dt_toronto_geek
Superstar
I came across this article which gives some hope that family sized family suites may become more popular in time to come
http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/626607
http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/article/626607
Areas can always be MADE family-friendly. I'd love to be able to spend $1M+ on a 3+den bedroom condo downtown so I'd be close to theatres, museums, etc...without having to drive much, if I can.
I think this culture is too kid-focused. It's to a point that many people in my age group don't know how to be grown-ups, even though we're approaching 30 or are already over that. It's only worse for the younger ones. The only young people I know who're remotely close to being grown up are those who've lived abroad or have parents who're very "international."
Not quickly. The city isn't going to be building a school unless the kids are already there for example.Areas can always be MADE family-friendly.
I don't even know what that means. Are you trying to say a culture that values children makes adults immature? If so, I would disagree with that.I think this culture is too kid-focused. It's to a point that many people in my age group don't know how to be grown-ups, even though we're approaching 30 or are already over that.
What I was getting at is some already do, but they've been a tougher sell. It's much easier to move units that are 2 bedrooms or smaller. Despite the continued claims that 3-bedroom condos are the next market, it's just never taken off. If they were doing better, the market would respond in kind.This is good. Instead of only putting the 3 bedrooms at the penthouse level (which thus command a higher price) I would hope that they put some on the lower floors.
Not quickly. The city isn't going to be building a school unless the kids are already there for example.
I don't even know what that means. Are you trying to say a culture that values children makes adults immature? If so, I would disagree with that.
I was talking about downtown Toronto specifically. Maybe it'd work better in North York in terms of accessibility to schools etc, but if you're gonna live in North York then you're missing out on a lot of the downtown attractions, which may make condo living less attractive for some (but not all of course).If one moves to a condo in the midtown or say, "Mel Lastman Land" (i.e. "downtown" North York) area, there are plenty of very good schools.
Sorry, but that makes little sense. Downtown condo living is not going to solve the problem of less-than-ideal parenting.Yes, I do. Like I said, too many adults (those under 40, anyway) don't really know how to BE adults. We don't know how to dress like grown ups, behave like grown ups, etc. Kids learn from watching. If you keep kids away by making them do kid things all the time, then they'll never learn. For example, as much as I hate DVDs and colouring books at the dining table (especially if it's at a nice restaurant(i.e. one that does NOT have a kids' menu)), it's sometimes BETTER to bring a 6 year old there than to keep him/her at home with the sitter. There, he/she would learn what the grown-ups eat by observation. They're going to learn more about foods at an earlier age. They'd probably be healthier, too, since kid-friendly food is basically processed cr@p.
I was talking about downtown Toronto specifically. Maybe it'd work better in North York in terms of accessibility to schools etc, but if you're gonna live in North York then you're missing out on a lot of the downtown attractions, which may make condo living less attractive for some (but not all of course).
Sorry, but that makes little sense. Downtown condo living is not going to solve the problem of less-than-ideal parenting.
My point is that if you suffer from poor parenting, just going downtown isn't going to solve that problem.Why? It's easier to go places if you live downtown. When I was growing up in the Bayview and Steeles area, we went once a week, and that was because I took piano at the Royal Conservatory on Bloor. It's an effort and we did that because the teacher at the Con was one of the best. Had I taken lessons in North York? My family would probably never set foot south of Eglinton.
Bingo. Well, not quite. A decent one usually is more, but nonetheless is somewhere in that ballpark. That's why 3-bedroom condos are not a big draw in Toronto.People living in countries outside of North American have been living in family sized condo apts for decades. Having said that, we're talking about ~1200 SF, about the size of an average 3 bed house.
There's nothing wrong with condo living; however, its the cost that gets ridiculous when you start comparing it to freehold. In the above article, they mention prices from $500,000 ... and from what I've seen you can still buy a house d/t for that price.
Yup, and it's interesting to know that price range is where the 3-bedroom condos are as well. I personally probably wouldn't consider a $400000 semi, but then again, I probably wouldn't be buying a $400000 3-bedroom condo either. OTOH, nice 2-bedroom condos are usually under $400000, which is why they are so much more popular.I also think it is somewhat of a fallacy that you have to either purchase the 1 million condo near the financial district or the house in the outer ring burbs to have a family house.
Nice semi-detached houses can be gotten on the out rings of downtown for $400-600k pretty easily. You can get three bedroom homes around Queen West, Riverdale, Roncy, The Danforth, Leslieville, etc, that are only 10 min transit ride outside of the downtown core and are surrounded by parks, stores and culture.
Families have lived in these places for 70-100 years