Coming soon from Empire Communities: Eau Du Soleil. Contact me for more information including floor plans and pricing.

It’s not very often that you will see me get excited about a condo outside of downtown, but what Empire Communities is getting ready to launch on the Lake Shore in Etobicoke has got me VERY excited. Eau Du Soleil promises to be one of the TALLEST waterfront condos in Canada. This one is going to be BIG.

The exact details, like how many storeys, how many buildings, what this ‘awe inspiring design’ will be like are still quite scarce (at least, scarce enough that I am not allowed to publish anything here). What I can say is that nothing like this has ever been built anywhere in Toronto.

Empire Communities is one of the ‘good guys’ in Toronto development. They have a tremendous portfolio of buildings under construction including The Modern on Richmond, FLY condos, and on the Etobicoke waterfront they have Beyond the Sea.

I will be one of the very few agents in the city to have “President’s Club” level access to this project. This means my clients will be able to buy before the Platinum or VIP or Preview buyers. Contact me today if you are interested in purchasing a unit at this amazing new project!

January 2012 update: check out this early release rendering. WOW!

Aug 21 Edit: Special Broker’s Only VIP sales event happening today and tomorrow at California Condos. Up to $10,000 cash back and free assignment fee! Contact me for more info or if you would like to attend.

It’s no secret that the Fly Condos relaunch last month was a resounding success. Empire Communities lowered their prices and made some new floor plans to attract investors and first time buyers and the crowds came out in droves with their cheque books ready.

Now it’s California’s turn. Camfrost-Felcorp seems to be taking a page out of the Fly Condos playbook by lowering their prices, creating new floor plans, and starting a mass-marketing campaign billing California Condos as the lowest priced condo building in Toronto. Prices are starting at just $149,900.

On Friday at 10am they will be having an agents-only sale (for agents and their clients) and sales will be on a first come first served basis. Floor plans are not (as of time of posting this blog) available on the California Condos official website. Word is that the $149K units will be 455 square foot, north-facing, 1 bedrooms (not studios), and they will also have some other floor plans starting in the $150s. Moving right on up to a 975 square foot south-facing 2 bedroom starting from $369,900.

They have jumped on the web 2.0 / social media bandwagon and have started Twittering and they have a Facebook page as well. Good for them and I hope more developers get on this trend and increase the transparency in this consumer-facing industry.

The mainstream media is doing their part to drive the hype including the CBC and Global news who both recently featured stories on the new prices. The clips are available on their website.

Please contact me if you would like more information.

June 19th Edit:

Check out this video that California just posted on their official site.

1. Price. The number one reason why they did so well with their relaunch is they lowered their prices significantly. Prices were adjusted by approximately 20% versus what they were selling for back in October 2008. Most units were priced in the mid $400s per square foot.
2. Timing. They hit the market at the perfect time. Spring fever is in full effect in this city and there is a lot of pent up demand from buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines waiting to jump in. Also, there are no other major project launches anywhere downtown right now = no competition for “VIP sales fever”. Back in 2007/2008, there were VIP sales launches literally every single week.
3. Promotion. I must hand it to Empire. They did an amazing job getting the word out to the public as well as the broker community about the relaunch. They kept pounding the “$159,000″ price point into people’s heads and this worked. Everyone was buzzing about getting a condo in a great downtown location for $159K.

If you are still looking for a unit at FLY, there are still plenty available, but anything priced under about $275K is basically sold out for the time being. No word yet on whether or not they will be releasing more suites in this price range in the weeks to come.

Questions? Contact me.

Fly Condos launched about 7 months ago and sales were decent at first but then quickly dropped off as the market changed in October/November quite dramatically.

Like many developers, Empire is not just sitting around waiting for buyers to walk through the door. They are getting aggressive with pricing and incentives. Recently they launched an advertising campaign announcing suites from $159,900. This number has gotten them a lot of attention as investors and first time buyers alike are salivating at the prospect of buying a condo at Front and Spadina for under $200K.

They have redesigned the building and split up many larger suites into smaller suites. Originally the price per square foot was averaging around mid $500s. Now, prices will be averaging about $465 per square foot. This is represents a significant drop in prices and Empire is banking on investors and first time buyers by making 60% of remaining suites priced under $300K.

This just might be the perfect opportunity for buyers who have been sitting on the sidelines to enter the market.

Check back here later this week as by then I should have all the new prices and floor plans for an upcoming broker’s VIP sales event. Register with me if you want to be first to get the info.

April 2009 update: NEW PRICES  and NEW FLOOR PLANS now available for FLY Condos. Suites available from an amazing $159,900! Click here for details.

Fly Condos – the wait is finally over! Email me to get your hands on VIP price sheet right away for Fly Condos.

Project Details:

• Location: Front and Spadina
• Size: 24 Storeys, 396 units
• Starting Prices (tower suites): $269,900 for 495 sq ft to $684,900 for 1112 sq ft.
• Price per square foot from the Mid $500s
• Penthouse Pricing starting from $849,900 for 1145 sq ft to $1,169,900 for 1533 sq ft
• Loft Pricing from $399,900 for 690 sq ft to $619,900 for 1050 sq ft
• Terrace Suite Pricing from $289,900 for 495 sq ft to $419,900 for 710 sq ft
• Parking $35,000
• Lockers $5000
• Floor Premiums: $1000 per floor
• Maintenance: $0.46/sq ft + Hydro
• Occupancy: Oct 31, 2011
• Deposit Structure: $2000 with offer, balance of 5% in 30 days, 5% in 90 days, 5% in 180 days, 5% in Occupancy

They are offering some incredible incentives for purchasers during the VIP stage:

• Savings of up to $15,000 per unit
• FREE Locker ($5000 value)
• FREE Assignment Prior to occupancy
• FREE Upgrade to Integrated Fridge and Dishwasher in Kitchen
• FREE In-suite 5.1 Surround Sound Home Entertainment System ($3000 Value)

Also being released at the VIP stage are some of the Terraced Suites, the lofts, and some of the Penthouse suites. Contact me for more information.

