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Condo Redevelopments Give New Life to Old Buildings
by Laryssa Stolarskyj
Are you caught in a quandary choosing the ideal condo because you’re enthralled by historic buildings but aspire to owning new? Two Toronto-based developments – The Benvenuto and Madison Avenue Lofts - combine the finest in historic and modern.
Mitchell Abrahams, president of Malen Capital, said the renovation of The Benvenuto at St. Clair and Avenue Road made for an ideal conversion project. The heritage-protected building was originally constructed in the 1950s as luxury apartments. The generous suite sizes, convenient location, views, and amenities made it “the perfect candidate to be renovated; it has the cachet of being the best luxury address in town,” says Abrahams.
The Benvenuto is an important site historically. The original Benvenuto mansion dates back over 150 years, when the builder of the Annex, Simeon James, constructed it to overlook his sprawling new neighbourhood. Its ravine marked the shore of Lake Iroquois (now Lake Ontario), and William Lyon Mackenzie lived in it before it was demolished in the 1950s. Peter Dickinson, architect of the current building, brought an innovative clean-line approach to the city and “left a mark on Toronto in terms of modernist architecture,” says Abrahams, with features such as balconies and banded windows that let in more light than standard windows.
The Benvenuto was built with no structural walls, only columns, so Malen was free to move walls around to create seamless suites. The ability to add big, modern bathrooms and closets gives residents “the best of heritage architecture and space planning to make sure that each suite in the building is redesigned with the best layout,” explains Abrahams.
Madison Avenue Lofts near Casa Loma, now under renovation by Burnac Group, is another conversion: it was a Toronto Hydro warehouse from the 1950s until the late-1990s.
Tony Barry, vice-president of development, explains that Burnac wasn’t looking to renovate an existing structure. But when the building – which also had the advantage of a superb location – came on the market, Barry was convinced that the company had to acquire it. He says when he first walked into it, he felt its atmosphere was akin to that of an ancient European cathedral. “It was a magnificent structure and we were able to retain that structure.”
Barry explains that although it would have likely cost less to demolish the building and start anew, there were particular features, for instance the high ceilings (which are 12 to 14 feet), that warranted modernizing it into livable, useable space. He notes, “the building is solid, lending itself to a loft product. It was crying out to be renovated; it’s unique.” Barry additionally cites the columns as another feature that adds substance, allowing Burnac to offer a one-of-a-kind condominium.
The process of conversion, however, is significantly more difficult than building new. Malen redeveloped throughout existing occupancy, so details were planned with tremendous coordination to ensure that residents were impacted as little as possible. Abrahams says this meticulousness is worthwhile “only in a building that merits the effort.”
Barry explains that there are more unknowns with a 50-year-old building than with a brand new one, including the major obstacle of not being able to get to know it until actually being in it. Adding parking is another hurdle for Burnac. The original building had no underground parking and adding a new garage beneath the existing structure would be too expensive, if not impossible. Fortunately, the area adjacent to the building can accommodate underground parking, and the top of the garage will host a landscaped courtyard and new wing. Other obstacles that will increase time and cost factors include removing the cladding to add soaring windows that will let in lots of light, creating a new art deco-inspired exterior, and working slowly to preserve the mature trees that border the site.
But the advantages are numerous. Conversions protect buildings with architectural heritage, of which there are few in Toronto. And residents can live in a place with history and enjoy top-quality location and views that simply wouldn’t exist in a new construction in a midtown neighbourhood.
Although conversions offer distinctive features and advantages that new buildings lack, they’re not likely to become the norm. Legislation makes conversions difficult, so only top buildings and locations even make the short list. But Abrahams says it provides an opportunity to reposition luxury buildings and give them “new life in a loft with fantastic locations that are irreplaceable.” Barry concurs, noting “there are fewer and fewer buildings that lend themselves to it in the right locations, but where opportunities present themselves, we’ll carry on taking them.”
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Toronto Lofts on Madison Avenue
The Burnac Group introduces their newest loft conversion community
The Burnac Group has a reputation for doing things the way they are supposed to be done. And their proof is in their buildings, some of the finest developments in Toronto, including 85 Bloor Condominiums, 33 Delisle Avenue, and Park Avenue. And now they’re ready to add Madison Avenue Lofts to that list.
Located at the foot of Casa Loma at Madison and MacPherson Avenues, this loft conversion project is unique to the city. The original historic brick building, built in 1951, once stored wire bundles for Toronto Hydro. Now The Burnac Group, and renowned architect Paul Northgrave, is converting it into a stunning New York-style loft residence. The six-storey building will incorporate elements of industrial architecture and Art Deco design for a stunning one-of-a-kind residence, and will feature 211 lofts when completed.
“Because this is a loft conversion project designed around the space we have, we’re offering truly individual suites at Madison Avenue Lofts,” says Darlene Welton, Director of Marketing for Burnac. “There are over 100 different plans to choose from, all authentic loft spaces with expansive windows and soaring ceiling heights.”
Madison Avenue Lofts
Ceiling heights in the Madison Avenue Lofts range from 10 to over 14 feet, with interiors by II BY IV Design Associates, who bring their own urban flair to both the common and private spaces. The building will feature a dramatic lobby ideal for welcoming in guests, with a contemporary design, and expansive windows. There is also a beautiful rooftop terrace with gas barbecues and fabulous views, as well as a fitness centre with an exercise room, change rooms, showers, and steam rooms. In addition, there is a home theatre, a multi-purpose room with a large kitchen, a meeting room, and a 24-hour concierge.
