GTA Condo Life - June 18, 2022

Greater Toronto’s COMPLETE CONDO GUIDE

Greater Toronto Area June 18–July 16, 2022

Presents

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JUNE 18–JULY 16, 2022

CONTENTS COVER STORY

22 Marlin Spring Presents THE DAWES CONDOMINIUMS EAST OF MAIN

6 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

28

Neighbourhood Watch Markham

58

Maps & Amenity Charts

65 Advertisers Index Want more information? Just ask — and you could win a prize

28

COLUMNS

18

Stat Chat Rents up, prices down – making sense of the market’s latest movements

25

Personal Finance Interest rate hikes don’t have to keep first-time buyers out of the market

30 Legally Speaking Everything you need to know about buying a cottage

31

Sponsored Content The power of virtual homebuying

32

Real Insight Condo rental market pushing up prices

33

The Marketing Edge There’s no going back to the chaos of the sales centre

34 Realty Insider

38 Builder profile 38

Gallery Towers

by Remington The finer art of downtown Markham

40 Highland Commons Sell-out success propels Altree Developments to release new collection

42 Express2 by Malibu Connected living at its best

Putting the real estate market in perspective

35

Real Estate Pro Who defines “affordable” in the housing market?

36 Home Realty The more things change, the more they stay the same

DEPARTMENTS

8

Editor’s Note A breather and a break

10

Contributors

12

Condo Life Online

14

In the Spotlight GTA new home market slows in April; more news on pages 15, 16 and 17

20 Inside The GTA 26 In Conversation With...

Shaun Levy, Flato Developments

37

Western View We must begin to address the housing crisis now

66 Industry Report With the election over, it’s time to get to work

INTERIORS

45 Cover 46 Inspiring Interiors 52

Big Style

nexthome.ca 7

EDITOR’S NOTE

A BREATHER AND A BREAK

WAYNE KARL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Condo Life Magazine

EMAIL: wayne.karl@nexthome.ca TWITTER: @WayneKarl

+ get social 8

condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

Finally, a pause.

You have likely noticed recent headlines on rising interest rates, slowing price growth and even home price declines. At first glance, this might look like purely bad news, but the market taking a bit of a breather actually represents a break for prospective homebuyers.

Forever, it seems, the GTA housing market has been on a mercurial climb, with routine double-digit price growth in pretty much every category, and average resale prices for detached homes now exceeding $1.5 million. Firsttime buyers, in particular, have found it difficult to get in the market.

On June 1, the Bank of Canada announced its second rate hike of the year, a 50-basis-point jump in its influential overnight target, to 1.5 per cent.

There are also hints of more increases to come, given the challenge inflation poses for the consumer spending and the economy at large.

We’re already seeing the impact.

“Bank of Canada rate hikes, including the 50-basis point hike on June 1, are impacting homebuyers in the short term,” says TRREB President Kevin Crigger. “There is now a psychological aspect where potential buyers are waiting for a bottom in price. This will likely continue through the summer.”

The resale segment, in fact, was “insane” in January and February, Ben Myers writes in his Stat Chat column on page 18. However, he quotes Ashkam Rahimi, director of sales at HouseSigma, “the slowdown that started in March has brought some of those frustrated buyers back to the table this year, as most listings are getting three or fewer offers, but buyers remain cautious.”

And, Crigger points out, as homebuyers adjust to higher borrowing costs, long-term housing demand will be supported by low unemployment, high job vacancies, rising incomes and record immigration.

Indeed, as West End Home Builders’ Association CEO Mike CollinsWilliams writes on page 37, “Across southern Ontario, we are witnessing the impact a shortage of available housing options has on the people and their community. More and more families are leaving an even more expensive and supply-constrained Toronto looking for larger homes and a piece of property. This endless wave of young people and families looking for affordable housing options results in bidding wars and rapid price escalation across the rest of south-central Ontario. It is like a cruel game of musical chairs where the lack of homes on the market means far more losers than winners.”

To be sure, rising interest rates and their impact on housing is not something to overlook or take lightly. But if you plan carefully, buy accordingly (read, don’t buy more home that you should), and make informed decisions, hopefully you can take advantage of this breather, and find your way into the market.

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CONTRIBUTORS PERSONAL FINANCE | JESSE ABRAMS Jesse Abrams is Co-Founder at Homewise, a mortgage advisory and brokerage firm based in Toronto. thinkhomewise.com

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

Jacky Hill jacky.hill@nexthome.ca EXECUTIVE MEDIA CONSULTANT

Michael Rosset

WESTERN VIEW | MIKE COLLINS-WILLIAMS Mike Collins-Williams, RPP, MCIP, is CEO West End Home Builders’ Association. westendhba.ca.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – NATIONAL REAL ESTATE

Susan Legge susan.legge@nexthome.ca

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF – GREATER TORONTO AREA

Wayne Karl wayne.karl@nexthome.ca MANAGING EDITOR

HOME REALTY | DEBBIE COSIC

Rise Levy rise.levy@nexthome.ca

Debbie Cosic is CEO and founder of In2ition Realty. She has overseen the sale of more than $15 billion worth of real estate. With Debbie at its helm, In2ition has become one of the fastest-growing and most innovative new home and condo sales companies. in2ition.ca

CONTRIBUTORS

REAL INSIGHT | KEVIN CRIGGER Kevin Crigger, TRREB President and realtor, is a long-standing and active member at the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. He has served all levels of the real estate industry, as well as local charities and educational institutions

SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, SALES, NEXTHOME

Jesse Abrams, Tristan Blanca, Mike Collins-Williams, Debbie Cosic, Kevin Crigger, Sara Duck, Michael Klassen, Barbara Lawlor, Ben Myers, Lisa Rogers, Jayson Schwarz, Dave Wilkes Hope McLarnon 416.708.7987, hope.mclarnon@nexthome.ca DIRECTOR OF SALES, ONTARIO, NEXTHOME

Natalie Chin 416.881.4288, natalie.chin@nexthome.ca SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANTS

MICHAEL KLASSEN | REALTY INSIDER Michael Klassen is the Broker of Record, Eleven Eleven Real Estate Services. Based in Toronto, this firm is a residential pre-construction listing brokerage. 1111realty.ca

Amanda Bell 416.830.2911, amanda.bell@nexthome.ca VICE-PRESIDENT, MARKETING – GTA

Leanne Speers

SENIOR CLIENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST – GTA

Sonia Presotto

MANAGER CUSTOMER SALES/SERVICE

REAL ESTATE PRO | BARBARA LAWLOR

Marilyn Watling

Barbara Lawlor is President and CEO of Baker Real Estate Inc., and an in-demand columnist and speaker. A member of the Baker team since 1993, Barbara oversees the marketing and sale of condo developments in Canada and overseas. baker-re.com

SALES & MARKETING CO-ORDINATORS

Gary Chilvers, Vi Nguyen

HOME SHOW MANAGER & NEWSPAPER CIRCULATION – GTA

Josh Rosset DISTRIBUTION

STAT CHAT | BEN MYERS Ben Myers is President of Bullpen Consulting. Ben provides pricing recommendation, product mix, and valuation studies on new residential housing developments for builders, lenders and property owners. bullpenconsulting.ca

distributionteam@nexthome.ca ACCOUNTING INQUIRIES

accountingteam@nexthome.ca DIRECTOR OF PRINT MEDIA

Lauren Reid–Sachs

VICE-PRESIDENT, PRODUCTION – GTA

Lisa Kelly

BIG STYLE | LISA ROGERS Lisa Rogers is Executive Vice-President of Design for Dunpar Homes.

Lisa has shared her style and design expertise on popular television programs such as Canadian Living TV, House & Home TV and The Shopping Channel. Lisa is also a regular guest expert on CityTV’s Cityline. dunparhomes.com.

PRODUCTION MANAGER – GTA

Yvonne Poon

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ASSISTANT MANAGER

Alicesa Pullan

GRAPHIC DESIGNER & PRE-PRESS COORDINATOR

Hannah Yarkony GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

LEGALLY SPEAKING | JAYSON SCHWARZ Jayson Schwarz LLM is a Toronto real estate lawyer and partner in the law firm Schwarz Law Partners LLP. He can be reached by visiting schwarzlaw.ca or by email at info@schwarzlaw.ca or phone at 416.486.2040.

BILD REPORT | DAVE WILKES Dave Wilkes is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), the voice of the home building, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA. For the latest industry news and new home data, follow BILD on Twitter at @ bildgta or visit bildgta.ca

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2020-11-27 3:06 2:30 PM

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

GTA NEW HOME MARKET SLOWS IN APRIL

The GTA new home market showed signs of slowing in April, from the exceptionally strong pace of the past year, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) reports.

Total April new home sales of 3,645 units were down 29 per cent from April 2021, though still six per cent above the 10-year average, according to Altus Group, BILD’s official source for new home market intelligence.

Single-family homes, including detached, linked and semi-detached houses and townhouses (excluding stacked townhouses), accounted for 571 units sold, down 47 per cent from last April and 54 per cent below the 10-year average.

Sales of new condominium apartments, including units in low-, mid- and highrise buildings, stacked townhouses and loft units, with 3,074 units sold, were down 24 per cent from April 2021, but 40 per cent above the 10-year average.

It was the fourth highest number of condominium apartment sales for April since Altus Group started tracking in 2000.

“The unpredictability in construction costs, the supply chain disruptions and the strikes our industry is currently

experiencing are expected to impact housing supply in the GTA in the coming months,” says Dave Wilkes, BILD president and CEO. “Combined with the factors affecting the larger economy, we are likely to see some volatility in the housing market in the months ahead.”

“New condominium apartment sales are down from last year, but would have been viewed as robust in the pre-COVID world,” adds Edward Jegg, research manager at Altus Analytics, Altus Group. “The headwinds of rising interest rates and soaring inflation are starting to act as a drag after an exceptional 16 months. Meanwhile, single-family sales continue to languish as affordability issues persist.”

The benchmark price for new single-family homes in April was $1.78 million, which was up 28.1 per cent over the last 12 months. New condo units rose to $1.19 million, up 12.3 per cent over the last 12 months.

Due to a number of new project openings in April, total new home remaining inventory increased, compared to the previous month, to 9,327 units, comprised of 7,936 condominium units and 1,391 singlefamily lots.

APRIL NEW HOME SALES BY MUNICIPALITY Highrise Region 2022

Lowrise

Total

2021

2020

2022

2021

2020

2022

2021

2020

Durham

257

141

6

95

288

79

352

429

85

Halton

714

330

44

33

104

49

747

434

93

Peel

258

733

20

190

261

54

448

994

74

1,779

338

2

16

13

1,622

1,795

351

1,051

86

251

411

119

476

1,462

205

GTA 3,074 4,034

494

3,645

5,114

808

6,719 9,148

808

Toronto 1,620 York

225

SOURCE: ALTUS GROUP

14

condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

MARKET CONTINUES TO BALANCE OUT AS BORROWING COSTS TREND HIGHER GTA housing market conditions continued to evolve in response to higher borrowing costs in May, according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB). Similar to April results, May 2022 sales were down on a monthly and annual basis.

Conversely, active listings at the end of May were up on a month-overmonth and year-over-year basis.

More balanced market conditions have provided buyers with more negotiating power. As a result, while benchmark and average home prices were up substantially compared to last year, selling prices trended lower on a month-over-month basis.

“Bank of Canada rate hikes, including the 50-basis point hike on June 1, are impacting home buyers in the short term,” says TRREB President Kevin Crigger. “There is now a psychological aspect where potential buyers are waiting for a bottom in price. This will likely continue through the summer.

However, as homebuyers adjust to higher borrowing costs, housing demand will be supported by extremely low unemployment, high job vacancies, rising incomes and record immigration.”

GTA realtors reported 7,283 sales through TRREB’s MLS system in May – down 38.8 per cent from May 2021 and down nine per cent compared to April 2022. The number of new May listings was similar to last year’s level,

and edged up on a month-overmonth basis. With sales down and new listings trending flat to slightly up, the number of active listings was up on a year-over-year basis by 26 per cent.

Market conditions remained tight enough to support an overall average selling price of $1.21 million for May 2022, representing an annual growth rate of 9.4 per cent. The MLS Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was also up on a year-over-year basis by 23.9 per cent. On a monthover-month basis, both price metrics were lower, reflecting more balanced market conditions.

“Price trends observed over the past three months – both in terms of moderating annual growth rates and the recent month-over-month dips – are in line with TRREB’s forecast for 2022,” says TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer. “After a strong start to the year, the current

rate tightening cycle has changed market dynamics, with many potential homebuyers putting their purchase on hold. This has led to more balance in the market, providing buyers with more negotiating power.”

“The recent elections have shown that senior levels of government understand the need for more housing to support regional growth,” adds TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

“The approval of new and more diverse housing types happens at the municipal level, subject to provincial laws and regulations. It will be important to understand the stance of local policymakers as we move toward the fall local elections. The shorter-term impact of higher interest rates will not be with us forever. Supply remains the long-term challenge.”

GTA RESALE AVERAGE PRICES, MAY 2022 (YR/YR % CHANGE)

Detached Semi-detached Townhome Condo

416

905

Total

$1.91M (11.5)

$1.43M (7.8)

$1.54M (9.5)

$1.42M (7.5)

$1.04M (14.1)

$1.20M (13.2)

$1.04M (10.4)

$958,558 (13.8)

$977,194 (12.7)

$793,124 (10.5)

$722,778 (19.7)

$770,894 (12.9)

The One Stop Shop for Builder Storytelling mcouatpartnership.com

SOURCE: TRREB

nexthome.ca 15

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

HOUSING INDUSTRY APPLAUDS RE-ELECTION OF ONTARIO CONSERVATIVES The June 2 re-election of Premier Doug Ford is being met with resounding support from the housing industry in the province – given the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario’s promises to address the housing crisis.

“There is a broad consensus that the roots of the region’s housing challenges lie in the lack of supply, which is fueling the affordability crisis,” says Dave Wilkes, president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). “Now is the time to take bold and decisive action to address the underlying policy issues that have constrained land supply, added costs to new housing and slowed the addition of new supply to the market.”

There is unanimity that lack of housing supply is the key factor driving the lack of affordability in the GTA, BILD says. During the election, all parties pledged to address housing supply and dramatically increase the addition of new housing units to the market over the next 10 years. Achieving the objective of adding 1.5 million homes to the Ontario market in the next 10 years (or nearly doubling the current housing

16 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

starts) will require fundamental policy changes to address approval times and availability of land and to simplify the current bureaucracy that regulates home building.

