Where it is
Altamont is a small residential neighbourhood in West Vancouver, just west of Dundarave. It is usually described as the streets from about 27th to 31st Street, between Marine Drive and the Upper Levels Highway, with Altamont Beach Park on the water below. People draw the edges a little differently, so on this page Altamont means that area, and the figures and homes above are drawn from listings there that name it.
A little history
The name goes back to 1913, when John Fitzgerald Mahon subdivided land here and named it after his brother-in-law’s courtesy title, the Earl of Altamont. Altamont Beach Park, at the foot of the neighbourhood, was set aside in the same subdivision. Altamont is an official community name in the BC Geographical Names register.
West Coast Modern, close up
On Mathers Crescent stands the B.C. Binning Residence, completed in 1941 for the artist B.C. Binning and his wife, Jessie. Parks Canada recognizes it as a National Historic Site, an early and remarkably intact example of Modern architecture in Canada, and West Vancouver protects it as a heritage property. It is a private home, seen only from the street, but it explains a great deal about the houses that followed on the North Shore.
The setting
Altamont is known for large lots, mature trees and narrow, quiet roads, which give many of its homes the feel of a country estate a few minutes from the shops of Dundarave. Altamont Beach Park reaches the water between 29th and 30th Street, and the Dundarave village, pier and Centennial Seawalk are a short walk east.
The homes
Most of Altamont is detached homes on generous, often sloping lots, many with views of the water and the city. You’ll find original West Coast Modern houses, carefully renovated older homes and significant new builds side by side. With so few homes, there are rarely many for sale at once, which the numbers above show.
For detached lots, the Province’s new housing rules may change what can be built: see BC’s new housing rules and your lot. Near the water, see Waterfront homes: docks, moorage and what to check.
Schools
Altamont is in the West Vancouver School District, and the public school catchment depends on the exact address, so check it for any home you’re considering before you make an offer. Why catchments matter · Private schools
Buying in Altamont
I look at three things on every home here:
- The lot: its slope, drainage and trees, and what the District allows you to change. Mature trees and narrow roads are part of what makes Altamont, and both come with rules.
- The house: its age and systems, and for older homes any heritage protection or an old oil tank.
- The view: what protects it, and what could be built below. I check before you fall in love with it.
The numbers above tell you what the market is like today. A walk-through with me tells you whether a particular home is worth its price.