The Madison Avenue Lofts themselves have also been designed with quality in mind, featuring dramatic eight-foot doors, as well as pre-engineered flooring throughout the kitchen, and living and dining areas. Kitchens also feature granite countertops, nine-foot tall upper cabinetry, with at least two glass-front doors, mosaic tile backsplashes, three stainless steel appliances, an integrated dishwasher with matching cabinetry panel, and designer chrome plumbing fixtures. The ensuites come with marble countertops, wall-mounted chrome faucets, and undermount sinks. The washrooms also feature subway pattern tiles along the shower walls, with an accent wall of mosaic tiles and 12 by 12 marble tile floors. Powder rooms have stunning vessel sinks on metal pedestals, specially designed by II BY IV Design.
“We finished this building the way we would if we lived there ourselves,” says Welton. “We wanted to create an upscale loft-style lifestyle for our buyers, surrounded by a truly wonderful neighbourhood that offers historic charm, easy access to downtown, and a strong sense of community. We think we’ve done just that with the Madison Avenue Lofts.”
Located in a mature Toronto community, the Madison Avenue Lofts are just steps away not only from Casa Loma itself, but from the Dupont subway station and neighbourhood amenities. The building has been designed to complement the area allowing buyers to make themselves at home in the existing neighbourhood.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
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Loft conversions create unique spaces
Toronto’s densification has resulted in many significant choices for urban homebuyers
By Leslee Mason-Gomes – National Post
What do a church, a hilltop mansion and a hydro building have in common? They’re just a few of the loft conversions in Toronto. Though building from scratch may be easier and often less expensive, in a city with virtually no undeveloped land left, converting old structures into lofts is a win-win for developers looking for desirable locations and savvy homebuyers seeking something outside the cooker-cutter-type home.
It was its unique character that drew Eduarda Pita to purchase her 1,400-square-foot loft in The Abbey – a four-storey, 24-unit conversion of a 1910 stone church at 384 Sunnyside Ave. “It’s a beautiful old historic church designated as a heritage building,” says Ms. Pita, a mortgage specialist with one of the large banks. Features include two-storey penthouses and exposed limestone. “The building has immense presence.”
Turning old buildings into loft spaces is a new phenomenon in Toronto. It’s been happening in New York and Chicago for 50 years. The first legal loft conversion in the city was built in 1982, and since then, the breadth and depth of the loft conversion market has expanded dramatically.
Initially appealing almost exclusively to edgy urbanites, creative types and computer geeks, loft conversions – often revamped factories or warehouses – generally popped up in grittier sections of the city, often signaling the revitalization of older areas. These authentic loft buildings tend to be small – usually containing no more than 50 units – and boast exposed beams and bricks, soaring ceilings, polished concrete floors, warehouse-style windows and open plans.
While most converted lofts are condominiums by legal definition, not all conversions fit the “loft” bill. Rather than warehouse chic, many current loft conversions offer luxurious settings and exceptional finishes and features, appealing to buyers who want both vintage style and modern conveniences. These days, loft conversions crop up in even the finest neighborhoods.
A stately old High Park mansion that was built for the first mayor of West Toronto in 1889, designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, has been renovated to create the Gothic Heritage Estates with seven custom-designed and upgraded residences priced from $746,900. Each of the seven suites (six are 1,500 sq. ft. each and one is 1,800 sq. ft.) offers a private courtyard or terrace with views of High Park, graceful rooms and period details.
Gothic Heritage Estates - 32 Gothic Avenue
And take The Benvenuto, south of St. Clair Avenue at Avenue Road. Formerly a luxury rental apartment and hotel, it was designed by Peter Dickinson, the architect who created the Hummingbird Centre (then called O’Keefe Centre) and the Park Plaza Hotel.
With its architecture, ravine and city views, and proximity to shops and amenities, it was the ideal location for luxury condominiums, says developer Mitchell Abrahams, president of Malen Capital. “It’s a very rare site,” he says.
Boasting 116 suites ranging in size from 500 to an impressive 3,486 sq. ft., its finishes include exotic hardwood floors and 18-inch marble tiles in the kitchen and bathroom. In the lobby, stunning views of the ravine come courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows. Suites range in price from $350,000 to $3.5-million.
The Benvenuto - 1 Benvenuto Place
Unlike standard condominiums, where the biggest changes between units may be only the view, conversions often offer a variety of differences between suites. “I’ve got the whole stained-glass arch,” says Ms. Pita of her penthouse unit in the former church.
At the Madison Avenue Lofts, at the foot of Casa Loma at Madison and MacPherson avenues, there are 100 different floor plans in the six-storey building, which used to house wired bundles for Toronto Hydro.
“We’re completely stripping the old exterior of the building”, says Tony Barry, vice-president of development for Burnac. The finished loft building, he says, will feature art deco touches and offer buyers an exclusive address with all the conveniences of an upscale loft lifestyle.
Common-area features include a rooftop terrace, fitness centre with showers and steam and change rooms, a multi-purpose room with a large kitchen, a meeting room and 24-hour concierge service. The 211 lofts, which range in size from 545 to nearly 1,800 sq. ft. are priced from $169,900 to more than $1-million, feature ceiling heights from 10 to more than 14 feet, stately eight floor doors throughout, granite kitchen countertops, nine-foot tall upper cabinetry and marble tile floors in the bathrooms.
Madison Avenue Lofts - 380 MacPherson Avenue
In conversions like Madison Avenue Lofts and The Benvenuto, it’s the winning combination of architecture, history and luxury that strike a chord in buyers, people who appreciate vintage style and luxury, says Ms. Pita. “I could go out and get a brand-new Porsche,” she says by example, “but I’d rather go with a vintage luxury car.”
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
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Incoming search terms
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