The expert recommendations from the Housing Affordability Task Force report, published in 2022, provide the blueprint for necessary change, and BILD looks forward to working with the new government to see the report’s recommendations implemented.

“Time is of the essence,” says Wilkes. “It takes, on average, 10 years to complete a highrise project in the GTA and 11 years to complete a lowrise project. With long planning horizons, it will take time for any policy changes to translate into market impacts, which means the government must prioritize housing within the current mandate.”

Adds Ontario Home Builders’ Association’s (OHBA) CEO Luca Bucci, “OHBA is ready to work with the provincial government to implement the bold solutions that will dramatically increase the supply of housing and make the dream of homeownership more affordable for the countless families and individuals who are unable to find a place to call home in a community where they can live, work and play.

“The government can act quickly and decisively by working with our industry to implement the recommendations of the Housing Affordability Task Force,” says Bucci.

“This would be a great first step to address the housing crisis – as it would bring supply online faster and ultimately make housing more attainable for the people and families looking to call Ontario home.”

The West End Home Builders’ Association (WEHBA), representing developers in Hamilton, Burlington

and other areas west of the GTA, also urges quick action. “Now is the opportunity for a newly elected strong, stable majority government to take decisive bold action to address the housing crisis,” says CEO Mike Collins-Williams. “It is time for assertive provincial housing policy to get local politics out of planning.”

The Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) similarly applaud Ford and the PCs being re-elected, citing Steve Clark and Monte McNaughton as big supporters of the industry, and understand the importance of residential construction and the skilled trades to the economy.

“We are looking forward to working with the government on urgent initiatives to boost the supply of housing, modernize the development application process, and move forward with programs to get more people into the voluntary trades,” says RESCON President Richard Lyall. “We were especially pleased at the commitment during the campaign to build 1.5 million homes over the next 10 years.

“Now that the dust has settled, the real work begins. It is critical for government and the residential construction industry to work together to reach that target by cutting red tape and using innovations like off-site panelized and modular housing, which will enable homes to be built quicker.”

To tackle the housing shortage, RESCON stresses the need to embrace innovation, streamline the development approvals process, and continue with initiatives that clear the path for more youth, women and people from underrepresented groups to learn the specialized skill sets needed to work in residential construction.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

PORT CREDIT’S WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION CONTINUES WITH THE RELEASE OF BRIDGE HOUSE AT BRIGHTWATER The evolution of Port Credit continues through major revitalization and the creation of the award-winning 72-acre masterplanned Brightwater community, a collaboration between the Port Credit West Village Partners – a consortium comprised of Kilmer Group, DiamondCorp, Dream Unlimited and FRAM + Slokker. Bridge House, the newest phase of the community, continues this transformation with three buildings connected by glass bridges designed to highlight and enhance Port Credit’s connections to the waterfront and the retail amenities flanked by the Village Square.

“Inspired by the history and legacy of Port Credit as an important trading post town, we wanted this next phase to be a testament to the social connectivity found in Port Credit’s waterfront village,” says Christina Giannone, vice-president, planning and development, Port Credit West Village Partners. “Our intention with Bridge House is to provide as many social and physical connections between the waterfront and the vibrant retail village through the building’s design and prioritize opportunities for residents to meet and interact with their neighbours.”

Designed by architectsAlliance, Bridge House at Brightwater consists of three buildings – Bridge House North, Bridge House South and Bridge House East, with two main towers standing at 15 and 19 storeys.

The project culminates in the hotelinspired amenity deck located on the sixth floor of Bridge House East, with a rooftop swim spa with lounge seating, barbecue and dining areas overlooking the vibrant promenade and park, towards Lake Ontario.

Connected by two striking pedestrian bridges, residents from each tower will be able to access this shared

amenity space, which will also offer a sauna, fitness centre with stretch room, and co-working space.

Bridge House’s design intentionally places the building around a large, landscaped courtyard with stretches of greenspace and trees, and a variety of seating and different activations.

Open sightlines throughout the block and cut-aways up the tower facades replicate the sentiment of a ship’s bridge where views are provided from every angle. On the south side, residents can connect easily to a pedestrian mews to walk north to the Village Square or head south to the waterfront, all just steps away from their door. An additional eastwest pedestrian connection weaves through the site, leading to a new city park space.

Slender and elegant, Bridge House’s towers are cladded in glass, with the site located at equal distance between the bustling Main Street and the waterfront. Frosted balconies with transparent cutaways at the corners, contribute to the elegant detail of the towers. Themes of water and the area’s history are seen throughout the material palette.

Podiums feature masonry exploring the sense of touch and incorporating the site’s former use as a brickyard, whereas the towers emphasize the water with themes of reflection and light. Stunning lobbies strengthen the connection between the indoors and outdoors, open and welcoming for residents and neighbours.

Interiors by Truong Ly Design emphasize light, airy and natural aesthetics with a serene and coastal vibe. The resident experience is carried through even the most unexpected spaces. For instance, when heading across the glass bridges to the amenity deck, residents will enter a floating garden element

in the stunning co-working space.

With the hallway clad in mirror and glass, an open-concept floorplan is augmented by bringing the outside in and a wood ceiling that emulates the look of waves for an elemental atmosphere.

The suite mix includes studios, one-bedrooms, one-bedrooms plus dens, two-bedroom units, and twobedroom plus den units. Units are also designed in both condominium flats as well as townhouse-style.

Nearly every suite has a balcony, with many suites offering waterfront and park views.

Prices start from the mid $600,000s. For more information, visit experiencebrightwater.ca.

nexthome.ca 17

ADVICE | stAt ChAt

RENTS UP, PRICES DOWN MAKING SENSE OF THE GTA MARKET’S LATEST MOVEMENTS

BEN MyERS

The topic on the mind of everyone looking to buy in the new housing market over the past six weeks is the recent interest rate hikes.

House price inflation has been a big problem for prospective first-time buyers, but new analysis from HouseSigma Inc. and Bullpen Research & Consulting shows that prices are starting to trend down, and trending down fast, following bubble-like conditions in January and February of this year.

Ashkam Rahimi, the Director of Sales at HouseSigma, described the market in January and February of 2022 as “Insane, with 10 to 15 competing offers on every listing, despite the fact that many prospective buyers had given up in late 2021 due to the frustration of being outbid.” However, Rahimi mentioned that “the slowdown that started in March has brought some of those frustrated buyers back to the table this year, as most listings are getting three or fewer offers, but buyers remain cautious.”

According to the HouseSigma data from May 2022 (first 25 days only), the median price for single-detached resale homes was down 5.8 per cent month-over-month, and 15.7 per cent since February to $1.4 million.

Condominium units are faring slightly better than the other property types, with a monthly decline of 2.9 per cent and a 6.2-per-cent decline since February to $690,000.

Another interesting data point from the HouseSigma report is the spike in terminations. If a resale property

18 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

is not selling or receiving acceptable offers, a listing may get terminated, or essentially pulled from the market and relisted at a later date. An increase in terminations is an indication of a softening market.

During the peak of the market in the early part of 2022, GTA resale housing terminations were at 2,329 in January and 2,575 in February. During May, there were more than 11,200 terminations, an increase of more than 385 per cent from January 2022.

Getting back to pricing, the composition of the units traded can have an impact on the median pricing, with larger units driving up the price and lower priced units pulling them down. The HouseSigma and Bullpen data showed both Mississauga and Toronto have seen their average resale per-sq.-ft. prices slowly decline between March 2022 to May 2022 for one-, two- and three-bedroom condo apartments.

One bedroom condos in Mississauga had an average price of $875 per sq. ft. in May 2022, while two-bedroom units had an average price of $700 per sq. ft., and threebedrooms had an average price of $704 per sq. ft. In February, those rates were $980, $787 and $806 per sq. ft., meaning pricing has fallen 11 to 13 per cent.

One-bedroom condo apartments in Toronto had an average price of $1,043 per sq. ft. in May 2022, while two-bedrooms had an average price of $900 per sq. ft., and threebedrooms an average price of $872 per sq. ft. Per-sq.-ft. prices are down five to eight per cent from the February peak levels, demonstrating that the Toronto market is faring better than Mississauga.

Investors are paying close attention to the resale condo price movements, but hold and rent

investors are continually charging higher lease rates as the downtown core fills back up. According to data from torontorentals.com, condo apartments had an average monthly rental rate of $2,509 in April of this year, a 21-per-cent increase over the April 2021 average of $2,067 per month. This also represented a month-over-month increase of 3.6 per cent. The average rent of $2,509 per month is higher than the prepandemic rate of $2,473 per month in February 2020.

It’s certainly not easy to wrap your head around what is occurring in the market, but clearly, interest rate increases are a factor in pushing down resale housing transactions and demand, and thus pricing. Some prospective buyers are staying in the rental market and not purchasing a property, leading to lower supply availability in the rental market, driving up rental rates.

I don’t know what the dominant factor will be, but I do expect new condo launches to finally slow, and the pace of price growth to fall.

However, given construction costs and government fees, there isn’t much room for developers of future projects to drop their price.

I hope that clears things up! Good luck out there.

Ben Myers is the President of Bullpen Consulting, a boutique residential real estate advisory firm specializing in condominium and rental apartment market studies, forecasts and valuations for developers, lenders and land owners.

Contact him at bullpenconsulting.ca and @benmyers29 on Twitter.

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#InsidetheGTA

by SUSAN LEGGE

GTA

BUILDING B AT HIGHLAND COMMONS

SUCCESS OF HIGHLAND COMMONS PROPELS RELEASE OF BUILDING B After the sell-out success of Building A in just four days, Altree Developments is taking registrations for the release of Building B at Highland Commons in east Toronto. With the city’s largest protected ravine system as its backdrop, the community features fun and functional amenities such as a life-size chess game, a co-working lounge, and squash and basketball courts.

Nominated for the 2022 BILD awards for best midrise design, Highland Commons positions an urban lifestyle where nature is preserved. thehighlandcommons.com

Boutique midrise made from an eclectic mix of materials takes shape in Junction neighbourhood Craft Residences is Gairloch Developments’ latest building project in the Junction neighbourhood of Toronto.

The eight-storey, 86-suite boutique condo makes its mark with architecture that purposefully applies modern masonry design into a bespoke tapestry with detailing that is best appreciated up close.

Reinforcing the undulating curves of the facade, each brick inlay is made up of 60-per-cent recycled material. A mosaic mix of porcelain, concrete, and other construction debris cohesively

20 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

creates a soft pistachio green building face and offers a nod to the Little Malta neighbourhood Craft is coming to.

Aluminum soffits made from repurposed recycled cans line the underside of the building’s roof.

Dynamic in appearance, terraces track the building walls angling upwards, giving tenants a variety of sheltered or open-air spaces.

Never before seen in Toronto, Craft will also be one of the first buildings in the city to use linear glass brick accents that were first used in a Chanel store in Amsterdam. craftresidences.ca

New Hamilton condo project bridges industrial and urban design Minto excels at DRHBA Awards Last month, Minto Communities GTA was the proud recipient of eight wins at the Durham Region Home Builders’ Association (DRHBA) 2022 Awards of Excellence.

The wins were split across the excellence in home production and marketing categories, with the 90-acre master-planned community The Heights of Harmony receiving top recognition for: • Excellence in Website Design

• Excellence in Logo Design • Excellence in Sales Brochure Design • Excellence in Signage • Excellence in Production Built Home 3,001-4,000 sq. ft Design • Excellence in Production Built Home under 2,000 sq. ft • Excellence in Production Built Kitchen Design • Excellence in Production Built Bathroom Design

The team at Slate Asset Management is drawing its inspiration for a new two-building condominium project from Hamilton’s rich arts, entrepreneurial and cultural scene.

Nestled between the city’s downtown core and the Niagara escarpment, the new community will release a 27-storey tower first, followed by a 14-storey midrise building with retail at grade. Sales at the first residential tower will begin this fall. This building will feature suite designs from 340 sq. ft. to 851 sq. ft. corktown.condos.

Raven and balcony windscreen Edenshaw Developments recently celebrated the unveiling of a sculpture and art installation by internationally acclaimed Haida artist James Hart at its TANU condominium community in Mississauga.

Located on TANU’s private amenity terrace in Port Credit, the Raven sculpture will integrate thematically with the residence, which is named after the island located in British Columbia’s Haida Gwaii.

Hart has also created a complementary, public-facing windscreen installation, which

illustrates across five panels the story of how the Raven stole the world’s first light and bestowed it to humanity. A prominent and complex figure in Haida mythology, myriad stories about the Raven have been told for many thousands of years.

Edenshaw acknowledges the lands which constitute the present-day city of Mississauga as being part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississauga’s of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations. edenshaw.com

nexthome.ca 21

COVER STORY

THE DAWES ON DANFORTH MARLIN SPRING TRANSFORMS DANFORTH VILLAGE NEIGHBOURHOOD Marlin Spring is setting the bar with a modern residential opportunity, East of Main at The Dawes Condominiums.

Located in Danforth Village, The Dawes represents the company’s robust residential portfolio. This new mixed-use residential community will total 631 condominium residences split between two buildings, at 38- and 24-storeys, respectively, and will include more than 27,000 sq. ft. of amenity spaces, as well as 17,000-plus sq. ft. of retail and office space, a new public park, and an 11,000-sq.-ft. new daycare facility within a reimagined two-storey heritage site.

22 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

The Dawes has a near perfect transit score of 95, with both the Main Street subway station and Danforth GO station a five-minute walk away, and endless connections to the entire city.

With a walking score of 95 as well, the neigbourhood has an abundance of recreational, convenient and entertaining location amenities, just a short stroll away. Danforth Village, known for its popular restaurants and vibrant community, is only a twominute walk from the project. In less than 10 minutes by foot, residents will be able to access several area parks, including Taylor Creek Park, Dentonia Park, Maryland Park, Goodwood

Park and Coleman Park. Greek Town and The Beaches are only an eightminute walk away, and Michael Garon Hospital is an eight-minute drive.

“The Danforth Village will be even more connected with the completion of the Ontario Line, with 15 stations, including more than 40 connections to GO services, existing subway stations, LRT lines, buses and streetcar lines,” says Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for Marlin Spring Erin Millar.

