Condo Pro: The Sun Is Rising In The East!

By Barbara Lawlor

Toronto is a remarkable city in so many ways. Over the past two decades, we have seen amazing changes and improvements to this world-class metropolis. And world class, it is! This year, Toronto ranked 12th in The Economist’s Economic Intelligence Unit’s report, “Benchmarking Global City Competitiveness.” Toronto was also recently ranked second in Fast Company magazine’s first global ranking of smart cities that support innovation and low-carbon economy. Excellence in urban planning has a lot to do with our City’s international success, and the explosion of residential condominiums has enabled us to address intensification for Smart Growth. There’s an interesting phenomenon in that the west side of any great city is the first to develop. Certainly, Toronto’s west side is home to numerous new condos, and Etobicoke and the Lakeshore are hotspots for growth. And in keeping with the worldwide trend, Toronto’s east side is following with tremendous growth of its own.

The sun is definitely rising in the east end, where exciting changes are taking place. Just look at the Regent Park rejuvenation, which has attracted international acclaim. The Daniels Corporation and Toronto Community Housing are doing a stellar job of transforming this area with new retail and community amenities, and integrating it back into the city with new and improved roadways.

Moving farther east, it’s wonderful to see historic Leslieville undergoing a refresh as well. What a fantastic section of Toronto! The neighbourhood is jam-packed with existing amenities including film studios and the Opera House with its concerts and events. Jimmie Simpson Park is a beautiful natural area between Queen Street East and Dundas. In addition to new restaurants, cafés, shops and services being added in the vicinity, many of Toronto’s favourite eateries and specialty food stores already beckon gourmet palates. The Dundas and Queen streetcars service this area, and access to the DVP and Gardiner Expressway is close by. The Carlaw by Streetcar Developments is leading the way in residential opportunities in Leslieville. Judging from the response, a lot of people recognize the value in this burgeoning area.

Scarborough is also booming, with new condos popping up in the midst of this area’s incredible amenities. Near Sheppard Avenue East and Kennedy Road, for example, Gemterra offers Love Condominiums - a striking landscaped 20-storey tower adjacent to the Tam O’Shanter Golf Course, just north of Agincourt Mall. The Scarborough LRT will open a new station adjacent to the LOVE CONDOS property, making the area even more desirable. And in North York, ELAD Canada is building Emerald City at Sheppard and Don Mills. This collection of towers is literally reshaping the landscape of this convenient area for the better, making the most of being right on the Sheppard subway line.

Remember, too, that the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games will be held in Toronto, with the Athletes’ Village to be located in the West Don Lands - yet another boost for the City’s east end. Plans call for remarkable new amenities to be built, heightening the appeal of this changing area that will eventually see upwards of 2,000 more permanent residents in the resulting mixed-use community. As other condominiums come on board, the fabric of City’s east side will continue to evolve.

With all of this happening, Toronto is sure to continue as one of the world’s best cities to live in. Last year, for the second time, the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked Toronto fourth in the world for livability, which takes into account stability, health care, culture, environment, education and infrastructure. The 2011 Corporate Knights Sustainable Cities survey named Toronto Canada’s most sustainable city, and we were ranked 9th overall in the USA and Canada Green City Index. A division of the Financial Times, fDilntelligence published its first American Cities of the Future 2011/12 report and ranked Toronto in the top 10! The ongoing development in the east end adds up to an even higher quality of life in Toronto, the condominium capital of the world.

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