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Top-5 New Launches to Watch

It’s been a very busy year for new condo launches. Here are my top-5 projects that I’ll be watching for investment over the last few months of 2010:

1. Bisha. This one could be special, but it certainly won’t be cheap. I’m hearing pricing will start in the high $600s and go up from there. I’ve also heard that the lifestyle component of the building will be something unique in Toronto.
2. One Park West. I’ve already seen some of the plans for this newest release in the Regent Park redevelopment by Daniels coming up in September and it looks very interesting. One unique aspect are the stacked townhomes that are probably the best floor plans for stacked towns I’ve ever seen.
3. River City Phase 2. Phase 1 launched late November of last year. At last check they were well over 70% sold. Those who doubted this development because of its location will likely have to strongly consider investing in phase 2 after the success of phase 1.
4. Studio on Richmond. Not many details available yet on this project but great location in the heart of the Entertainment district and the developer (Aspen Ridge) has offered good value to investors in the past with projects like VU on Adelaide Street East.
5. Post House. Right next to the VU site will be Post House by Alterra. The proximity to the booming St Lawrence Market ‘hood has many of my clients drooling with anticipation. This one has just released floor plans and pricing for the VIP event. Contact me for details!

Other projects on my radar screen for the next 3-6 months include:

• Plazacorp’s site at Yonge and Wellesley (project name TBA, location very intriguing)
• Imperial Plaza (office building conversion at Avenue and St Clair by Camfrost Felcorp)
• Cityzen’s “Name this condo” site at Yonge and Esplanade
• Brad Lamb’s Theatre Park site (what height/form will be approved?)
• Daniels Cinema Tower (follow up to Festival Tower)

Wondering how to keep track of the latest and greatest condo projects downtown? Hire me as your downtown condo expert today.

ART Condos Wants to Start Construction

From time to time I am able to offer my buyer clients special privileges because of either my own relationship with a particular developer or because of my brokerage’s affiliation with one. This week I have a special offer from ART Condos. Art is a 150 suite boutique loft building on Dovercourt, one block south of Queen Street. Suites range in size from @500sf to 1650sf 2 storey three bedroom with a patio. Prices are from $227,990 and parking is $30,000.

ART condos in Queen West is very close to hitting their sales targets for starting construction. They only need about 17 more units sold. In order to expedite the last few sales, they are offering an exclusive to my clients and other clients of Remax Condos Plus. On Wednesday June 23 they are having an exclusive sales event.

Special incentives for buyers at this event

• Zero assignment fee
• $2500 cashback on closing for studios, one bedroom and one bedrooms and den
• $5000 cashback for 2 bedrooms, 2 bedrooms and den and 2 storey 2 bedrooms
• Deposit Structure for select units has been reduced to only 10% in 90 days + 5% at occupancy!

If you are interested in purchasing a unit at ART condos, this is a great opportunity to get in before construction begins. Contact me for more information.

DNA3 Looks Like a Winner

DNA3 is just about ready for launch, but I have been granted VIP access to the project in advance of the wider openings later this month. If you are interested in getting a unit at this project, contact me right away for your best opportunity to buy.

Details on the project are now in. Standout suite features include:

• Built-in, integrated stainless steel European sized appliances including: fridge, range, microwave, range hood (very sexy)
• Engineered hardwood throughout including bedrooms and dens (say good bye to carpet forever!)
• All bedrooms have windows – no ‘buried’ bedrooms without windows in the building!
• Exposed concrete 9′ ceilings
• Balconies or terraces on all units

Exciting building features include:

• 6000 square feet of retail on the ground level including one very exciting anchor tenant (TBA)
• 3 outdoor roof-top terrace areas including a Las Vegas/South Beach inspired “Misting Station” (HOT!)
• Massive gym, multiple party rooms, yoga room, business centre, theatre room (very extensive amenities)

King West has arrived as one of the premier neighbourhoods downtown. DNA3 offers amazing value for the location and features/finishes of the building. Definitely a winner and TrueCondos.com approved investment opportunity. For details, please contact me.

Coming Soon to Queen West: 12 Degrees

When it comes to this condo project, I think the photo above says it all. 12 Degrees Condominiums is attempting to personify the so-hip-it-hurts vibe of Queen Street West and with a rooftop pool and cabana area like this, I think they just might acheive it.

