CH-CH-CHANGES
Since the summer of 2004, I have lived in a 12th-floor apartment in Vancouver’s West End – a slice of home that lets in a lot of sunshine and warmth.
Though the apartment holds as much charm as it does memories, like most places, it’s not without its ghosts. The building itself has a high turn-over rate of partiers, poor management and far too many residents who enjoy playing Cher’s music at high volumes. The kitchen is as tiny as an office cubicle and the entire building is zoned “NO PETS!”
Last night I surfed the internet seeking apartments for rent in the West End that were decent, were of reasonable rent and allowed for pets. I came across this…
This afternoon on my lunch break, I went to have a look at the place. The square footage is roughly the same size as my current place, but there’s no balcony, no view and it’s on the second floor of a three-storey walk-up. The flat’s recently been gutted with new everything in the kitchen, which includes stainless steel appliances and a dishwasher. The bedroom nook is very Carrie-esque, and even though the bathroom isn’t the most desirable one I’ve ever seen, it is definitely a suite that can be lived in. And best of all: it allows pets! The price tag, however, is nearly $200 above what I pay now.
I am willing to get rid of cable TV, and the hydro is apparently a bit less than I pay now, but I can get a dog of my very own! Eek! The building is also a mere four blocks from my office, which hugely adds to the convenience factor. My problem is that I don’t know if I’m scared of an apartment that is very different from what I am so used to living in, or if I’m just scared of such a huge change after almost five years.
Any kind of input and insight from you, o’ my readers, would be most helpful!
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23 Comments
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First Impression: It’s GORGEOUS!!!
Second and probably more pertinent impression: From experience, since it is one of the few places that allows dogs, that isn’t a roach motel TAKE IT AN RUN!!
No view? You’re getting a dog, you’ll be introduced to 1,000 more views on your walks that you could ever have from any window.
Hope that helps.
Looks pretty nice, but holy wideangle lens batman! I hate how real estate people do that. I think you should. I’m moving in January too.
If you dont want it…ill have it!
Wow…nice place. The floors look gorgeous! It allows pets!
Change isnt always bad! Hang out by the new place for a while and see what its like!
DO IT!
Looks very nice. Wood floor is an upgrade over carpets. Best of all it allows pets! That’s like super rare in Vancouver. A friend of mine had a tough time finding an apartment that’d take her 2 dogs.
Do it! Do it! Do it!
place looks rad K.
could be a helluva lot of fun.
I talked to Peanut about it. He says he’s cool with whatever you want to do as long as it involves a new friend for him. He’s tired of Steve Jeffrey and wants things to be a bit more even.
I prefer carpets… it’s better for the joints/feet.
You dont really need a balcony unless you smoke or have a lot of friends who do… but that can help them quit anyway.
I dig the new place…
Closer to work is good. You can go home for lunch?
Take the leap! Won’t being closer to work eliminate commuting costs, and “eating out for lunch” costs? And with no cable TV, that’s over $200 right there. AND you’ll have a furry companion. I think this problem has been solved.
Good luck!!
Love the wood floors!!! For sure, you need to weigh the pros and cons. Is this place more quiet than your current appartment? Fewer neighbors, less noise, hopefully? Get to know your neighbors? I would probably do it! And a friend for Amy’s Peanut sounds like a wonderful idea!
Good luck on the decision!
Do it! Eating at home for lunch is SUCH nice way to relax in the middle of the day. You’ll save money, get to visit the dog, and get a little bit of exercise (8 blocks isn’t a bad walk..). $200/mo isn’t that much at all. Brewing coffee at home instead of grabbing starbucks would probably make up the $200 alone, and you could keep cable. Sounds like a great change to me. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who hasn’t lived in the same place for 5 years since he lived w/ his parents….
LOVE IT! I think the floors are great (and hard wood is easier with pet hair than carpet) ALSO hardwood is easier with puppy potty training!
I love the bedroom area and it’s closer to work! You need change, and you deserve it!
The kitchen is wonderful too, you can definately betty crocker it up in there!!
xo
This kind of change/challenge is always good. I personally love moving. It’s always a time of renewal for me; re-evaluating the “clutter”. Of course, since I’m now settled into a house, this advice may be me just trying to live vicariously…. I love the look of the new place.
We have the same lamp. I love lamp. And your new maybe home – I know change is hard, I left my ultra cheap and spacious place of four years due to insane noise and could only find a more expensive but quieter shoebox for me and my kitties, but totally worth it…but now I’m still looking for something bettter. Do what you think is best sweetie, you’ll make the right choice
)))
a few years ago i was in a very similar situation.
i decided to leave the view, the balcony and the ocean air for a new “home”. doing so meant that i could have a pet and after the struggle of boxing up old memories, i moved to a new place and adopted buster-the-dog.
doing so changed my very existence.
meditate on your decision and the answer you need will find you.
best of luck!
walking distance to work + allows pets + that’s a sweet floor = win win.
plus, you’d get a whole new opportunity to make a place feel like home.
It looks amazing. Do it. No questions asked.
if you have a good feeling about that change – go for it!
if you’re not shure – leave it, better opportunities always come when time’s right.
luckily, i had never to regret moving to another place. and change keeps your mind moving, too.
and look at that place – it definitly rocks!!
best wishes
Leap!
I came close to living in the West End when I came back to Vancouver a year ago, but on a whim ended up in Kits instead. I’m near the beach, 4th Ave, South Granville and only a quick hop across the bridge to get to the office.
The West End is nice, but once I cross Burrard St. Bridge, it’s like you can forget the whole bustle of ‘downtown’ – and most importantly, rents are cheaper, the spaces are larger and landlords tend to look the other way when it comes to pets.
Ever consider Kits?
wow, if you hadn’t posted photos, i would’ve asked if you live in my building! i am totally in the same boat, it’s sort of slim pickings out there, huh? i saw the ads for that building, but really need a balcony (i have lots of plants), so hadn’t looked into it any further. it seems whoever it is bought and reno’d a couple buildings in the ‘hood, so hopefully they’ll keep at it. it’s tough, there’s not a lot of vacancies in decent places around here, but i really don’t want to leave the area! best of luck on your hunt!
Do it!
(OK, this comes from someone you don’t know, but I’ve moved maybe 40 times in my life, and I can tell you it’s a great way to trim out the items in your possession that are just eating up space, and moving isn’t as hard as one might think.)
Bad on me for just inputing now.. but I say go for it Keira!!! It looks awesome and you will indeed get far more out of taking your new little friend for walks than any view from a window can give you!