Seven of Toronto’s best just-built condos
The scaffolding is off these covetable, thoughtfully designed, move-in-ready developments
Emerald Park
9 Bogert Ave. (North York)
The 42-storey, lissome twin towers (connected by a bridge) aren’t just green in colour. Its “thermal envelope” minimizes heat loss, while daylight censors turn the lobby and hallway lights on and off as needed. And thanks to a direct connection to the Sheppard subway, it’s easy to go carless in North York.
PRICES: $300,000s–$1 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $575 to $675 NO. OF UNITS: 570 AVERAGE SIZE: 750 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.49 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Indoor pool, party rooms, games lounges, guest suites PARKING: $48,800 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: Direct access to both Yonge and Sheppard lines
133 Hazelton
133 Hazelton Ave. (Yorkville)
The Yorkville building has the pedigree of being Toronto’s only entirely limestone-covered condo. Units in the nine-storey, neo-classic building come with eight-foot-deep balconies; south-facing ones have outdoor fireplaces. There are also indoor fireplaces ready to ignite at the flick of a switch.
PRICES: $695,000–$7 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $1,400 NO. OF UNITS: 38 AVERAGE SIZE: 2,000 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.93 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Guest suite, gym, dog spa, private dining room PARKING: $100,000-plus per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: Rosedale and Bay subway stations
Wallace Walk
380 Wallace Ave. (The Junction)
This stacked townhouse project (which includes family-friendly, three-bedroom units) is made of sleek, grey brick and concrete, which means less noise transferring between units. A plus for parents: the Junction neighbourhood association demanded the developer include a daycare on site.
PRICES: $240,000–$624,900 PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $413 NO. OF UNITS: 167 AVERAGE SIZE: 1,000 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.19 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: None PARKING: One spot included NEAREST TRANSIT: Dundas West station
Art Condos
8 Dovercourt Rd. (West Queen West)
The terraced, 11-storey building has nifty features: the loading dock doubles as an event space, and screens by the elevators display more than 5,000 artworks. The Drake Hotel’s designers created the interiors. All units are wired with projector mounts and integrated home entertainment systems.
PRICES: $365,000–$1 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $650 NO. OF UNITS: 153 AVERAGE SIZE: 800 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.50 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Gym, hot tub, movie theatre, rooftop courtyard, bar PARKING: $35,000 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: 501 streetcar at Queen and Dovercourt
Howard Park
60 Howard Park Ave. (Roncesvalles Village)
The highest three floors are covered in cascading ivy walls, which grow out of the building’s “perforated skin.” Rare for a Toronto mid-rise, this building is heated and cooled by geothermal pump, which will keep hydro bills down. The top floors have views of High Park and the lake.
PRICES: $284,900–$1.38 million PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $514.36 NO. OF UNITS: 90 AVERAGE SIZE: 821 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.53 per sq.ft. AMENITIES: Gym, yoga studio, party rooms, dog spa station, barbeques PARKING: $33,500 per spot NEAREST TRANSIT: Dundas West Station or 506 streetcar
B.Streets
783 Bathurst St. (The Annex)
By topping a charcoal brick base with a light precast top, the architects at Hariri Pontarini made this nine-storey look like a low-rise. Inside, appliances tuck into built-in cupboards, creating open-concept spaces. The project’s six laneway townhouses helped B.streets win a Toronto Urban Design Award last year.
PRICES: $233,020–$771,040 PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $610 NO. OF UNITS: 195 AVERAGE SIZE: 687 sq. ft. CONDO FEES: $0.60 per sq. ft. AMENITIES: Party room, dining room, barbecue area, wifi lounge PARKING: $40,000 to $60,000 each NEAREST TRANSIT: Bathurst subway
Argento
18 Graydon Hall Dr. (North York)
Greenery surrounds this affordable, 28-storey glass condo build: the Don River and lush ravine are to the west, Graydon Hall Park is to the east. The Donalda golf course is temptingly close by. The on-site extras are impressive and include a theatre, boardroom and steam rooms.
PRICES: $400,000–$512,000 PRICE PER SQ. FT.: $550 NO. OF UNITS: 320 AVERAGE SIZE: 668 sq. ft. suites, 1,461 sq. ft. townhomes CONDO FEES: $0.52 per square foot AMENITIES: Gym, lounge, theatre PARKING: One spot included NEAREST TRANSIT: Don Mills station
THIS CITY
Obsessive coverage of Toronto, straight to your inbox
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.
