By Barbara Lawlor
To say that the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area are brimming with fabulous condominium choices is an understatement. We are seeing an ongoing explosion of interest in the beautiful condo residences offered across the board. There are also residential hotspots that beckon with special appeal and are literally burgeoning with new condominium buildings on the rise. These areas are bound to appreciate over time, and savvy shoppers are choosing to get in on the ground floor sooner rather than later.
One example is Toronto’s Entertainment District, which is undergoing an exciting revitalization as John Street becomes the city’s new cultural corridor. Appreciation and value have been on a steady upward curve there, and the neighbourhood is growing exponentially compared to other sections of the city. Residents in the Entertainment District have some of Toronto’s best amenities literally at their doorstep, including TTC access, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts opera house, The Royal Alexandra Theatre, the Princess of Wales Theatre, restaurants, boutiques, galleries, music and sports venues, nightclubs and more. Condominiums such as Menkes’ Noir and Easton’s Group’s King Blue Condominiums offer addresses with dazzling architecture. They are introducing dramatic style statements to the area and setting new trends.
And speaking of trends, look at what’s happening in Toronto’s West Donlands, where Canary District Condominiums and surroundings will form the Athletes Village for the 2015 Para / Pan Am Games. Dundee Realty and partner Kilmer Van Nostrand are well underway with construction on the first two towers. Master planned to serve the city long after the Games are over, Canary District is the product of a collaboration among the City of Toronto, Waterfront Toronto, Infrastructure Ontario and some local community groups as well. Canary District will be home to an extensive system of pedestrian-friendly walkways connecting the local amenities. These include a new YMCA and George Brown College student residences, as well as retail stores, cafés, restaurants and recreational services. In addition, the fabulously restored Distillery District is steps away.
Hot residential destinations are developing in the 905 areas as well, in York Region for example. Downtown Markham is a wonderful example. Situated between highways 7 and 407 adjacent to Warden Avenue, this master-planned area was named last year’s BILD “Best Places to Grow Community of the Year – High-Rise.” The Remington Group is overseeing the development, construction and financing of this community, which is North America’s largest mixed-use urban development. Eventually, Downtown Markham will house 10,000 residents and will provide employment for 16,000. This model urban centre will feature retail stores, businesses, civic offices, cultural and entertainment venues, recreation facilities, residences and open spaces, all within walking distance of each other, and all framed by the natural beauty of the Rouge River. Remington offers both high-rise (Nexus South) and low-rise (The Benchmark Town Manors) residential opportunities in this sought-after area.
Richmond Hill has also become an increasingly desirable residential destination, especially the area around 16th Avenue and Yonge Street. In this neighbourhood, Zancor Homes offers Xpression Condos on Yonge, across from Hillcrest Mall. The only enclosed shopping centre in the city, this popular mall offers an incredible array of retailers, restaurants and services – 135 of them, in fact. And the area is home to numerous other fantastic amenities, especially along Yonge, including eclectic restaurants, coffee shops and entertainment. Public transit is right there, and Highways 404 and 407 are close by as well. Because Richmond Hill has so much to offer in proximity to Toronto, there is a huge pent-up demand for condominium living in the area.
Remember that by international standards, Toronto is still a young city, and there is still room to grow. These are just four of the current hotspots in the GTA. With location, location, location at the top of your must-have list for condo shopping, you are bound to find just the perfect address.
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
By Barbara Lawlor