The Dawes is only five stops away from Pape station, and has incredible access to the entire of city of Toronto.

It’s easy to see why there are more than 5,000 residential units proposed for this incredible neighbourhood.

Award-winning architectural firm IBI Group was inspired by the superior transit connections in the community to create a real transitoriented development, similar to a European lifestyle, where residents are able to get anywhere seamlessly, without the need for a car.

Special consideration was also given to the integration of the existing heritage building on site. The historic grain silo structure has been retained and fully integrated into the new podium, along with an exciting program that will bring this structure back to life as an 11,000-plus-sq.ft. two-storey daycare facility, and enhanced with a new public urban park for all to enjoy.

The entire scale and materiality of the podium has been designed to respect and complement the heritage component. The sequence of multi-storey vertical windows and the stone piers are both reminiscent of the warehouse typology found near the railway land.

The continuous retail frontages at grade will provide for lively street animation, while the wider sidewalk and boulevard on Dawes Road will complement and enhance the pedestrian experience.

Interiors at The Dawes were conceived by award-winning design firm U31.

nexthome.ca 23

“When considering the common areas and amenity spaces at The Dawes, our goal was to provide flexibility, adaptability and, of course, a memorable experience.

Highlights include a double-height lobby lounge, featuring a spectacular fireplace that drops from the ceiling, making it the focal point for residents to cosy up to.

The pale-wood scalloped celling will also be a feature, with recessed linear lighting that hovers above, and unifies the lounge and concierge area,” says U31 Partner Kelly Cray.

When it comes to the suite finishes, U31 incorporated a holistic approach, extending the overall design language

into the suites by including warm woods, stone countertops and graphics in the bathrooms.

With more than 27,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor amenities, The Dawes will offer residents a focus on smart living, wellness and creative work from home spaces. This comprehensive offering will also include a welcoming resident lobby, with the convenience of parcel rooms, a robust two-storey fitness studio with weights, machines, spin bikes, a yoga studio and boxing facility. An indoor and outdoor kids’ area has been specially designed for residents and guests of all ages. An indoor dining lounge, a

screening room, social lounge, co-work area, games room, art/maker studio, meeting room, library lounge, pet wash, outdoor dining with barbecues, and outdoor lounge round off this expansive lifestyle amenity program.

The Dawes is a rare opportunity to get into a great location early, because the market is awaking to its potential, as this new evolution takes shape.

The Dawes community features 631 residential suites ranging from 367 to more than 1,360 sq. ft.

To register and for more information, visit thedawes.com.

ABOUT MARLIN SPRING

The company was founded in 2013 and currently has 24 projects in various stages of planning, sales or construction. Including its latest project Curio Condos at 801 The Queensway. Interested parties can register for the project at curiocondos.com.

In addition to Curio, Marlin Spring is bringing to life a pipeline rich with opportunity. From Danforth Village to the Junction Triangle, The Queensway, Mississauga and Humber Bay shores, as well as locations as quaint as Courtice, these exciting communities and innovative offerings are sure to keep Marlin Spring top of mind as a developer of choice.

24

condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

ADVICE | PERSONAL FINANCE

INTEREST RATE HIKES WHY THEY DON’T HAVE TO KEEP FIRST-TIME BUYERS FROM PURCHASING A HOME JESSE ABRAMS

On June 1, 2022, the Bank of Canada (BoC) announced its second rate hike of the year, increasing rates by 50 basis points to 1.5 per cent.

With inflation at a multi-decade high, we can expect this rising rate environment to continue as the BoC tries to get a handle on it.

Over the past two years, we’ve seen the Canadian housing market heat up to a point where first-time buyers began questioning their ability to get in the market at all. However, with prices cooling down and rates rising, things are not exactly what they seem when it comes to affordability.

RATES MAY BE GOING UP, BUT HOME PRICES ARE COMING DOWN

While rate hikes may provide “sticker shock” to some, especially investors, this actually gives first-time home buyers in Canada a step up. Why? Because with this increase, we can expect (and are already seeing) home prices to drop, with only a slight increase in monthly mortgage payments. As home prices come down, affordability among firsttimers will increase comparatively.

Not to mention, Canadians are far better off financially than they were since before the pandemic.

Price of Home: Down Payment: Rate: Mortgage: Payment: Balance Term-End:

From 2021 to 2022, home prices have declined by nearly 10 per cent.

As you can see in the example below, home prices dropping and interest rates rising leads to slightly higher monthly payments, but a lower down payment and a much smaller mortgage at the end of a five-year term. Overall, with homes being a long-term investment, this represents a considerable amount of savings.

Not only that, the current environment is also cooling competition among investors who leveraged the low rates with requisite rent. As rates go up and prices drop, we’re going to see more and more investors on the sidelines. Previously, low rates were driving demand higher with bidding wars causing recordhigh spikes in home prices. Now that the market has cooled, bidding wars in the resale market are less common, and homes are sitting on the market for much longer.

This doesn’t mean all sunshine and rainbows, but for prospective firsttime buyers who were waiting for the market to slow down, now could be a good time to buy your first home.

IT’S A GOOD TIME TO GET PRE-APPROVED FOR A MORTGAGE

If you’re a first-time buyer thinking about entering the market, a good starting point is getting pre-approved for a mortgage. We know this isn’t the last of the rate hikes so if you have a down payment ready and all of your documents in order, you’ll want to

2021 $783,000 $78,300 (10%) 2.1% $726,546 ~$3,115 ~$610,025

2022 $704,360 $70,436 (10%) 4% $653,576 ~$3,450 ~$569,295

lock in a rate before they potentially go up within the next 120 days. It’s a great way to understand your home affordability, set a realistic budget and it can save you a lot of time and stress during your home search. It also gives you a leg up on competitive buyers who may not have a pre-approval in their back pocket.

At the end of the day, the Canadian housing market is constantly evolving. While rate hikes can seem scary, everyone’s financial circumstances are unique and if you do your research and find the right professionals to work with, you may find the home of your dreams.

Jesse Abrams is Co-Founder at Homewise, a mortgage advisory and brokerage firm. thinkhomewise.com

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nexthome.ca 25

IN CONVERSATION WITH...

SHAUN LEVY VICE-PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND OPERATIONS FLATO DEVELOPMENTS

BY WAYNE KARL

If you’re looking for a new-home builder known for constructing quality homes, the housing industry in the GTA and surrounding area is blessed with many of them.

If it’s also important to you that such a company develop complete communities, not just build houses, and give back to the community in meaningful ways, well, you can’t do much better than Flato Developments Inc.

In our 2022 Builders’ Annual, you said you saw 2022 still as a year of homebuying opportunities for new-home buyers. With recent developments (inflation, rising interest rates…) how would you characterize things now?

We see a levelling out for a few months, and it will be very challenging for new-home buyers, especially first-time homebuyers. However, due to short supply, we still foresee strong demand outstripping supply.

What new-home buying opportunities does Flato have in the pipeline?

We have new projects coming online where there will be exciting opportunities for buyers. We plan

Edgewood Greens

26 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

to launch a new project called GreyStone Village in Owen Sound, a master-planned community with singles, traditional towns and backto-back towns, commercial buildings and rental apartments. Another project that may come this year is the new phase of Carriage House in Dundalk, with singles and towns. A few more projects are planned down the pipeline.

What is it about your company or projects that differentiates you in the marketplace, that you’d like to stress to prospective buyers?

Flato is a community builder, we build communities. The projects we focus on are all master-planned communities, which include multiuse products, such as residential, commercial, and adult lifestyle rental buildings. We do not just look at the homes we build, we look at the potential growth of the communities.

We offer different products to make sure people can live, work and retire in the community. Flato also supports all different types of charities, activites and events in the communities where we build to make sure we are deeply involved there. A recent example is the Fleming College campus in Lindsay, where we donated $1.2 million to support the education in the area.

How is your company addressing the affordability issue?

Flato always strives to increase affordability for homeowners. We always offer a unique and affordable bite-sized monthly payment structure

Edgewood Greens

up to closing. Flato has offered a new cashback incentive, where firsttime homebuyers can use deposits towards equity in their homes.

The company has come up with an innovative first-time homebuyer’s program at its Edgewood Greens community in Dundalk to specifically address this issue. How did this program come about?

In consultation with our agents and buyers, Flato has been focused on addressing the needs in the market.

While today’s market might be accessible to those who already have built up equity in an existing home, saving for a down payment is a difficult task for first-time buyers.

It’s an issue that concerns us deeply at Flato Developments, which is why we’ve collectively brainstormed and

innovated a first-time homebuyer’s program in our Edgewood Greens, Dundalk, community to specifically address this issue.

The overall framework of our first-time homebuyer’s incentive involves you needing to invest less money up front, and making gradual, bite-sized payments up till the time of possession, to keep that hard-earned money in your savings account longer. We will also be offering cash back at multiple junctures in the process, providing you with extra cash infusions that can be used toward some of your future down payments.

By the time this interview publishes, we will have wrapped up the provincial election, and housing supply and affordability were central parts of all the major parties’ platforms. What are your views on how well government can influence change in these areas?

Government needs to speed up the process and issue permits in order to address the shortage of supply.

In addition, government needs to address the lack of trades and open immigration to bring in people who can work in the industry.

If you had the opportunity to speak directly to the Premier of Ontario on this topic, what would your advice be?

I can’t speak for the premier, but I do know that he or she would do all in their power to help address the chronic shortages in the construction industry.

Flato is doing some great things in Dundalk and other locations.

What’s next for the company?

Flato has exciting developments coming in Beeton, Lindsay and Owen Sound. flatogroup.com

on a personal note Who or what is the biggest inspiration for what you do?

Nelson Mandela, as his spirit of forgiveness resonated with me. We can all be more helpful and forgiving in our day to day lives.

How have you adjusted your life as a result of the pandemic? For example, putting more emphasis on wellness, new hobbies or interests…

I am definitely getting good use out of my Peleton bike, which I acquired during the pandemic. I quite enjoy being able to work out at home.

What’s on your reading list these days?

Jeffrey Archer, A Prisoner of Birth, and Phil Knight’s story about building Nike.

nexthome.ca 27

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

MARKHAM CONDOS A POPULAR NEW HOME CHOICE IN THIS HOT MARKET

by WAyNE KArl As the fourth most populous community in the GTA – following Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton – Markham has been a hotbed for economic growth and development for years.

It’s long been known as a centre for growing sectors such as technology and life sciences – and therefore employment growth – one of the key drivers of housing demand.

Today, Markham is home to more than 1,000 such companies, with IBM, 28 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

Huawei, Honeywell, Advanced Micro Devices, Motorola and Oracle all having their Canadian headquarters located in the city.

RESIDENCE HAS ITS PRICE

Buying a home in Markham may cost you, though, as it has also become one of the GTA’s most expensive housing markets.

According to the Royal LePage Home Price Composite for the first quarter of 2022, aggregate home

prices grew 22 per cent year-overyear to $1.39 million.

New-home development is a priority for the City and Mayor Frank Scarpitti, who was first elected in 2006, and is known as developerand builder-friendly. The city has a number of new home developments underway, including some highprofile condo and lowrise projects.

The revitalization of Downtown Markham has been spearheaded by The Remington Group’s multi-use

of downtown Markham. This 243acre urban hub combines luxury residences with offices, shops, dining and entertainment. Steps from the Unionville GO, with easy access to major highways, and a dedicated VIVA Rapidway, Downtown Markham is perfectly positioned to allow for easy commutes. And with more than 3.7 million sq. ft. of premium office space and more than 10,000 companies in and around Markham, residents may not need to commute at all. Gallery Towers suites start in the $600,000s.

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

development along Main Street, which includes expansive retail shops, a Marriott Hotel, a Cineplex, as well as a variety of condos and townhomes.

Indeed, Remington’s Gallery Towers twin-tower residence promises to be visually impressive, linking a seven-storey podium, with all suites appointed with large terraces or balconies, providing valuable outdoor spaces and inspiring views

Culture is also an important attraction in Markham, with The Flato Markham Theatre (so-named thanks to the support of local builder Flato Developments) offering more than 300 live performances each year. In addition, Varley Art Gallery encompasses the historic Kathleen McKay House, which was the home of the Group of Seven’s Frederick Horsman Varley for the last 12 years of his life. Measuring 15,000 sq. ft., the gallery is the second most popular tourist attraction in York Region.

Markham also has dozens of parks with baseball diamonds, soccer pitches and children’s play areas and splash pads. The city also boasts more than 22 kms of scenic pathways, including 12 bridges that provide recreational activity for joggers and cyclists.

The largest park in the city is the Milne Dam Conservation Park.

Measuring 305 acres, it is bordered by thick forest on the south and east and the Rouge River runs through the middle.

MarkhaM hoMe price growth, Q1 2022 Market % chg

Q1 ‘21

Q4 ‘21

Q1 ’22

Q/Q % chg

Yr/Yr

condominiums

$670,000

$743,400

$796,000

7.2

18.9

Single-detached

$1.40M

$1.59M

$1.70M

6.7

21.7

aggregate home types

$1.14M

$1.32M

$1.39M

5.7

22.0

+ LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Population of 338,503, located in the Regional Municipality of York in the GTA; distance from downtown Toronto, 30 km KEY LANDMARKS • Flato Markham Theatre • Varley Art Gallery • Milne Dam Conservation Park • Angus Glen Golf Club SELECT CONDO DEVELOPMENTS Canvas on the Rouge

By Flato Developments flatogroup.com Gallery Towers

By The Remington Group downtownmarkham.ca LivGreen2

By Ledgemark Homes livgreen2.ca Panda Markham

By Lifetime Developments lifetimedevelopments.com Riverview

By Times Group Corp. timesgroupcorp.com NOTABLE NEIGHBOURHOODS Visit nexthome.ca Angus Glen Berczy Cornell Rouge River Unionville

Toogood Pond is an 82-acre park that features a partially naturalized pond and marsh, and it recently underwent revitalization to remove sediment, restore the shoreline and plant native foliage.

Getting around Markham is facilitated by easy access to Hwys.

404 and 407 and the DVP, and for public transit, York Region Transit/Viva connects with all nine York Region municipalities. GO Transit provides regular train and bus service.

