Tag Archives: Bloor
Stellar sellers in GTA condo market
Lisa Van de Ven – National Post
Whether you’re in the market for a big-name amenity-rich condo-hotel, or an intimate boutique building with all of the finest features, Toronto’s luxury developers have something for sale. Here’s what’s on offer in the Greater Toronto Area’s luxury condominium market.
The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
Delayed gratification isn’t your thing? Then The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Toronto may be. With the condo-hotel built and occupied, and the amenities up and functioning, there’s not much you’ll have to wait for. “Anyone walking in to buy today gets the full ambience of luxury,” says Barbara Lawlor. And the building by Graywood Developments, Cadillac Fairview and Ritz-Carlton comes with all of the fixings you’d expect from a five-star hotel: There’s 24-hour concierge service, a doorman, valet parking and a spa, to name a few. “Residents can enjoy The Ritz’s legendary service in their home,” says the president of Baker Real Estate, the site’s exclusive broker. Remaining suites range from 1,512 to 6,020 square feet and from $2.1-million to $9.65-million.
One Bloor
If a building’s success starts with its location, One Bloor went in with winning odds. In Toronto, it’s hard to get better than the junction of Yonge and Bloor streets, on two subway lines, close to shopping and a jaunt from Yorkville. Developer Great Gulf created a building worthy of the site. The 75-storey Hariri Pontarini-designed glass-clad tower is now under construction. “It’s beautifully curvaceous,” says Alan Vihant, Great Gulf’s senior vice-president of high-rise. “It has these great lines, great curves, a very sensuous form.” Remaining suites range from 530 to 1,727 square feet and from $534,990 to $1,831,990.
Bisha Hotel & Residences
What exactly is “affordable luxury?” For one, it’s what Lifetime Developments and INK Entertainment were striving for at Bisha Hotel & Residences. And according to Mel Pearl, that meant smaller units and more emphasis on the lifestyle outside the suites’ walls. “We wanted people to be engaged in living beyond their condo,” says the Lifetime principal. “A great place is when the bar and the restaurant is busy.” And the condo-hotel will have a lot of public amenities to keep crowded, including a 24-hour café, a bar and lounge, a casual dining restaurant and a rooftop restaurant. Suites range from 379 to 699 square feet and from $303,900 to $532,900.
Living Shangri-La Toronto
Living Shangri-La may not have the same brand recognition in Canada as it has in Asia, but the Toronto location at University and Adelaide has certainly seen its share of success. The 66-storey condo-hotel is now 85% sold out, with occupancy underway. Buyers have come from around the world. “There’s no specific buyer group – we’ve had all types of people,” says Michael Braun, marketing manager for Westbank Corp., which developed the site with Peterson Group. “There are single people and older couples, as well some who bought a suite for their kids or someone in their family attending university in Toronto.” Suites range from 891 to 4,431 square feet and from $993,600 to $9,322,500.
133 Hazelton Residences
“It’s not really downsizing,” says Sam Mizrahi of the lifestyle he’s offering in the boutique project 133 Hazelton Residences. While many of the site’s buyers are coming from low-rise homes, they’re moving into suites that are nearly 3,000 square feet. “They’re looking at this as the next chapter in their life,” says the president and CEO of Mizrahi Developments. With only 35 units in total, the building, which started construction in July, promises an intimate environment and prime location – in fact, its Yorkville address is a big part of its draw. Remaining suites range from 1,600 to 2,400 square feet and from $1.8-million to $3.2-million.
The Perry
Bigger is not necessarily better. With just 45 units, The Perry may not have the heft of some of Toronto’s other luxury sites, but that’s exactly the point. “We’re truly designing a boutique building in terms of scale,” says Maryam Mansouri. Buyers at the intimate project will still be knee-deep in luxury, though, with a one-year membership to the concierge service Quintessentially in addition to the 24-hour onsite concierge, and a prime Avenue and Davenport location. “It has the essence of peace and tranquility, being in the Annex, yet it’s steps from Ramsden Park, Yorkville, Bloor and top-notch restaurants and shopping,” says the vice-president of site developer Mansouri Living. Suites range from 540 to 1,458 square feet and from $344,990 to more than $3-million.
