2114 Bloor St. W. (High Park)
The minimalist midrise has a dual-entry limestone lobby and spacious layouts with walk-in closets. Every unit has a balcony, but only the south- and east-facing ones look out on High Park’s canopy. Residents without a view can bogart the communal rooftop, with its double-sided fireplace and dining nooks.
PRICES: $425,000–$1.5 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $700 NO. OF UNITS: 68 AVERAGE SIZE: 925 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.55 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Gym, rooftop lounge overlooking High Park PARKING: $40,000 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: Runnymede and High Park stations
175 Jones Ave. (Leslieville)
The 103-year-old church is being turned into 14 sprawling lofts (the largest is 2,700 square feet). Original features, like the gothic arched windows and the bell tower, are being preserved. Everything else is modern: the stained glass has been swapped out for windows that’ll actually keep out the cold.
PRICES: $510,000–$1.65 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $600 NO. OF UNITS: 14 AVERAGE SIZE: 1,475 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.25 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Bike locker, climate-controlled wine room PARKING: One spot included NEAREST TRANSIT: Three-minute walk to the 506 streetcar
1884 Queen St. E. (The Beach)
Instead of a steel skeleton, the building is made of cross-laminated timber, which looks great (like proper wood), decreases greenhouse emissions and sequesters carbon. In other words, the condo’s green cred is solid. The design also brings in lots of natural light and the rooftop’s landscaping preserves water.
PRICES: $649,900–$1.2 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $658 NO. OF UNITS: 37 AVERAGE SIZE: 1,100 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.52 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Entertainment lounge PARKING: $40,000 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: Two minutes from the 301 and 501 streetcars
35 Strachan Ave. (King West Village)
The larger units in this kid-centric development are engineered to keep young families from fleeing to the suburbs. Architects Hariri Pontarini designed more than 50 floor plans, and units can also be combined. The first of the five buildings to go up is the 312-unit southern-most tower.
PRICES: $235,500–$1.25 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $597 NO. OF UNITS: 312 (phase one) AVERAGE SIZE: 698 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.54 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Kids’ playroom, theatre, gym, guest suites, outdoor pool PARKING: $45,000 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: Four minute walk to King and Strachan
1100 Kingston Rd. (Kingston Road Village)
The Teeple Architect–designed midrise is ideal for first-time buyers who aren’t keen on shovelling, but are romanced by the perks of traditional homeownership like garage tinkering (there’s a tool room). Units with large terraces are outfitted with vegetable garden–ready planters.
PRICES: $214,900-$999,900 PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $563 NO. OF UNITS: 146 AVERAGE SIZE: 850 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.48 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Rooftop garden, gym, yoga room, workshop and tool room PARKING: $32,000 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: 250 metres from the 12 bus
128 Pears Ave. (Yorkville)
Rosedale retirees downsizing from their neo-Georgians are swooning over the Perry’s Calcutta marble lobby, outdoor “serenity terrace,” piano lounge for cocktail parties, and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, Poliform wardrobes, Gaggenau appliances and the building’s 4,500 square foot gym.
PRICES: $400,000–$4 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $960 NO. OF UNITS: 43 AVERAGE SIZE: 1,200 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.58 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Guest suite, dining room with caterer’s kitchen, gym, outdoor dining PARKING: One spot included NEAREST TRANSIT: Rosedale station
223 St. Clair Ave. W. (Forest Hill)
The St. Clair–facing front of this midtown building stands 11 storeys tall, while its south side tiers downward like a ziggurat (hence the name of the development). Graduated lake-facing terraces have privacy screens and enviably Instagrammable views of Toronto’s cityscape.
PRICES: $365,900–$1.35 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $675 NO. OF UNITS: 166 AVERAGE SIZE: 850 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.56 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Rooftop barbecues, gym, pet spa station PARKING: $50,000 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: On St. Clair streetcar line
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Caroline Aksich, a National Magazine Award recipient, is an ex-Montrealer who writes about Toronto’s ever-evolving food scene, real estate and culture for Toronto Life, Fodor’s, Designlines, Canadian Business, Glory Media and Post City. Her work ranges from features on octopus-hunting in the Adriatic to celebrity profiles.