Architecture
Last week I attended my very first “Minor Variance” meeting at the North York Civic Centre. The purpose of these meetings is for builders, developers or home owners to ask for a change to the current zoning by-law’s assigned to their property.
I was there to learn more about my future home – Treviso Condos! They were seeking to increase the building heights at phase 1 from 21 to 25 storeys. As many may already know, the Dufferin and Lawrence corner is being transformed from parking lot to 3 phased condo community. What many may not know is that there was plans for a 4th phase to be built where the new Shoppers Drug Mart is (770 Lawrence). When I had initially bought in 2010, there was rumblings that the Shoppers would eventually be relocated into the base of Phase 1. The plan was that they’d temporarily relocated at 770 Lawrence while work was completed on the first Tower.
Looks like things changed…
At the council meeting it was said that the “temporary” Shoppers had a change in management and somehow a 16 year lease was signed. This pretty much eliminated any chance of a phase 4, at least in the near future! With Shoppers now staying put, the developer was looking to transfer the lost floors from it’s phase 4 over to phases 1 and 2. I’m not sure what the outcome for phase 2 is/was, but for Phase 1 they had initially stated that they were looking to add 4 more storeys to bring it to 25. Before the discussion began, they announced that they’d only be seeking an additional 2 storeys – making the total 23.
The members of the committee argued that the developer had asked for too many changes already and were concerned that they’d be back in the future asking for more change. The three all agreed to disallow the extra floors.
So now we stand at 21 storeys, a temporary Shoppers that looks to be permanent for the next 16 years, and a large amount of open commercial space at the base of phase 1!
As more is known, I’ll be sure to share… If you’d like to talk more about the Treviso development – join the Facebook Group!
Posted in Architecture, New Condo Developments, Real Estate, Toronto | 
Tags: condos, Dufferin and Lawrence, Facebook, lanterra, lofts, Mark Savel, Real Estate, Treviso | 
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As Treviso starts to take shape, I passed by my future home to snap some pics of it’s progress… but what I got was much more!
Currently at 11 floors above ground, Phase 1 is coming up quick! The sales centre has been moved to the north end of the lot, in-front of the McDonalds. The old Shoppers Drug Mart that once occupied the space and relocated to the east end of the lot and is accessible from 770 Lawerence Ave. West.
BUUUT the biggest news to come out from the corner came from a small sign posted on the construction boards! It looks to me like the developers are wanting to increase the heights in phase 1 from 20 storeys to 25 and from 24 to 29 in phase 2… no word at the moment as to what this means for phase 3!
I’ve started a community Facebook group for purchasers at the development, please join and share if you know anyone else who bought at Treviso!
Posted in Architecture, New Condo Developments, Real Estate, Toronto | Tags: Change, condos, Dufferin and Lawrence, Facebook, height, lanterra, lofts, Mark Savel, Real Estate, taller, Treviso | No Comments »
There aren’t many condos being built in Toronto that I can say hit as close to home as The Hub Condos by Empire Communities… and there probably aren’t very many Realtors who can talk about the area of the new development as well as me!
The future site of The Hub actually backs on the street I’ve lived on my entire life! Located at on the corner of Eglinton and Oakwood, Empire Communities is the first condo developer to venture in this part of town – and with good reason. With plans of the new LRT line well underway, getting in early offers the best chance for benefiting from all that’s happening!
Early next week more details of The Hub will be released, but I’ve been lucky enough to preview some early floorplans and renderings… I gotta say – I like what I saw! Units range from about 500 sq. ft. to just over 1000 sq. ft., and will include a variety of 1 bedroom, 1+den, 2 bedroom and 2+den layouts. I can’t post the floorplans online just yet but I was able to leak a few renderings of what the condo will one day look like!
If you’d like early access to prices and floorplans fill out the form below:
Posted in Architecture, New Condo Developments, Photo Friday, Real Estate, Toronto | Tags: apartment, condos, Eglinton, Empire Communities, Oakwood, pre construction, Real Estate, the hub, Toronto | No Comments »
Just when you mastered the iPad, Nawar Naji (a mortgage broker friend from twitter) comes along and tweets a video from the Corning company that totallllllllllllly changes everything… and the best part – it was made 2 years ago.
Meant as a “concept video” for all the possibilities Corning can one day create, the video takes you through a typical 9-5 in the not so distant future! Several reactions crossed my mind while watching it, the first: “Wow, and how much?” The second: “ok, maybe this is a little too much tech in the home.” And the third: “what changes can this bring to the real estate market today.”
Take for example the Condo Sales Centre… Currently, you walk in, check out a few floorplans, tour a model suite (if even that) and fork over a chunk of change based on a black and white sketch! To any developers listening, I say: forget the models and fancy upgrades, INVEST YOUR MONEY IN THIS TECHNOLOGY!
If given the chance I’d buy a big open space and fit a room full of Corning screens. The room would generate a 3D model of the condo unit to scale and from one place you’d be able to shop and compare several buildings at once! Just think of all the possibilities… future views could be displayed, colour selection and upgrades visualized and changed in real time, heck even furniture layouts could be added or subtracted with a simple swipe of the hand.
Truthfully and realistically, getting competitors to create open sourced deceives that can communicate as smoothly as in the video seems pretty unlikely – but the advantages of incorporating a few into our daily lives today would be huge! Check out the video they came out with in 2012!