Trump International Hotel & Tower, Toronto
An international brand doesn’t always mean international buyers, but for the Trump International Hotel & Tower, Toronto that’s exactly the case. About 60% of the condominium-hotel’s buyers are from outside of Canada, which still leaves enough Canadian residents to stock up on maple syrup. And with the building well into construction, those purchasers will be able to start moving in later this year, enjoying services such as onsite catering and the use of two chauffeured S-class Mercedes. “The hotel below and the five-star services are great attributes for residents and really add to their lifestyle of convenience,” says the site’s director of marketing, Howard Tikka. Remaining suites range from 1,310 to 3,273 square feet and from $2.3-million to $6.6-million.
Four Seasons Private Residences Toronto
Think of “luxury” and “Toronto” and there are a few condominium projects that immediately come to mind. For most, the Four Seasons Private Residences Toronto is on the top of that list. The condominium-hotel, first announced in July 2005, is now coming to completion. The hotel itself opens Oct. 5, while condo occupancy has been underway since September. “I know some of the other mixed-use condos have attracted more of an international buyer, but for us it’s been predominantly Canadian – a lot of Torontonians,” says Mimi Ng, vice-president of marketing with Menkes Developments, partner on the project with Lifetime Developments and Alcion Ventures. Remaining suites range from 1,200 to 2,000 square feet and from $1.8-million to $2.7-million.
77 Charles West
Why did developer Aspen Ridge Homes ask architect Yann Weymouth – one of the brains behind the iconic glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris – to design its luxury building, 77 Charles West? “We wanted out-of-the-box thinking, and something really prominent,” explains marketing director Christene DeGasperis. The gamble paid off. With construction underway, fewer than 10 suites are left of the 52 total. And when occupancies start early next year, buyers will be able to add some design flair to their suite interiors, too. “We’re offering the services of Mike Niven Interior Design to help customize each suite,” Ms. DeGasperis says. Units start from approximately 1,500 square feet and $1,599,990.
The Britt
What was once the Sutton Place Hotel will now be The Britt, a condominium building that’s the newest project by Lanterra Developments. “It’s a project that has a lot of history to it,” says president and CEO Barry Fenton. “When you mention Sutton Place, I bet nine out of 10 people have been through or driven by, so the location is superb.” The former hotspot is being revitalized and expanded, then restyled by Alessandro Munge of Munge Leung, with inspiration straight from Britain’s boutique hotels. Suites range from 334 to 1,300 square feet and from the $300,000s to $1.2-million.
277 Davenport
Toronto’s condo market may be trending towards smaller suites, but Burnac Enterprises never got that memo: Units at Burnac’s 277 Davenport range from large to extra-large. And with just 10 of them spread over seven storeys, you can’t expect to stay a stranger long in this compact condo. “You’re going to know your neighbours,” says president Ted Burnett. Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects, the building, just west of Avenue Road, is a contemporary mix of glass, stone and bronze. “It’s a unique New York-style building,” he says. Suites range from 1,750 to over 3,600 square feet and from $1,679,000 to $3,395,000.
181 Davenport
Can Mizrahi Developments hit the jackpot twice? They’re betting on it, with the recent release of 181 Davenport, a condominium building adjacent to their 133 Hazelton Residences project. “That block really commanded another building that was complementary to 133 Hazelton,” says president and CEO Sam Mizrahi. With 90 units, the new endeavour is slightly larger than the developer’s first luxury-living foray; buyers can also combine and customize suites. “It’s a European-style building, and offers a similar lifestyle as 133,” the developer adds. Suites range from just under 1,000 to 7,000 square feet and from $500,000 to $7-million.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information – 416-388-1960
Laurin & Natalie Jeffrey are Toronto Realtors with Century 21 Regal Realty.
