The Roslyn resonates character

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/10/2015 (2729 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Osborne Village is so full of old, eclectic homes and businesses you can find yourself constantly thinking “I wonder what it looks like inside that place” as you pass some ancient house or apartment block.

But it is bad form to knock on a stranger’s door and tell them that curiosity got the best of you and you just had to see what the interior of their home or business looks like.

For me, the Roslyn Square apartment building (formerly known as Roslyn Courts and Roslyn Place but commonly referred to as, simply, “the Roslyn”) was so interesting that I went the extra step and leased some space in the place.

The four-storey, castle-like apartment block is truly a treasure. I rented a four-bedroom apartment because I wanted to combine my home business with my living space and trust me, there was more than plenty of room. There are only two apartments per floor in the wing I was in so I was luxuriating in about 2,000 square feet.

There is what you call “character” everywhere.

I am not sure the elevator went in when the block was first built but it sure wasn’t installed any time recently. Your jerky ride begins  by opening and closing an iron grate which protects the public from falling into the shaft when the elevator doesn’t happen to be parked on the same floor as they are.

You quickly become aware of the vast spaciousness you will enjoy when you enter the front door and find the foyer is about as large as bedrooms in most other apartments.

And the woodwork! There is oak panelling about halfway up the walls in every common room, with ledges on top. The ceilings are about 16 feet from the floor, too.

It was in the living room that the apartment shone again. The oak panelling, fireplace (not working), hardwood floors and lead glass windows are all nice touches.

And the best thing of all?  Thick concrete walls which prevent any sound from disturbing the neighbours!

Don Marks is a community correspondent for Osborne Village. You can reach him at marksonthings@gmail.com