By Barbara Lawlor
During the decades that I have worked in the condominium industry, I have never before seen anything like
Canary District. The fascinating revitalization of the West Don Lands to create the Para / Pan Am Athletes Village has garnered a phenomenal amount of media coverage. These games will shine the international spotlight on Toronto, which continues to grow in stature on the international stage. The whole world will be looking at our city, which will experience invigorated tourism and exposure because of this much-anticipated event.
Canary District truly is THE most exciting new community ever to grace Toronto’s east end, and it is great to see how enthusiastically it is being received by the home-buying public. In May, Dundee Kilmer Developments broke ground on the first of two Canary District Condominium buildings that will house the athletes before being repurposed as a condominium residence.
This incredible project comes hot on the heels of the tremendously successful restoration of the adjacent Distillery District urban village. Residents of Canary District will be able to walk across the road and access the shops, galleries and attractions in that beautiful section of the city. And of course, Canary District will have its own tremendous appeal, with street-level amenities such as retail stores, cafés and restaurants, as well as accessible community and recreational services at the base of residential buildings.
The response to condominium sales has been stellar. We are seeing everyone from first-time buyers to the move-up market, empty-nesters and investors. People see this as their opportunity to get in on the ground floor of Toronto’s next great neighbourhood, which will remain an important part of the city’s history because of the games, and the area’s past. “The Canary District” is named for the former Canary Restaurant, a favourite eatery frequented by the truck drivers and media crews who worked in the vicinity.
This 35-acre community is designed as a sustainable, mixed-use neighbourhood featuring market condominiums, affordable housing, George Brown College student residences, YMCA, world-class lifestyle amenities and top-tier retail - the perfect combination for people who want to live, work and play in the same area. Extensive pedestrian walkways will make that even more convenient. Inspired by the philosophies of Jane Jacobs, with plenty of opportunity for “eyes on the street,” the Village will cater to the way people want to live, and will change the face of Toronto forever.
And speaking of face, the architecture for Canary District is well thought out. KPMB Architects has designed two striking 8- and 11-storey towers and bar buildings of stone, metal and glass. And Munge Leung designed the interiors and amenity spaces with their own brand of magic. Ceiling-to-floor glass on the ground level will offer views of the green space, courtyards and pedestrian mews, creating an indoor/outdoor feel. The glass-enclosed recreation facility will feature party, billiards and dining rooms and a gym.
In the first building, the one- and two-bedroom (some with dens) suites begin from just the low $200,000s. This price point is incredible, considering the desirability of this community. Eventually there will be townhomes and lofts as well. Amazing standard finishes range from hardwood and engineered floors from locally sourced materials, built-in and concealed kitchen appliances, a ceramic tile kitchen backsplash and more. All the materials in this LEED® Gold-certified building are being sourced locally wherever possible.
An impressive level of energy and effort has gone into the master-planning of the area, which is 20 years in the making. It was 18 months ago that Dundee Realty and partner Kilmer Van Nostrand made the decision to bid on the Pan / Para Pan Athletes Village, and that has turned out to be a wonderful partnership. These two industry powerhouses are bringing the Village to life with decades of prestige and experience behind them. You can find out more about the Canary District Condominiums at http://www.canarydistrict.com/
Barbara Lawlor is president of Baker Real Estate Incorporated and an in-demand columnist and speaker. A member of the Baker team since 1993, she oversees the marketing and sales of condominium developments in the GTA and overseas. Keep current with The Baker Blog at blog.bakerrealestate.com
