Toronto's east side remains a hot location in the real estate market as lower housing prices and charming neighbourhoods unite to create a perfect storm for both investors and first-time home buyers. Leslieville in particular has evolved into a sought after middle-class neighbourhood boasting both ample transit and eclectic street life, and the neighbourhood continues to thrive with new development. South Riverdale is another neighbourhood on the rise, and the meeting point of these two communities is soon to see another condominium rise above ground.

Streetcar Developments and Dundee Realty's The Carlaw is a 12-storey, TACT Architecture-designed condominium now under construction at the northeast corner of Dundas and Carlaw, and with the project's underground structure approaching street level, we decided to stop in for a closer look at the action.

The Carlaw construction site viewed from the southeast corner of Dundas and Carlaw, image by Jack Landau

Construction of the building's underground floors continues to progress, with work now underway on the final underground floor, P1. Reinforced concrete columns now stretch to just below the ground floor on the project's south, west and east sides, while the northeastern corner of the property is now at grade. 

Crews working on The Carlaw's P1 level, image by Jack Landau

Crews continue to work away at the P1 level, and construction is expected to be completely above grade within a month. For a better vantage point of the action, we head to the roof of 349 Carlaw Ave., currently home to The Carlaw's site office. (That's the recently completed Flatiron Lofts in the background below, another sign of the area's recent resurgence.)

The Carlaw construction site viewed from above, image by Jack Landau

The Carlaw construction site viewed from above, image by Jack Landau

Back down on the P1 level, the site is a hive of activity with crews erecting support forms and laying rebar in advance of the next concrete pour.  

Construction worker preparing formwork for a concrete pour, image by Jack Landau

Crews forming rebar on The Carlaw's P1 level, image by Jack Landau

The P1 level currently under construction is the last of The Carlaw's three underground floors. The building's parking ramp continues to climb its way towards grade as the project pushes towards street level.

The Carlaw's parking ramp climbing towards grade, image by Jack Landau

The parking ramp viewed from P1, image by Jack Landau

Once The Carlaw is completed, the project will bring 320 new condominium units to the Leslieville area, including 21 live/work 'urban towns' along the development's eastern edge. Residents of the development will enjoy a number of amenity spaces, including a 20,000 sq. ft. indoor venue/outdoor courtyard courtesy of interior designers Seven Haus Design.

Looking southwest across The Carlaw construction site, image by Jack Landau

Work on The Carlaw is slated for 2015 completion. Additional information and lots of renderings can be found in our dataBase file, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or voice your opinion in the comments section provided at the bottom of this page.