About Toronto's Downtown

The CNE - Night View of the CN Tower and the Princes of the Princes' Gates

This nighttime photograph was taken during the 2010 edition of the Canadian National Exhibition (also known as The Ex and the CNE) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was taken from Princes Boulevard facing east towards the CN Tower and the Princes' Gates.

Construction of condo buildings in recent years have partially blocked the view of the CN Tower from this angle.

Metro Toronto Convention Centre and a Bird

Earlier this year, I had an all day meeting in downtown Toronto. I decided to leave extra early to miss rush hour and take the opportunity to stroll around downtown Toronto for a couple of hours prior to the meeting.

It was a great day to some nice photography since it was a beautiful sunny blue sky day. I had the time to explore parts of downtown Toronto where I don't normally visit.

While walking along a less frequently used walkway on the south side of the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, I found this beautiful bird perched on a tall pole.

He appeared to be pecking at the pole. The bird had a great view of Lake Ontario, some of the condos on the shoreline and near Lake Ontario as well as the Coach Canada buses dropping off visitors to meetings, trade shows and conventions at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Text and photography copyright 2010 Marc Swartz. All rights reserved. E&OE.

Downtown East is still Toronto's best kept secret. Buyers can find the best bang for thier buck in the heart of the largest revitalization of a city core in North America, right here in the revival of Toronto's Regent Park. So close and accessible with the city around it.

After the success of the first phase One Cole Condominium fully sold out in a matter of months, One Park West Boutique Condominiums & Townhomes, currently under construction is the newest addition to Daniel's development in Regent Park. It is situated adjacent to a 6-acre park right out front.

ONE PARK WEST will feature:

• Downtown boutique style living ideally situated between Cabbagetown and The Distillery District. Close proximity to St Lawrence Market, Sugar Beach, Financial District, Eaton Cetnre, City Hall other major landmarks.
• Spacious Condo Suites ranging from studio to to 3 bedroom [+den] designes
• Urban Townhomes ranging from 1 bedroom to 3 bedroom [+den] designs
• Spectacular penthouse amenities
• Incredible parkside location, in the heart of Toronto's fastest growing neighbourhood, just steps away from TTC and new retail.

NEIGHBOURHOOD features:

• Proximity to Riverdale Park, where you can bring your dog when they are full of energy
• Gourmet restaurants and amenities along Parliament corridor
• Just one streetcar ride to East Chinatown, Leslieville, AGO, Ryerson, City Hall, Major Hospitals, Eaton Centre, Kensington Market
• 3 mins to DVP

You can benefit from OnePark West's exclusive Gradual Deposit Payment Plan and innovative FIRST HOME BOOST PROGRAM to boost your chances of owning a great home in Downtown East.

First release of the units will be this Fall. Should you wish to receive updated pricing and floorplans, REGISTER here TODAY. I would love to help.

Here is the current inventory of condos currently for sale in the Cityplace complex and covers all 18 buildings, as of August 9, 2010. There are currently 205 condos for sale. Below is a breakdown by complex, Fill in the form below to get the current mls listings e-mailed directly to your in-box. Harbourview Estates 43 units ranging from $250,000 to just under $585,000

• 6 - 1 bedroom
• 23 - 1 bedroom plus den
• 1 - 2 bedroom
• 13 - 2 bedroom plus den

Matrix - 12 units for sale ranging from $300,000 to $430,000

• 8 - 1 bedroom plus den
• 1 - 2 bedroom
• 3 - 2 bedroom plus den

Apex - 12 units ranging from just under $272,000 to $510,000

• 5 - 1 bedroom plus den
• 7 - 2 bedroom plus den

Optima - 5 units ranging from $335,000 to just under $545,000

• 2- 1 bedroom plus den
• 0 - 2 bedroom
• 3 - 2 bedroom plus den

West One - 22 units ranging from just under $240,000 to $527,000.

• 8 - 1 bedroom
• 9 - 1 bedroom plus den
• 0 - 2 bedroom
• 5 - 2 bedroom plus den

The Gallery - 4 units ranging from $270,000's to $350,000's

• 2 - 1 bedroom
• 2 - 1 bedroom plus den / solarium / study

N1 / N2 - 23 units ranging from just under $260,000 to over $600,000

• 5 - 1 bedroom
• 7 - 1 bedroom plus den / solarium / study
• 7 - 2 bedroom
• 4 - 2 bedroom plus den / solarium / study

Neo - 11 units ranging from just under $240,000's to Just under $500,000

• 5 - 1 bedroom
• 2 - 1 bedroom plus den / solarium / study
• 1 - 2 bedroom
• 3 - 2 bedroom plus den / solarium / study

Montage - 23 units ranging from the $280,000's to over $500,000

• 2 - 1 bedroom
• 9 - 1 bedroom plus den / solarium / study
• 5 - 2 bedroom
• 7 - 2 bedroom plus den / solarium / study

Luna - 14 units ranging from the $22,000's to the $600,000's

• 1 - bachelor / studio
• 2 - 1 bedroom
• 2 - 1 bedroom plus den / solarium / study
• 3 - 2 bedroom
• 4 - 2 bedroom plus den / solarium / study
• 1 - 3 bedroom
• 1 - 3 bedroom plus den / solarium / study

Luna Vista - 28 Units ranging from $285,000's to under $750,000's

• 2 - 1 bedroom
• 3 - 1 bedroom plus den / solarium/ study
• 10 - 2 bedroom
• 11 - 2 bedroom plus den / solarium / study
• 2 - 3 bedroom plus den / solarium / study

Panorama - 8 units ranging from just under $265,000 to just under $340,000.

• 1 - 1 bedroom
• 7 - 1 bedroom plus den / solarium/ study

Originally published on my Cityplace Condos Website

As some of you may already know, architect Frank Gehry is a native Torontonian. The fate of his humble childhood residence at 15 Beverley Street is soon destined to be demolished to make way for yet another condo. This rowhouse is also identified as the Samuel Caplan House/ Frank Gehry House. It's been noted that Frank Gehry spent his years from 1925 to the 1950s with his grandmother at this house. 15 Beverley Street, built in 1858 of Georgian revival, forms part of the series of rowhouse is the City's inventory of heritage property, but not the other two down from it. Its significance illustrates the evolution of the residential character of the street from the mid-19th to early 20th century.

OCAD by Wil Alsop

Frank Gehry's Art Gallery of Ontario

The site is making way for the new condo 12 Degrees by BSaR development. This building will be situated practically right across from Gehry's Art Gallery of Ontario. The historic significance of 15 Beverley, and the modern landmark of the Art Gallery of Ontario and OCAD, asserts some pressure for the condo design to fit into the modern context as a gateway to the Grange and artsy neighborhood. The design will feature a series of stacked cubes cantilevered and jogged 12 degrees incrementally.

12 Degrees - proposed condominium

Address: 15-27 Beverley Street

Architects: Core Architects Inc.