EVERGREEN BOWEN ISLAND BRITISH COLUMBIA

EVERGREEN – BOWEN ISLAND

EVERGREEN IS UNFOLDING

SIMPLY BOWEN
All too often, our modern lifestyle sacrifices “life” for style. Our families are burdened by the need for two incomes to afford our larger homes, our two cars, our frequent travels and more. Today, we are seeing smaller families living in larger homes with hardly enough time to sit down and eat together. We are surrounded by more roads, more traffic, bigger buildings, expanding to the very edges of their lots. Nature has become a travel destination more than an every day living environment. Our lives are being consumed as we race to pay for all the things we think we need. It’s a home for people wishing to step off the treadmill and come back to life, with time to go slow, to recharge, to connect with family and nature. When you arrive on Bowen, you feel the stresses of the city lifting. At Evergreen you’ll wind along our single lane road through the parkland that surrounds us, with views of ocean and islands, and join a community that retains its tranquility and vitality. Only four lots were released in 2008.

SUMMARY
Located on Bowen Island, British Columbia, Evergreen entails the creation of 23 home sites within a coastal bluff landscape. The Evergreen property is 80 acres of mature coastal forest land infused with wetland, inland bluff habitat, seasonal watercourses and a rich community of native birds and deer. Western Red Cedar, Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock and Arbutus thrive in this rich coastal ecosystem. Developed in phases, Evergreen will ultimately encompass three unique ‘families’ of homes that are lightly tucked into this pristine landscape. The Ridge will be the first family to be introduced, 15 homes that will range from 1 to 1.2 acres. Only four of these lots were released in 2008. Majestically overlooking the Keats and Paisley Island islands, Arbutus Point and Bowen Bay beach, these lots are nestled within 40 acres of parkland to be protected in its natural state for Evergreen. This unique property is accessed by a meandering single lane road, a former logging trail reminiscent of Bowen in days gone by. Walking trails weave throughout this expansive area, connecting residents to the larger community of neighbourhoods, beaches, hikes and parks. By protecting the vast majority of the existing landscape and applying aggressive environmental guidelines we are creating unprecedented value. Evergreen sets a new standard for environmentally conscientious development on Bowen Island.

VISION
The Evergreen vision is inspired by life on Bowen in earlier days, the smaller homes in a wilder setting, the slower pace of living. Rather than naive nostalgia, the impetus behind Evergreen is to take the best of traditional community life and integrate contemporary design to address the important challenges of the 21st Century. In 2004 we set a precedent by creating a conservation development model that we hope will be the perfect marriage of environmental planning and building design, of character and performance. Timeless architectural craftsmanship will complement the natural surroundings. Cutting edge performance measures will ensure a lighter way of dwelling in the landscape. By protecting the vast majority of the existing property, we preserve the very point of living here, and share something of lasting value. All aspects of the project will be driven by the protection and enhancement of the landscape’s ecological integrity. It is refined without being extravagant. It is simple without being simplistic. It is “natural” without needing to be “greened”. And once you arrive, it is all about the place, and nothing else. It’s everything you expect on Bowen Island. Evergreen – Simply Bowen.

LIFESTYLE
Evergreen is a lifestyle choice. It’s ‘Simply Bowen’. It entails a conscious decision to slow down, to enjoy nature and live “lightly” within it. Homes will be beautiful, healthy, efficient, and scaled to fit a more balanced life. At Evergreen on Bowen Island we are intentionally creating a neighbourhood for those wishing to step off the treadmill, to return to a lifestyle that took time, the time to go slow, to recharge, to connect with family and nature. Evergreen strives to make it simpler to balance our growing understanding of environmental change with our living habits.

BOWEN
“That’s so Bowen” is a phrase people use to describe the unique qualities of life on the rock. It’s what makes Bowen, Bowen… community-minded, authentic, engaged, creative, sincere, colourful, friendly, earthy. We want to work within and sustain this culture, rather than import urban attitudes to design. Whether it’s working on a laptop in the morning and kayaking in the evening, trotting to the ferry with a coffee in one hand and a toddler in the other, or watching deer from the porch, life here is distinct from life in the city.