Source: royal lePage HouSe Price comPoSite

nexthome.ca 29

ADVICE | LEGALLY SPEAKING

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

ABOUT BUYING A COTTAGE – PART I JAYSON SCHWARZ, LLM and GREG DUBECKY, JD

The crackling and scent of burning wood at the campfire as the kids roast marshmallows, the loons calling into the night as the stars sparkle overhead. Sauntering down to the dock or boathouse for a relaxing morning by the lake with your golden retriever, a coffee and a book. A rite of passage of our youth, a seasonal pilgrimage, a dream retirement home or simply a respite from the bustle and density of city life – cottage life inhabits an almost sacred place in the cultural psyche of Ontarians. And with the run-up in cottage values throughout the pandemic, regardless of where this market is headed for the foreseeable future, it’s an asset that’s costlier than ever, and one that may come with some issues unanticipated by those accustomed to dealing with their real estate in the city. Issues that bear some consideration, and perhaps proactive planning.

Let’s consider some basics: What constitutes a cottage can really run the gamut. It could be a humble cabin or a lavish modern construction. It could be a condominium townhouse or an apartment condo in a resort. It could have water frontage – more on that in a moment – or reside in a landlocked retreat in the woods.

Looking deeper, the land could be on a plan of subdivision, just like your home in the suburbs, or it could be on a plan of survey. It could be 30 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

connected to municipal water and sewage, or on a well and septic. Does the building have a foundation in the ground? Is it winterized, and is there all-season access to the property?

What are the practical legal implications of all these details, and more? The following is only the tip of the iceberg. Buying a cottage requires speaking to your lawyer before you make an offer, so you cover off all of the exigencies. Here are a few: SEPTIC

If a new building or expansion of an existing structure will be on septic, such systems need approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources or the municipality. Ensure that your Agreement of Purchase and Sale contains a condition on septic health.

Septics need to be scaled to service the buildings they are connected to, and there needs to be the space in the appropriate type of ground for them.

WELL

Does the property you’re eyeing have a well? Aside from whether there’s adequate safety testing to determine if the water is potable, if that well is supplying multiple properties in the area, there may be conflicts between pipeline easements and Ontario’s Planning Act. There are costs and considerations associated with the upkeep and approval of all these systems.

Is it a four-season cottage?

Whether a cottage you’re putting an offer on is winterized, and has a foundation in the ground, could impact lenders’ willingness to offer financing to close the purchase.

Can you remove the shoreline vegetation to make way for a dock?

Was the dock that exists built having obtained the appropriate federal and provincial permits, or is there a risk you will be asked to remove it?

ACCESS

Is the road to the cottage private?

Does it provide year-round access?

There could be zoning questions, and there could be additional maintenance fees to maintain winter access. Are you depending on an easement on a neighbouring property to access your own? Is that easement on title, or is it just “how things have been done” between the previous set of neighbours? Is there a hydro easement that wouldn’t appear on title running through that ideal patch of land on which you were planning a new structure? Only your lawyer can guide you through these issues.

As you can see, there are many reasons to involve a lawyer who is experienced in the ins of outs of rural recreational properties, in your planning before you purchase or sell. In fact, there are so many issues, that we’ll address the remaining considerations in Part II in the next issue.

Jayson Schwarz, LLM, is managing partner, and Greg Dubecky, JD, is senior real estate associate at Schwarz Law Partners LLP. schwarzlaw.ca, info@schwarzlaw.ca.

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SPONSORED CONTENT

THE POWER OF VIRTUAL HOMEBUYING SEARCH FOR, DESIGN AND EVEN SIGN OFF ON YOUR NEW HOME – ALL ONLINE AT YOUR LEISURE

TIM NG

Looking for a new home can be time consuming. Research shows that 79 per cent of first-time homebuyers take more than 13 hours away from their job and check out approximately 15 potential properties.

A real estate agent can try to interpret what you’re looking for, but it can be a difficult search for both of you.

you’re not interested in. This, alone, saves on gas, as well as time away from work. Not only that, potentional buyers can search at their convenience – 24/7.

The need for a “digital sales office” experience has increased drastically as homebuyers are now more than ever expecting convenience. Information is required to be available immediately and accessible anytime with a few taps on an app. On-demand access to tools to expedite their home search and decision making are the buying behaviours and trends.

TIME VS LOCATION

Location has long been one of the most important aspects of a new home search. Proximity to work, family and friends, as well as to schools and community amenities, are all key common criteria.

There was also a time when the suburbs were a less-desirable alternative, as commuters wanted to relocate to be closer to work. Now, the burbs are in high demand because more people are not only working from home, but also because they want more space – inside and out.

And these days, especially, homebuyers often have limited time to contemplate a particular new home choice, since the market is highly competitive and supply is limited.

BUYING BEHAVIOURS

The digital transformation of the real estate market continues to grow as technology advances and younger, more tech-savvy generations become homebuyers.

By looking for properties online, you can weed out the ones that

software is automatically sending out reminders to stay on top of legal requests, documents, mortgage preapprovals and payments. Realtors are also now more involved with their clients’ electronic signing process, as software can now track the progress of the transactions.

As a more tech-savvy generation enters the housing market, this digital transformation in the real estate market is here to stay.

THE ADVANTAGES OF SHOPPING ONLINE

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

By searching new home sites online at your leisure, you can weed out the ones you’re not interested in – saving you time, energy and even money.

Technology advancements over the last few years has made the home buying process the most convenient and accessible than it has ever been.

Photorealistic visualization content is continuing to advance to help paint a complete picture of the overall projects architecture, amenity offerings, in-suite finishes and layouts (for example, virtual tours, photorealistic renderings, drone footage, 360-degree views).

Social media platforms have made it easier to share live tours and video content.

Sales software is becoming more robust to ensure the purchase of a pre-construction condo is a smooth and efficient process. They are making the communication between all parties involved with the transaction easier, especially for purchasers and realtors. This

• Speed of communication • Search for properties at your leisure • Immediate access to new listings • Virtual tours and 360-degree views • Streamlined transactions • Auto-generated document reminders • Neighbourhood statistics and surrounding amenities • Fast and convenient

Tim Ng is the Principal and Founder of ADHOC STUDIO and BLACKLINE, an industry-leading digital studio that combines real estate, art and technology.

To learn more about ADHOC’s awardwinning renderings and industry leading sales platform, BLACKLINE, visit adhocstudio.ca and blacklineapp.com.

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ADVICE | REAL INSIGHT

CONDO RENTAL MARKET TIGHTENING RENTAL MARKET PUSHING CONDO RENTAL PRICES

KEVIN CRIGGER

The Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) rental market continues to tighten.

In the first quarter of 2022, both the number of rental transactions and listings dropped year-over-year.

However, rental listings dropped by a substantially greater amount. The lack of inventory clearly impacted the number of rental deals and led to tighter market conditions.

More competition between renters led to marked annual increases in average rents.

The blip in the rental market during the onset of the pandemic was shortlived. The rental market is moving closer to the pre-pandemic peak.

The cost to rent a one-bedroom condo is up by almost 20 per cent compared to the same quarter last 32 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

year. For a two-bedroom unit, our latest rental market report highlights an average price of $2,867. This was also up by almost 20 per cent over the same quarter in 2021.

In the next two years, immigration is set to soar in the GTA. The number of non-permanent residents, including students, will also increase.

Many of them will turn, at least initially, to the rental market. Plus, higher borrowing costs could prompt some young people to put their decision to purchase a home on hold which means demand for rental homes will remain strong.

Investor-owned condos will be a key source of rental supply in the region. However, looking at the tight rental market conditions and increasing average rents, it’s clear that we need more rental units.

Although the homeownership market often dominates headlines, it’s important not to lose sight of the rental market and the important role it plays in a rapidly growing region.

If you’re interested in digging deeper into the rental market, TRREB members offer prospective renters the property intelligence they need. They’re partners in property success, no matter if you are looking to rent or buy.

Stay up to date on the rental market with our quarterly Rental Market Report, which contains condo rental statistics for all GTA municipalities.

Visit trreb.ca to explore the latest look into the housing market and search listings in real time on any device.

Kevin Crigger, TRREB President and realtor, is a long-standing and active member at the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. He has served all levels of the real estate industry, as well as local charities and educational institutions.

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ADVICE | MARKETING EDGE

THERE’S NO GOING BACK TO THE CHAOS OF THE SALES CENTRE

TRISTAN BRONCA

For developers, a bustling sales centre at the grand opening of a new community or condo is usually a good sign. They might even be a little disappointed if it’s not. Sales representatives rushing between deals, stacks of paperwork – there’s a familiar thrill to it all.

Those not thrilled, however?

Prospective homebuyers. You need to line up just to get in, growing increasingly anxious as the queue grows and the number of available homes dwindles. Maybe you’re struggling to get a frantic sales rep’s attention. Perhaps you’re beginning to have reservations about your decision as you wait, sometimes hours, to initial and sign on all those little dotted lines.

Then it all stopped.

When the pandemic emptied public spaces, many developers postponed their openings. There are a few reasons, but one of them was their assumption that very few people would be willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home without sitting down face-to-face with the person selling them that home. The assumption turned out to be accurate. Our survey data shows that 75 per cent of purchasers did not want to buy without that meeting.

In the summer of 2020, shortly after the COVID lockdowns began, our agency, in partnership with

Builder Software Tools, launched RealSale, a digital sales platform years in the making.

Impact North’s Vice-President of Client Services David Seigel explained that when a new community opens, prospective homebuyers receive a RealSale link, which you follow to register your interest in one of the homes or condos. You can view all the details, from floorplans to pricing to lot/unit availability, and so on. Then you receive an invitation to book a private appointment with a sales representative – conducted exclusively over Zoom during the initial openings – to review your preferred home and complete the purchase agreements. When it comes time to complete the final steps of the sale, 95 per cent of the information has already been input, eliminating the administrative bottleneck and accompanying homebuyer frustration.

In the midst of pandemic lockdowns, two full communities, one in excess of 100 homes, sold out over RealSale without a single in-person appointment. However, the real value of such tools (it’s not the only platform of its kind) may not be the virtual experience, but the way it can enhance the in-person experience. We already established that developers should expect threein-four purchasers to want a face-toface before they buy a home.

But what if that’s not the case on a given project? What if it’s actually 90 per cent, or, for that matter, 30 per cent? Reps could either be overwhelmed or twiddling their thumbs.

Tools such as RealSale remove the

“

This is the new standard for the homebuying experience

”

guesswork. Intermediaries such as sales representatives and brokers can capably manage the booking system and the buyer experience, meaning everything is far more likely to run on-time and smoothly.

Even after the initial phase of the pandemic, RealSale has continued to function as a hybrid system between in-person and online purchasing. For many developers, it remains the go-to tool for many sales centre openings.

This is the new standard for the homebuying experience. Like whitecollar employees who expect to work from home at least some of the time, new-home buyers expect a certain degree of flexibility. The overcrowded sales centre feels like an anachronism.

After many of the pandemic restrictions had been lifted, Seigel returned to one of those sales centres during an opening, a decidedly nonchaotic one. He took a few pictures of the empty parking lot. “This,” he said, “is what selling out a community looks like now.”

Tristan Bronca is the lead copywriter at Impact North. impactnorth.com

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ADVICE | REALTY INSIDER

PUTTING THE REAL ESTATE MARKET IN PERSPECTIVE MICHAEL KLASSEN

In so many ways, we rely on the media to provide us with information about housing markets in this hectic world. Readers and viewers, however, should look at the big picture and put news in perspective. We hear a lot about rising interest rates and the slight slowdown in the housing market, including dramatic predictions of a crash.

This is all greatly exaggerated. The market is strong and more balanced than it was last year, especially in pre-construction. Where a home may have had 20 to 30 offers, agents are now dealing with six or seven, which is a healthier scenario and far from the buyers’ market some are predicting. The current situation is far different from 2008. Even then, there were deals to be had in good neighbourhoods where prices didn’t drop and, in fact, came back some months later with a vengeance.

There is no doubt that some buyers have been driven out of the market, which is expected whenever interest rates move up. But the outlook is far from gloomy. The lack of supply in the face of significant and ongoing demand has potential purchasers waiting for new choices to become available, and our clients are working hard to provide those homes and condos.

34 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

Reign Condos in Guelph

Another thing is that nowadays, we’re enjoying historically low interest rates, and people are realizing that minor rate rises aren’t the end of the world. Even if rates increase a point or two, it does not make a large impact on carrying costs. In pre-construction sales, purchasers have years to close, so they are more comfortable with rates. In effect, they are buying for tomorrow, not today as is the case with resale. We know of some potential buyers sitting on the sidelines for 10-plus years waiting for prices to drop. Imagine the equity they could have earned if they bought back then.

As for sales, it’s like the market is taking a breath. We need time for the investor pool for both resale and pre-construction to replenish itself after the frantic drive of the past couple of years. If you are interested in investing, don’t expect to flip a property quickly. Savvy investors are in it for the long run – at least three to five years. Although the investor market in pre-construction

condominiums is still robust, we’re finding more end-users now for lowrise.

Despite media hype, smart buyers avoid panicking, thinking they overpaid and trying to back out of deals. This isn’t the time to walk away, especially with pre-construction.

In that amount of time, prices may increase a lot. Real estate is a cyclical industry, and this is an example. We are still selling homes and condos at a sustainable pace from Toronto to the Niagara Region. From our perspective, the media often exaggerates what’s happening in the market, when in fact for new construction, all systems are go.

Michael Klassen is the Broker of Record, Eleven Eleven Real Estate Services. Based in Toronto, this firm is a residential preconstruction listing brokerage. 1111realty.ca

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ADVICE | REAL ESTATE PRO

WHO DEFINES ‘AFFORDABLE’ IN THE HOUSING MARKET?

BARBARA LAWLOR We hear a lot about affordability – especially the lack of it – in the new construction real estate market across the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario and Canada as a whole. Certainly, it is difficult to understand current prices compared to those of a decade or two ago. Keep in mind, however, that a lot has changed with the pandemic, supply chain problems, government red tape and other outside forces that keep our housing supply falling far behind our increasing demand. For years, we have been reading about affordable housing and how difficult it is to find nowadays. But what does the word “affordable” mean? Who defines it?

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. has defined it to mean that a home or condominium costs less than 30 per cent of your total household before-tax income.

According to Loans Canada, millions of Canadians are spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing costs. Unfortunately, for many people, keeping that spending less than 30 per cent is inadequate to allow them to stay in their current homes or buy new ones.

