Condo of the Week: You Can Finally Live Above your Favourite Bar

Inside the $4.8 million penthouse at The Keefer.

The details: 50 – 133 Keefer St. | $4,880,000 | 2181 sq. ft. | 2 Bed, 2 Bath | Built 1907/2009The condo: Private elevator? Check. Glass bottom rooftop pool that doubles as a skylight? Yessir. Silent electric blinds, air conditioning, and vaulted ceilings? You betcha. This glamourous pad is perfectly suited to a Hollywood (North) superstar; rumour has it Clive Owen spent a few nights here — buy the place and the bragging rights are all yours. But there’s no reason Joe “Trust Fund” Average couldn’t call it home. If you’re a fan of outdoor grilling, look no further: this home comes complete with an outdoor kitchen built into the rooftop patio, saving precious time spent trudging up and down the stairs with plates of food for your guests. The designers also spared no expense during the renovation, adding Gaggneau appliances in the kitchen, a Swirlpool in the bathroom, and Irish white oak hardwood floors throughout.The building: Have you ever spent the night at an sweet boutique hotel and thought to yourself, “Gee, I wish I could live here permanently”? Once a derelict gas company warehouse on the edge of Chinatown, The Keefer was given new life on the eve of the 2010 winter Olympics as a boutique residence/hotel for the scenester with a deep pocket. It has one condo on each of the four upper floors and a popular cocktail bar at street level, handy for when the cupboards are bare or when the rain makes your personal patio a little inhospitable. Just in case the penthouse isn’t enough space for you and yours, there’s the option to purchase an additional floor, or heck, the whole building if you’re feeling saucy. And did we mention there’s no property tax due for the next eight years?The neighbourhood: At the moment Chinatown is arguably one of the coolest spots in the city, with an endless array of new rooms opening (Kissa Tanto, Juke, Pacific Poke to name a few) it would be hard not to eat out every night of the week. You’re also a stone’s throw from stadiums and music venues, as well as the tranquil Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Gardens. The Asian markets and businesses that give the area its name are also a big draw for folks doing their weekly shopping, and if all the restaurants, bars, and shops aren’t enough, you’re only steps from everything on offer in Gastown, Downtown, Mount Pleasant, and Olympic Village.The drawbacks: Keefer Street is in close proximity to the Downtown Eastside, known for its concentration of disenfranchised individuals and various other social problems. There are also several live music venues nearby, patrons of which may add a boisterous element to your evening.

See the full listing here.