Tag Archives: sumach street
Trefann Court
Trefann Court is a quiet little pocket of homes located in the downtown section of Toronto. This affordable Toronto neighbourhood includes a mix of both public and private housing. The newly revitalized Regent Park neighbourhood is located to the north and the historic Corktown and St. Lawrence neighbourhoods are located to the south of this neighbourhood.
Trefann Court is a residential neighbourhood, located east of Yonge Street and south of Regent Park South. It is bounded by Queen, Parliament, Shuter, and River Streets. Trefann Court derives its name from one Trefann Street, which is located in the eastern part of the neighbourhood.
Most of the Trefann Court houses were built in the late 1800s and conform to the Victorian architecture style. The newer 2-to-3 storey homes peppered throughout were designed to fit in seamlessly with the older ones. Recently, some of Trefann Court’s industrial buildings have been converted into funky lofts.
The 1800s marks the time when Trefann court first emerged and it was geared towards the working class. In 1966 city planners, as a result of the deteriorating condition of the local properties, decided on demolishing and rebuilding the entire area.
Trefann Court Real Estate Map
The plan for the reconstruction of the neighbourhood, designed by Eugene Faludi in 1956 and prepared for Industrial Leasehold Co. Ltd., the owner of the industrial building, along with city-approved schemes, included the demolition of all residential buildings in the area. The western section of the area would be used to build new housing, while the eastern part would be sold off for industrial purposes.
Loyal residents, with the help of the future Toronto mayor and young lawyer John Sewell, stood firmly against this plan in order to save their beloved neighborhood. In opposition, they came up with their own area development plan. The plan included restoration of decrepit homes or tearing down and reconstructing those which could not be renovated. Thankfully, their efforts were rewarded in 1972, when the city council approved their plan.
This little local reconstruction victory was significant not only for Trefann Court, but for Toronto, as a whole, as well. It introduced a new approach to the planning of city development and reconstruction. People started to take more interest in the process and the government’s role had become less pivotal. Consequently, many of the historic city spots were preserved and restored.
Houses on Trefann Street
Trefann Court is a community that managed to stem off the destructive nature of postwar urban renewal. Along with a small section of River Street, it is one of the surviving remnants of (old) Cabbagetown, of which ninety percent was torn down in the 1940s and ’50s to make way for the north and south sections of Regent Park.
Following the construction of Regent Park, the craze for inner-city revitalization went further: in addition to Trefann Court, the city also eyed Don Vale (now referred to as Cabbagetown) and Kensington Market as possible candidates for demolition. In the 1950s, the area was characterized by its nineteenth-century row houses, industrial plants, and retail stores near Queen and Parliament Streets. There was also a new industrial structure at Sumach Street. It was a working-class neighbourhood, which unlike the nearby Don Vale, did not possess a quaint Victorian charm, and did not attract any middle-class residents.
For a nice and a peaceful living, Trefann Court is an ideal place. Here you have everything that is needed for leading a normal life. Trefann Court has few restaurants, coffee shops and few businesses. Also this area can proud itself with few human and social service organizations that are here to help people and that are non-profit.
For those who like to spend quality time while relaxing from work, there is a gallery just few steps away. This small neighborhood will give you everything you need, you just need to picture yourself living in it. Take a walk and decide if Trefann Court is the right place for you and your family.
—————————————————————————————————–
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
New in Toronto real estate: Lofthouses
Robyn Urback – blogTO
Lofthouses at Corktown District represents the second phase in a two-part King East project by Streetcar Developments. The concept is a “district,” if you will, of four neighbouring structures; 52 Sumach Street, 549 King East, 569 King East, and the Lofthouses at 510 King East.
Akin to Streetcar’s Queen West plans, in which nearby condos share common areas, the happy dwellers at these Corktown structures will share specifically in the Lofthouses’ riches (read: amenities). But don’t feel bad for the would-be residents forced to share their billiards table; they’ve got two storeys, 12-foot ceilings, and a nifty-sounding (if obvious) name for their new townhouse/loft hybrids. Here is a closer look at the Lofthouses at Corktown District.
THE GOOD
These are not the typical “shoebox in the sky” real estate drains of your (late 20′s, early 30′s) life savings. With a suite at Lofthouses, you’ll actually get some room to stretch out, which is the least you should get after all of those pesky closing costs. A Lofthouse suite is likely ideal for the creative, artsy-type homeowner who can see the potential of an undefined space through her vintage cat-eye glasses (not to stereotype, or anything). But perspective is key – there is no clear bedroom, living area, den, and/or dining area, providing a framework that either offers endless opportunity, or else, the added burden and expense of tacky room dividers. But chances are if you’re looking to buy here, you’ve thought beyond a pseudo-wood IKEA divider.
Chances are, too, if you’re looking to buy here, you seek not the company of 500 new neighbours – you recluse, you. But it is nice to see a diversion from the 50-floor mega-structures that seem to be spawning with increased voracity from Toronto’s downtown. While you’re certainly not off the beaten path with a spot right where King meets Queen, you might actually get to know your neighbours by sharing a building with just nine other suites.
