Hundreds jam Alterra Group loft conversion project
By Sydnia Yu - The Globe and Mail
The line outside the sales office for the new Network Lofts at Bloor and Islington started at 4:30 a.m. By the time the doors opened at 11 a.m. there were about 300 people waiting to get in and an estimated 500 visited the site by the time the doors closed — testament to the strength of the Toronto loft conversion market and the draw of good location and attractive design.
The Alterra Group’s Network Lofts development in West Kingsway is so modern it has its own blog. At NetworkLofts.blogspot.com, it’s explained that the building started life in 1971 as a Bell Canada office and was reborn this year as a loft conversion.
The website, created by the public relations team at Bradley Moseley-Williams, is a fun way for visitors to get up-to-date news on the project, as well as design tips and reviews of local restaurants. It also posts images taken from the 11th-floor model suites of the residential neighbourhood below, with its ravines, many trees and high-end retailers.
The Network Lofts building has 12-storeys plus a new penthouse floor, and a total of 205 units. Move-in dates are scheduled for spring 2007.
It was built originally for hundreds of employees and visitors, and included many elevators, a parking garage, as well as industrial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
While the character of the converted office building will be maintained — from its original thick, industry-standard floors to columns with a radius of nearly 30 inches — it will be modernized inside and out.
The exterior will be replaced with anodized steel and extra-paned, floor-to-ceiling windows to provide more light exposure and soundproofing.
The Network Lofts lobby will have a hip, boutique feel, with rich, classic materials such as dark wood and stone. There will be six elevators, one of which will be designated for the penthouse floor.
The lofts will range in size from one bedroom to two bedrooms and a den. Ceilings will be 10½ feet in standard units and up to 17 feet in two-storey suites on the 8th floor where the building’s mechanical room was originally located.
There will be polished concrete or hardwood floors, and some kitchens will feature open-concept designs conducive to cooking and entertaining.
The maintenance fee is yet to be determined, but it is expected that an industrial heat pump will save money for residents by recirculating air during shoulder seasons, reducing the demand for conventional heating and air conditioning.
There will be a concierge service, fitness centre, party room and underground parking.
The Network Lofts is near the subway and GO Transit, and a short drive from major highways.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information
