Excerpt of an article by Bob Aaron – Toronto Star

What happens when you sign an agreement to buy a house from a builder but later change your mind?

That was the question an Ontario court had to deal with in a case heard earlier this year. On Sept. 15, 2003, Shanker Iyer and his mother Bala Ramachandran signed an agreement to buy a new home for $280,900 from Pleasant Developments.

The offer was accepted by the builder on Sept. 16, 2003. The following day the buyers attempted to cancel the agreement verbally, and a few days later their lawyer advised the builder in writing that the buyers considered the deal dead and wanted the return of their $10,000 deposit.

Iyer believed the document he signed in the sales office was “only an offer” and said he was told by the sales person that he had 10 days to change his mind and cancel the deal.

He also stated that he asked for a copy of the agreement but did not get one.

The transaction never closed and the buyers sued the builder for return of their deposit.

In July 2005, the matter came up for trial in the Richmond Hill Small Claims Court. The trial judge found that there was no coercion or misrepresentation in the sales office. He ruled that the buyers had no justification for cancelling the contract and that they were in breach by refusing to complete the transaction.

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Bob Aaron is a Toronto real estate lawyer. He can be reached by email at bob@aaron.ca, phone 416-364-9366 or fax 416-364-3818. Visit the column archives at http://www.aaron.ca.

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Group provides framework to manage growth in St. Lawrence community

Excerpt of an article by W.D. Lighthall – Toronto Star

Facing a growing list of condo buildings planned within their community, members of the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood Association decided to get a whole lot smarter about dealing with new development.

The residents’ association for the downtown Toronto neighbourhood teamed up with Eneract, which works to promote renewable energy and sustainability initiatives.

Together, the two organizations created something called smartliving St. Lawrence, a broad-based framework for managing new development in the community.

But more than that, smartliving St. Lawrence is also a means for delivering energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable initiatives to those already living and working in the neighbourhood.

“The decisions we make today — and this is right up front in smart living — should be based in large measure on the kind of world we want to leave our kids and grandchildren,” says Cameron Miller, president of the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood Association.

“When you wander around our neighbourhood, it’s a developer’s paradise and we need to get on top of it,” says Paul Smith, president of the St. Lawrence Market Condominium Ratepayers’ Association.

With a population of 18,000, the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood stretches from the railway tracks near the Gardiner Expressway north to Queen St. E., and from Yonge to Parliament Sts.

Within those boundaries, at least nine mid-rise or highrise condo projects are selling or planned.

Already existing in the area are 36 condominium buildings, 12 housing co-ops and a half dozen socially assisted housing complexes.

Miller says more condo developments — many more, in fact — are expected to follow those currently underway.

Work on smartliving St. Lawrence began in spring 2004, when Miller says his association came to the realization that a more comprehensive approach was needed.

To do that, the neighbourhood association obtained funding to develop smartliving St. Lawrence, including a $113,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and an $80,000 grant from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund.

Economically, smartliving St. Lawrence (http://www.smartliving.ca/) means supporting local businesses and employers and developing job-growth strategies.Under the environmental component, smartliving will offer condo boards, building managers and area residents and businesses seminars on subjects such as retrofitting older buildings and reducing energy use.

“What we’re doing with the smartliving St. Lawrence program, we’re creating a template for other communities to adopt,” says Marans.Although the St. Lawrence Market design guidelines aren’t mandatory for developers planning condos in the area, they have been approved by city council and will be part of the discussion during the community consultation process.

Aspen Ridge Homes is planning to redevelop the old Goodwill site, which extends from George to Jarvis Sts. and from Adelaide to Richmond Sts.The VU plan includes about 500 condo units, in two highrise towers rising from a low-rise podium.

The Canada Green Building Council reports that, for mid-rise and highrise condo buildings, achieving basic-level LEED status adds 1 to 3% to construction costs. (Some in the building industry say that’s a conservative estimate.)In the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, Context has built the Mozo condominium, has the 45-storey Spire under construction, and is planning a third project in the area.

While not specifically built to the LEED standard, Poplak says there are many sustainable features in Mozo and Spire.

“The St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood was a pioneer in urban regeneration. It makes sense that they would embrace forward thinking as far as new development in the community and in retrofitting” older buildings, says Poplak.

Su Cadogan, who has lived for the past 26 years in a housing co-op in St. Lawrence Market, says the neighbourhood needs smart living.