Statistics Canada and CMHC reported that in 2018, more than 1.6 million Canadians lived in core housing need, which means they lived in unsuitable, inadequate or unaffordable dwellings and could not afford alternative accommodations.

One can only imagine how that number has grown since the pandemic and soaring home prices.

What held true long ago is irrelevant today, when the average house in the GTA costs more than $1 million.

The average home price for Canada hit an all-time high in January of this year, at $748,439.

With both resale and new homes and condos priced so high, many buyers are opting for new to take advantage of Tarion Warranty Corp. protection. They also appreciate walking into their new, clean digs, knowing they are the first to use the appliances, fixtures and other items. I compare it to sliding into a new car – that irreplaceable smell of immaculate surroundings. If these buyers purchased early enough in the selling cycle, they got to select the colours, features and finishes that make their residence feel like “home” from day one.

At the top of most homebuyers’ must-have lists are location and price – and of course, price depends greatly on location. Altus Group statistics show that in March, the benchmark price for condos in the GTA reached a record of $1.25 million, and for lowrise homes it was $1.83 million.

The news that the Bank of Canada’s recent rate rise hints that more rises are to come later this year have resulted in the cooling down of home and condo prices, as some people sit on the sidelines watching.

Prices are, however, still unattainably high for many wouldbe buyers. And yet, people buy new homes and condominiums every day, even in Toronto and elsewhere

M City5

in the GTA, where prices are among the highest in Canada. Ultimately, homebuyers define “affordable” according to their pocketbooks, but it seems like we need special definitions of “affordable” depending on where in Canada we live.

Barbara Lawlor is CEO of Baker Real Estate Inc. A member of the Baker team since 1993, she oversees the marketing and sales of new home and condominium developments in the GTA, Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal, and internationally in Shanghai. baker-re.com

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ADVICE | HOME REALTY

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY THE SAME

DEBBIE COSIC

The new home and condominium construction industry has seen an amazing number of changes over the past few years. To accommodate evolving purchaser preferences, designs morphed to more openconcept layouts. This also helped with the shrinking of sizes to keep price points attainable, because open concept “lives” larger than square footage might dictate. Although on the rise, interest rates have been historically low, inviting more demand.

In the meantime, increases in municipal and provincial red tape have played a key role in our lack of housing supply, causing a huge spike in home prices. The pandemic brought its own collection of challenges, which resulted in new ways of conducting business electronically, as well as materials shortages and more demand for work-from-home spaces. But you know what has remained a constant through all of this? People still buy new homes and condominiums.

Why? For one thing, family circumstances shift. Young people grow up, start careers, marry, have children, and so on. Empty nesters move to more compact surroundings to make their lives easier. We have also seen an exodus of employees to the outskirts of major urban centres where they can work from home in residences that are more financially feasible than in the city. Then, of course, there is an ongoing shuffle

36 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

Verde

of people moving because of work transfers. Occasionally, inheritances make moving up a possibility. Real estate is an ongoing dance that helps to keep our economy thriving.

What’s fascinating is that whether real estate buyers are end-users or investors, their purchases are still investments. And what a great investment it is. As one example, a condominium in the GTA that sold for $339,978 in April 2012 sold for $789,869 in April of this year. That’s a 132-per-cent increase. You can see where a condominium can make a great nest egg for retirement or for passing along to future generations.

Then look at the overall picture: Real estate is an investment that you can understand far more easily than stocks, mutual bonds or the up-and-coming bitcoin universe.

Remember that in Canada, we have not experienced the meltdown the U.S. had a few years ago. Our banking and financial systems are thankfully

conservative and do not allow for people to buy homes who can’t afford them. Even real estate investors who rent out their spaces understand what that means in terms of paperwork, effort, and financial gains. So, you can live in your investment, sell it, rent it out… the flexibility is appealing.

The bottom line is that in the long run, an investment in real estate remains a wise decision regardless of how the market changes. Whatever the future brings, people will always need homes to live in. That’s one thing that will never change.

Debbie Cosic is CEO and founder of In2ition Realty. She has overseen the sale of more than $15 billion worth of real estate. With Debbie at its helm, In2ition has become one of the fastest-growing and most innovative new home and condo sales companies. in2ition.ca

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ADVICE | WESTERN VIEW

TIME TO BUILD WE MUST BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS – NOW

MIKE COLLINS-WILLIAMS

Our housing crisis finally got the attention it deserves. All of Ontario’s major political parties in the recent provincial election agreed, Ontario needs to build 1.5 million more homes in the coming decade.

The mandate of the newly elected majority government is clear: Get it done, and solve this crisis now.

One of the first steps is to get local anti-housing politics out of our long-term planning for growth.

Even though there was an uptick in construction, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. recently released new research indicating that housing starts are still not keeping pace with our population growth.

The best solution to fix the housing crisis is for us to build more homes of all types.

Municipalities have shown they can’t or won’t make the difficult decisions required to build more housing. Ontario municipalities need provincial intervention to help them address the crisis.

As the Ontario Home Builders’ Association’s President Bob Schickedanz says: “We can’t regulate our way out of the housing supply shortage. We can’t tax our way out of the housing supply shortage.

We can only build our way out of a housing supply shortage.”

Endless processes, outdated regulations and restrictions make it nearly impossible to build homes at the rate we know we need.

Red tape, high taxes on housing and local government-imposed

restrictions are choking the housing supply chain; be it newly-built communities, missing middle housing options such as townhomes and triplexes, or high-density housing on transit.

Across southern Ontario, we are witnessing the impact a shortage of available housing options has on the people and their community.

More and more families are leaving an even more expensive and supply-constrained Toronto looking for larger homes and a piece of property. This endless wave of young people and families looking for affordable housing options results in bidding wars and rapid price escalation across the rest of south-central Ontario. It is like a cruel game of musical chairs where the lack of homes on the market means far more losers than winners.

Young families, in particular, are getting priced out, and they are

leaving our larger cities for more affordable communities further and further away.

In fact, over the past five years, more than 100,000 people have left the Greater Golden Horseshoe to find homes in other parts of the province. We are not building enough homes to keep up with demand, resulting in an exodus of families and young talent. Can you imagine where we will be in another decade if we don’t tackle the housing crisis right now?

With a new government in power with a mandate to build 1.5 million homes, it’s time to build.

Mike Collins-Williams, RPP, MCIP, is CEO West End Home Builders’ Association. westendhba.ca.

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bUiLder proFiLe | MArKhAM

THE REMINGTON GROUP: GALLERY TOWERS THE FINER ART OF DOWNTOWN MARKHAM Coming soon to downtown Markham, Remington Group presents its latest luxury condominium project –Gallery Towers. This gorgeous twin-tower residence promises to be a visually stunning masterpiece, which melds seamlessly into a community that places a high value on artistic expression.

Linked by a seven-storey podium, Gallery Towers will marry glass with unexpected notches and articulated banding for a dynamic, sculptural presentation. All suites will be appointed with large terraces or balconies, providing invaluable outdoor space and an inspiring view of the masterfully realized downtown Markham community.

38 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

Step inside and be dazzled by your surroundings. Here, art envelopes you. You’ll see it in the furnishings, fixtures, lighting and more. Curvaceous and lush, the designer lobby and lounge impart an auspicious feeling of luxury and high style. You have arrived – both in life and at home The Finer ArT oF inspired Living

Gallery Towers will feature an incredible selection of luxury amenities that have been meticulously thought through to ease the stresses of modern life.

Active residents will relish the presence of both indoor and outdoor fitness spaces, featuring

state-of-the-art cardio equipment and free weights, along with a dedicated yoga studio.

Home entertainers are sure to love the impeccably landscaped and canopied outdoor terrace with its barbecue areas, dining tables and lounge seating.

Inside, challenge friends and newly acquainted neighbors to billiards or cards in the games room, then share a drink at the wet bar before heading off to the dining lounge, workshop or theatre.

Of course, your furriest family members will also be pampered and pleased with amenities dedicated to their care. An onsite dog walk provides convenient exercise and

canine social opportunities, while the pet spa will keep pets looking their very best.

The Finer ArT oF inspired design

Gallery Towers will offer one-, two- and three-bedrooms suites, including a limited collection of elegant two-storey towns. Each open concept suite presents generously proportioned living spaces and Instagram-worthy gourmet kitchens adorned with the most sought-after features and fixtures.

The master bedrooms of Gallery Towers are sumptuous and incredibly spacious, making it easy to add décor touches and to stock your wardrobe with fashions from downtown Markham’s wide array of shops. When it’s time to unwind, spa-inspired bathrooms welcome you with fixtures and finishes meant to put you at ease both body and soul. The suite life at Remington’s Gallery Towers is poised to be sweet indeed!

The Finer ArT oF reTAiL TherApy

Anticipation is high in downtown Markham’s newest retails phase, Gallery Square. Featuring 100,000 sq. ft. at street level, each storefront will be uniquely designed with rich textures, materials and colours to create a visually stunning pedestrian experience. Imagine restaurants and patios designed for year-round enjoyment, all nestled around an intimate, art-infused public piazza.

With spaces ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 sq. ft., and a mix of carefully curated tenants, Gallery Square promises to add an enhanced shopping and dining experience to an already rich retail community.

The Finer ArT oF UrbAn Living

A truly artistic spirit unifies downtown Markham, fueled by the Remington Contemporary Art Gallery (RCAG). The gallery has woven vibrant installations throughout the city’s public spaces, breathing a spirit of creativity into lobbies, shopping centres, and even parking garages throughout the neighbourhood. The result is a

community that fosters deep thought and contemplation at every turn. And speaking of turns, you won’t want to miss out on a ride aboard the Pride of Canada Carousel – a working carousel and work of art in one, made from recycled and repurposed objects.

Housed in a spectacular glass pavilion, The Pride of Canada Carousel pays tribute to celebrated Canadian icons and wonders. downTown MArKhAM

Dine, shop and enjoy life to the fullest in downtown Markham. This 243acre urban hub combines luxury residences with offices, shops, dining and entertainment. Steps from the Unionville GO, with easy access to major highways, and a dedicated

VIVA Rapidway, Downtown Markham is perfectly positioned to allow for easy commutes. However, with more than 3.7 million sq. ft. of premium office space and more than 10,000 companies in and around Markham, chances are, residents won’t need to commute at all. In downtown Markham you can live where you work and work where you live.

Life at Gallery Towers has been competitively priced, starting in the $600,000s. The buzz has already begun, and these suites are slated to go at a record pace.

You don’t want to miss out on this opportunity to live at Gallery Towers in downtown Markham. Register at downtownmarkham.ca nexthome.ca 39

BUILDER PROFILE | SCARBOROUGH

HIGHLAND COMMONS SELL-OUT SUCCESS PROPELS ALTREE DEVELOPMENTS TO RELEASE A NEW COLLECTION

Lush foliage acts as a natural buffer between Highland Commons and the surrounding ravine and trail network.

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condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

and reputable institutions call this community home.

Toronto’s largest ravine, Highland Creek, paints the backdrop of Highland Commons. This protected view gives way to Lake Ontario and the Scarborough Bluffs. Colonel Danforth Park is adjacent to Highland Commons and is a converging site for salmon,

carp, deer and other wildlife. A lifestyle of urban living immersed in nature, rare for the 416.

Tree-lined streets and boardwalk trails connect Highland Commons, young professionals and researchers to globally sought-after institutions such as the University of Toronto.

Their legacy Scarborough campus

The co-working lounge has established zones for concentrated work and collaboration.

RENDERINGS BY NORM LI

Leading from a successful initial launch in 2021, Altree Developments has released Building B at the established eastern edge of Toronto.

As a finalist for the 2022 BILD Awards in the Best Midrise Design category, the launch introduces a new collection. Residential suites range from studios to three-bedroom units, granting access to amenities such as a co-working lounge, life-sized chess, and squash and basketball courts.

One of Toronto’s best-kept real estate secrets is the established pocket of the Highland Creek neighbourhood.

The community’s time-honoured character is reflected in the quaintness of the boutique retail and retro diners on Old Kingston Road. While the neighbourhood captures the University of Toronto – Scarborough campus as well as Toronto’s legacy Pan Am Sports Centre, areas such as the Highland Creek Valley remain a lush woodland with trails to enjoy. With Highland Commons at its heart, some of the city’s most coveted greenspaces

Located on Toronto’s eastern edge, two boutique midrise developments make up Highland Commons.

dates back to the 1960s and feature new modern facilities, such as the renowned Indigenous House that recently broke ground. The 500-metre-long Valley Land trail is fully accessible and marks a fairy-talelike commute to campus.

“Our vision was to create a diverse offering of suite designs and amenities that supports an active urban lifestyle,” says Zev Mandelbaum, founder of Altree Developments. “The launch of Highland Commons was met with a great deal of support and positive feedback. We celebrated the vibrant culture and treasured features of this neighbourhood in a way that resonated with people of all ages.”

Altree Developments enlisted an award-winning team to craft this contextually sensitive development.

Most of the residential land around Highland Commons is established single-detached homes. Historically, opportunities have been scarce for downsizers, small families, young professionals and students to be part of such an enriched neighbourhood.

“Recognizing Highland Commons as one of the best midrise designs in Toronto this year is a testament to the refined detail and quality we are bringing to Toronto’s east end. Single-

detached homes make up roughly 80 per cent of the housing surrounding Highland Commons, making it incredibly difficult for first-time homebuyers and downsizers to be a part of this fantastic neighbourhood,” says Jordan DeBrincat Mintzas. “In a community with some of the best parks and institutions in the city, we’re proud to create a product that speaks to a diversity of people.”

The release of Building B introduces a new collection. Walk-up townhomes and a range of studios to threebedroom suites offer variations of accessible layouts meeting user needs.

“We put ourselves in the shoes of someone navigating Toronto’s real estate market today and recognized the challenges of finding the right layout to complement different lifestyles,” says DeBrincat Mintzas.

“With Highland Commons, the suite designs cater to a broad spectrum of needs to meet people and families at whatever stage of life they are in. The goal was to create a mix of layouts.”

Kohn Architects took a balanced approach when crafting the architectural facades and features.

