Posts Tagged ‘St. Lawrence Market’

I often dabble on the Toronto Archives website, going through photos of what Toronto used to look like.  It blows me away to see how much we’ve changed.  Majority of the red brick beauties from yesterday have been demolished to make way for the glass towers of today.  Good or bad, this is the reality of the City we live in…yet, every once and a while I’ll stumble upon a part of town that has revives the look that once defined Toronto.

Properties like King James Place, The Gooderham Flatiron Building (pictured above) and North Toronto Station are all examples of important heritage sites that have been restored to their original facade! I’m sure many people have seen these, but very few know about the visionary behind it!  Paul Oberman (and his company) was the man behind all of these, through his hard work with the City and communities, he made these older properties a modern reality!

Paul passed away earlier this year. Sadly, it was only after this that I came to learn about the true impact he had on the City. Brian Persaud shared memories of Pauls legacy during an episode of Inside Toronto Real Estate.  Gary Berman (Co-Founder of the PUG Awards) called in to the show and shared a story that really stuck out in my mind! Paul wanted to have granite curbs and side walks with radiant heating installed at the Summer Hill project. He had to fight with the City for months in order to get permission to have them installed! Not only was he offering to improve the look of the walk ways, he was doing it on his own dime!

Though he’s no longer with us, his vision can still live on!

I’d like to ask my readers to help support an initiative that will honour Paul’s legacy and create an urban experience to last generations.

A petition has been put up on Paul Oberman’s Memorial site that reads:

Paul Oberman believed that neighbourhoods thrive when architectural heritage is preserved and re-purposed as a backdrop for healthy community interaction. This vision is taking hold in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood. Paul’s company, Woodcliffe Landmark Properties, is currently engaged in a redevelopment project on the west side of Market Street, across from the south market, that will become a key feature in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood. A mix of redevelopment and new construction, it will exemplify the concept of ‘adaptive re-use’ by repurposing historic structures and incorporating them into the fabric of 21st century Toronto.

To fully realize Paul’s vision and create focus and purpose, the site redevelopment would best flourish part of a larger gathering space. Signing this petition will move us one step closer to creating a truly livable public space by making Market Street a pedestrian-only zone and lining its east side it with a bright and lively flower market. And what better way to honour the man whose vision has provided us with so many wonderful urban experiences than by renaming this wonderful destination ‘Oberman Way’.

You can sign the petition here!

As anyone who watches HGTV knows, the #1 thing to consider before buying real estate is location, location, location and this particular project has all three.  Located just pass the hustle and bustle of the busy strip known as King West, you’ll find a much more quite yet sophisticated King East.  Venture past some of the best home decor stores and you’ll arrive at the future home of The King East (330 King St E). 

This 15 story condo is currently in the pre construction stage and has been for about a year, but just this week I’ve recieved emails advertising  tons of affordable units still available.  Prices range from $420 per square foot and up.  Unit sizes go from studios with 310 sqf (yes you read right) to 2 bedroom units with a more spacious 840 sqf layout.

Other notables of the area include: George Brown College a few blocks west (great for those considering the Condo as an investment with rental potential), The Distillery District a few blocks south (a hip place to meet up with friends) and a short commute to St. Lawrence Market (an amazing place to pick up fresh food!!)

Check out some of the show room photos below:
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