Posts Tagged ‘pre construction’

It’s a sad SAD day for Toronto architecture as it looks like we’re about to loose another amazing project! The Giraffe condo was a 27 story architectural masterpiece planned for the North West corner of Bloor and Dundas. Different than the typical and predictable trend of rectangular designs that we’re so used to seeing, Giraffe was a breath of fresh air to the Toronto skyline…LITTERALY!

For those unfamiliar with the proposed project (pictured above), allow me to explain it like this…The structure is a lot like Angelina Jolie: Edgy, Beautiful, Unique and Socially Responsible! Not only did the design push the boundaries of style, it also did it keeping sustainable living in mind! The plan at Giraffe was to build the condo based on a Silver Certification by LEED – the nationally recognized standard in sustainable design, construction and operation. Read the rest of this entry »

After last year’s setbacks, Cresford is back on the Merton and Yonge block and pushing full steam ahead to launch their 25 story glass tower in midtown Toronto! Designed by Peter Clews (think Radio City, Mozo, and 18 Yorkville to name a few) the tower will be a welcoming addition to the Davisville area!

MYC will feature units ranging in size from one bedrooms (519 sqf) to 2 bedroom + den (1094 sqf). At the base of the building will be a 5 story podium with slightly larger units, one bedrooms from 592 sqf to 2 bedroom + den at 1256 sqf. MYC will also have a selection of 2 story town homes with 2 bedrooms at minimum that range in size from 930 sqf – 1462 sqf.

With condo’s I’m always asked “which units will offer the best views?” For the downtown projects it’s most often the south for its lake views! Unfortunately there isn’t much lake in midtown Toronto BUT there still is a big advantage to living in a South facing unit at MYC!

Units with South exposures will overlook the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The cemetery dates back from 1876 and was designed as an arboretum (tree museum in simple terms) for the public to enjoy. The changing of the leaves from season to season not only provides a breathtaking act of nature but also a quite oasis in the heart of Toronto!

My company’s reputation with the builder has resulted in exclusive access to a variety of south facing units that’ll only be available to our Brokerage! There are 4 different plans to choose from, ranging from 1+ den to 2 bedrooms with wrap around balconies.

As with all preconstruction deals…time is of the essence! There are only 28 of these south facing units and they’ll only be held until Thursday March 4th! They’ll be accepting offers on a first come first serve basis, so if you’d like to meet up to discuss details give me a call or send me an email to set up an appointment…I’d love to help!

It looks like we’re getting closer and closer to the launch of ART Condos – a boutique atmosphere in the Studio District with only 147 suites!  The 11 story building will be made up of studios from 460 sqf to 2 bedroom units (with den) at 1290 sqf. The spacious unit will also feature a 960 sq f terrace on the 9th floor.  My personal pick is the two level suites that will have living, office, dining and kitchen on the first level with 2 bedrooms and laundry on the second!  Units will have 9ft ceilings and many include terraces or balconies.  In keeping with the culture, floor plans include long hallways allowing residents to show off their own collections of art in their units.

Amenities will include a resident lounge with fireplace, bar, and catering kitchen.  There will be an outdoor terrace with BBQ’s, a fire pit, built in banquets and a hot tub! I can’t wait to see what the interiors will look like…when you hire a team on 3RD UNCLE DESIGN; you know you’re in for a treat!

There’s nothing I dislike more then when condos are designed to look like night clubs.  Very quickly you get the Vegas effect (you want to leave after 4 days).  This condo is the exact opposite, embracing the area and celebrating its creative side. One article I read mentioned the main floor having live/work units which are sure to attract purchasers looking to make the most out of the Queen West location!

Prices and a launch date the next two strokes to complete the “ART Condo” painting, but until then check out their updated website with floor plans, a map of the area and an art gallery.  It’s going to be a great addition and an interesting mix of business and art!  Send me an email if you’d like further updates on the project.

In November, River City Condos had their “lottery system” launch for Realtors and VIPs! They had tremendous success selling about 150 of their pre release units. The remaining units in the first two phases (the River St building and the King St building) are going to be released sometime in late February during a public launch. I’ve been given the opportunity and privilege of previewing prices and floor plans of the soon-to-be released units, earlier in the week. In short…I like what I see.

They’ve brought more useable space to purchasers through spacious corner suites in both buildings. A nearly 1200 sqf townhouse is also available this time around and comes with a garden patio. I sold here back in December and was quite pleased with the experience. At the time they had capped my purchaser’s adjustments to one of the lowest amounts I’ve ever seen! (The lower the developer caps a cost the less a purchaser has to pay at closing…for those not in the business, it’s a really good thing). Add over 23 acres of parks and public spaces as well as all the LEED Gold initiatives that the developers have planned…and we have ourselves some very exciting real estate!

They’re in the process of setting up a Saucier + Perrotte model kitchen at the sales centre which should be completed in the coming weeks. If you’d like to preview the floor plans and prices for River City before the February launch, there’s an awesome coffee shop (Savoury Grounds on Queen St) where I like to meet with clients :) send me and email or give me a call… I’d love to help!

Yep, you’ve read the title right: “South Beach Condos in Toronto”. I’m usually judgemental towards projects that use ridiculous names to sell their project…but since this one does so well in so many other areas, I’ll save the criticism for another day!

Located on the West end of the city (Parklawn and Lakeshore) South Beach is changing the look and feel of Etobicoke as we know it. The project isn’t new by any means but it’s definitely impressive and has some great incentives still in place. I’ve been in and out of the sales centre several times in the past year, and after every visit my clients come out amazed. The setup is stunning from as soon as you pull into the parking lot. “South Beach” inspired music welcomes guests in to the massive showroom with tons of visuals to help illustrate the future plans of the site. Sitting on a huge granite slab is a replica of not just the towers but of the whole surrounding area.

Read the rest of this entry »

ART condos, as I blogged about before the holidays, is looking like the first pre construction condo to launch in 2010. The more I research this one, the better it gets! We got a sneak peek at what’s to come as renderings for the project were posted on the BuzzBuzzHome Blog (you’ll want to add these guys to your RSS Reader as they always have a ton of great content about Toronto’s pre construction market). For your viewing pleasure, I’ve included the images below: Read the rest of this entry »

What a year 2009 has been for the Toronto Condo Market! Back in the early part ’08 I remember getting invited to a new condo launch several times a month. Every time I checked the BlackBerry it was a different developer announcing a different launch… that was until the ‘World Wide Recession’ kicked in!

The broker lunch invites ceased, the glossy packages of beautiful condo renderings stopped and my cell phone usage also started to slow down. With the weak sales numbers in the resale market, no developer wanted to risk launching during the uncertain times. So for the last half of 2008 and the first half of 2009 hardly any new projects where released. It almost became the year of the “Relaunch” as most developers worked to clear old inventory and get ground broken on their projects.

530 St. Clair was about to be the first developer to launch a new product, but held off citing a redesign of units to better suit the market. Fly Condos also had their sales event, with many small sized units being released at low prices that matched. Camrost-Felcorp made a bold move in June. They erected a huge sign on the highway advertising prices for their California Condo starting at $149,900! This wasn’t their first launch, but like many others, the re-launch was necessary to move more units.

September of 2009 is when activity in the pre construction market really started to pick up. 530 St. Clair , 2 Gladstone, Reve, x2,Ice 2, U Condos 2, and finally River City (to name a few) all made their launch towards the last quarter of the year!

So what’s in store for 2010? If you’re in the market for a preconstruction condo, you’ll want to check back throughout the week, as I take a look at what’s in store for the New Year!