A few friends of mine have been looking to move, and after hearing about a brand spanking new development in my old neighborhood, I just had to take a tour of the LIV Apartments. I remember the old complex, which was home to Calabria Restaurant. As with many of the older establishments around Centretown, it was run down and outdated, but the property owner, CLV Group, made a wise decision and created a completely gorgeous and modern building in its place. It's a fantastic location, right in Centretown, close enough to the downtown core without the disadvantages, within walking distance of Little Italy and Chinatown, and just a bit further is the Glebe.
I took a "VIP Tour" with Jody, who was very knowledgeable, accommodating, and genuinely friendly. She was happy to answer any questions along the way and showed us everything that has been completed in Phase 1 and all of the things that are currently in the works. There's some seating in the lobby, with a waterfall wall display to come. There will also be a business centre, a media centre with a big screen TV, surround sound, and popcorn machine, a mail room and parcel storage in case you miss your package delivery, a cafe with newspapers, TVs, and freshly-brewed coffee daily, and even a guest suite for rent - all on the first floor! The basement has storage, a bike room, an accessible, smart card-operated laundry room for each side of the building for the lower level floors, and a pet spa with large baths.
The whole property is extremely pet-friendly - I already ran into a few furry friends within the first 10 minutes of being there. I noticed there was even a big bowl of water with dog biscuits right at the door. Once built, the rooftop terrace will also include a dog walk/run area, in addition to the tables, chairs, and hot tubs. LIV will even donate $25 to the Ottawa Human Society or to the Ontario Lung Association when you rent there.
All suites include Whirlpool stainless steel appliances, a microwave, quartz countertops, and USB wall chargers in the kitchen, laminate flooring, bathroom vanities, European-style closet doors, multi-level closet storage, window shades, and air conditioning (ecobee thermostat). The higher floors, the "Club Level" suites, also include an island in the kitchen and in-suite washer and dryer., and the larger suites include walk-in closets. All tenants have access to the rooftop gym and yoga room, rooftop terrace and club house, which will also include a pool table and big screen TV, business centre, media room, cafe, pet spa and rooftop dog run, laundry lounge, bike room, concierge, and WiFi. The guest suite is available for reservation and there are additional charges for the storage lockers ($15 for small and $30 for large) and valet parking ($150/month). VRTUCAR car sharing is also available - residents get a complimentary one-year membership. Residents will also get $400 for referring friends to rent! The concierge, security, and valet are all 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The building, suites, and all of its amenities are incredibly modern and have a clean, sleek feel to them. We ran into a few of the residents while there, and everyone is very friendly, ranging from mid-20s to early 40s in age. There's even an app you can download on your phone to connect with your neighbors and order your valet.
At the end of the tour, Jody gave me a little package, with all of the information and even a lease checklist. All tenants are required to complete a Criminal Records Check and agree to the smoke-free policy of the entire building, including the balconies, patios, and shared spaces. The LIV Apartments are very impressive and I would highly recommend them, or taking a tour at the very least. The monthly rent is affordable, especially in comparison to other apartments in the area, and comparable in price but far surpassing any of the amenities in other buildings. read more