They did not write these articles, they just reproduce them here for people
who are interested in Toronto real estate. They do not work for any builders.
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Seaton Village
Seaton Village is a centrally located and family oriented Midtown Toronto neighbourhood. Remarkably, this neighbourhood has managed to maintain the feel of a small town village, even though it is situated in right a busy part of the city.
Seaton Village is bordered by Bloor Street to the south, the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks to the north, Christie Street to the west and Bathurst Street to the east. It is within the broader ‘The Annex’ neighbourhood, as defined by the City of Toronto, thought not in most Annex residents’ minds!
Although the Koreatown shopping district is at its southern border, Seaton Village can sometimes be referred to as the “West Annex”. While Seaton Village shares several characteristics with the area to the east (notably its architecture and its popularity with University of Toronto students), it is generally quieter, more family-oriented – and with smaller, less expensive homes.
Seaton Village Map
The area consists of primarily semi-detached single family homes dating to the start of the 20th century. Most are of solid brick construction, while some have only a facade of brick. Most of the trees planted at the same time as the houses were built are still standing.
Vermont Square Park is almost right in the middle of Seaton Village. The park has a playground, including a wading pool. St. Albans Boys and Girls club (where I hung out after school) and the Bill Bolton hockey arena (where I played hockey as a kid) are also located in the park. Christie Pits is right on the western edge of the area, providing a wealth of outdoor activities.
There are several small businesses located along Dupont Street, with a Loblaws supermarket located on the northeast corner of Christie and Dupont. The neighbourhood is served by two subway stations – Bathurst and Christie. Buses run north from both stations, and buses run along Dupont. Many streetcars run out of Bathurst station, as far down as the lake and Exhibition Place.
Seaton Village Real Estate
The Village of Seaton once existed as an actual village – north from Bloor to Hammond (now Dupont), between Bathurst and Hope (now Manning) Streets. Situated just west of Yorkville, this area was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1887 as the city made its northward push into what was then the suburbs. The origins of Seaton are an interesting tale involving some of the earliest residents of Toronto.
Seaton Village was originally settled by Colonel David Shank and Captain Samuel Smith. Both men were loyalists who served under John Graves Simcoe in the Queens Rangers. In the early 1800s, the Shank and Smith farm lots were acquired by George Crookshank.
The Crookshank estate began at the foot of Bathurst Street where it overlooked the lake. A laneway from the Crookshank house ran north to his country farm, where Seaton Village is today. The Crookshank laneway is now part of Bathurst Street.
Seaton Village is named after Lord Seaton, a former Lieutenant Governor of Canada. The Village was laid out on the old Crookshank farm in the 1850s. However, residential development of the present day neighbourhood did not commence until around 1888, after Seaton Village was annexed into the greater city proper.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information – 416−388−1960
Laurin & Natalie Jeffrey are Toronto Realtors with Century 21 Regal Realty.
They did not write these articles, they just reproduce them here for people
who are interested in Toronto real estate. They do not work for any builders.
—————————————————————————————————–
Incoming search terms
Dovercourt Park is a ‘hood on the rise
Carolyn Ireland – Globe and Mail
Among Toronto neighbourhoods, Dovercourt Park is something of an unsung hero.
Neither seedy enough to attract rising chefs with cult followings, nor gentrified enough to send real estate values out of sight, it’s long been a stalwart area where immigrants find a community, twenty-somethings are able to rent a decent apartment, and first-time buyers can purchase a semi and fix it up.
Mention the name in passing, and many Torontonians have trouble picturing it on a map.
But there is a real Dovercourt Park at the centre of this ‘hood north of Bloor, south of Dupont and loosely between Dufferin and Ossington – depending on who’s sketching the boundaries. On some real estate maps it’s also known as Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson.
