Anne Lok

Will you BLOG about your clients' business?

Sure! Not only do I blog about them, I also cross-link their websites from my own. During the 4 years as a real estate professional, I have met and come across the most interesting bunch of clients and industry professionals that I would love to spend time blogging about, some of whom I have continued to develop a business relationship with. Posts of partifular interest are clients that run a progressive, creative or innovative business.

Here are some innovative and progressive Toronto businesses:

Floyd Design - Multidisciplinary design and engineering company specializing in deisgn of concept cars, custom and OEM automotive parts, and high-end consumer goods.

Executive Building Solutions - Construction Management Services

Makimakivintage -MakiMaki Vintage is a well-established, Canada-based vintage shop that knows how to deliver. They give you vintage pieces with a big bang of style hit all while keep auction start prices low. They really don't discriminate on any particular style, they offer a little of everything in a weekly rotation from any of the last 5 decades.

Here are 3 common contruction loan scenarios:

1. Clients purchase land and build a house on the land, most of these clients own the land ( free & clear) and requested for a progress financing loan from the bank. The only challenge is that, progress financing can be expensive, as the bank requires the clients to get an appraisal done at every stage of the construction, ie : foundation, framing, etc. Some clients prefer to take out a private mortgage loan for the whole construction, ie: 6 months to 12 months time and refinance the house to payout the private loan when the construction is completed.

2. Clients would like to buy land and build a house on the land. This approach can be very expensive, as land financing is expensive because no banks entertain land financing, only private lenders or very small trust company may consider. In view of the Sub-prime mortgage credit crunch south of the border, it may be very difficult to get funding.

3. Clients would like to do extensive renovations, first of all, the clients have to let their bank know about this renovations if they have an existing mortgage, otherwise, the bank can demand immediate payout of the mortgage if they finds out. The first step is to get the floor plan / blue print approved by the city, then get 3 quotations from reputable renovators, present to the bank for refinancing or progress financing.

Please note that banks are tightening up on credit due to their exposure to the Sub-prime mortgage credit crunch in the States, and the real estate value is making a downward adjustments in some parts of the city at this time, it may be more difficult to do custom construction financing in 2009 versus early part of last year.

For more information on construction loan, please contact Anne Lok for further details.

Breakdown of Construction Draws for Construction Loans

Living in a urban high density environment means most buildings are not condusive to dense intensive gardening. The spaces that can be utilized can be balconies, solariums, kitchen, windowsills, rooftops, townhouse courtyards, apartment decks, forgotten areas are all potential urban gardens. However home owners have to be careful to assess various challenges in creating urban gardens due to limited and restricted space, weight, irrigation, excessive wind and sun on sky-high rooftops, and soil-less conditions. as well, keeping edibles away from scavengers such as racoons, cats, squirrels, skunks.

The benefits of urban garden aside from satisfaction and tending the garden:

-Grow, harvest and eat vegetables from your own labour

-Delicious, fresher, simple foods directly picked packed with nutrients

-Better for the environment - reduces the carbon footprint for travel and delivery

-No Pesticides - knowing where the food comes from without the use of chemical gives you a piece of mind

fresh brussel sprouts from veggie garden

- Community oriented - growing food in a communal urban garden encourages and educates neighbors participation and interaction, especially children.

Type of Urban Garden:

-Herb garden

-Vegetable garden

- Fruit garden

-Vertical garden

A few examples of Toronto urban gardens:

• High Park is one of the well known urban parks spanning 399 acres also offering urban plots for the community to plant. Alotment of gardens are assigned to participants through a small annual/ seasonal fee in order to harvest their own slice of land.
  

• Market garden at CAMH - 7000sf of urban garden known as Sunshine Garden carries the tradition of urban agriculture in the heart of Toronto. From July to October, they hold twice weekly market stand every Monday and Thursday 10.00-11.30am.

References:

Jamie Oliver - Jamie at Home

Foodshare Community gardening movement in the city of Toronto

CAMH Sunshine Garden

Kensington Market is founded by early Jewish Immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century and some Italians,and became one of the National Historic Sites in November 2006. It is roughly bounded by College St. on the North, Spadina on the East, Dundas to the South, and Bellevue to the West. It is a neighbourhood that offers diversity, a bit of everything from food, art, collectibles, restaurants, shops that spill onto the sidewalk, simply a place to hang out or to live. It embodies the character of a european open air market. The experiences most memorable to me are the different aromas when one walks by the shops. Over the decades, Kensington layered with history has undergone many changes with different new waves of immigrants continuing transforming the area in making it their home with different unique flavors. Not only is the neighbourhood a noted tourist attraction ad the centre of cultural life, it's current commercial gentrification is attracting artists, writes and professionals to reside in the area. With Kensington's low density and a network of laneways and one way streets, makes it challenging for motorists to maneouvre in and out of the narrow streets. Since 2004, residents and businesses have organized a series of Pedestrian Free Sundays with live street entertainment and special events. Some issues surrounding the neighbourhood debate right now are:-

• Whether the streets be car free on Sundays?
• Whether more bars should be permitted in the market?
• Whether there should be more benches and close off the streets to cars permanently?
• Whether the area should be closed off to motorists traffic completely?

Housing Types:

Related Links and Posts: Neighbourhood Watch:Kensington Market Pedestrian Sundays A Taste of Kensington Market Jumbo Empanadas The Intersection of Immigrant and Hippie Kensington Market Lofts Kensington Market Neighbourhood website

You might also be interested to read: Toronto's Iconic Neighbourhoods

Related Sustainable Walkable Neighbourhood Series: Roncesvalles Village

Roncesvalles Village (also known as Roncey Village), the neighbourhood east of High Park, contributes to Toronto's cultural mosaic. The neighbourhood is predominently residential with an integrated mix of traditional and contemporary commercial businesses along the tree-lined Roncesvalles Avenue.The strip north of Queen Street is the cultural centre of Toronto's Polish community with a concentration of specialty Polish food markets, delis, and restaurants which offers the area a bit of old world charm.

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The best way to experience Roncesvalles Village is to take the time to walk the street. The diverse community, taste, smell from the pastries and aroma from the shops, and the variety of textures that the whole family can enjoy are what keep residences and the public to keep coming back. It's close proximity to the downtown core by streetcar makes this a popular area among home buyers.

The Roncesvalles BIA is currenlty participating in the Bloor/Dundas Avenue study immediately north which will make recommendations on how best to implement the City's Official Plan along Bloor Street, between Keele and Dundas West, and along Dundas West from Bloor to Roncesvalles. These recommendations will determine zoning, development and planning policies for the area which will enhance pedestrian connections from Bloor to Roncesvalles, as well as explore design and development opportunities at the junction of Dundas and Roncesvalles.

Housing types in the area:

Related Links:

Roncesvalles Villlage BIA

BlogTO Neighbourhoods

Other Blogs from Walkable Sustainable Neighborhood Series:

Textures of Kensington Market