The VIP sales event for 12 Degrees is on now. For floor plans and pricing, please contact me. Pricing is about $600 PSF, similar to Berczy, FIVE, Nicholas etc.

Queen and Beverly is TRUE Queen West. The area has already arrived and is one of the best spots in Toronto to live. You won’t find any mega towers around here, and probably never will, but the area is already home to some immensely popular boutique sized resale buildings like The Phoebe. The building features a very unique design that gives a sort of off-kilter Rubik’s Cube visual effect. If they are actually able to build this project as it is currently designed, it will be very impressive and probably an architectural gem for the area.

Features include an ultra-modern design aesthetic with 9′ ceilings, hardwood throughout, streamlined kitchens with integrated european style appliances. But really, it’s all about the rooftop pool and cabana area! Can you imagine enjoying the hot summer nights in Queen West on that rooftop overlooking the downtown core? Incredible! And you only have to share it with a total of 90 unit owners unlike some of the mega towers where you are sharing amenities with literally hundreds of other people!

The X-Factor here is obviously the developer who is a bit of an unknown commodity here in Toronto.

To book a unit at 12 Degrees NOW, contact me.

Coming Soon: FIVE Condos

This one could be spectacular. The combination of Graywood Developments (Ritz Carlton, 8 Mercer), and Mod Developments (new company formed by the former head of Great Gulf – Michael Switzer) means this project has some serious pedigree behind it and the location is a can’t miss proposition. Assuming the prices come in at something very similar to Nicholas Residences (low $600s Per Square Foot at the VIP stage), this one could be one of my top picks for investment in 2010.

FIVE Condos is going to be 45 storeys, and will be situation right at Yonge and St Joseph Street which is about a 3 minute walk to Yonge and Bloor where Great Gulf is asking – and getting – well over $800 per square foot for Number One Bloor. The finishes are rumored to be a step above the quality of say a Charlie or an X2, but not into the true luxury category of the upper floor suites at Number One Bloor. Still, Miele appliances are nothing to sneeze at, and my hopes are high for the value-proposition of this development – yes, even at $650 PSF.

The VIP sales period for FIVE will commence on May 18th in the afternoon. There will be an event for brokers and agents like myself where we will get the floor plans and pricing (and some free food), and later that afternoon they will start accepting worksheets for suite reservations/requests. The earlier you get your worksheet in, the better the chance of getting your suite of choice. Frankly, it also helps a great deal to have a Realtor working for you that has a previous experience with the sales team handling the project – which I do.

It’s also worth highlighting the unique architectural features of the project – undulating balconies and the integration of several heritage buildings on Yonge and St Joseph Streets. Similar to the approach that Nicholas took, but executed with a higher degree of sophistication and reflecting the city’s value of new urbanism.

To register with me for the VIP sales event for FIVE, please contact me.

Coming Soon: Post House Condos

It has been about a year and a half since I first wrote on this blog about Post House Condos. The developer (Alterra) first put up signage on the property at Adelaide and George Street around that time, but the project is just launching sales now. The project probably was put on hold during the market dip of fall 2008-spring 2009, and now a year later, they look to be finally ready to start selling units.

Post House looks like it should be a nice addition to the growing number of pre-construction projects in the St Lawrence / King East neighbourhood.  Another boutique-sized building, this should appeal mostly to end-users, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they follow the trend of having the majority of suites as 1 bedroom or 1+dens under 700 sq ft to capture a good portion of investor buyers. In this market it’s just too tempting for developers to not make their projects investor-friendly.

For more information on this project and to receive floor plans and pricing for any upcoming VIP sales events, please contact me.

Coming Soon: Trinity Lofts

Floor Plans and Price list now available. Booking units now. Contact me for details.

Streetcar Developments is on a serious roll of late. The ‘little developer that could’ has recently launched two highly successful projects – 2 Gladstone and SYNC Lofts, which are in addition to their existing repertoire of projects including Corktown phase 1 (under construction, nearly complete), Corktown Phase 2 (construction starting), Vinegar Lofts (19 River, complete and registered), EDGE lofts (625 Queen, complete and registered), and a couple other projects on Queen East in Leslieville/The Beach. They have a formula for low-rise condo/loft marketing and construction and it seems to be working.

