3894 QUESNEL Drive in Vancouver: Arbutus House for sale (Vancouver West) : MLS®# R2746918

Arbutus Ridge is a quiet, mature, tree-filled neighbourhood with stately and restored heritage homes. This area becomes a mecca for cherry blossoms in the spring, which adds to the peaceful ambiance and green spaces. Arbutus has managed to retain its neighbourhood feel, making this a perfect community for families, professionals, and seniors alike.

With Dunbar’s charming homes and the elegant estates of Southlands, this community offers a reprieve from city life’s congestion and noise, making it hard to believe that downtown Vancouver is only 18 minutes away. Easy access to YVR, shopping districts, parks, golf courses, and access to the beautiful Fraser River make this neighbourhood a desirable place to live.

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Arbutus Ridge is in the middle of Vancouver’s west side, with excellent access to Downtown, the University of British Columbia, Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Kitsilano, and Jericho Beach, as well as to local shopping. With two large parks;Trafalgar and Carnavarn, Arbutus has plenty of activities from soccer, baseball, and ultimate frisbee, to name a few. When you consider all the parks and green spaces of Arbutus, it’s ironic how this now predominantly affluent neighbourhood was once dubbed “Asthma Flats” because, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was nothing more than a swamp that could only be traversed by a plank walkway.

Dunbar-Southlands is a mature community of quiet, residential streets lined with grand old trees, serene parks, a convenient retail and shopping district called Dunbar Village, the lovely McCleery Golf Course, and the private Point Grey Golf and Country Club. With close proximity to parks, the Fraser River, and UBC endowment lands, Dunbar-Southlands offer a vast amount of green space.

Community Gardens

Diverse flowers, shrubs, and vegetables serve to attract birds, while the Perennial gardens are filled with butterflies, and hums with several types of bees from spring to fall, all the while providing residents with fresh, beautiful produce.

Parks

Numerous parks are scattered throughout these two neighbourhoods, and provide many activities from sporting events, trail running, and picnics to name a few.

Community Involvement

Dunbar residents have a high level of community spirit and volunteerism and are keenly interested in participating in decisions that will affect them.

Schools

With mostly single-family homes, there are plenty of options for schools in these neighbourhoods. In Southlands, you will find Southlands Elementary, Kerrisdale Elementary, Kerrisdale Annex, and McKechnie Elementary. You will discover Trafalgar Elementary School in Arbutus, with Carnarvon Elementary and Kitchener Elementary just over the Arbutus boundaries.

Shopping

There are nearly 250 shops and services in the Dunbar Village that cater to a wide variety of needs while retaining the shop local sentiment and being devoid of the mega mall atmosphere.

Services and Facilities

Dunbar Community Centre serves the Dunbar-Southlands local area and meets the Park Board’s goal of providing one community center for approximately every 20,000 people. It has sport, recreational, and social programs for a wide range of residents, from infants to seniors. Swimming pools serving Dunbar residents are Lord Byng Pool and Kerrisdale Pool. Kerrisdale Ice Arena is the nearest ice rink. The Vancouver Public Library operates the Dunbar Branch Library.

With mostly single-family dwellings on larger properties, Arbutus and Dunbar have traditionally attracted more affluent buyers. Recently though, the main corridors have been lined with strata properties with street-level commercial units. While Southlands has maintained its “country feel” with stately homes and a large number of stables, smaller homes can be found, and new developments are beginning to increase in frequency.

Your Life After Work

Make your way outside for a walk along the Fraser River, watch the tug boats and local fishermen as they buzz up and down the river. Head out for a glass of wine and a lovely meal at one of the fine eateries such as La Buca, which competes with some of the best restaurants in the city.

Your Life On Weekends

Make your way out for a round of golf at either the public course or the private course. Peruse one of the many shops in the Dunbar Village shopping district. Have a picnic in one of the parks while watching a game of baseball or ultimate frisbee.

Entertainment

The Kitsilano Farmers Market on Saturdays is an excellent activity, whether you are going alone, or want to bring the whole family. Golfing, horseback riding, and biking are all popular choices for residents in these neighbourhoods.

Access to YVR and Richmond

Situated further south than many of the other neighbourhoods in Vancouver means you have excellent access to YVR, which can be especially useful if you are someone who has to catch regular flights. Richmond, if you are looking for something different, such as the annual Night Market is a short drive away and offers a whole new element to explore.

What You’ll Love

You will love the small community feel, the closeness to nature, and the tranquility of suburbia, all the while being only minutes from the city’s action. You will truly get a sense of having the best of both worlds living here.

What You May Not Like

The large single-family homes provide an idyllic country setting away from the noise. If you are looking to be in the “thick of it,” these communities will not be for you. Dunbar and Arbutus are removed from the city center, meaning no night clubs, and the bars here are generally quieter gastropubs. There are many restaurants, but generally, to find the best in the city, one needs to venture beyond these two communities’ borders.