The Salient Group

Our latest Gastown project, the Paris Annex, is set to launch this September. The Annex is all new construction designed to complement the neighbouring Paris Block, a restored 100-year- old building named for its longtime occupant, shoe retailer Pierre Paris. On completion in the fall of 2011 the Paris Annex will consist of 17 apartments, including two penthouse lofts with rooftop access.

The Salient Group is committed to combining spectacular modern architecture with heritage, and the Paris Annex is the perfect example. The new construction features a modern exterior of concrete, glass and aluminum, and interiors with large windows, linear floor plans and decks. It will share corridors, stairs and an elevator with its heritage counterpart. The design goal is to add interest and diversity to the neighbourhood while helping strengthen the existing community.

The show suite will be open to the public in early September at the courtyard at Garage, 12 Water Street. Stay tuned for more news and photos as the Paris Annex progresses.

The Flack Block gets an update in the Vancouver Sun, marking the first anniversary of Shelley Penner’s tenancy in the building.  Penner helms design firm Penner And Associates and the attached retail store p + a furniture, which sells sustainable, Canadian made products with an emphasis on smart design.

The makeover of the Flack Block, which Salient completed in 2008, has been followed by improvements in the rest of the neighbourhood as well – read Penner’s thoughts on the area and its business potential here.

The Vancouver Sun’s Business section has a write-up the continuing restoration of Gastown.  The story features an interview with the owners of Orling & Wu, a new store at 28 Water Street, a heritage property which is part of the Salient Group’s revitalization efforts in the area.

News 1130 also carries the story here.

Scout Magazine has the story on Boneta’s planned move.  The Gastown favourite will open in the courtyard at Garage, at the corner of Water and Carrall streets, in February of next year.

Garage is a Salient Group project which combines the 1889 Cordage Building and the Nagel Brothers garage, which dates to the 1930s.  The renovation project preserves the buildings’ heritage façades and the courtyard, as well as the ground-level retail and second floor offices.  The major addition is a four-storey modern glass cube with 34 residences.   For more information on the project visit moderngarage.ca

New restaurant L’Abattoir had its grand opening party this week, which means the public opening is imminent.  The newly renovated space at 217 Carrall, which seats 80, is co-owned by chef Lee Cooper and Paul Grunberg, both familiar names to the Vancouver food scene.  Congratulations to both!  For updated information on opening day, visit labattoir.ca.

Image Credit: Stonework on Facade of Flack Block by Renewal Partners, on Flickr

The conservation and rehabilitation of the Flack Block has received a 2010 Outstanding Achievement Award from Heritage BC.  For a complete description of the project, visit the awards page at Heritage BC.

Robert Fung is a real-estate developer on weekdays and a home-loving dad on Sundays. Photograph by: Jon Murray, The Province, The Province

What do B.C. people like to do with their Sundays?
Vancouver Province
August 30, 2009

Robert Fung is a Vancouver real-estate developer best known for restoring the city’s heritage buildings and redeveloping them on the inside into new condo developments.

As president and founder of the Salient Group, Fung has led several heritage restoration/ conversions in Gastown, including the new Terminus building and Paris Block.

The married father of three little girls, aged seven, five and three, might have a long-held passion for history, but says these days, the best things in life revolve around his family.

How do you spend Sundays? It almost always involves coffee at Cafe Artigiano, usually with the whole gang. But if it’s during the school year, I’ve got three young kids, so it almost always involves a birthday party — either attending or holding. And then running around on that basis. And as much as we can, just hanging around as a family, playing on the swingset or going to the park. Generally uninspiring, but sometimes, those are the best days. It’s the time to hang out with the kids, because they don’t see much of me during the week.

And what about the rest of your week? It’s early mornings in the office in the summer. And once the school year starts, it’s two or three days a week taking the kids to school. . . and then it’s to the office. And I really make my best effort to have dinner with the family every night. I think it’s really important. I try to be home for six ‘o clock dinner, then put the kids to bed and then work until whenever. I usually work at home until midnight, and then fire it up again.