Many of the area’s older condo and co-op buildings are reaching an age where they require mechanical retrofits or other upgrades, notes Cadogan.

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When you think “condo” in Toronto, you might think “cramped,” “confined” and “costly.” That’s not what designer and intern architect David Peterson and developer Triumph Developments were thinking when they conceived Roncesvalles Lofts. Spacious, stylish and simply sumptuous in every way, this jewel in the city certainly is a rare find and a must-see for prospective purchasers who want it all.

Situated in the heart of trendy condos-for-sale/propertysearch.htm” title=”Roncesvalles Village lofts”>Roncesvalles Village, on Ritchie Avenue at Dundas Street, location is a key factor in the rapidly rising popularity of Roncesvalles Lofts – just one of the many reasons it’s already 50% sold, says Triumph Developments’ Mario Ribeiro, who, with his brother Francisco Ribeiro, teamed up 17 years ago and started the successful construction company.

condos-for-sale/torontolofts.htm” title=”roncesvalles lofts”>Roncesvalles Avenue is a vibrant, commercial strip where tantalizing aromas waft from bakeries, European smokehouses and delis, cafes and restaurants. Fruit and vegetable markets and grocery stores bring fresh foods to your dinner table every night.

Services and amenities line the streets. It’s all steps from your front door, while a few steps more will bring you to Bloor West Village – a hot-spot for locals and visitors alike.

This choice community also offers accessible transportation routes, with Queen Street, King Street, Lakeshore and the Gardiner to the south, and the TTC right outside your door, so getting around town couldn’t be easier.

Because this is a well-established part of the city, Roncesvalles Village offers a defined “personality.” Another rarity is the combination of urban conveniences and nature, all within this great community. The streets are green with centuries-old trees and colourful gardens. Parks abound at every turn, with High Park, one of the GTA’s largest parks, just a short walk away. Or, hop on your bike and take a spin along the sparkling Lake Ontario shore, just to the south.

And nestled in the centre of it all, you’ll find Roncesvalles Lofts – truly a loft unlike any other. Given the high demand for condos and lofts in the GTA, and the high-density developments that focus more on quantity than quality, Roncesvalles Lofts offers a welcome change. Here, it’s not just about “living,” it’s about the total lifestyle.

Comprised of only 37 loft residences with large private walkout terraces, balconies and garden patios, the five-storey building offers one-, two- and three-storey type lofts, ranging from 685 to 1,950 sq. ft. One-bedroom, two-bedroom, two-bedroom plus den and three-bedroom plus den layouts offer something for everyone.

And with 13 different layouts available, and room for plenty of customization, almost every unit in the building is unique.

The facade features expansive glazing, custom folded metal cladding and stucco. The main entrance, located off Ritchie Avenue, leads into an expansive garden courtyard, offering a quiet entrance to your home that’s still literally steps from the hustle and bustle of the main street. Peterson calls it an “introverted design” with views of the interior garden as opposed to the street. There’s much more to this professionally landscaped garden than meets the eye. This serene oasis, complete with ponds and central to the building’s design, acts as a natural storm water management and irrigation system, says Peterson, which is just the beginning of the “sequence of experiences as residents come and go from their suites.”

This “sequence of experiences,” says Peterson, is possible through the building’s unique C-shape. Carving away from the C, the resident moves from the street to the unit – enter the garden, and make your way through the exterior corridors that are open to the sky and filled with natural light. The three-storey clerestory windows (first seen in churches, it’s a type of window that is made high in the wall) in the corridors offer a surprise around every turn, with different views in each corridor before your get to your front door.

Inside, all designs boast thoughtful layouts and luxurious features. Nine- and 18-ft. ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows really enhance the feeling of spaciousness. And due to the building’s C-shape, many suites offer offer windows on multiple sides. Engineered hardwood graces floors in main living areas, while plush carpet pampers your feet on the second level and in all bedrooms. Walk-in closets (as per plan) offer storage space – hard to come by, as condo and loft-shoppers know well.

Kitchens feature open-concept designs with an optional island (as per plan). The stainless-steel sink, chrome-finish deck-mounted contemporary faucet, and four premium stainless-steel appliances are functional and fashionable. The modern lighting, under-cabinet ballast lighting and overhead lighting brighten the space. Quartz countertops and walnut cabinets are standard. The glass backsplash is a gleaming finishing touch, back-painted white, but available in a variety of colours to suite your personal style. Ceramic or porcelain tile on the kitchen floors and in bathrooms are classic, never to go out of style.