The possibilities are endless for how this technology can change in our lives… but so too may be the hydro bill!
Posted in Architecture, Furniture, Must Have Mondays, New Condo Developments, Real Estate, Toronto, Video Blog | Tags: Buy, condos, Corning, developers, future, Mark Savel, Real Estate, Sales Centre, Sell, technology | 1 Comment »
It’s homes like this that make me love what I do! Why you ask… well this isn’t your typical “cookie-cutter”, sub division home, built in the middle of Nowhere Land! Nor is it a home with slabs of mountain top marble to eat off of, or frivolous upgrades that hardly ever get used. Rather, this is a home with character, history and most importantly – room to make your own memories in!
Located at 334 Boon Avenue in the community of Fairbank/Calendonia in Toronto – this home is perfectly located between Eglinton and St. Clair just west of Dufferin! The neighbourhood is home to both Public and Catholic schools, an outdoor pool and public transit. The street itself has a very cozy and warm feel to it with many neighbours greeting me while I was getting the home ready for sale!
The house has been home to the same family for several years, and the pride of ownership can be seen from very angle! From the entrance you walk into a large open concept family room that makes for the perfect space to entertain. New laminate floors have been installed in the main seating area.
The kitchen is a very generous size with no shortage of storage! All the appliances seen in this area will be staying with the house. There an opening between the living area and here to allow for an open flow of conversation when guests are over. There’s also great amounts of light that shines from the back window. A walk out leads to the back which comes complete with a shed and fenced in yard.
The basement is personally my favourite part of the home! It’s one large open concept space that makes for the perfect TV room. Pot lights accent the ceiling with a newly tiled floor below. The basement has recently been waterproofed and the owner has a warranty that will stay with who ever buys the home. A sub pump was also installed! A four piece bathroom complete with a jacuzzi tub can also be found in the lower level of the home. The furnace, washer and dryer are all tucked away towards the back of the basement. There is great head room in the basement and you won’t feel cramped like in most homes of the area!
Walk up a short flight to the second floor and you’ll find two well laid out bedrooms complete with closets, new floors and freshly painted walls! There is also a three piece bathroom complete with a separate shower stall.
The master bedroom is by far one of the most spacious I’ve seen in the area… and I’ve seen a lot! Two large windows will make your mornings bright with all the natural light that shines in.
While any home of this age is never perfect, there are a lot of improvements that have been done to make it as efficient of a move-in as possible. They include: Newer windows throughout, re shingled roof in 2005, waterproofing done on the outside for the basement, sub pump, new dry wall and tiles in the basement, new laminate flooring on most parts of the main and upper level, 125 amp breaker panel and the absolute best part of the home… LEGAL FRONT PAD PARKING! Very few homes in the area have this!
I’ve included more photos below, but feel free to contact me for a private tour of the home!
Posted in Architecture, Listings, Real Estate, Toronto, Video Blog | Tags: affordable, Boon, Dufferin, for sale, Home, Mark Savel, Parking, Real Estate, Toronto | No Comments »
One of my goals for the year is getting back to basics and bringing a more organized system into my business! Most of this is happening behind the scenes and should be fully rolled out by late Spring…
One of the things I’m most excited to bring back is my Daily Photos! A few years ago (when blackberries were still cool), I would post a pic a day from my adventures in the City. Recently, the platform I was using shut down services leaving me scrambling for a place to host my photos. I’m now back in business thanks to Instagram and am excited to share all the sights this City has to offer!
You can check out my daily photos on the side bar of the blog or visit the entire collection over at my Savel and the City daily photo page! Below are a few of the places I’ve seen in the last week:
Posted in Architecture, Photo Friday, Real Estate, Toronto | Tags: building, condo, Downtown, Instagram, loft, Mark Savel, photos, Real Estate, Toronto, Tower | No Comments »
You should never throw stones at a glass house, or so the Bible says… but how about a glass condo?
The media has been “hurling rocks” at the variety of issues surrounding glass as a material for building condos, and for good reason. From falling balconies to leaky windows, the use of glass in a City with such diverse climates as Toronto is a questionable one. With a spike in the number of glass condos already built and a slew more being completed in the coming years, it’s time we talk about the future of these towers and how’re they’re built!
On April 30th PUG Talks is hosting a discussion specifically on this topic – The Future Of The Glass Tower! It will be moderated by Matthew Blackett (Spacing Magazine, Publisher, Creative Director and Co-founder) and debated by a panel consisting of David Pontarini (Hariri Pontarini Architects, Founding Partner), Graeme Stewart (E.R.A. Architects, Associate) and the visionary that developed the “Marilyn Monroe” (pictured below) condos in Mississauga - Sam Crignano (Cityzen Developments, President).
The event is being held at 6pm at The Art Gallery of Ontario, Seminar Room 1(Weston Family Learning Centre). I’m definitely going to be on hand, and can’t wait hear the argument for each side! Please RSVP early as seats are filling up quick! http://www.pugawards.com/pug/
I’d love to hear what you think? Take the poll below:
Loading ...Posted in Architecture, Real Estate, Toronto | Tags: AGO, condo, Glass Tower, loft, Mark Savel, Pug Awards, Real Estate, Toronto | No Comments »
