As Toronto continues to grow into a powerhouse global city, the rising price of real estate in the city centre is making buying there prohibitively expensive for middle-income earners. This has prompted value-conscious developers to bring new developments to areas that are sometimes overlooked. The inner suburb neighbourhood of Cliffside is one such place, and VHL Developments has a perfect site here for a new mid-rise condominium building on Kingston Road which they are calling Haven On The Bluffs.

Rendering of Haven On The Bluffs

Designed by Master Building Inc., the 11-storey, 250-unit condominium will rise just to the northeast of the convergence of Danforth Avenue and Kingston Road. Haven On The Bluffs will replace the existing 2-storey commercial building at 2229 Kingston Road, currently being used by VHL as the project’s sales centre as well as a now-shuttered motel.

Haven On The Bluffs site as seen in late 2012, image by Jack Landau

With units starting just under $160,000, Haven On The Bluffs prices put the building in range of a much wider demographic than the average condominium development in this city… and while price is a determining factor for most purchasers, choosing the right neighbourhood is equally important. 

Aerial view of Haven site looking southeast, image from Apple Maps

Aerial view of Haven site looking northwest, image from Apple Maps

As the name implies, the Cliffside neighbourhood stretches south to Toronto's postcard-worthy Scarborough Bluffs. Bisected by the popular retail strip of Kingston Road, many restaurants including neighbourhood haunt Vi Pei Bistro, offer the neighbourhood a surprisingly vibrant food scene. Besides Italian, this one stretch offers Thai, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Fish and Chips, Jamican, and two Irish Pubs!

Neighbourhood favourite 'Vi Pei Bistro', across the street from the Haven site, image from Google Streetview

With 6 public schools within a 5 kilometre radius as well as a wide selection of parks and trails, Cliffside fits the bill for family-friendliness. Just a short walk to the east of the Haven On The Bluffs site is Bluffers Park and its huge marina. The scenic park provides locals with an aquatic playground perfect for boaters, birdwatchers, anglers and families who just want to spend a day by the water or admiring the bluffs, while smaller parks at the top of the bluffs have fantastic views over Lake Ontario.

Bluffers Park is close by: Haven is located where the word "Cliffside" is printed, image from Apple Maps

For additional information including building facts and renderings, please visit our dataBase page for Haven on the Bluffs, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or voice your opinion in the comments section provided below.