BENEFITS
The goal of building smaller houses and retaining large areas of unspoiled land bring many benefits to the folks living there and the community as a whole. Immediate access to a neighbourhood park with a wide trail system and proximity to Bowen Bay Beach and Mount Gardner contribute to a outdoor lifestyle. Using leading edge sustainable building guidelines, homes will offer lower utility costs, improved air quality and less reliance on fossil fuels. Rain water harvesting will help ensure our vital island water resources are protected. Access to public trails and public transit will encourage residents to choose alternative methods of travel.

THE LAND
Bowen Island is a cluster of small peaks jutting out of the Pacific Ocean, just a short ferry ridefrom West Vancouver in British Columbia. It has spectacular views of of the Coast Mountains, its neighbouring islands and the ocean that surrounds.
Located on the western side of Bowen Island, Evergreen will be a neighborhood of 23 home sites in 80 acres of mature coastal forestland interspersed with fernal wetland, inland bluff habitat, seasonal watercourses, and a rich community of native birds and deer. Red cedar, Douglas fir and western hemlock form the canopy of this rich coastal eco-system.

ECOLOGY
An evergreen is a plant with foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season and has leaves all year round. In temperate climates, evergreens reinforce their own survival as their leaf litter has a higher carbon-nitrogen ratio than deciduous leaf litter, contribu- ting to a higher soil acidity and lower soil nitrogen content. These conditions favour the growth of more evergreens yet make it more difficult for deciduous plants to persist. The shelter provided by existing evergreen plants can make it easier for other evergreen plants to survive cold and/or drought. ‘Evergreen’ refers to something that perpetually renews itself. Nature’s resilience, elegance and beauty inspire our work.

COMMUNITY
Bowen Island rises out of Howe Sound a short distance from West Vancouver, BC. The main access is provided by the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Snug Cove on the east side of the island. The Cove, and Artisan Square just above it, is the town centre for the island, where most of the stores can be found. The Cove also is home to a marina where boaters from around the region can stop by. A bus service runs in concert with the ferry schedule, providing transit to most of the island. Bowen has an elementary school and a private junior high school. There are several churches and many community groups.

THE CHALLENGE
Bowen Island’s history includes a few ‘eras’ of development that have contributed to the natural and built environment found today. Outside of Bowen’s village, Snug Cove, the most treasured landscape could be characterized by single lane roads, modest dwellings, nature trails and direct access to undisturbed forest land. Today, the island finds itself facing new challenges. With prices spiking, Bowen is undergoing unprecedented development pressure. How development unfolds is of primary concern. Minimal disturbance, modest resource consumption and community-focused residents will carry us through a future of resource scarcity and environmental change. Evergreen hopes to represent an alternative approach that pushes the boundaries of conscientious development on Bowen Island.

COMMITMENT
From the beginning of the design process, Evergreen’s team clearly determined how development would preserve the vast majority of natural forest and create homes that work with the landscape rather than dominate it. The design process included identifying and avoiding the environmentally sensitive areas; adapting the conceptual layout to occupy the less sensitive sites; and re-establishing natural storm water routing. The infrastructure – roads, driveways and building footprints, etc. – will be constructed in a manner that will minimize the degree direct disturbances and minimize indirect impacts resulting from such aspects as post-development storm water runoff and sewage disposal. Governing environmental principals, embedded in legal covenants, were drafted and registered to the property to ensure that responsible construction methods would be adhered to. The environmental principles have been clearly stated and understood by all participating development professionals including surveyors and excavators, designers and engineers, electricians, painters and our realtor. Ongoing comprehensive environmental monitoring ensures that our environmental commitment is adhered to through to completion and post-occupancy.