Variations of tones and textures define the panel-cladded facade to create distinction and movement. An array

Two-storey modern townhomes feature direct street access and a loft-style interior.

of capacious balconies and terraces can be found both protruding and recessing from the building wall, creating a dynamic rhythm to the building’s face. In addition, a variety of materials were overlayed to mark distinctions across the width of the development. From intricate masonry and grand terraces, the textures and shapes cohesively present wellproportioned buildings.

“Our design for Highland Commons was aimed at reinforcing the village atmosphere of Highland Creek through the creation of a modern, warm take on a ‘high street,’” says Sean Lawrence, partner of Kohn Architects and lead architect of Highland Commons.

Award-winning international design studio Design Agency applied industrial and earthy tones across the mix of units. By introducing generous suite layouts, flexibility and functionality operate as core design principles. For example, the El Camino is a one-bedroom plus den that affords more than 80 sq. ft. of private outdoor space, as well as a walk-in closet for practical storage and an open-concept living area that will comfortably accommodate small groups. Additionally, the De Ville suite is a modern townhome with doublevaulted ceilings and a loft-style interior that gives space to larger groups, children and families.

The Highland Commons Presentation Centre is now open and is located across from the development site at 1650 Military Trail. The El Camino model suite is yours to discover, along with building details and finishes.

For more information, visit thehighlandcommons.com. nexthome.ca 41

Illustrations are artist’s impressions.

BUILDER PROFILE | NORTH YORK

EXPRESS 2 CONNECTED LIVING AT ITS BEST Express 2 is the latest chapter of Malibu Investments’ Wilson-Tippett success story – a story that began 15 years ago when Rony Hirsch, Malibu Investments’ President recognized the potential of the Wilson-Tippett neighbourhood.

Then an industrial area along Tippett Road, the potential lay in the proximity to the Wilson Subway Station, one stop north of Yorkdale. “It was a pocket surrounded by houses and a nice community. I thought we could create something there and continue the neighbourhood,” Hirsch 42 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

said, in a recent interview with the Toronto Star.

Malibu’s first condo project on Wilson Avenue and Tippett Road, Gramercy Park, laid the foundation for the future of Tippett Road. Following its success, Hirsch launched two more condos, Southside and Express, and sealed its transformative presence. With the launch of Express 2, the team is once again offering homebuyers a chance to be part of a growing neighbourhood.

“Connected” is a defining aspect of Express 2. The condominium’s easy

access to transit and Hwys. 401, 400, 404 and 407 make it highly desirable.

It’s just a two-minute walk to the south entrance of the Wilson subway station. Whether it’s work, school, shopping, recreation… everything is an easy subway ride or a quick drive from Express 2. Yorkdale is a five-minute subway ride, Centennial Downsview Campus, seven minutes, York U, 11 minutes, to mention a few. The convenience of travel to employment and educational opportunities makes it a big draw for professionals and students alike.

TRANSIT SCORE 100: • TWO-MIN WALK: WILSON SUBWAY STATION • GO TRANSIT • YORKDALE TERMINAL: ONE SUBWAY STOP

Created by RAW Design Inc., Express 2’s modern architecture complements its sister building Express. With two towers, 13 and 16 storeys, joined by a six-storey podium overlooking a private landscaped courtyard, Express 2 offers a greater sense of connectedness to the surrounding community, something 40-storey highrises seldom do.

The Wilson-Tippett nieghbourhood is just south of a growing part of the city. The Downsview Lands and Allen District will be transformed with residential projects, more parks, offices and shopping. Express 2 is also close to the shopping mecca of Yorkdale Mall, SmartCentres, first-class dining and recreational facilities. All of which add to its desirability and livability.

It is no secret how important greenspace is to a community and Express 2 offers the perfect balance of activity and nature. The new park located just west of Express 2 will feature open lawn space, seating, a workout area, children’s playground and water park. Plus, the nearby Downsview Park and Earl Bales Park ensure residents enjoy the best of all worlds.

The world inside Express 2 is all about comfort and easy living. Its thoughtfully designed suites, all with balconies, and carefully composed amenities are made for modern-day life. From the welcoming lobby with its 24-hour concierge, co-working spaces, Sky Lounge, party room, kids’ indoor playroom, a fully equipped fitness centre, bike repair room, pet spa… the amenities at Express 2 will enhance how residents live, work and play.

“It’s important to create interesting amenity areas – we want to give people livable spaces,” says Terry Lustig, Malibu Investments’ Development Manager. “We put much thought into what makes a building a community, what residents are looking

Overlooking the private courtyard and new Tippett Park with walkway to Wilson Subway Station.

for and we hope to provide the opportunity to interact and enjoy the lifestyle that our buildings can offer.”

The Sky Lounge is one of Express 2’s feature amenities. This beautiful tranquil outdoor space is on the seventh floor and features a spectacular water wall and butterfly meadow. With sun loungers and seating surrounded by lush landscaping, it’s an escape from life’s daily busyness.

“We understand how landscaping brings a project to life and that’s an important part of what we’re creating,” says Hirsch.

With work from home becoming more prevalent, Express 2 has two Wi-Fi lounges on the seventh floor of both towers overlooking the Sky Lounge. The party room is the perfect place to celebrate with friends and family, plus there is much fun to be had in the adjoining karaoke/ sports lounge. A private dining room with kitchen allows residents to host the perfect dinner party. With a dedicated kids’ indoor playroom, Express 2 considers the needs of its young residents.

SUITES STARTING FROM: the $500,000s SUITE TYPES: JR ONE-BED, ONE-BED, ONE-BED PLUS DEN, TWO-BED, TWO-BED PLUS DEN, THREE-BED

Steps to Wilson subway station, surrounded by a growing community full of opportunities, close to everyday conveniences, higher learning institutions, recreational facilities and parks, Express 2 has it all.

Register now at express2condos.ca.

416.703.2202

INTRODUCING EXPRESS2 HOMEOWNERSHIP SPECIAL 10 PER CENT DEPOSIT PROGRAM*

*Conditions apply. In cooperation

with the City of Toronto, Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada, additional deposit funds are provided interest and payment-free.

For qualified renters only. See sales rep for details.

nexthome.ca 43

1st Place Compact Kitchen Martin DeSousa

1st Place Small Kitchen Linnea Lions

1st Place Medium Kitchen Beverly Binns

1st Place Large Kitchen Glen Peloso & Elizabeth Smith

Turn your DREAM into REALITY

Why Hire an NKBA Professional: • Skills to Design and Plan Safe and Functional Kitchens and Baths • Understand the Industry Environment, Future Trends & Consumer Lifestyles

• Operate and adhere to a strict code of ethics under the guidelines of the NKBA • Utilize Industry Information for Designing & Planning • Research Building Codes and Current Industry Practices

nkba.org/chapters/ontario-canada/

The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a non-profit trade association that promotes the professionalism of the kitchen and bath industry. Established in 1963 as a network of kitchen dealers, it has grown into the premier association of distributors, retailers, remodelers, manufacturers, fabricators, installers, designers and other professionals. The NKBA’s certification program emphasizes continuing education and career development and includes designers and professionals in all segments of the kitchen and bath industry. The NKBA has become a valuable resource for both professionals and consumers.

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www.blackanddecker.ca |

@blackanddeckerca TM

Majestic SPC Collection featured colour Louvre quickstyle.com

IN THIS SECTION:

Photo: QuickStyle

INTERIORS

PRODUCT SHOWCASE | BIG STYLE nexthome.ca 45

power k n i P

INSPIRATION |

interiors

by SARA DUCK photos DARBY MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHY

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THIS POWDER ROOM RENOVATION? As the last untouched space on our main floor, I wanted this small powder room to go above and beyond. I believe powder rooms are meant to be a little over the top, so I said yes to pink tile, yes to gold accents everywhere, and yes to a space that brings my family joy every time we walk into it.

FAVOURITE DETAIL? Lighting makes or breaks a space for me. I used a larger version of the chandelier in another room in our home and loved it so much that I also decided to install it here. The matching sconces were an absolute must, and together they added just the right amount of luxe and glamour to the powder room.

Lifestyle blogger and designer Candace Alongi of The Minted Mama creates a pretty pink powder room abounding with sparkle and style

BIGGEST CHALLENGE DESIGNING THIS SPACE? Selecting the paint colour! Believe it or not, there are hot pink walls beneath this beautiful grey hue.

The lesson learned is to keep ‘wow’ factors to a minimum, especially in a small space. The tile wall delivers such a significant impact on its own, that it doesn’t need anything else to compete with it.

SOURCE: FLOOR AND WALL TILE AND VANITY: Sarana Tile. saranatile.com | CHANDELIER AND SCONCES: Dainolite. dainolite.ca | CEILING PAINT: Sherwin Williams. sherwin-williams.com | WALL PAINT: Benjamin Moore. benjaminmoore.com | PAINT CONTRACTOR: M2A Painters & Decorators | MIRROR, ARTWORK, VANITY KNOBS, SOAP DISPENSER, CANDLE, ROOM SPRAY: HomeSense. homesense.ca | TOWELS: H&M Home. 2.hm.com | RUG: Curated Content Co. curatedcontentco.com | GARBAGE CAN, HAND TOWEL HOLDER, TOILET PAPER HOLDER: amazon.ca | FAUCET: moen.ca 46 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

Borrow her look 1

2

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE AFRAID TO USE PINK IN THEIR DESIGN PALETTE?

WHAT ARE THREE KEY ELEMENTS TO DESIGNING A BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL BATHROOM?

Balance out this overtly feminine shade with bold elements that anchor the space and make it welcoming to all. Also, start small if you’re nervous about introducing it on a larger scale. Begin with pieces that don’t feel like a commitment, such as throw cushions, artwork, or a beautiful vase.

1. Step out of your comfort zone and create an eye-catching focal point.

2. Use materials that can stand the test of time (even with repeated use by little ones).

3. Be sure there is plenty of storage to hide all the essentials you don’t want anyone to see!

3

4

For more design inspiration, visit Candace at themintedmama.com

With over 15 years’ experience as a magazine editor, writer and content creator, Sara brings her passion for design and decor to our pages each issue. @bysaraduck

1. Golden metal DOORKNOBS. $19 (for two). zarahome.ca | 2. Waffle cotton six-piece BATH TOWEL in pink by Madison Park. $60. bedbathandbeyond. ca | 3. Dreiling two-light dimmable armed SCONCE by Wade Logan. $93. wayfair.ca | 4. Geometric FLAT wave area TOWELS in pink. $95. walmart.ca nexthome.ca 47

OUTSIDE IN INSPIRATION |

interiors

Capture the warmth and exuberance of the great outdoors inside with these easy ideas for any room in your home

by SARA DUCK

plant world

Cotton CUSHION COVER in light khaki green/pattern. $7. hm.com

There is no better way to bring the feel of the outside indoors than to decorate with plants. Choose a variety of sizes to create a lush feeling at home. And, if you can’t commit to plant babies, select smaller no-fuss plants such as succulents or cacti.

2 1

1. Coloured AGLAONEMA. $30. lowes.ca | 2. SUCCULENT plants with POT. $5. ikea.ca | 3. FICUS braid. $38. lowes.ca 48 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

3

rad rattan

2 1

3 Get inspired all over again with the 1970s by incorporating rattan furniture into your space. Although this material is super popular outdoors, heralding a strong boho vibe, it can work equally as well inside.

Today, many rattan pieces are designed with modern function and esthetics in mind, giving a fresh new feel to a vintage look.

Rattan and wood folding CHAIR. $199. zarahome.ca

Yellow has the ability to instantly put you in a good mood — it’s a happy colour that can give your space a cheery, warm feeling. Try an accent wall if painting an entire room in the bright hue seems a little much. And, if you prefer to keep your walls neutral, accessorizing with a few yellow decor items will still give your room a dose of sunshine.

1. Rattan side TABLE. $100. homesense.ca | 2. Globe electric rattan shade PENDANT. $90. canadiantire.ca | 3. Woven rattan PLACEMAT. $20. zarahome.ca

hello yellow

1

3

2 Yellow velvet flat POUF. $149. crateandbarrel.ca

1. Pieced fabric wall ART in yellow. $524. westelm.ca | 2. Citrus punch PAINT. dulux.ca | 3. Makeva marigold swivel chair in YELLOW. $599. article.com nexthome.ca 49

Linen is a durable natural fibre derived from the flax plant and has been around for more than 6,000 years.

(It was used to preserve mummies in Egypt!) This sustainable fibre can wick away moisture, making it an excellent fabric for bedding. Linen is also naturally antibacterial, so it is a great choice for window treatments and accent pillows. In addition, the fabric is synonymous with summer and can give you that outdoor feeling indoors all year long.

lovely linen

1

2

3 1. Washed linen BATHROBE in powder beige. $60. hm.com | 2. Dark khaki green linen DUVET SET. From $129. hm.com | 3.

Vita linen DAYBED. $1,300. cb2.ca

Linen throw pillow COVERS. $30 each. zarahome.ca

1

earth tones Warm earth-tone colours can make any space feel cosy and inviting. From terracotta colours to light beiges and hits of greens, choosing a natureinspired colour palette will create a calming outdoor living vibe inside your home.

Designer: Patti Wilson, Patti Wilson Design.

Photo: James C Lee Photography

50 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

2 3

1. Almelo serrano green king HEADBOARD. $800. article.com | 2. Super star TILE. $12 each. geontile.com | 3. Aster MUG in white. $20. furnishbyisabey.ca

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Toronto’s Finest NEW HOME GUIDE

Fabulous LIVING IN THOROLD!

Canada’s trusted authority for the latest new home and condo developments, industry news and expert homebuying advice.

WEST COMMUNITY NEW PHASE COMING SOON! DISCOVER SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND SPACIOUS TOWNS!

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Greater Toronto’s COMPLETE CONDO GUIDE

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2020-10-28 1:10 PM

INSPIRATION |

big style

MODERN ORGANIC HOW TO INCORPORATE THIS LATEST TREND INTO YOUR OWN SPACE

by LISA ROGERS Pulling inspiration from mid-century modern, minimalism and bohemian design styles, modern organic design takes a raw or refined space and layers organic elements, shapes and colours against a background of contemporary simplicity.

With a clean and sophisticated aesthetic, sometimes modern organic can be misconstrued for cold or uninviting. The trick combines natural materials, nature-inspired pieces, and architectural elements (such as clean 52 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

lines) with modern features to achieve that warm, elegant vibe. It’s about the balance between earthy elements and an unadorned modern space: Simple silhouettes, natural textures and materials and colours all lend themselves to achieving this look.

