Richmond

Built in 1981 and converted to condominiums in 1996, this is a large seven-storey concrete building with 102 roomy suites and five commercial ground-floor spaces for a total of 107 mixed-use units. The best-known of these is the grocery store on the south-east corner of 14th Avenue at Centre Street, now also called Volunteer Way. The building's basement is a parking garage housing indoor heated assigned parking for all suites, while the commercial spaces have titled ground-level covered stalls around back.

The seven floors of suites are served by two elevators that open to unusually large foyers and hallways. Suites are mostly large, although a few one-bedrooms start at 601 square feet. Most, though, are two-bedroom homes of 900 square feet or more, and topping out at 1,216 square feet. Only a few suites that look out over top of the one-level commercial wing have no balcony; all other suites have a large balcony that is divided between a glassed-in sun room and outdoor space. Around back the south-east area of the property is a large common-use patio reached via a door beside the coin-op laundry room, although all the suites I've seen  have in-suite laundry, perhaps with the dryer not vented to the outside.

Condo contributions at the Richmond include in-suite electricity use, so keep that in mind if you'll compare the condo "fees" to those at other buildings. Exterior windows and doors are common property for maintenance and for future replacement. I have the Condo Plan on file.