Next: parking and locker included? Is this too good to be true? Maybe, but that’s what Streetcar’s reps tell me. While starting costs for some projects are often deceptively low, here you won’t have to tack on an extra $30k (if you’re lucky) for parking. Paying in the low-400′s for parking, locker, and more than 800-square-feet really isn’t half bad. The location is also superb with easy access to the DVP and new West Don Lands development, and as I’ve hypothesized before, I suspect Corktown is on the up (meaning fewer dive bars and more espresso bars, though this is not a good thing for the hipster-averse).
THE BAD
Oh, Streetcar. I’ve long known of your less-than-pleasant reputation with customers, and alas, you’ve confirmed. Not that my experience with Streetcar has been particularly bad, but I’ve found its representatives to be somewhat pithy – almost short. Granted, I’m sure I’ve oozed the putrid scent of a looky-loo (or worse – a writer), but I would’ve expected at least a little more affability. Others have noticed too. While it wouldn’t necessarily deter me from purchasing a unit in the future, it would make me somewhat wary, especially considering the bumps and bruises that usually arise during the settling-in stage.
Speaking of getting along with others (how’s that for a transition?), you’re going to have to hone those skills if you take up at Lofthouses. While residents might enjoy the pleasure of few immediate neighbours, they’re going to have to share their lounge amenities with fellow Corktown District dwellers. So, basically, strangers popping in and out of their building to entertain friends and play in their communal kitchen. Think of it as your roommate’s annoying “bro” boyfriend, equipped with an extra key. Terrible. Though I suppose it’s not much different if you live in a mega structure and meet common residents in the pool – except that you don’t expect intimacy when you live in a 500-unit building. You might in a building with just 10.
THE VERDICT
Good sizes, fair prices, and a super location that will see added innovation in the next few years. Just pray that you don’t encounter any troubles that require you to contact the developer after moving in, and/or that your lounge-loving, Corktown District neighbours have full-time jobs and won’t take up occupancy in the communal kitchen late at night.
—————————————————————————————————–
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.
—————————————————————————————————–
Related posts:
- Toronto Real Estate — Corktown Corktown was originally settled by working class immigrants in the...
- Toronto Loft Profile: Small building big on amenties By Sydnia Yu – Globe and Mail At its latest project...
- Architect launches own loft project in Corktown By Sydnia Yu – Globe and Mail An architect who has...
- Toronto Loft Profile: Corktown District Lofts from Streetcar Developments One of the city’s oldest neighbourhood’s hosts Toronto’s newest condominium...
- Toronto Real Estate — The Historic Neighbourhood of Corktown Corktown is an historic neighbourhood located in downtown Toronto, Ontario,...
When it’s good, it’s very good
Christopher Hume – Yourhome.ca
It was one of those years: When it was good it was very good, when it was bad…
About the bad there’s nothing new. About the best, there’s much to be said. Toronto has reached a point where developers and planners are willing to build outside the box. That translates into more innovative approaches, an openness to mixed uses and architectural excellence. Here, in no particular order, are five of the best projects of the year:
• The Republic (70 Roehampton Ave. and 25 Broadway Ave.): Putting a high school and two condo towers in one complex would have been unimaginable not so long ago. Not only does that happen now, it does so with aplomb. This North Toronto scheme is a model of urban mixed use.
• Corktown District Lofts (52 Sumach Street, 549 and 569 King Street E.): Three buildings registered as one condo, this innovative project fits in effortlessly with the historic but run-down part of town. Lowrise and modest, it offers a convincing alternative to the tower.
• Arc Condo (2885 Bayview Ave.): A welcome attempt to enliven the monotonous suburban landscape with something entertaining, even whimsical. This nautically-themed building lives up to its name nicely, and even makes the effort to bring activity to these otherwise forbidding sidewalks.
• 60 Richmond St. E.: Okay, so it’s not a condo, but it does happen to be one of the most remarkable pieces of residential architecture to appear in Toronto in ages. This is the new face of community housing in the city. Unlike its predecessors, it’s a brilliant addition to the streetscape.
• Maple Leaf Square (Bremner Blvd. east of York St.): This mammoth development represents a rare instance when corporate and civic agendas overlapped happily. Included are two condo towers, a hotel, an office tower and an array of shops, restaurants and, of course, the inevitable sports bar. Easy to forget that this used to be a parking lot.
———————————————————————————————————————
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:
- Toronto Condos: A Good Investment By doing a little research yourself first, you will have...
- Why Toronto condos are good When researching for a home, don't forget to look at...
- 2006 was a very good year for new-home sales High-rise condo market share hits all time-high From The Condo...
- Is now a good time to buy a condo in Toronto? Given everything that’s currently besetting the world in terms of...
- Good news for baby boomers — the kids are finally leaving home The echo boomers are finally moving out of their parents'...
