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FIVE

12. May 2010

Two prominent developers are combining forces to introduce FIVE – Condos at 5 St. Joseph, Toronto’s hottest new condominium that will tap into the cool energy of Yonge Street, just south of Bloor. Rising to 45 storeys of glimmering glass punctuated by an undulating pattern of balconies, FIVE will launch the rejuvenation of this prime area. It is also the premier condominium by Five St. Joseph Developments Ltd. – a joint venture between Graywood Developments Ltd. and the newly formed MOD Developments Inc.

Graywood is the renowned developer of The Ritz‑Carlton, Toronto and has earned the reputation as a significant force in the residential condominium market. MOD is led by industry veteran Gary Switzer, the former head of high-rise development at Great Gulf Homes (one of the GTA’s major development companies) for more than 20 years, who spearheaded several award-winning landmark condominium residences in the city’s core. Both firms focus on creating high-quality residences in premier locations that feature innovation and design excellence.

Taking the concept of creative design to a new dimension, FIVE St. Joseph will marry the future and the past by tying in components of the existing heritage architecture with the stunning modern tower. Graywood and MOD enlisted highly respected Hariri Pontarini Architects to create the contemporary iconic exterior. Among this firm’s accolades is a coveted Governor General’s Medal in Architecture, recognizing outstanding achievement in design excellence.

The articulated sculptural tower will rise from a podium that includes several of the small shops that have lined Yonge Street since the 1880s and are undergoing a restoration by ERA Architects to house new retail venues. ERA is restoring a four-storey 1905 Gothic Revival warehouse façade on historic tree-lined St. Joseph Street that will become the condominium’s entry. Retail shops will line charming cobblestoned St. Nicholas Street, and topping off the podium design is a roof garden designed by acclaimed landscape architect Janet Rosenberg and Associates, to serve as an urban oasis for residents. The resulting building will inject the St. Joseph-Yonge intersection with panache that references the prestige of the Bloor-Yorkville area to the north.

Multi-award-winning Cecconi Simone Inc. rounds out the design team with interiors that speak to the edgy sophistication of the urban professionals and entrepreneurs whose distinctive tastes attract them to this area. The amenities in the building are focused on entertaining and relaxation, and have an attitude. “FIVE ON FIVE” offers the complete package for fitness and fun, and “THE GARDEN ON TWO” is a tempting urban escape.

Situated a few short blocks south of Bloor Street on the west side of Yonge, FIVE St. Joseph will offer a fantastic location in the strategic hub of many of Toronto’s most exciting amenities. Those who work at Queen’s Park, in one of the world-renowned hospitals along and around University Avenue, the Royal Ontario Museum, Gardiner Museum, or any of the multitude of shops, restaurants and office buildings in the vicinity, or who attend the University of Toronto or Ryerson University will find it easy to walk or take the subway to work or school.

At FIVE St. Joseph, purchasers will be able to choose from a variety of styles from heritage lofts to tower suites, with studios, one-bedroom, one-bedroom + den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom + den layouts. Sizes range from a 400 square-foot studio to a 1,400 square-foot terraced penthouse. Prices start from just the mid $200s.

Coming Soon: Pears on the Avenue

16. March 2010

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Coming soon to Avenue Road and Davenport, Pears on the Avenue by Menkes. For more information on the upcoming VIP sales event for this project, please contact me.

This project will be sure to once again ignite the debate over what exactly is ‘Yorkville’ and where the boundaries of this neighbourhood end. Many developers have jumped on the Yorkville marketing train over the past few years, billing their projects in the streets adjacent to Toronto’s most prestigious locale as part of the Yorkville scene. However anyone who has spent time in the heart of Yorkville (Bloor-Cumberland-Yorkville) will tell you that moving a block or two in any direction will put you in some very different surroundings.

Regardless of whether Avenue Road and Davenport is in Yorkville or not, there is no question it is a great location.

With prices said to start in the mid $400s for this project, I am expecting the prices per square foot to be in the $700+ range. This will almost certainly be a project aimed at end-users (as opposed to investors) particularly ‘down-sizers’ from the Yorkville/Forest Hill/Annex neighbourhoods. Expect this to be a big trend over the next couple decades – mid-size projects in Toronto’s poshest neighbourhoods aimed at getting empty-nesters and retired baby boomers out of their 2000-3000 sq ft homes and into 800 sq ft condos down the street. Ditch the maintenance of the home but keep your postal code.

Questions? Contact me.

