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Coming Soon: River City Phase 2

Launching very soon from Urban Capital: River City Phase 2. Contact me for floor plans and pricing.

River City phase 1 launched in late 2009 to much fanfare and success. Urban Capital hit this project out of the park with incredible architecture and design and great price points to boot. Investors were attracted by the long-term potential of being part of the master-planned community of The West Don Lands. End-users were attracted by the cutting edge design, affordable price points, and the low maintenance fees (only $0.38PSF for phase 1).

Phase 2 is to be 3 mini-towers of about 12 storeys each. Not a massive project, I am expecting there will be less than 300 units, so this one will sell quickly.

Prices of remaining inventory at River City phase 1 is in the low $500s PSF on average which is very reasonable compared to anything else downtown. I am anticipating prices around mid $500s for phase 2.

Much like Paintbox Condos in the Regent Park master-planned revitalization, the best is yet to come for this area. Not until around 2015 when the PanAm games comes to Toronto and the West Don Lands will play the central role in hosting the events will the real potential of River City be realized. Those who get in early will be in the best position to reap the rewards!

For pricing and floor plans for River City phase 2, please contact me today!

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River City Phase 2

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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.

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X2 Condos and River City Live Blog

Today is a rather exciting day in the life of the Toronto Condo market, so why not live blog it (watch for updates here all day and night)?

5:00am – Waking up at 5am. Ouch, that hurts. City is silent except for a couple hundred Realtors…

5:30am – I’m at the X2 Condo broker’s sales event lineup outside the Intercontinental Hotel on Bloor Street. I quickly discover 2 lines are formed – one on the south side of Bloor, one on the north

5:35am – After first thinking of joining the south side line, I decide to join the north side as word on the street was that was the line that Baker Real Estate had said was the true line. I feel bad for the people who apparently had been waiting as long as 10 days outside, but the police did not want people crossing the street during rush hour traffic so a line formed on the north side where the hotel is located.

6:30am – Media frenzy in full effect as CP24, CTV NEWS and 680 News all are filming and interview people on the scene. The Twitterverse is starting to buzz with reports of 2 or possibly 3 separate lines that have formed.

8:30am – after 3 hours of waiting I get my official number from Baker Real Estate. #45. Another 50 people across the street are now chanting slogans and shouting across Bloor street, holding up signs that read “UNFAIR”. Originally, numbers were to be given out at 12 noon, but they did it earlier due to the crowds and traffic chaos that would be caused on Bloor street from the crowds gathered.

9:30am – CTV news just called me to interview me about the event. See the article online here.

10:30am – off to River City sales centrer on Eastern Ave for the broker’s information session. Another line up to get in.

11:00am – doors open and about 200 agents are here. All the usual players from the downtown scene, and also plenty of ’905′ agents. Say hi and catch up with a few people. Biggest news: It’s going to be a LOTTERY BUYING SYSTEM.

12:30pm – Just got back to the office and am preparing an email for my clients with all the details about River City.

2:30pm – answering client inquiries about River City and getting prepped for X2 sales event tonight.

3:00pm – Old colleague just called and asked if I want to share my spot in line for X2 event tonight…

4:00pm – Media lining up their cameras for the sales event at X2. Obviously hoping for a fracas to break out tonight. If you are driving I recommend avoiding Bloor anywhere near avenue road!
http://pic.gd/70b3a0.

7:45pm – so cold… Fingers Falling off after 3 hours waiting to get inside the hotel. No protests or drama at sales event so far

8:40pm – still outside. Word from inside is only 2 beds still available.

10:44 – managed to get a 2 bedroom unit…I think. I’m outta here. Got to get some sleep and warm up

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Coming Soon the West Don Lands: River City

January 22 Update: New Release of Floor Plans from $189,900. Don’t wait for the public launch. Buy today.  Contact me for more information.

It’s no secret that 2009 has been a very quiet year for new condo launches in downtown Toronto. Besides One Cole, there really hasn’t been any NEW launches worth mentioning this year. I expect things will change this fall and River City is a project that I am very excited about.

River City is going to be the first phase of new condos sold in the brand new West Don Lands neighbourhood. The West Don Lands is the currently undeveloped, 80-acre site bounded by Parliament Street (west), King Street (north), Don River (east), and the rail lands (south). Most of the land is owned by the provincial government and this entire area is slated to transformed from basically nothing into a master-planned community. Think condos, lofts, townhomes, retail, restaurants, employment, parks, and transit. This is going to be BIG.

The developers behind the project are Urban Capital (Camden Lofts and Charlotte Lofts) and Red Quartz Development. Sales will begin this fall. Register with TrueCondos.com now for your chance to buy at any upcoming VIP sales events, and stay tuned to TrueCondos.com for updates as more information is released in the coming weeks.

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River City

January 22 Update: New Release of Floor Plans from $189,900. Don’t wait for the public launch. Buy today.  Contact me for more information.

Register with TrueCondos.com for your chance to attend any upcoming VIP Sales Events for River City. River City, the first private sector development in Waterfront Toronto’s West Don Lands community, is now accepting registrations for its first phase. A LEED Gold development, River City will include 850 residential units of condominiums, lofts and townhouses priced from $179,900, as well as boutiques, stores and restaurants, surrounded by the seven hectares (17-acres) Don River Park.

Developed by Urban Capital and designed by Saucier + Perrotte Architects, one of Canada’s most respected and award-winning design firms, River City will be a collection of bold forms and innovative spaces. The sales office for River City is expected to open this fall, while construction of the development is scheduled to begin in 2010 and first phase of occupancy is slated for 2011.

The West Don Lands will be a sustainable community where design excellence, sustainability and technology come together. Designed to be a lively and vibrant neighbourhood, it will offer a mix of housing for people at all stages of life and income levels. It will feature nine hectares (23-acres) of parks and public spaces, 6,000 new residential units of which 1,200 will be affordable housing, transit connections within five minutes of each home, and 750,000 square feet of employment, commercial and community space. The revitalization of West Don Lands will proceed over the next 10-12 years in three phases.

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