Following a very positive community consultation program and unanimous approval from Victoria City Council, Chard Development Ltd. on Wednesday, May 2, launched Duet.
This 90-unit, two-building residential project is located at 640 Michigan Street, directly behind the B.C. Legislature building.
Located in James Bay, a neighbourhood that has seen limited new development in recent years, Duet provides prospective buyers with the ideal harmony of living in a central area but not directly in the downtown core.
Phase One of Duet is an eight-storey concrete building featuring 62 suites. One-bedroom suites will be priced from approximately $250,000 with a wide variety of suite sizes and types ranging from 419 to 1,411 square feet. Suites will include open-concept floor plans with an abundance of natural light; with amenities to include a meeting room, secure bicycle storage, and common areas featuring beautiful landscaping to blend in with the surrounding James Bay streetscape.
Phase One sales launch on Saturday, May 5. Phase Two of Duet — expected to launch sales in fall 2012 — is a four-storey wood-frame building with 28 suites.
Victoria-based Farmer Construction has been awarded the building contract for Duet.
“We are thrilled to work with Farmer Construction on this exciting project,” says Dave Chard, president of Chard Development. “This is the fourth project Chard Development and Farmer Construction have collaborated on, and we feel extremely confident working with them as they are one of Victoria’s most experienced builders and are currently building our downtown project, The Sovereign.”
Two project architects, Victoria’s de Hoog and Kierulf Architects and Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership on the design of Duet’s two buildings with LADR landscape architects adding the substantial exterior landscaping and design of the central landscaped courtyard between the two buildings.
“The name we have selected for our latest residential development, Duet, epitomizes what our project stands for: two buildings coming together in perfect harmony,” says Jeff Griffiths, vice-president of marketing for Chard Development. “While there are two separate buildings at Duet, we have designed the project with one cohesive vision with the same high quality finishes and suite features, quality construction by Farmer, shared underground parking and access to amenities for both buildings.”
The name Duet also reflects Chard’s sponsorship commitment to the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.
A sales presentation centre has been constructed at 615 Broughton Street in downtown Victoria, across the street from the construction site of Chard Development project The Sovereign. The Duet presentation centre will open May 5 and will be open daily from noon to 5 p.m.
Chard Development has successfully completed three downtown condominium buildings: Corazon, a 72-suite building; Juliet, a 96-suite building; and The 834, a 115-suite, 14-storey tower. A fourth development, The Sovereign, is a 36-suite luxury building currently under construction with more than half the units sold and completion scheduled for next year.
Duet furthers Chard Development’s efforts to bring new development and economic activity to Victoria with its residential projects.