Their latest project is Trinity Lofts which will follow in the vein of their other projects like SYNC or Corktown and be a soft-loft, modern concept, boutique building with minimal amenities. SYNC proved to be a fantastic investment in my opinion with many units selling in the mid $400s per square foot. If Trinity Lofts comes out with similar pricing, it will be a slam dunk investment as this area has great upside potential. Units at 33 Mill street in the Distillery are currently selling in the mid $500s per square foot (for units with parking).

The site for Trinity Lofts will be just north of the Distillery District at 2 Eastern Avenue. This makes it central to the best of the east side including the Distillery District, Corktown, Riverside, the West Don Lands (currently being developed) and of course King East and the St Lawrence Market area.

SYNC was more than twice the size of this project and all the one bedrooms there sold out in first week. They only have a few 2 bedrooms left. It will be the exact same story with Trinity Lofts, except there will be even more competition for the smaller units as the supply is so limited. The public release of Trinity Lofts is set for May 8th, but if you would like to buy at the upcoming VIP sales event in advance of the public release, please contact me ASAP as this one will sell quickly.

Coming Soon: Library District Condominiums

Floor Plans and Price list now available. Booking units now. Contact me for details.

Context Developments is adding to the flurry of pre-construction activity happening in the Fort York neighbourhood with their upcoming Library District Condominiums. The name may seem strange for a condo but their seems to be a connection with a future location of Toronto’s newest and 100th library location to this budding area. (Why one library makes it a ‘district’ I have no idea.) Contact me for more info on this project including floor plans and pricing.

Buyers and investors will no doubt want to compare Context’s offerings with that of Garrison at The Yards by Onni Group. Both projects will be competing for buyers when they officially launch next month. One significant difference between the two projects is that units on floors 2-7 will have 8′ ceilings at the Library District, whereas all the units at Garrison are supposed to be have 9′ ceilings. Also, Garrison is offering laminate floors throughout while Library District has carpet as standard in the bedrooms.

I will be offering my clients a more in depth analysis on these two projects once I have a more complete set of information from both developers to compare them against each other. If you would like to discuss hiring me as your exclusive buyer’s agent for either project, please contact me.

Exclusive Access to Units at Garrison at The Yards

Coming soon from BC based developer Onni Group, Garrison at The Yards.

I have exclusive access to select suites for an upcoming VIP sales event for this project. Prices are averaging about $450-475 PSF at this stage of the buying process. VIP buyers get parking for $28K, lockers for $2500 and FREE assignment. Contact me for floor plans and pricing.

Unlike some of the existing Fort York buildings like 219/231 Fort York and 600 Fleet, all suites will have as STANDARD:

• 9′ ceilings
• Laminate flooring throughout
• Stainless steel appliances
• Stone Counter tops

Garrison is Phase 1 of what will be as master-planned community with approximately 1000 units – all by the Onni Group. No question that the Fort York neighbourhood is finally starting to take shape and develop some character. If the rumored Loblaw-owned building at the north east corner of Bathurst and Lake Shore is converted into a Super Store or Loblaws, then the area would really take a leap forward in my opinion.

For more information or to buy at the VIP sales event (happening now) for Garrison at The Yards, please contact me.

Coming Soon: One Park West

Coming this September from Daniels: One Park West. After the hugely successful launch of One Cole (the first phase of the Regent Park redevelopment) in May 2009, Daniels Corp. is getting set to launch the second phase of condominiums to be part of the billion dollar makeover of this downtown east side neighbourhood.

One Park West is under construction now. Sales are to start in September 2010. There will be stacked townhomes ready for occupancy almost immediately, and then the tower portion itself which will not be ready for occupancy until early/mid 2011. Prices will likely be something similar to what we saw at One Cole, except slightly higher. Most suites at One Cole were in the $390-$400 PSF range at the initial launch. The last few units sold recently in the $420 PSF range.

If you are interested in purchasing a unit at One Park West, I suggest you hire me as your Exclusive Buyer’s Agent. I have been granted membership into Daniels’ exclusive “Platinum Brokers Club” for this project which will allow my clients to gain priority access of exclusive suites without having to wait in lineups. Besides getting you exclusive access to One Park West, hiring me as your buyer’s agent gets you professional representation at no additional cost. Protect yourself, always hire a buyer’s agent when buying a new condominium from a builder.

If you have any questions about One Park West, or if you would like to hire me as your exclusive buyer’s agent for this project, please contact me.