Tag Archives: Merchandise Building
Living the loft life in Toronto
For many, moving to an urban apartment is about tapping into the excitement and cultural opportunities of the big city and can also mean a shorter commute to work. But finding a place in the city can mean sacrificing the larger living spaces found in the suburbs or country. Increasingly, urban dwellers are finding that loft apartments offer the location and opportunities of city life with far more space than average condos or apartment homes. What’s the idea behind lofts, and why are they so popular?
Lofts have a certain allure. With high ceilings, open floor plans, rough-hewn floors, and brick walls, they are a hip housing alternative for many urban professionals. Today’s loft dwellers embrace new-age metropolitan living in all its glory.
Those who buy these unique dwellings have shaken off long daily commutes, granting them more personal time, more cultural and entertainment possibilities and an active, city lifestyle. If you crave something eclectic, out of the ordinary and convenient to all the city has to offer, a loft may be for you! Select from newly constructed (soft) lofts, or restored historical building loft conversions (hard lofts).
One definition for a loft found on the Web is — An appeal against convention- convention in thinking, convention in building and convention in living. They are a celebration of open concept living and unconventional spaces brought about by the considered application of imagination and a rejection of mass-market housing.
The origin of the word loft comes from the Old Norse lopt which means “upper room “or “air”. In 19th-century English usage the word came to mean “the upper stories of a warehouse or factory”. The modern boom in the conversion of such spaces into living areas came in the 1940s in the SoHo District of New York City. By the 1970s so many of these conversions had been done that the city was forced to re-zone the area to make such conversions legal.
By the 1980s the concept was spreading first across the United States and then to Europe and Asia. As the trend grew it caught the attention of developers identifying a new market. Developers being developers did not let a lack of owning an existing warehouse or factory building to convert stop them from moving into the new market. Thus the new word loft began to be applied to units in ground up new construction. Needless to say the term grew fuzzy.
By 2005 the term loft has matured. Lofts created from spaces in existing buildings are called hard lofts or true lofts. Lofts built new from the ground up are typically referred to as soft lofts or new lofts or loft-inspired or mezzanine suites. Whether created out of an existing building or built ground up new, all lofts have certain common elements or they are not lofts.
Lofts are part of the Postmodernism movement in architecture. Postmodernism is a counter- reaction to the strict and almost universal modernism of the mid-20th Century. It embraces elements from historical building styles incorporating them without a rigid adherence to one style. It also does not as policy try to hide the structural or mechanical elements of a building but often uses these in the design.
What is a “hard” loft?
A true loft is a conversion of a vintage factory or warehouse. They have a harder edge as they are usually constructed of concrete or “mill” construction of exposed brick, original wood posts, beams and floors. Typically, these lofts have an open floorplan and unfinished ceilings that are at least 10′ high with exposed ducts, plumbing and electrical. Examples include the Merchandise Building, Liberty Lofts and the Toy Factory Lofts.
What is a “soft” loft?
In recent years developers have built new buildings with some of the characteristics of a hard loft such as high ceilings, big windows and open floorplans. These lofts typically have a softer edge… no exposed ducts and plumbing, carpet in some areas and upscale kitchens and baths. Soft lofts have more in common with traditional condominiums than a true hard loft.
What is an “artist live/work” loft?
Toronto bylaws allow for the development of buildings with “artist live/work” zoning. The first of these developments appeared on Shanly Avenue (near Queen and Gladstone) and most featured minimal finishing, 16′ ceilings and steel frame construction. The City’s zoning restricted their use to people who were engaged in a precisely defined list of artistic activities. Over time these buildings have come to be occupied by people who simply enjoy the loft life.
Here are some of the unique joys of the loft life:
* Industrial buildings – The term loft began in New York and Chicago when renters and owners began turning old industrial buildings into living spaces. The original tenants were artists who craved the high ceilings, large windows and open floor plans typical of converted warehouses and factories.
* Open spaces – The primary benefit of loft living is the large open spaces that allow you to live and move how you want, rather than having your movement defined by a permanent floor plan of walls, doorways and rooms.
* Define your areas – In a loft, the floor plan can be fluid and ever changing. You can set up a sleeping area in one part of the space, then move it somewhere else if you have guests or if you just need the area for another use. Kitchens and bathrooms are more permanent, of course, but temporary partitions, hanging curtains, or even changes in floor covering can define other spaces.
