Toronto Condo and Real Estate Blog

From New Dream Homes and Condos Magazine

In the 1850s, the area now known as Bloor West Village was the property of Lieutenant Colonel William Smith Durie, the first commanding officer of the Queens Own Rifles. The street that ran through his estate is now known as Durie Street. The present day neighbourhood began to be developed in 1909, when this district became part of the City of Toronto. Soon after amalgamation with Toronto, Bloor West’s roads were paved and city services were made available.

Bloor West’s first residents were immigrants of Eastern European background. These are the residents who helped found the Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area, the first of its kind in Canada. This shopping district has helped make Bloor West Village one of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods.

This is also a popular neighbourhood for families since it is home to many excellent schools and is within walking distance of High Park—Toronto’s biggest and best-known park. Covering 399-acres, this Toronto landmark contains picnic areas, flower gardens, animal paddocks, a restaurant, an outdoor amphitheatre, sports facilities, a trackless train, an adventure playground, and a large pond.

Other local attractions include the Annette Recreation Centre, which is attached to the Annette Street public school. This centre has an indoor pool, a small gymnasium, and a baseball diamond. A little bit east of the Annette Centre is the Annette Street Public Library, which offers programs for adults, children, and preschoolers.

Bloor West Village is also home to The Humber, a movie theatre that is conveniently located on Bloor Street, just west of Jane Street.

Homes in the area are all fairly similar in size and style—having been built in a relatively short period of time between 1912 and 1923. Most houses feature deep front porches that are well shaded by the majestic oak and maple trees that line the streets of this neighbourhood.

Although known for it’s great selection of stores, the Bloor West Village shopping district is as much about eating as it is about shopping. It’s a virtual smorgasbord of bakeries, delicatessens, specialty food shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Convenience stores, fruit and vegetable markets, dry cleaners, video stores, and other shops catering to everyday household needs, can also be found on Jane and Annette streets.

The Jane and Runnymede subway stations are part of the Bloor-Danforth subway line and are both within walking distance of the homes in Bloor West Village. The Annette Street bus connects passengers to the Dupont subway station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line and there are additional bus routes on Jane Street and Runnymede Road.

Commuters are only about ten minutes from the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard—providing quick access into and out of the city.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

From the Condo Guide Magazine

Design was the name of the game at a recent event for buyers who will be making their homes in the second phase of Plazacorp’s fabulously successful waterfront condominium community, West Harbour City.

Renowned Toronto interior designers Bryon Patton and Enid MacIntosh were on-hand to offer future West Harbour City residents some design tips for their new condos. A crowd of eager pupils was invited to the sales office and stunning model suites – designed by Patton and his team at Patton & Associates – to learn how to create their own personally styled oasis. The event was a spectacular success, as the future neighbours took advantage of the opportunity to learn from a professional designer.

Located near the foot of Bathurst Street, on the north side of Fleet Street, West Harbour City 2 is the newest addition to Plazacorp’s successful condominium community. Designed to complement the site’s first phase tower, the new building features pre-cast cladding resembling fine limestone and accentuated with traditional brick elements. It has been designed with a range of energy-efficient features meant to introduce energy savings throughout the building and on to the suite level.

Inside, the condo suites offer a beautiful surround for West Harbour City’s design-conscious buyers, with nine-ft. ceilings throughout the building and a balcony or terrace for every suite. There are also fireplaces; engineered hardwood flooring; granite, marble or porcelain floors; 60-oz. plush, sisal or Berber carpeting; Paris kitchen cabinetry; granite and marble countertops; ceramic tile or mirrored kitchen backsplashes; Kohler faucets; and a six-piece KitchenAid and Whirlpool appliance package available in stainless steel, white or black.

The West Harbour City building features a range of large suite sizes, ideal for buyers. A selection of one-bedroom-plus-den suites range from 703 sq. ft., two-bedroom suites from 856 sq. ft. and two-bedroom-plus-den layouts from 1,066 to 1,427 sq. ft., and penthouses reach up over 2,000 sq. ft. Prices start at $249,990. Construction has already begun on Phase 1.

The Condo Guide Magazine is an excellent source of housing information for those looking for information on new condos in Ontario, Canada. We offer the most up-to-date information on new condominiums across the greater Toronto area.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

Unique urban infill project attracts dynamic team to new venture 

From the Condo Guide Magazine

Andrew DelZotto, a member of the family that is at the helm of one of Canada’s foremost condo construction companies, Tridel, is now leading an innovative new boutique urban development company. Through his own, new company, Cityspace Urban Developments, Andrew is following in the pioneering footsteps of his father Leo, and bringing style and downtown living to Plymouth Avenue, in the heart of Little Italy.

With the vision to develop, market and build on infill and rejuvenation sites in Toronto’s downtown core, Cityspace Urban Developments is now completing its first project, the Townhomes of Plymouth Avenue. Andrew aims to take the lead in smart, contemporary infill development within one of the city’s best-loved neighbourhoods.

As the founder and principal of Cityspace, Andrew has always had a passion for the downtown lifestyle that infill projects usually offer. Andrew’s love for urban living grew in the late 1990s when he and his wife lived near Dundas Street West and frequented the shops and restaurants near Plymouth Avenue. This interest in development led Andrew to achieve both a BA from McGill University, and an MBA from York University.

Along with this passion and knowledge, Andrew has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate development and construction, gained while working in marketing and project management at Tridel. After completing custom-home projects and overseeing Tridel’s Grangetown project, Andrew joined forces with Mike Meleca, with whom he previously worked on his own first custom home.

As the Senior Construction Manager, Mike Meleca is armed with extensive knowledge and filled with enthusiasm for Cityspace Urban Developments’ mission. Mike also started his career following his father’s footsteps – by becoming a skilled mason. This practical skill was further enhanced with extensive education in engineering, urban studies and economics. Mike manages all aspects of construction and project management at Cityspace.

Rounding out this energetic team is agent Paul Johnston, from Right at Home Realty. Paul has built a niche in downtown Toronto, buying and selling “unique urban homes.” Paul’s background is eclectic, but very much tied to urban life. Paul was one of the first large-scale rave promoters in Canada, and brought DJs and bands from around the world to the country. He later owned one of Montreal’s most successful nightclubs, Club Sona, while studying Communications at McGill University. Paul is committed to modern urban housing that incorporates the best from the single-family, loft and high-rise sectors.

Dedicated to high-quality design and great urban locations

Understanding that many buyers are drawn to the loft style of living, Cityspace Urban Developments strives to create unconventional urban townhomes with open spaces and designs that offer natural light. This commitment to bright and spacious homes helps make this company such an exciting new creator of urban infill projects.

These are the kinds of developments that Toronto residents really want. In addition to the interior design considerations, Cityspace is also committed to the placement of homes that respect the local community while offering diversity and a high quality of life. In short, the objective of Cityspace Urban Developments is to offer downtown citizens the opportunity to live in the city as their needs expand beyond the capacities of traditional high-rise buildings and lofts.

The Townhomes of Plymouth Avenue

Cityspace Urban Developments’ first project is The Townhomes of Plymouth Avenue. Two homes have been designer-decorated, and are available for viewing by appointment.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information

The Condo Guide Magazine is an excellent source of housing information for those looking for information on new condos in Ontario, Canada. We offer the most up-to-date information on new condominiums across the greater Toronto area.