Posted May 27, 2008, 11:54 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 766
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L'Hermitage Amenities
Yume-sama and I are neighbors ; ).
I've been in the building about a month, one of the first units to close. Here is the scoop on the amenities, as recently confirmed by the property manager and developer. Though pretty clearly spelled out in the strata docs, there has been some confusion in the building, both by new owners and by the hotel (owners understandably busy getting settled and hotel management and staff understandably busy trying to get their hotel operation ready for opening).
As confirmed by the property manager, these amenities on the fifth and sixth floors are shared by the hotel and strata owners and their guests:
1) Workout facility - still being set up. While not a huge gym, it is not a bad size either for basic workouts. We saw the boxes of equipment being delivered . . . looked like a few treadmills, a few workout stations, and some additional cardio equipment (rowing machines perhaps?). The room itself is double-height ceiling, as are the other common amenity spaces in 3) below.
2) Fitness Center changing rooms, including shower and sauna - separate sauna rooms, one each in men's and women's dressing areas.
3) Lounge Area and Sitting Area - really the nicest surprise as far as quality / size. Double-height ceiling, really impressive marble two-sided fireplace from floor to ceiling in one area, along with a few nook seating areas and a couple of open areas, including a nice rotunda area with an even higher ceiling for a real open feel. The area also includes a bit of a kitchen / buffet type area tucked off to the interior of the main seating area. It looks adequate for continental breakfasts or snacks, with some cooking or warming capability perhaps though certainly not a full restaurant kitchen. Large windows look out onto terrace area (along the back) and pool with terrace seating area (stretching further and wider along the back. You can't see these terrace areas from the street because it is tucked behind the pedestal that sticks out towards Robson St. But when in the area itself, it actually has a nice open feel as you can see just above the theatre and over the terrace space of the Westin next door.
4) Library / Meeting Room - overlooks the lounge seating areas. The room itself also has floor to ceiling glass though that particular room is only one floor - on the upper floor of the two-story amenity area. It sits over the kitchen-buffet area mentioned above.
When we moved in, we got mixed messages on access to the lounge and library common areas, which concerned us a bit because the strata docs clearly regard those areas (and the fitness area) as part of a common, shared amenity area. In fact it is technically part of the residential strata though the strata rules require an easement to allow the hotel to share that space. I think the confusion was the hotel is also charged with operating that space so they (in my opinion) may have tried to over-step their charge with talk of limiting access to the space. But based on the discussions we - and apparently other owners - had with property management and developer - it has been clarified that once completed (nearing completion but not quite finished) owners and their guests, as well as the hotel and their guests / customers, will share ALL these interior amenity spaces. The hotel can, of course, change for food and beverages they offer in the amenity area, but access and use of the common amenity spaces and fitness facilities are included with the strata fees. The costs to maintain and staff the amenity area are shared between the hotel and strata owners.
There are two components the hotel does control completely:
1) The first is the pool area, which includes a whirlpool as well. The pool is actually a nice lap pool, but the terrace and landscaping around the pool are really quite impressive. It looks like a great place for drinks and just hanging out. While they may (and I would think probably will at some point, simply for financial reasons) offer access memberships for residents, the pool is regarded as a hotel property (including maintenance) so use and access is managed completely by them.
2) They also have a small "spa area" (though it is not extensive - smaller than the fitness room and normal ceiling height - not double-height like the fitness area). It seems they are still defining how that space will be used. It doesn't seem large enough for an extensive private spa, but I suppose they could put a couple of small treatment rooms and offer yoga sessions (or something along those lines) in the remaining area - or just have the space configured for various uses at different times. The common area changing and shower rooms sit between the common fitness area and the hotel spa area.
There is also a residential roof deck on the 11th floor (that is the area where you can see the trees peaking out when walking along Robson Street). I think that is also regarded as a common area to be shared with hotel guests, but I'm not positive of that. I know it is part of the residential component, and it wasn't part of the discussions we had with the property manager after we moved in so I didn't explore that too far.
I do have some photos, which I will try to post later (have to run for now).
We're very pleased thus far. The quality seems quite high in the building, and the developer does seem to be doing a good job on the finishing touches. And the hotel management and staff seem to be quite good. Even the conversations we had with them regarding access to the common amenity space were friendly and open. Our understanding is some new owners were disappointed about the pool although we found that strange as it was clear in the strata docs that the pool was part of the hotel, particularly since they cover all the costs for it.
Considering that the hotel is a boutique hotel (approximately 60 rooms and suites) and the residential strata consists of 184 units, I think it is a pretty nice arrangement for both. Not to confuse things but there is also another component called the lower residential component, which the developer retained, consisting of 20 units. It suffices to say that component shares the amenities described above in the same way as the strata owners do. And, of course, there is also the retail component; but I left them out because they don't access any of the amenities outlined in this post.
Lastly, the hotel is negotiating for a restaurant at street level next to the main entrance on Richards - in the space between the hotel / residential lobby entrance and the separate entrance for the social housing lobby. It probably won't open for several months, but the hotel does of course want to have a full dining component - as do we ; ). So I think they are approaching that smartly.
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