* Eclectic style – Another nice aspect of many lofts is the opportunity for eclectic design and decorating. For example, a loft might feature soft, delicate window treatments on reinforced factory windows, or a modern couch sitting on a hundred-year-old hardwood floor. This mixture of old with new and practicality with comfort can form a wonderful esthetic that makes the most of a loft’s mixed-use nature.
Regardless of the type of loft, all lofts should have certain basic common elements:
* Open, flowing floor plans
* Minimal uses of interior walls to define space and doors to close off areas
* High ceilings – some definitions set minimum ceiling heights at twelve feet or it is not a loft just a condo with high ceilings
* Exposed piping, ductwork, structural elements
* Large windows
* Access to the sky often with roof top gardens or decks
* Easily merges living and work space, blurring the lines between workplace and residence
* Mixes traditional mediums with modern finishes- concrete, metal, stone, brick, wood used freely alongside of drywall, ceramic tile and viny
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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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Condo townhomes fuse ground-floor living with high-rise amenities
Combining highrise and homestyle living, condo townhomes offer interesting synergies.
Jack Kohane, National Post
A flourishing trend, condo townhomes are part of the blueprint in about 35 current condo projects in Toronto (out of 265 active projects around the city), according to Pauline Lierman, research analyst with Urbanation, which tracks the Toronto condo market.
“Townhouses (that are part of a bigger development such as a high-rise condo project) account for about 5% of the GTA condominium market,” Ms. Lierman says. By comparison, Ms. Lierman estimates that stand-alone townhouses account for a third of new home sales.
Fuelling most of the sales of ground floor town/condo combos are the low interest rates and demographics, i.e., move-down buyers, new families and empty-nesters.
Barbara Lawlor, president of Baker Real Estate, says that what makes the town/condo so attractive for these buyers is that they’re embracing the condo lifestyle, most for the first time.
“Townhouses draw those buyers looking for lots of the amenities associated with the condominium apartment lifestyle, or looking for a ground-level alternative to the traditional apartment unit,” Ms. Lawlor explains. The town/condo combo option is tailor-made for young couples looking to transition to a starter home, she says. “This may be more affordable than a semi or detached house in the GTA.”
These are the targeted buyers for the architecturally innovative 12° condominium that will rise north of the trendy Queen and Beverley crossroads. Set at the base of this glass-girded, 11-storey building (its façade shifts at a 12-degree angle, hence the name), are six towns that range in size from 900 to about 1,300 square feet. They’ve been designed by Core Architects for Tarek Sobhi and Tyler Hershberg of the start-up development firm BSAR Group of Companies.
Currently in preconstruction (occupancy is slated for the spring of 2012), the towns at 12° range from one bedroom to three bedrooms. Starting from the mid-$500,000, these two-storey units have nine-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, pre-finished wide plank engineered hardwood floors, porcelain tiled bathrooms, stone kitchen countertops and a front doorway made of Douglas Fir.
“Townhouses at the base of a condo provide actual street addresses with front doors,” says Charles Gane, the project’s architect. “And because this project is located in a zone that’s in transition from a commercial and shopping district to more residential usage, townhomes help increase the ‘eyes on the street’ concept, whereas commercial and office spaces would be dark and unused at night.”
Each townhome has its own separate private entrance at street level off of Beverley. Guests can access the homes from the lobby of the condo building itself.
Mr. Hershberg points out that 12° (12degrees.ca) is big on encouraging families to move in: “To give them the experience of living in a detached home while offering the amenities and conveniences of condo living. Here, they will have access to the rooftop terrace and outdoor swimming pool. The site feels and behaves like a quiet residential street and therefore the townhomes work perfectly.”
At the new Merton Yonge Condominiums (MYC), having your own front door at the podium of a 25-storey edifice is a big part of this town/condo’s allure. Scheduled for occupancy mid-2012, MYC has 16 towns offering two bedrooms and two bedrooms plus den (about 930 to more than 1,400 sq. ft.), ranging from less than $490,000 to more than $760,000.
Built by Cresford Developments, MYC joins the builder’s other projects NXT and NXT2, The Merchandise Building, CASA, and the Bloor Street Neighbourhood. Architect Peter Clewes of architectsAlliance, whose creative stamp is all over MYC and several other Cresford projects, fashioned the two-level townhomes. Some of the units overlook a landscaped courtyard. Townhouse residents can travel along a series of cantilevered walkways leading to the amenity areas such as the rooftop terrace with lounge and barbecue, fitness centre, guest suite and party room. Mr. Clewes describes these towns as a “European-style approach to family housing. He says, “they have become a highly desirable product in MYC’s unit mix.”