Pears on the Avenue

16. March 2010

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Description Coming Soon!

Coming Soon: Nicholas Residences

22. January 2010

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Coming soon from Urban Capital and ALIT Developments: Nicholas Residences. Register with TrueCondos.com now for your opportunity to buy before the public launch. Floor plans and pricing available now. Worksheets for units being accepted NOW. Don’t delay, contact me today to buy a unit at Nicholas Residences.

Nicholas Residences will be located approximately at the corner of St Nicholas and St Mary Streets in the Bloor Yorkville neighbourhood. Steps to Yonge Street, Bay Street, The Manulife Centre and the heart of Yorkville, The building will incorporate two historic buildings on St Nicholas Street.

Urban Capital is the developer behind Boutique Condos in the entertainment district as well as River City in the West Don Lands.

Nicholas Residences

22. January 2010

3 Comments

Description Coming Soon!

Couture

23. March 2009

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Description coming soon.

Plenty of Great Units Still Available at CASA and Bloor Street Neighbourhood

11. March 2009

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Most developers have shelved their plans for launching new projects in 2009 in favour of promoting and marketing their projects already on the go. Cresford is currently pushing their 2 developments under construction located on Charles St, just south of Yonge and Bloor. If you are looking for a new condo in a prime downtown location and want to move in in the next 12 months, BSN: Bloor Street Neighbourhood and CASA could be good options for you.

It’s debatable whether or not this location is truly Yorkville, but it’s steps from Bloor Street shopping, the Yonge and Bloor line subways, the Manulife Centre, and about half a dozen Starbucks locations.

There are still plenty of great units available at both buildings and Cresford is offering some pretty good incentives right now. For suites priced over $600,000, Cresford is offering a free parking spot and locker (valued at around $40K), and for suites priced under $600,000 they are offering 2% cash back (not as exciting).

Architecturally these two buildings offer a striking contrast. BSN is more of a traditional high rise with a staggered podium and a unique L-shape. CASA is a great example of a Toronto modernist condo designed by architectsAlliance with a ‘glass box in the sky’ feel to it. Key features at BSN include 10′ ceilings, huge terraces, and generous floor plans. CASA will feature an outdoor pool that will be open year round.

Price per square foot varies from $500-$700 depending on the unit, exposure, balconies (see current price list below).

If you are interested in more information about Casa or BSN, please contact me.

Links

BSN and CASA pricing

U Condominiums: Tower 1 58% Sold

10. February 2009

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U Condominiums by Pemberton at Bay and St Mary’s is one of the projects that probably wishes they had a time machine and could launch their sales just a couple months earlier than they did. They started selling in the fall of last year, just weeks before the stock market crashed and there was a fundamental shift in the Toronto real estate market.

That being said, they are doing pretty well in terms of sales and definitely better than other projects that launched in the second half of 2008. 212 out of 366 units have been sold in the first tower to be released. That’s just under 60% sold. TD bank has told them they need to acheive 70% to secure their financing. That works out to roughly another 45 units to go. Don’t expect to see the second tower released any time soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t even release it at all in 2009.

Many of the prime units at U are now gone, and prices certainly have increased since the initial launch back in the fall, but there are many units still available. Prices for most are in the mid $600s per square foot. This number may seem high, but it is really not out of line with what is available and selling in the area. My own feeling is that over the long term, the Yorkville area centred at Bay and Bloor will remain one of the preeminent neighbourhoods in Toronto.

For more information on U Condos, please contact me.

Links

Recent Globe and Mail article on U Condominiums

Developer’s official site

The Best Penthouse in Toronto: Four Seasons

21. October 2008

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Welcome to your online guide to “The Best Penthouse in Toronto“. In this installment I will be profiling the west penthouse suite at Four Seasons Private Residences in Yorkville.

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U Condos – Sales On Now

8. September 2008

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Good news for those of you interested in U Condos at Bay and St Mary-the VIP event is coming up this month ON NOW. Please drop me a line if you are interested in purchasing a unit at U Condos.

I just spoke to my contact for U Condos and he informed me that there will be something coming up likely next week. I expect to have some great information for my clients including floor plans and pricing for U Condos by the end of next week.

Floor plans and pricing available now!

The project is looking absolutely spectacular: amazing location, gorgeous architecture by “Starchitect” Peter Clewes of architectsAlliance, top-end finishes, and the floor plans are top-notch.

Prices are in the $600-$700 per square foot range, roughly on par with College Park Aura, Ice Condos, or 300 Front.