Spa-inspired designer bathrooms are subway-tiled throughout. The deep soaker tub is the ideal place to unwind after a long day.

The shower, with a full-height glass partition and rain shower feature, is invigorating – a feature you’ll appreciate. The above-counter vessel sink and contemporary chrome faucet are simple yet elegant. A glass shelf and custom-designed glass-mirrored medicine cabinetry offer out-of-the-way storage, while the built-in spa lighting feature ensures proper illumination when you’re primping for a night on the town. A sliding door on a track offers access to linen shelving and a washer-dryer.

Entertaining is taken beyond the walls of your home. Enjoy time with family and friends in the glass-enclosed, furnished urban lounge, complete with a fully equipped kitchen and washrooms.

Or, bring the party outside to the trellised seating area and barbecue facilities. One look at everything Roncesvalles Lofts has to offer and you’ll be the envy of friends.

Suites at Roncesvalles Lofts are priced starting from the low $200′s, up to $700,000. Expected occupancy is December 2007.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more info on the Roncesvalles Lofts

By Sydnia Yu – Globe and Mail

With towering condominiums going up all over the Toronto area, Triumph Developments is launching something more modest in size — a five-storey building called Roncesvalles Lofts. But the company says it’s confident the project will stand up to the competition, in part because its design uniquely integrates interior space with natural elements, but also because all suites can be used as work/live spaces.

The architectural style of the 37-unit Roncesvalles Lofts is “quite different from what one normally sees,” says Chander Chaddah, who is handling sales for the project on Richie Avenue between Roncesvalles Avenue and Dundas Street West.

The design of the Roncesvalles Lofts features a façade of custom-folded metal and stucco with recessed windows, and incorporates open-air corridors that overlook the street or a garden courtyard. The courtyard, occupying a third of the site, will include rows of trees, and a lily pond that will recycle rain water, acting as a storm-water management and irrigation system.

“[People] really like the scale of the project and the fact here’s something brand new that’s not just another tower,” Mr. Chaddah says.

About half of the Roncesvalles Lofts units have been sold, but there is still a wide range of one to three-bedroom models available, most of which have more than 1,000 square feet of space.

Every Roncesvalles Lofts unit will have full-height windows and an outdoor space ranging from a garden patio to a 1,500-square-foot rooftop terrace with a barbecue hookup.

One-level suites feature nine-foot ceilings, while some two-storey units will have 18-foot ceilings in living areas that are open to the second floor.

Interiors will include sliding door panels; engineered hardwood, carpeting and ceramic or porcelain flooring; and, in some units, a den or third-floor solarium.

Kitchens will be open-concept, with optional islands, stone countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Bathrooms will feature subway tile walls, deep soaker tubs and vessel sinks. All units will have ensuite laundry machines.

The monthly maintenance fee is 34 cents a square foot; utilities will be separately metered.

Outdoor and indoor parking is available for $15,000 and $20,000, respectively.

The Roncesvalles Lofts site is close to the subway and GO Transit, restaurants, shops and food markets.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more info on the Roncesvalles Lofts

December 6, 2006 — The Greater Toronto Area’s resale housing market maintained its strong pace in November as 6,281 homes changed hands during the month, Toronto Real Estate Board President Dorothy Mason announced today.

“The market is holding very steady as we progress through autumn and we are seeing a good level of activity across the board,” Mrs. Mason said. “Overall conditions are very healthy and 2006 remains within just one and a half percent of last year’s all-time record sales pace.”

Despite a slight moderation from last November’s total of 6,646 transactions, the resale market remains on solid footing according to Jason Mercer, CMHC’s Senior Market Analyst for the GTA.

“Existing home sales have remained very respectable through the first two months of the fourth quarter,” Mr. Mercer said. “Home buyers have remained confident in their ability to purchase a home due to low borrowing costs and steady employment and wage growth, on average.”

In the city’s east end, Scarborough Town Centre / Woburn (E09) saw an increase in overall sales of 30% compared to November 2005, led by a jump in condominium transactions.

A jump in transactions of semi-detached homes fueled an overall sales increase of 53% in the York South area of Toronto (W03) compared to the same time frame a year ago.

North of Toronto in Richmond Hill North (N05), detached homes were the most common housing type changing hands as the area saw an overall increase in sales of 29% compared to last November.

“It’s a great time to be getting in the market or making your move,” TREB’s President added. “Conditions in the GTA remain very stable, and that’s good news for consumers.”