Suites feature engineered hardwood floors in the foyer and living and dining, kitchen and den areas, nine-foot ceilings in living areas and floor-to-ceiling windows. The kitchen has granite or Caesar countertops, stainless steel appliances and a ceramic backsplash. Bathroom finishes include marble countertops with an undermount sink, ceramic tile flooring and a glass-framed door in the shower stall.
MYC’s location is the major enticement. It has proximity to the city core via the Yonge subway line, and to the Kay Gardner Belt Line, a mostly treed 4.5-kilometre walking trail that runs through Mount Pleasant Cemetery and connects with parks and green spaces. “These are magnets for first-time, move-up and downsizing buyers,” says Maria Athanasoulis, Cresford’s vice-president of marketing. She expects many of those interested in MYC towns are those from nearby neighbourhoods who want to stay in the area. (For details, go to MYCcondo.com.)
In the city’s west end, a new development leverages on a former landmark’s name and a 5.7-acre parcel of land flanked by Hwy 427 and Bloor Street. When the half-century-old Valhalla Inn, one of the GTA’s first motor inns, closed last year, Edilcan Development drew up plans for One Valhalla Towns & Condos. The project will eventually encompass 68 three-storey townhomes at the base of three glass-clad towers (constructed in three phases). This Etobicoke town/condo combo, designed by Page + Steele/IBI Architects, will surround a landscaped garden courtyard and a children’s playground. Townhome residents will be able to use the tower’s rooftop terrace and its barbecue areas. Other amenities are an indoor swimming pool, concierge service, party room and catering kitchen.
One Valhalla towns, in three- and four-bedroom layouts, will offer 1,250 to 1,450 sq. ft. units starting from about $400,000. Occupancy of Phase One is the late fall of 2011.
This new breed of town/condo combos is a good choice for those who want a home with an upstairs and downstairs, “but don’t want the maintenance headaches of snow removal and lawn care,” says Ms. Lawlor. “All the upkeep is looked after in a condo community.”
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information - 416-388-1960
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Robert Watson Lofts — Real Lofts are Rare
Did you know that less than 1,500 converted industrial lofts exist in Toronto versus over 100,000 regular condos! “Less than 2% of the condo supply are real lofts,” states Brad J. Lamb, president of Brad Lamb Real Estate Ltd.
The most difficult thing to find in the resale real estate market is an authentic loft Existing lofts in the Candy Factory Lofts, Liberty Lofts, Merchandise Building Original Lofts, and other real loft buildings sell in days, when they are available, and usually at or above asking price with multiple offers.
It’s the law of supply and demand. Due to the lack of warehouses and industrial properties available for conversion, true lofts in Toronto seem assured to substantially increase in value.
The Robert Watson Lofts are almost completely sold out, with an average of nine loft sales per month. Construction started in the spring of 2005 when the building permits were available.
Strong demand for certain popular models and prices are expected to cause a rise in prices again within the month. Once construction is completed, prices of all units are expected to increase.
Why are the Robert Watson Lofts so popular?
The vintage building fronting on Sorauren Avenue is the century-old Robert Watson Candy Factory warehouse that is being restored and converted into lofts. It is one of the few authentic loft conversions in the city.
With exposed century-old brick, wood ceilings and columns, and 10 to 16 foot ceilings, the project stands out as one of Toronto’s finest authentic loft conversions ever. It is loaded with spectacular raw finishes.
The new authentic loft building is a six-storey loft building with high ceilings, polished concrete floors, exposed concrete columns, and expansive glass window walls with spectacular views.
Features of both buildings include a landscaped courtyard, creative amenities, storage spaces, and parking facilities.
Located in Toronto’s hot new Loft District near Roncesvalles Avenue – the west end destination avenue!
Roncesvalles Village is brimming with life and rich, diverse culture, and with a quaint mix of trendy restaurants, coffee shops, convenient stores, and furniture shops, the Robert Watson Lofts is poised to be Toronto’s new Queen West.
You owe it to yourself to experience first-hand the neighbourhood of Roncesvalles Village, a vibrant expanding district in Toronto’s new urban tapestry where you can enjoy life in the unique environment provided at the Robert Watson Lofts.
The best thing about the Robert Watson Lofts is that the prices start at a very affordable $164,900. There are still a number of lofts available under $229,000. Come by and visit the sales centre and see why the Robert Watson Lofts have been selling so fast.
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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information
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