well as attractive landscaping. The average size of the suites is around 1000 square feet, with over 90 per cent of the floor plans having two bedrooms.

The community association’s concerns included the possibility of increased traffic along the quiet street where the project will be built, as well the need for the exterior of the project to harmonize with the community. Providence addressed these concerns by planning underground parking, including plenty of surplus underground parking, and reworking the initial design of the building to match the community’s vision.

“I think as soon as people realise that our buyers (will) have the exact same concerns as the existing residents … that’s where people start to connect that it’s not just a developer coming in here, it’s people buying homes, and bringing families,” says Beyer.

The unanimous vote from the planning committee was followed soon after by a unanimous vote from the community association, and as of their last open house, Providence of Kensington has 74 per cent of resident support within the Hillhurst-Sunnyside community.

It is a mutually beneficial relationship. “The city is concerned that (some of these inner-city communities) are not as vibrant as they should be, and that the young people aren’t able to move into these communities,” Beyer points out. “(When) young families or young couples move in, that really speaks to the revitalization (of the community).”

Providence has also built in Bankview, and Dianne Johnston, vice president of sales and marketing for the company, says that they can be described as a “new, trendy, inner-city” developer. “We really want to put our finger on the character of the community, not just come in and bring something in that’s out of context,” says Beyer. “In Bankview, we’ve overwhelmingly had people within the community tell us that it is a beautiful building.”

Providence endeavours to put their “finger on the pulse” of the community by looking at the history of the community, reading articles, looking at archives and talking to people who know the area. The project is then designed to match the character of the neighbourhood. In Kensington, this means brick and keystones, but with a contemporary feel.

“We want to leave the community saying, ‘Gee, I hope they build here again,’” says Johnston.  CL

Interested buyers can register at Providence Development Group’s website, http://www.providencedevelopment.ca. The sales centre in Bankview (located at 2315 14 St. SW) will be ready to show the Providence of Kensington in mid-April, taking reservations in late April and open to the public in May.