Modern organic has risen as one of the more prominent interior design search trends online, and it hinges on that interplay between rustic elements and contemporary touches. So, how do you do it? Relatively simply,

actually. Here are some suggestions on incorporating this interior design trend into your own space.

FOCUS ON A MINIMALIST APPROACH

Modern organic style banks itself on the less is more philosophy: Keep your design simple by being intentional with how you decorate and adorn your space. Avoid building clutter in your rooms, and don’t over-accessorize with furnishings or

knick-knacks. The whole point of a minimalist approach is to be hyperselective on the pieces you use, so choose a handful of decorative accents to display to give each piece its spot to breathe.

OPT FOR A NATURAL COLOUR PALETTE

You will see that many modern organic-inspired designs start with a neutral colour palette, so when you begin to build your organic elements into your space, they aren’t competing with loud colours. Creamy white, warm grey, soft taupe and even subtle touches of black all work well. Lean into using natural materials (wood, limestone, jute, rattan, bamboo and clay) and build around that colour palette by reserving bolder colour choices (whether you move into golds, burgundies or orange) in your soft furnishings or accessories.

Better yet, if you desire to add more “personality” to your space (and feel confined to a neutral palette), introduce some handcrafted pieces from your favourite artists and artisans to add that “pop.” Antiques and family heirlooms can be scattered throughout your space, so you feel like it represents you.

monsteras, succulents to bamboo, there are many indoor-friendly plants you can bring into your space to give that sense of the outdoors.

Spider plants, aloe vera and English ivy are a few of the many houseplant species that are well-suited for indoor climates. Add outdoorinspired beauty to your dining table or countertop with a vase of fresh flowers or plumes of dried grasses.

They add a sculptural element to the room quickly and affordably.

USE NATURAL LIGHTING

LOOK FOR ORGANIC SILHOUETTES

(IF YOU CAN)

I love mid-century modern, but modern organic focuses on even softer silhouettes with rustic materials, textiles and colours. Curves and clean lines are big trends for furniture, which are pieces that mimic natural forms and feel organic.

Some of us are blessed with an abundance of natural light in our homes. Understandably, the more natural light you have, the more organic your space will feel. But, if you lack that source of light, your next best bet is to invest in lighting fixtures with organic forms made from natural materials. Exchange window coverings with organic replacements such as bamboo blinds, linen shades, cotton curtains, or silk drapes. They all have an airier texture that allows privacy but doesn’t feel heavy. If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, install a

BRING IN PLENTY OF GREEN

Any organic-inspired design starts with building greenery into your interior design. From giant palms to

skylight in a ceiling to invite the sun inside, or go even further and build a sunroom addition with oversized windows to extend your sightline to the outdoors.

LAYER, LAYER, LAYER WITH NATURAL TEXTURES

The best place to play with textures is in your soft furnishings, so look out for rugs, vases, planters, lamps, pillows and throws made from natural materials that you can layer to add depth and interest.

You want the eye to move through your space efficiently, so layering textures is all about remaining subtle in your approach to how you bring together tones.

The look can be compelling but stay effortless. I love woven rattan cabinets, jute rugs, wood coffee tables or marble stone counters.

Give ordinary walls a warm texture by covering them with grasscloth wallpaper. Lay an area rug woven with sisal, seagrass or jute over hardsurface flooring to boost the earthy mood. Rattan furniture pieces, leather sofas and chairs, wool furniture throws, and cowhide area rugs bring organic materials inside.

Lisa Rogers is Executive Vice-President of Design for Dunpar Homes (dunparhomes.com). Lisa has shared her style and design expertise on popular television programs such as Canadian Living TV, House & Home TV and as a regular guest expert for fashion and image, health and wellness and design on CityTV’s Cityline. Follow Lisa’s blog at craftedbylisa.ca nexthome.ca 53

INSPIRATION |

product showcase

n o i t a r i p s in

Home

CoMposite deCKiNG You’ve probably heard about composite decking. Composite deck boards are known for their durability. Compared to wood, they require far less maintenance, offering long-lasting colours and finishes that never need to be sanded, stained, or painted. The experts at Deckmart are happy to answer any questions you have about low-maintenance decking products. They offer a full line of composite decking selections, and invite you to stop into their showroom or visit their website to see first-hand the quality and durability of products DeckMart supplies.

DECKMART BUILDING SUPPLIES | deckmart.ca

Sustainable innovations

Silestone by Cosentino, first introduced in 1990, focuses on maximizing nature’s resources from its origins. A consistent in the industry, Silestone brings colour into kitchens across the globe, has a hygienic countertop, and a continued focus on environmental initiatives. Using a high-performance blend of premium minerals, quartz, and recycled materials, the innovative new HybriQ technology marks an entirely new product composition and manufacturing method, a highly efficient sustainable manufacturing process.

COSENTINO | cosentino.com

54 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

A beautiful oasis

Create a beautiful oasis from the heat and sun with the Multifunction Stellar Parasol. The canopy conveniently opens and closes by using a crank-lift system, and features a 360-degree rotating function. This parasol will turn or tilt exactly as you want it and it comes with solar LED lights!

D.O.T. FURNITURE | dot-furniture.com

MooNstoNe CoLLeCtioN Moonstone is a coloured body porcelain stoneware collection available in five colours and two different patterns: stone and vein.

Inspired by Brazilian quartzite, Moonstone reproduces the original textures and unique attributes of these remarkable stones. Offered in three finishes, lappato, natural and outdoor, as well as a wide range of formats, Moonstone is ideal for adding character to floors and coverings, giving spaces a natural appearance. Ideal for interior and exterior applications on walls and floors, in residential and commercial projects.

CIOT INC. | ciot.com

Keep outside out Combat the summer heat with energy-efficient JELDWEN windows from the Northern Tri-Pane Collection.

This cutting-edge collection offers exceptional benefits such as improved insulation and noise reduction, superior home comfort and greater durability. Northern Tri-Pane Collection windows qualify for all provincial and federal rebates, including the Canada Greener Homes Grant.

JELD-WEN WINDOWS & DOORS | keepoutsideout.com

Geometrical game changer It’s time to think outside the box. The new geometrical HEX shower drain by Serenity is definitely a game changer. In a world with infinite possibilities, why settle for ordinary? This six-sided beauty comes in four trending finishes, including brushed gold, matte black, brushed nickel and gold. There are also custom split-finish options available.

SERENITY LUXURY | serenity.luxury

nexthome.ca 55

CONDO PROFILES

Bristol Place

developer: style: size: features:

Brampton

SOLMAR DEVELOPMENT CORP.

Highrise Starting from 432 sq. ft.

• Two 48 storey towers on a podium within a landscaped courtyard • 1 bed, 1 bed + den, 2 bed, 3 bed • Steps to Go, VIA Rail, and ZUM rapid transit • Surrounded by shopping, dining, arts and culture • Party room, gym, yoga, lounge, outdoor BBQ & dining area, work stations and more contact: solmar.ca location: 199 Main St N, Brampton, ON L6X 1N2

Central Park

developer: style: size: prices from: features:

North York

Gallery Towers

developer: style: size: prices from: features:

Markham

THE REMINGTON GROUP

Highrise 515 to 1,688 sq. ft.

From the $600’s • 9 Ft 10ft and 11ft ceilings • The towers offer exceptional 1, 2 and 3 bedroom residences with den options and spacious terraces with 2 storey towns • Outdoor fitness studio, outdoor dog walk, dog wash station, games room and wet bar, canopied dining with bbq areas and lounge seating • Indoor amenities games lounge, dining and party room, state of the are fitness and more contact: downtownmarkham.ca location: Warden + Enterprise

Highland Commons

Toronto

AMEXON DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Highrise – 12-acre, master-planned community 436 - 1,200 sq. ft. from the $700,000s • 1 Bed, 1 Bed+Den, 2 Bed, 2 Bed+Den, 3 Bed+Den • spacious layouts, terraces/balconies • Located in the Bayview Village neighbourhood • Leslie subway station and GO Transit at your door • Direct access to the East Don Parkland ravine • Central Park Common – a three-acre urban park offering year-round, outdoor event programming • 55,000 sq. ft. of resort-style amenities including coworking space, skating rink, indoor and outdoor saltwater pools, privately operated childrens’ daycare, EV charging stations in all parking areas contact: centralparktoronto.com • (416) 252-3000 location: 1200 Sheppard Avenue East

56 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

developer: style: size: prices from: features:

ALTREE DEVELOPMENTS

2 mid-rise buildings, 539 units 284 sq. ft. studios to 1,159 sq. ft. 3 bedroom From the $300’s • Steps to the Shops of Highland Creek and surrounded by nature • Curated amenities include basketball court, squash court, 2-level fitness facility, outdoor pool and coworking spaces • Enjoy the outdoor life-sized chess board, BBQ area, dining and planting areas • Complemented by party rooms, kid’s centre, guest suites, and large parcel room contact: thehighlandcommons.com location: 1625 Military Trail

CONDO PROFILES

Tridel

developer: style: size: prices from: features:

Toronto

TRIDEL

Midrise 1200 – 1500 sq. ft. $1,675,000 • Immediate Occupancy • South Facing Views • Private outdoor spaces • Convenient location • Lifestyle Amenities – Rooftop Pool, Fitness Centre, Party Room, Smart Home technologies contact: Tridel.com location: Dupont and Howland

The Dawes

Express 2

Toronto

developer: Malibu style: Highrise features: • Junior 1 bed, 1 bed, 1 bed + den, 2 bed, 2 bed + den, 3 bed • Lobby with 24/7 concierge • Pet spa • Fitness room,cross fit training/boxing equipment, separate yoga studio • 7th floor Sky Lounge with water wall, butterfly meadows, loungers, seating • Steps to neighbourhood park & walkway to subway • 6 storey podium with two towers contact: express2condos.ca | 416-703-2202 location: Tippett Road and Wilson Avenue - Coming Soon!

Toronto

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Greater Toronto Area Dec. 19, 2020–Jan. 30, 2021

Toronto’s Finest NEW HOME GUIDE

Fabulous LIVING IN THOROLD!

HOMES, Condo Life, Active Life Reno + Decor

WEST COMMUNITY NEW PHASE COMING SOON! DISCOVER SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND SPACIOUS TOWNS!

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The ‘best of the best’ coverage in the categories of new home; new condo; adult lifestyle; design, decor and renovation.

Marlin Spring

Highrise 367 to 1,046 sq. ft.

The low $500,000s • Steps from Main Street TTC Subway Station & Danforth GO Station • Amenities focus on smart living, wellness and creative work from home spaces: 2-storey Fitness Studio, Parcel Rooms, Screening Room, Indoor and outdoor Kids’ Area, Indoor Dining /Social Lounge, Co-work, Games room, Art/Maker Studio, Meeting Room, Library Lounge, Outdoor Dining / BBQ / Lounge contact: Thedawes.com location: Danforth Village

Greater Toronto Area Dec. 5, 2020–Jan. 16, 2021

Greater Toronto’s COMPLETE CONDO GUIDE

The Rose Hill Condos New Capital North Communities condo in Vaughan launching soon nexthome.ca | myhomepage.ca

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WHERE MORTGAGE RATES ARE HEADED IN 2021

DEC. 5, 2020–JAN. 16, 2021

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HOT PROPERTIES | GREATER TORONTO AREA

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MAPS

CARTOGRAPHY: MARKETMAPS.COM

Match the map numbers with property listings on the following Hot Properties page

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HOT PROPERTIES

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME

The latest properties in the Greater Toronto Area to keep your eye on

Legend: HR = High Rise CTH = City Home MR = Mid Rise LO = Loft LR = Low Rise LW= Live Work PH = Penthouse RH = Row Home TH = Townhouse

