Archive for the ‘Photo Friday’ Category

One of the most exciting things about being in the business of selling the City is watching how it changes over the years. In 2008 I started focusing on the West Don Land (or River City) part of town.  At the time it was no more than a contaminated brown field with a bunch of old industrial buildings.  With the announcement of Toronto hosting the Pan Am games in 2015… plans quickly got underway to improve the look of the area.

A new school, daycares, and condos are just a few of the things planned for the area… but before any of this could happen, the City had to deal with a potential flood hazard at the base of the redevelopment. Reshaping the floodplain would not only protect the West Don Lands but also a 99 hectare (245 acre) area, including Toronto’s financial district, from sinking underwater!

The solution they came up with was both practical and useful for the area residents and the overall look of the area! Approximately 400,000 cubic metres of fill is being used to construct the Don River Park.   According to WaterFrontToronto’s website: “The centrepiece of the West Don Lands, Don River Park will be a 7.3 hectare (18 acre) active, vibrant and inviting park that will not only serve the local community, but residents from throughout Toronto and visitors from far and wide. Construction of the park, which will occupy the south eastern portion of the neighbourhood and will run along the Don River from King Street to the rail corridor in the south, started in September 2010. When completed, the beautiful green space will invite people to the Don River and offer inspiring experiences along the river’s edge as well as spectacular views of downtown and Lake Ontario.”

I’ve visited the site several times since 2009 and been blown away by it’s progress each time! Shortly before the park opened, I took a self guided tour of the almost completed park!  Check out the photos below:

Believe it or not… there’s a bit of Brooklyn in Toronto’s CityPlace neighbourhood.  In fact, there’s even a bit of Tokyo, London, and Hong Kong! Next time you’re in the area, pop into the lobby of 10 Capreol Court and look up over the concierges desk.  That’s where you’ll find Brooklyn artist Jose Parlas “Bridge” installation!

Now look a bit closer!  The white scribble is actually a story of Jose’s life in New York city (Brooklyn) and how it has become his bridge to other cities around the world.  Two pieces were commissioned by Concord Adex Developments for the Parade 1 lobby at CityPlace.

Watch Jose speak about the painting and describe the story behind the Bridge!

La Dolce demolition has begun at the Treviso Condominiums construction site!

As one of the top sellers at the Treviso Community, I’m able to offer all purchasers who work with me the following exclusive discounts and bonuses… but only for a limited time!

Get 5% Cash Back ($12,000-$30,000)
AND Free Assignments – Regular $5000
AND $3000 Yorkdale Gift Certificate OR Travel Voucher 

Special Deposit Choice for Treviso 1 and 2
$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 Days
5% in 120 Days
$2000 Every 3 Months (for additional 5%)

Or

$2000 with the Offer
Balance to 5% in 30 days
10% BMO Interest Only Loan and Vendor Pays the Interest

FIRST 20 2 & 3 BEDROOM SUITES SOLD AT TREVISO 2 ONLY GET AN ADDITIONAL $10,000 CASH OFF
AND a N’espresso Espresso machine at closing, offered originally and exclusively when I represent you in the purchase of a unit at Treviso! Contact me TODAY!

All cash back offers can be deducted off the purchase price or be adjusted on final closing. Bank of Montreal loan program is subject to approval.  Mortgage pre approvals are required on all sales. Balance to 20% is required on occupancy date for all deposit structures noted above.  All promotions, discounts offers are valid until April 30, 2012.  All promotion offers may be changed and/or cancelled at any time without notice.

Priestly Demolition is working on scrapping the former BiWay/Blinds-T0-Go/Perfume Outlet that once operated on the Dufferin and Lawrence corner. Once fully removed, excavation and shoring can take place. If all goes according to plan we should expect construction to start in the Spring/Summer of 2012!

I stopped by the site on Thursday and took a few photos of the demolition taking place, check them out below:

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If you’re a loyal reader to the blog, chances are you’ve noticed I missed this weeks MustHaveMonday post…but don’t fret, it’s Friday and I’m packing both themed days into one!

Excuses aside, I present to you…The POPA!