Here are resulting outcomes that we hope will minimize the impact of our presence in the forest:
• Complete avoidance of wetland and riparian zones
• Minimization of tree removal
• Preventative thinning of branches to reduce wind-throw
• Retention of existing water runoff patterns on the property
• Ground water recharge thorough ground disposal of treated sewage effluent, storm water infiltration pond
• Incorporation of rain water harvesting and cistern systems into the new residence
• Reuse of existing logging and skidder roads
• Designation of large areas of parkland and establishment of environmental protection covenants to protect lands in perpetuity
• Retention of undisturbed riparian buffers beside streams
• Environmental monitoring incorporated throughout the construction process
• Minimize ‘cut and fill’ road building method

THE GUIDELINES
Through the use of Evergreen’s Statutory Building Scheme, the design guidelines will clearly define how development will be introduced into the existing landscape. These guidelines intend to encourage excellence in design and building quality while preserving the integrity of the existing environment. Through strong consistency of architectural craftsmanship, strict sensitivity to existing natural setting and the enhancement of available views, the guidelines will protect value for all property owners.
The architectural vision is inspired by Evergreen’s geographical, ecological, cultural and historical context. Without prescribing any one particular style, the guidelines promote stylistic coherence and faithfulness to each project’s unique contribution. Working within a 2,500 square foot size limit, the careful application of building form, materials, colour, architectural detailing and sustainability measures will ensure that Evergreen’s unique setting is enhanced, protected and complemented.

It is strongly recommended that all owners use registered architects and designers who exemplify Evergreen’s particular commitments to sustainable design, environmental sensitivity and architectural regionalism. Upon the actual offering of sale a complete building scheme, including the design guidelines, will be provided on this website. Return to this page for updated information. Contact us if you’d like to be notified when new information becomes available.

THE MUNICIPALITY
Bowen is the first Island Municipality in British Columbia, and is also governed in part by the Islands Trust Society, which oversees the Gulf Islands. The Municipality and its extensive network of volunteer committees have faithfully participated in creating our unique model of development. It was the integrity of the process that afforded a successful outcome. Now the Municipality is making efforts to ensure that developments like Evergreen become the norm rather than the exception. Developed as a strata corporation, Evergreen will not require infrastructure investment/maintenance from the municipality, while it increases the tax base of the island. The aggressive sustainability guidelines have raised municipal expectations of future development applications. The unprecedented dedication of park land provides immediate enjoyment and encourages future park expansion by other developers. Evergreen has benefited from and contributed to various municipal initiatives, such as the Greenways Strategic Plan, Sustainable Development Opportunities Framework and the Draft Sustainable Development Strategic Plan. An engaged public on Bowen Island pays close attention to development, and we welcome that kind of community involvement. In addition to anticipating concerns, Evergreen is providing benefits to the community at large interested in walking to nearby beaches, parks, neighbourhoods. The neighbourhood park will offer recreational opportunities currently not available on the western side of the island.

TEAM
Always in search of advanced thinking about greener development, Evergreen benefits from a wide range of experts.
Malkin Creek Holdings Ltd. – Developer
Estudio NORTE | SUR – Sustainable Development Consulting
E.A.B. Beaird Consulting – Community Planning
Whitehead Environmental Consultants Ltd. – Environmental Consulting
Park and Associates – Architects
Studio 947 – Graphic Design
Resource-full Habitats – Ecological Services
Pacific Hydrology Consultants Ltd. – Consulting Hydrologists
McTaggert Water Systems Inc. – Water Quality and Conservation Specialists
Trow Associates Inc. – Geotechnical Engineering Services
Webster Engineering Ltd. – Site Development Services
Claudia Schaefer – Photography
Cosmic Idea – Web Design and Consulting

Note: The foregoing is published for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute an offer to sell any of the proposed lots or to solicit offers to purchase the proposed lots. The Developer will only market the proposed lots once a Disclosure Statement has been filed with the Superintendent of Real Estate pursuant to the Real Estate Development Marketing Act of British Columbia.

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Contact Agnieszka Stryjecka, ECO Realty on Vancouver and Bowen Island Real Estate 778.991.5881 vancouver4life@gmail.com