Recent content by Lizthevw

Just watched part of the documentary, then it cut out on me. My quick $0.02 (do I have to round up to a nickel nowadays? More likely down to $0). Most new builds, whether suburban McMansions or the cheapest of condos, will have issues initially. A problem with the door handle, for instance...

I'm surprised to be saying this, but I'm kinda starting to like this. Maybe size matters, but there are things about the massings that work for me.

I have had numerous business and project dealings with Matas. They have done a lot of very urban, high end projects in the Oakville area. This project has been on their website for some time now. No details, and Matas seems to have a lot on their plate at the moment relative to their size...

That would be great news if something comes to fruition. Canadian courts have held oil companies liable even after full disclosure and remediation, so I am very surprised to read this. I will be even more surprised if construction takes place, but such a lovely stretch of the Lake to develop.

The biggest determinant with regards to reinforced concrete vs steel is that most construction companies in Toronto are set up for reinforced concrete, whereas in a place such as New York, the industry is primarily built around steel. You can do steel here for large structures, but it will cost...

I love tall buildings, and I love architecturally beautiful or interesting buildings. I also love positive cash flow and a sound return on investment. The construction part of me would love to see Brookfield Office Properties develop a stunning new building in Toronto (I was underwhelmed with...

Four Seasons has a tremendous reputation for looking after their staff and providing them with the training and resources they need to do their best. They have in the past done a good job of relocating staff when positions have been made redundant. I am curious therefore about the discussion...

interesting to view the thread. this is the view from my bedroom window, so it gives me insight into what will come...

I crunch a lot of numbers every week. I don't believe in Toronto you can be a real estate investor at the moment, only a speculator. A healthy investment market is a cash positive one, and as prices are outside of historical norms relative to rents and price to income, I haven't found a cash...

Latest I've heard is that prospective tenants are being offered 3 years with guarantees, but after that they might have to leave for demolition.

trees do we have any reason to believe that these trees will be able to survive surrounded by so much concrete? I don't see anything different in the photos than in other areas where trees wither and die...

Bizarrely, I've learned to like the Gardiner. Leave it as it is, but build right up to it along its length, and no one will notice it, it will remain a viable route, and it won't cost the world to replace. Heck, in places we could build right over top of it, which would remove it from sight...

Hi Someyeh, Simple answer is that there are no guarantees. Ever since man moved into the first cave, moisture problems have been an issue, and despite what sales people will tell you, there is no guaranteed solution. Some designs work out better than others, but many buildings are designed...

The problem with tall buildings is that they are subject to greater wind pressure and therefore moisture issues, and fixing them is very expensive. I had one Condo built in the 70's that we took over the engineering management of, where it was cheaper to knock the building down and start over...

When I used to work as a building engineer, I did a lot of reserve fund studies for condominium corporations. Condo fees tend to be artificially low during the early years of a condo, and will continue to rise as a building becomes less and less financially viable. In one building I was...