Click here to view the Fly Condos floor plans.

Contact me now and I will send you the Fly Condos VIP Price Sheet.

April 2009 update: NEW PRICES  and NEW FLOOR PLANS now available for FLY Condos. Suites available from an amazing $159,900! Click here for details.

See all my posts related to Fly Condos here.

Empire Communities was having a Celebrity Look-Alike contest to promote Fly Condos and the winners were just announced today. Congrats to Tommy Matejka for looking like Jude Law and getting $75,000 off the purchase price of a suite at Fly if he decides to buy one. His mom must be so proud

They also released some more information on Fly Condos. Check it out below. Sounds like an exciting project.  Please contact me if you would like more information or if you have any questions.

Fly Condos is Empire Communities’ brand new condominium community coming soon to 352 Front Street West. This unique residential enclave will be situated between Blue Jays Way and Spadina in downtown Toronto. The 24-storey building will be crafted from glass and metal panels, with a unique interplay of distinctive and dramatic glass balconies on its western façade. The result of this design by Graziani + Corazza Architects will be an iconic addition to Toronto’s skyline that will complement this historic neighbourhood with its superb lines and intimate scale.

Fly combines all the essential elements: the right location,architecture, ambiance and amenities to nurture a lifestyle totally in sync with the times. Savvy Toronto urbanites will appreciate that it is possible for a whole community to be totally cool.

Fly will back onto Clarence Square – an urban park that is a true natural gem. Fly will also offer a landscaped promenade that connects to Clarence Square. Plus, the on-the-move crowd will enjoy living close to delectable restaurants, sizzling nightlife, renowned sports venues, and within walking distance to Toronto’s theatre and financial districts.
Residents of Fly Condos will live like stars in a building that features interiors and amenities by trend-setting Munge Leung Design Associates. These include the stunning white lobby with two-storey opaque green cut-glass columns, grey-veined marble floor and wall tile, white sculptural seating by Zaha Hadid, a modern chrome concierge desk, and white and gold metal origami-like birds throughout.

Residents will be able to host get-togethers in the stylish party venue with a chef’s kitchen complete with five appliances and access to the outdoor rooftop terrace with its private cabanas and barbecue station. The fitness centre is designed by George Chaker (founder of Diesel Fitness and Level V) and will feature the latest in workout equipment, a Yoga and Pilates studio, spinning area, sauna and more, all with a walkout to a private Zen courtyard ideal for meditation and seasonal yoga sessions. Overnight visitors can make use of a hotel-chic guest suite, and 24-hour concierge service will provide pure convenience.

Suites will feature ceilings that soar up to 10 feet in height at the Penthouse levels, which enhance the spacious feel of these well-thought-out designs. Each suite will also have a balcony or terrace extending the owners’ living space to the outdoors; custom-designed contemporary kitchens with sleek stainless-steel appliances and granite countertops; engineered hardwood flooring; rich ceramics and glazed porcelain tiles; plus striking views through expansive windows.

Fly Condos will offer studios, one-bedroom, one-bedroom plus den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom-plus-den, three-bedroom, and two-storey lofts with street entry. Sizes range from 480 to over 1,500 sq. ft., and prices begin from the mid-$200′s to just under $1 million. Occupancy is slated for Spring 2012.

Fly Condos – a new condo development by Empire Communities located at Spadina and Front St is trying something new. In an effort to promote the project, the developer is holding a Celebrity Look Alike Contest with the winner getting $75,000 off of the purchase of a suite at Fly Condos. Very interesting tactic and obviously aimed at building some buzz and creating some hype for the project, especially amongst the under-30 crowd who they are very clearly marketing their project to.

The downtown Toronto Condo market is red hot and developers are constantly trying to attract investors and first time buyers alike to choose their project over the many others available in the city. There are so many new condo projects launching every month all over the city of Toronto that developers are now getting very creative in their marketing and promotion schemes in advance of launching their sites. Fly Condos Celebrity Look Alike Contest is just one more example of this creative, non-traditional real estate marketing.

So if you reckon you look a little like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, why not enter the contest and find out? Presumbaly the winner of the contest will be the person most closely resembling their chosen celebrity as voted by visitors to the Fly Condos Contest website.

If you are thinking about purchasing a unit at Fly Condos but you don’t want to wait until the sales office opens to the public, or you just aren’t interested in waiting to see if you really do look like Brad Pitt, please contact me for VIP sales before the public.

Steps to the Rogers Centre, the ACC, the Entertainment District, King West, Queen West, the Financial District – What more can you ask for in a location downtown?!

Fly’s 24 storeys of glass will be designed by Graziani and Corrazza Architects Inc. and interiors by Munge Leung Design Associates.

Imagine yourself at Club Fly, a spectacular rooftop lounge/party room complete with wet bar is perfect for a festive gathering or a quiet evening of star gazing. Owners will appreciate the state-of-the-art fitness centre, and the Yoga & Pilates studio. Fly will also have an integrated theatre and music jam room with a 60-inch flat screen, tiered seating, and sound/mixing equipment, plus a well-appointed guest suite will be available for overnight visitors.

Fly Condos will include approximately 425 suites in sizes from about 460 to over 1,100 sq. ft., priced from the low-$200’s. These hip layouts will feature 9-foot ceilings throughout (10-foot ceilings at the Penthouse levels.

CONTACT ME NOW FOR THE VIP SALES EVENT FOR FLY CONDOS.