Silverwood

About Silverwood at Thetis Cove

Silverwood at Thetis Cove is a four-storey, 40-suite condominium at 121 Aldersmith Place in View Royal, completed in 1999 and restricted to residents aged 55 and over. It is a single building forming its own 40-lot strata, set on roughly an acre of grounds at the end of a short cul-de-sac off Admirals Road.

The site sits on the View Royal–Esquimalt border, directly behind the Admirals Walk shopping centre, with a footpath running from the back of the property to the plaza. The street carries no through traffic.

A clubhouse, workshop, greenhouse and garden plots take up a meaningful share of the grounds. The building is set up for residents who intend to use them.

Architecture & Design

Silverwood is wood-frame construction on a poured concrete foundation, clad in cement-fibre siding and fitted with a fire sprinkler system. Four residential storeys sit above an underground parkade, with an elevator serving every floor.

Wood frame is standard for low-rise strata of this vintage. It transmits more sound between suites than concrete, and the long-term performance of the building envelope depends on routine maintenance of cladding, paint and roofing.

Exposure determines the outlook. South-facing suites look over Esquimalt Harbour towards the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Olympic Mountains. West-facing upper suites look over Thetis Cove. East- and north-facing suites look over the grounds and the surrounding trees, with mountain views from some upper floors. Corner suites have windows on three sides. Water views are strongest from the third and fourth floors.

Suite Features & Finishes

All suites are single-level, with one or two bedrooms, and range from about 860 to 1,100 sq ft.

• One-bedroom suites run to roughly 860 sq ft, with a generous primary bedroom, a four-piece bathroom and an eat-in kitchen.
• Two-bedroom suites use a split plan, with the bedrooms at opposite ends of the suite. The primary has a four-piece ensuite and, in most layouts, a walk-in closet; the second bathroom is a three-piece.

Kitchens typically include an eating nook alongside a separate dining area. Every suite has in-suite laundry, and nearly every suite has a gas fireplace in the living room. Top-floor suites have nine-foot ceilings. Upper suites have covered balconies; ground-floor suites open onto covered patios with garden space.

Heating is electric baseboard, supplemented by the gas fireplace. There is no air conditioning.

Each suite typically comes with one secure underground parking stall and a separate storage locker.

Building Amenities

• Clubhouse with full kitchen, library and fireplace, opening onto a large south-facing patio
• Shared natural-gas barbecue on the common patio
• Exercise room
• Workshop and hobby/craft room
• Games room
• Guest suite for visitors
• Heated glass greenhouse and raised garden plots
• Bike storage
• Car wash bay in the parkade
• Secure underground parking and separate storage lockers
• Elevator and controlled entry
• Caretaker
• Accessibility: no-step entrance, wheelchair-friendly common areas, elevator access to all floors and single-level suites throughout

Natural gas, garbage removal, building insurance, grounds maintenance, property management and the caretaker are covered by the strata fee rather than billed separately.

Pets, Rentals & Bylaws

Age restriction. Silverwood is a 55+ building. Where a suite has a single owner, that owner must be 55 or older; where there is more than one owner, at least one must be.

Rentals. Long-term rentals are permitted. Short-term rentals are not. The age bylaw applies to occupants, so a tenant must meet it as well.

Pets. The bylaw permits one small dog, subject to a size limit of up to 22 lb, and up to two cats. Aquarium fish and birds are also permitted. The bylaw sets out whether a dog and cats may be kept in the same suite, along with the exact size criteria.

Barbecues. Barbecues are not permitted on balconies or patios. Residents use the shared natural-gas barbecue on the common patio.

The building is managed by Century 21 Queenswood. Confirm current bylaws with the strata before writing an offer.

Glentana & Thetis Cove

Silverwood sits in View Royal's Glentana area, where Admirals Road meets the edge of Esquimalt. Daily errands are handled on foot: the Admirals Walk shopping centre, anchored by Thrifty Foods, is reached by a path from the back of the building and covers groceries, coffee and restaurants.

Thetis Cove, an arm of Esquimalt Harbour, is a short walk away, and the Gorge Waterway walking routes are nearby. Gorge Vale Golf Club is along Admirals Road, and the trails of Thetis Lake Regional Park are a short drive north. CFB Esquimalt is minutes away.

Connectivity & Transportation

Bus routes run along Admirals Road, steps from the Aldersmith Place entrance. Downtown Victoria is about ten minutes by car, and the Trans-Canada Highway is close by for trips to the Westshore and up-island. Victoria International Airport and the Swartz Bay ferry terminal are each roughly 35 to 40 minutes' drive.

Who this building suits — and who it doesn't

Silverwood suits buyers aged 55 and over who want single-level living with elevator access, groceries within walking distance, and a building where the common room, greenhouse and workshop are in active use. Gas included in the strata fee and a fireplace in nearly every suite will appeal to anyone who dislikes electric heat alone.

If no one in the household is 55, this building is not open to you as a resident. The same rule narrows the pool of tenants and future buyers, which matters to anyone buying as an investment. There is no air conditioning, the construction is wood frame, barbecuing happens on the common patio rather than your own balcony, and a household with a large dog, or more than one dog, will not fit the pet bylaw. We would rather you know that now than after an offer.