In years past, the neighbourhood developed a stolid, lunch bucket character as industrial plants set up close to the Canadian Pacific Railway line just north of Dupont and Portuguese and Italian immigrant workers moved onto the side streets to the south.
Today a few automotive businesses linger, but most of the heavy industry is gone.
The stretch of Bloor Street known as Bloorcourt hasn’t become as cool as the more westerly strip heading towards Lansdowne, and a former draw – the Paradise Cinema – has closed its doors. As of yet, no corner bank building has reopened as a Starbucks on this bit of Bloor to signal a neighbourhood on the rise. But cool new places seem to be opening virtually every week: The transformation of Dovercourt Park is happening at a fast clip.
It Gets High Marks For:
Genuine village provenance: Today’s residential streets were farmers fields when the Village of Dovercourt was founded in 1870. The notable Toronto family the Denisons were the landed gentry who rented out plots to tenant farmers and the area was named after their clan’s estate, Dover Court. In the early 1900s, the area was annexed by York and then the City of Toronto in turn.
Bloor/Gladstone library: “It’s always jam-packed,” says one regular patron of this branch of the Toronto Public Library. The original portion is a designated heritage building built in 1913. A highly-lauded 9,000 square-foot addition has such 21st century elements as a glass curtain wall and green roof.
Transit: It’s an easy stroll along the side streets to the Bloor subway line, which whisks passengers between the Ossington and Yonge stations in about 10 minutes. The Dufferin bus route also runs right along the west border.
Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club: The club situated along one edge of the park provides after-school programs for kids. Since this is an area with lower-than-average income residents, it’s a good community resource.
Room for Improvement:
Streetscape: The houses of Dovercourt Park have never really been known for their architectural details. First it was tar paper that covered the shacks of recent arrivals from England. Then Portuguese immigrants introduced angel brick. There’s a fair amount of siding. You get the idea. On the upside for apartment-hunters, many of the larger dwellings have been divided up.
Schools: Dovercourt Junior Public School has recently leapt ahead in the standardized tests of elementary schools. Since many parents choose a neighbourhood by the quality of its schools, this improvement is good for real estate values. St. Anthony Catholic School has some catching up to do in the rankings. Bloor Collegiate Institute and St. Mary’s Catholic Separate School also lag the top contenders.
Restaurants: There could be an opportunity here for adventurous chefs. Members of the Ethiopian community have opened several restaurants and they tend to get the crowds in, but denizens of the area say there’s room for broader choice. For years now, Universal Grill has made a destination of Dupont and Shaw.
Harbingers of Change:
The Rustic Owl is a new spot for coffee and treats with friendly people behind the counter and a gallery in the back.
People rave about the ice cream sandwiches at Bakerbots, where they bake their own cookies and fill them with delectable flavours from Ed’s Real Scoop.
John’s El Cafecito appears to be a virtual office for many of its regulars. They also sell artisanal crafts.
Drift: The place for hangover poutine around noon, beer, liquor and board games into the evening.
Freedom Clothing Collective: This is a favourite boutique in the neighbourhood for anyone who needs an original gift or has a bit of spare time to peruse the garments and jewelry from local designers.
Hollow Ground Barber Shop: A young crew takes advantage of a retro building and fittings to open an old-school barber shop.
Market Values
In the current hot market, eye-popping asking prices above $900,000 are appearing on the large, fully-renovated houses. More typical dwellings are semi-detached, with some row houses and condos added to the mix. In the recent past, a lot of the housing stock has changed hands in the more affordable $350,000 to $500,000 range, which makes the area a draw for first-time buyers. Church-to-loft conversions have been popular with buyers and builders continue to buy up every old pile of bricks they can get their hands on.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information – 416-388-1960
Laurin & Natalie Jeffrey are Toronto Realtors with Century 21 Regal Realty.
They did not write these articles, they just reproduce them here for people
who are interested in Toronto real estate. They do not work for any builders.
—————————————————————————————————–
Incoming search terms
Related posts:
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