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LOCATION

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TYPE

ADDRESS

CONTACT

Etobicoke..............................Mirabella ........................................................... HR ......................... 1926 Lake Shore Blvd. W. ..............................................mirabellacondos.ca Etobicoke..............................Westerly ............................................................ HR ......................... Islington & Dundas............................................................................tridel.com Etobicoke..............................Curio Condos .................................................. MR ......................... 801 The Queensway.......................................................... marlinspring.com Etobicoke..............................Humberwood Heights ........................... CTH/FTH ................... 50 Humberwood Blvd. .......................................tributecommunities.com Etobicoke..............................Cypress at Pinnacle Etobicoke ................... HR ......................... 5475 Dundas St. W. ................................................pinnacleinternational.ca Etobicoke..............................Verge ................................................................. MR ......................... Islington & The Queensway ........................................... vergecondos.com Etobicoke..............................36 Zorra Condominiums.............................. MR ......................... 36 Zorra................................................................... altreedevelopments.com Markham/Unionville..........Panda Markham ............................................. HR ......................... 8200 Warden Ave. ............................................lifetimedevelopments.com Markham/Unionville..........Varley Condo Residences .............................LR.......................... 20 Fred Varley.........................................................tributecommunities.com Markham...............................Canvas on the Rouge.................................... MR ......................... Donald Cousens Pkwy & Ninth Line ................................. flatogroup.com Markham...............................Gallery Towers at Downtown Markahm .. HR ......................... 162 Enterprise Blvd. .................................................downtownmarkham.ca Mississauga ..........................Perla Towers and Amber at Pinnacle Uptown HR ......................... 5044 Hurontario St. ..............................................pinnacleinternational.ca Mississauga ..........................Oro, at Edge Towers ..................................... HR ......................... 24 Elm Dr.W..........................................................................................solmar.ca Mississauga ..........................Artform Condos.............................................. MR ......................... 86 Dundas St. E. ............................ artformbyemblemdevelopments.com Mississauga ..........................Gemma at Pinnacle Uptown....................... HR ......................... 5044 Hurontario St. .................................................... pinnacleuptown.com North York ............................Express 2........................................................... MR ......................... Tippett Rd./Wilson subway............................................express2condos.ca North York ............................M2M ................................................................... MR ......................... Yonge & Finch ..................................................................... m2mcondos.com North York ............................The DIamond .................................................. HR ......................... 5336 Yonge St.................................diamond.diamantedevelopment.com Oshawa .................................U.C. Condos..................................................... HR ......................... Simcoe St. N. & Winchester Rd. W. ....................tributecommunities.com Scarborough ........................Pinnnacle Toronto East ............................... HR ......................... 3260 Sheppard Ave. E. .........................................pinnacleinternational.ca Scarborough ........................FourMe .............................................................. HR ........................ Markham Rd. & Ellesmere ............................................fourmecondos.com Scarborough ........................Highland Commons ...................................... MR ......................... 1625 Military Trail..............................................thehighlandcommons.com Toronto .................................111 River St. Condos ...................................... HR ......................... 111 River St. .........................................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................200 Queens Quay W. .................................... HR ......................... 200 Queens Quay W. ......................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................Lawrence Hill Urban Towns .......................CTH........................ Don Mills & Lawrence ................................. lawrencehillurbantowns.com Toronto .................................489 Wellington St. W. ................................... HR ......................... 489 Wellington St. W. .......................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................500 Dupont St. ............................................... MR ......................... 500 Dupont St. ...................................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................Aqualuna at Bayside ..................................... HR ......................... 200 Queens Quay East ...................................................................tridel.com Toronto .................................Artistry Condos ............................................... HR ......................... 292 Dundas St. W. ..................................................tributeartistrycondos.ca Toronto .................................Panda Condos................................................. HR ......................... Yonge & Dundas. ...............................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................Skytower at Pinnacle One Yonge .............. HR ......................... 1 Yonge St. ...............................................................pinnacleinternational.ca Toronto .................................The Prestige at Pinnacle One Yonge ....... HR ......................... 1 Yonge St. ...............................................................pinnacleinternational.ca Toronto .................................Tridel at the Well ........................................ MR/HR ..................... Spadina Ave. & Wellington St. .....................................thewelltoronto.com Toronto .................................Via Bloor ........................................................... HR ......................... Bloor & Parliament. ...........................................................................tridel.com Toronto .................................The PJ Condos ............................................... HR ......................... 283 Adelaide St. W..................................................pinnacleinternational.ca Toronto .................................36 Eglinton Ave. W. ....................................... HR ......................... 36 Eglinton Ave. W. ..........................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................Linx Condominiums ...................................... HR ......................... Danforth & Main ................................................ tributecommunicties.com Toronto .................................Y&S Condos .................................................... HR ......................... 2161 Yonge St. .......................................................tributecommunities.com Toronto .................................Burke Condos ................................................. HR ......................... Bloor & Sherbourne ..................................................... burkebyconcert.com Toronto .................................MRKT Alexandra Park .................................MR HR...................... Dundas & Spadina .............................................................................tridel.com Toronto .................................181 East ............................................................. HR ......................... 181 Sheppard Ave. East ...................................................................stafford.ca Toronto .................................Avenue & Park ................................................. MR ......................... Avenue Rd. & Bedford .....................................................................stafford.ca Toronto .................................50 at Wellesley Station.................................. HR ......................... 50 Wellesley St. East ................................................................pureplaza.com Toronto .................................No. 1 Yorkville.................................................. HR ......................... 1 Yorkville Ave............................................................................pureplaza.com Toronto .................................Theatre District Residences......................... HR ......................... Adelaide & Widmer ..................................................................pureplaza.com Toronto .................................Bijou on Bloor ................................................. MR ......................... 2450 Bloor St. West..................................................................pureplaza.com Toronto .................................The Briar on Avenue .....................................CTH........................ 368 Briar Hill Ave. .....................................................................pureplaza.com Toronto .................................One Seventy .................................................... HR ......................... Spadina & Queen St. West ......................................................pureplaza.com Toronto .................................King West & Charlotte ................................... HR ......................... King St. West & Charlotte........................................................pureplaza.com Toronto .................................Forest Hill Private Residences..................... MR ........................ 2 Forest Hill Rd. ...................................................... foresthillresidences.com Toronto .................................Oscar Residences ........................................... MR ......................... 500 Dupont St. W. at Bathurst...................................oscarresidences.com Toronto .................................Whitehaus ........................................................ HR ......................... Yonge & Eglinton ...............................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................Liberty Market Tower..................................... HR ......................... 171 East Liberty St. .............................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................XO Condos....................................................... MR ......................... King & Dufferin...................................................lifetimedevelopments.com Toronto .................................The Georgian .................................................. MR ......................... Gerrard & Parliament.......................................................................stafford.ca Toronto .................................The Dupont ..................................................... MR ......................... Dupont & Ossington.........................................................................tridel.com Toronto .................................Bianca Condos................................................ MR ......................... 420 Dupont St ....................................................................................tridel.com Toronto .................................225 Jarvis Street Condos ............................ HR ......................... Dundas St. East & Jarvis ............................................................amexon.com Toronto .................................LeftBank ............................................................ HR ......................... River St. & Dundas St. East..................................................... broccolini.com Toronto .................................The Residences of Central Park ................. HR ......................... Sheppard Ave. East & Leslie ................................. centralparktoronto.com Toronto .................................The Dawes at Main Street ............................ HR ......................... Danforth & Main St. ..................................................................thedawes.com Toronto .................................Queen Church Condos ................................ HR ......................... 60 Queen St. East. .............................................................queenchurch.com Vaughan ................................Park Avenue Place 1 & 2 ............................... HR ......................... Jane St. & Rutherford Rd. ................................................................solmar.ca Vaughan ................................The Vincent...................................................... MR ......................... Jane St. & Hwy. 7 ........................................................................ thevincent.ca Vaughan ................................The Rose Hill Condos ................................... MR ......................... 177 Woodbridge Ave.......truecondos.com/capital-north-communities Vaughan ................................SXSW Condos .................................................. HR ......................... Islington & Steeles..........................................................primonthomes.com

MAPS

Locate properties using the map on the previous page

60 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

+

BUILDERS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE YOUR PREVIEW REGISTRATION, NEW RELEASE OR SITE OPENING IN THIS FEATURE, JUST EMAIL THE DETAILS TO EDITORIAL@NEXTHOME.CA

HOT PROPERTIES | OUT OF TOWN

FIND YOUR NEXT HOME

The latest properties in the Out of Town Area to keep your eye on

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CARTOGRAPHY: MARKETMAPS.COM

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nexthome.ca 61

HOT PROPERTIES | SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO AREA

KITCHENER–WATERLOO

Guelph

Waterloo

Milton

Kitchener

Cambridge

5

Brantford

Hamilto n 11

4

13

14 1 12

LONDON

15

London

62 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

2 3

Mississauga

17

20 18

Oakville 19

6

MAPS Match the map numbers with property listings on the following Hot Properties page

7

Burlington

23 10

16

21

St Catharines22

Niagara Falls

8

24

Welland

CARTOGRAPHY: MARKETMAPS.COM

9

nexthome.ca 63

HOT PROPERTIES

Find your next hOme

The latest properties in the Southwestern Ontario Area to keep your eye on

Legend: HR = High Rise CTH = City Home MR = Mid Rise LO = Loft LR = Low Rise LW= Live Work PH = Penthouse RH = Row Home TH = Townhouse

map

location

site

type

address

contact

1.

Ancaster ................................Meadowlands ............................................MR/CTH .................... 559 Garner Rd E ................................................................ elitemdgroup.com

2.

Brampton..............................DUO Condos ................................................... HR ......................... Malta Ave. & Steeles Ave. .........................................................duocondos.ca

3.

Brampton..............................Bristol Place ..................................................... HR ......................... 199 Main St. North..............................................................................solmar.ca

4.

Brantford...............................Station Sixty Lofts .......................................... MR ......................... 60 Market St. S................................................................... elitemdgroup.com

5.

Burlington ............................Affinity Condos ............................................... MR ......................... Plains Rd. E. & Filmandale Rd. ............................... rosehavenhomes.com

6.

Burlington ............................Millcroft Towns .............................................CTH........................ Appleby Line & Taywood Dr. .............................branthavenmillcroft.com

7.

Burlington ............................Gallery Condos & Lofts ................................ HR ......................... Brant St. & James St. .............................................gallerycondominiums.ca

8.

Fonthill ..................................One Twenty Condos .....................................LR.......................... Rice Rd. & Highway 20 ................................................... mountainview.com

9.

Fonthill ..................................One Fonthill Condominium Collection .. MR ......................... Rice Rd .......................................................................onefonthillcondos.com

10.

Grimsby.................................Odyssey Condos & Towns ..................... HR/CTH .................... Windward Dr. & N Service Rd. ................................ rosehvaenhomes.com

11.

Grimsby.................................Century Condos ............................................ HR ......................... Main St. East & Baker St. South....................................desantishomes.com

12.

Hamilton ...............................1 Jarvis .............................................................. HR ......................... 1 Jarvis................................................................................................1jarvis.com

13.

Hamilton ...............................KiWi Condos ................................................... HR ......................... 212 King William St................................................................kiwicondos.com

14.

Hamilton ...............................Steeltown City Co. ...................................MR/CTH .................... Fennell Ave. E. & Upper Ottawa St. .............................. elitemdgroup.com

15.

London ..................................White Oaks Urban Towns ...........................CTH........................ London ................................................................................ elitemdgroup.com

16.

Niagara Region ...................Lusso Urban Towns ......................................CTH........................ Martindale Rd. & Grapeview Dr. .............................. lucchettahomes.com

17.

Oakville .................................The Greenwich Condos at Oakvillage ..... MR ......................... Trafalgar Rd. & Dundas.........................................................branthaven.com

18.

Oakville .................................Synergy ............................................................ MR ......................... McCraney St. E. & Sixth Line ..............................................branthaven.com

19.

Oakville .................................The Randall Residences ............................... MR ......................... Randall St. & Lakeshore Rd. E. .............................. randallresidences.com

20.

Oakville .................................Upper West Side at Oakvillage .................. MR ......................... 351 Dundas St. E. ................................................. upperwestsidecondos.ca

21.

Oakville .................................Greenwich Condos at Oakvilage............... HR ......................... Trafalgar Rd. & Dundas St. ...................................................branthaven.com

22.

St. Catharines.......................St. Kitt Urban Towns .....................................CTH........................ Oakdale Avenue & Merritt Street ......................... st.kittsurbantowns.com

23.

Stoney Creek ......................Casa Di Torre .................................................. MR ......................... 980 Queenston Rd................................................................branthaven.com

maps

Locate properties using the map on the previous page

64 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

+

Builders If you would lIke to Include your prevIew regIStratIon, new releaSe or SIte openIng In thIS feature, juSt emaIl the detaIlS to editOrial@nexthOme.ca

ADVERTISER INDEX — Find ads easily inside this edition Access Storage .......................................................................... 1 9 Black & Decker ...................................................................44, 65 Brand Factory, The ................................................................... 1 6 Bristol Place – Solmar .........................................................3, 56

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Central Park – Amexon .......................................................2, 56 Dawes, The – Marlin Spring .......................................... 4, 5, 57 Express 2 – Malibu ............................................................. 11, 57 Fairmont Royal York ................................................................. 1 9 Focal Point.................................................................................. 1 9 Gallery Towers – Remington Group .............................56, 68 Gladstone ................................................................................... 1 4 Graydon Logistics ..................................................................... 1 9 Highland Commons – Altree .......................................... 56, 67 Home + Style Studio Tour ...................................................... 1 9 IDRC ............................................................................................. 1 9 Indigo........................................................................................... 1 9 McOuat........................................................................................ 1 5

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Bazis / Tridel ...........................................................................9, 57 Malibu .................................................................................... 11, 57 Marlin Spring ..................................................................... 4, 5, 57 Remington Group ..............................................................56, 68 Solmar .....................................................................................3, 56

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@blackanddeckerca nexthome.ca 65

ADVICE | INDUSTRY REPORT

SHOVELS IN THE GROUND NOW THAT THE ELECTION IS OVER, IT’S TIME TO GET TO WORK

DAVE WILKES

Leading up to the provincial election, there was a broad consensus in parties’ platforms that our region’s housing affordability problem is the result of insufficient housing supply, and that action needs to be undertaken to increase it.

Now that the election is behind us, what are the practical steps that government needs to take to get the region out of this crisis? As BILD has consistently advised, action needs to focus on three key areas: Land supply, government charges on housing, and development approvals.

Land supply is the raw ingredient without which no new housing can be built. It includes land near urban areas that is currently undeveloped, and also land within existing communities to enable intensification.

More land must be designated for future development at the outskirts of municipalities, a measure that the vast majority of residents of the GTA supports, according to a recent IPSOS survey conducted for BILD. Recognizing that it takes decades for new development to progress, this must be done now, with an eye to accommodating future growth.

Within existing municipalities, barriers must be removed to make it simpler and faster to add gentle density. This means making it easier to build “as of right” and doing away with old zoning rules that effectively 66 condolife magazine | June 18–July 16, 2022

exclude development from vast swaths of the urban landscape.

We must also stop taxing new housing at the current unsustainable levels. Taxes and charges from all levels of government now account for approximately 25 per cent of the cost of a new home. Those imposed at the municipal level are often the most significant, perhaps because requiring new-home owners to pay for needed services and infrastructure allows municipalities to avoid the difficult decision of raising property taxes. In fact, many municipalities are currently looking to increase the costs and taxes levied on new development. We must ensure that new homeowners are not asked to shoulder an unfair burden.

Lastly, development approvals and requirements must be streamlined.

Getting new housing built simply takes far too long in the GTA, due to unnecessarily complicated and bureaucratic approval processes. This slows down and adds costs to each new housing unit coming to market.

Fixing the GTA’s housing problem requires visionary leadership. There is no doubt that GTA residents are concerned about housing affordability and will expect governments at all levels to work towards a balanced, properly functioning housing market, where supply more accurately matches demand.

The time for debate has come to a conclusion – now it’s time for bold action to bring sustainable solutions that will turn challenges into opportunities.

Dave Wilkes is President and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD), the voice of the homebuilding, land development and professional renovation industry in the GTA. For the latest industry news and new home data, follow BILD on Twitter, @bildgta or visit bildgta.ca.

+MORE CONTENT ONLINE nexthome.ca

C C OMING OMING SOON SOON TO TO E E AST AST TORONTO TORONTO Your greatest escape is right at home.

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REGISTER NOW AT — thehighlandcommons.com REGISTER NOW AT — thehighlandcommons.com

Brokers Protected. Exclusive Listing Brokerage: Hirsch and Associates Real Estate Inc. Illustrations are artists concept. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. E.&O.E. Brokers Protected. Exclusive Listing Brokerage: Hirsch and Associates Real Estate Inc. Illustrations are artists concept. Prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. E.&O.E.