It’s a nifty little attachement for the iPhone 4.  It’s purpose is to make your smartphone less of a phone and more of a camera! Though I haven’t actually used it my self, I have done a lot of reading up on it (hint hint wink wink Christmas is coming).  Twist the POPAs barrel to connect to your iphone, and kaboooooom you’re ready to go.  The big read button at the top of the POPA makes your iphone picture ready in seconds. I quick push of the big red button and you’re snapping away.  It retails for about $75 and can be ordered online!

Watch it in action below:

Now that we’ve got the MustHaveMonday part of the post out of the way… let’s move on to some PHOTOFRIDAY pics:

Shot from atop CASA condos, I took this photo looking down at their outdoor pool!

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A Bay Street crowd of 350+ looked mighty dapper October 25, in the exquisite mid-
century styled lobby of the former Imperial Oil Headquarters at 111 St. Clair West,
mingling with classic cocktails and 60’s themed food in hand for Macquarie Private
Wealth’s annual fundraising event.  I was fortunate enough be in attendance at the event and got to see first hand what the last party at Imperial Plaza would look like!

Standing as a testament to Toronto’s ‘Mad Men’ era, the former Imperial Oil building
is one of the few iconic structures in the city designed in classic international style
modernism, a style of architecture that was at its height in the late 1950s. Many have
come to know the building’s stature for its dramatic two-storey polished marble lobby,
which houses the late York Wilson’s “Story of Oil” the most ambitious oil mural ever
envisioned in Canada.

Rarely used as an event space, guests of Macquarie Private Wealth had the rare
opportunity to see the building in its mid-century glory for the last time before doors
close. With a transformation already underway by developer Camrost-Felcorp, the
iconic address of 111 St. Clair West will be reintroduced to a new generation as the
prestigious new residences of Imperial Plaza.

This historic venue that represents more than 50 years of commerce in Toronto was a
perfect backdrop for the sold out crowd of financial industry guests, who were brought
back to the glorious ‘Mad Men’ era with a vintage-themed event. Cigarette girls and
white-gloved waiters served a 60′s inspired menu that included Lobster Newburg,
Beef Wellington, Oysters Rockefeller and Swedish Meatballs. While sipping on classic
vodka martinis made with Absolut Elyx, there was also an opportunity to indulge in a
quintessential fondue station featuring a variety of local cheeses. Read the rest of this entry »

Stop the press!!!  The first media release for Rise Condos at 1451 Bathurst St has just been released:

Marking the momentous rebirth of Toronto’s St. Clair West neighbourhood, RISE Condominiums by Reserve Properties places this emerging residential community into the spotlight.

The free-spirited south-midtown enclave of St. Clair West has recently seen many young Torontonians flocking to the area, scooping up old houses and recreating the residential community with a distinct urban character.

Now home to frequent bidding wars and high rent increases, the mainstreet along St. Clair West, boasts heavy pedestrian traffic, with an eclectic mix of businesses, specialty boutiques and a vibrant local food scene. Lined with decadent bakeries, authentic European cafes and some of Toronto’s hottest culinary destinations, such at The Stockyards, The Rushton and Ferro, patios spill on to the sidewalk and feed into the new emerging energy.

RISE Condominiums presides over the south-east corner of Bathurst and St. Clair, anchoring the gateway to this new hub. Steps from the St. Clair West subway stop and across the street from Loblaw’s (a.k.a. Forest Hill Market), RISE will become a statement piece for the community with a Mondrian inspired pattern rising up its façade.  “A distinct weave of horizontal and vertical white bands will highlight the intersection and add a contemporary dialogue to the neighbourhood’s burgeoning urban character,” says lead architect Enzo Corazza.

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It was one of those weeks that took me all over the City…from River City in the Queen East area to 8 Gladstone in the West! As per my usual shutterbug ways, I stopped at each project to take a few photos of the progress.  It was interesting to see the progress 8 Gladstone has made in a mere 7 months.  The existing structures have been demolished to make way for the new TACT designed building!  Enjoy some more photos of progress below…

In the East, I took some time to walk along the bridge over looking the future River City Development.  Workers were on site and busy plugging away at some much needed infrastructure for the project.  Phase 2 is also about to launch to stay tuned for the latest deals and promotions at the new River City community.  See what I saw in the photos below! Read the rest of this entry »