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We recently had the opportunity to visit the sales office for Ghods Builders' new 5959 Yonge Street Condos development, planned for Yonge Street north of Cummer in North York. The presentation centre, located where 5959’s Yonge-fronting retail will be, contains features like a model suite and kitchen vignette, and of course a scale model depicting the first tower of the multi-phase high-rise community and its surroundings.
While we have focused on renderings of the development up until now, the scale model provides us with more information on 5959's design, showing off the exterior features that passersby will come to recognize in the Kirkor Architects Planners-designed towers. 5959 Yonge will offer ground floor retail in the first phase, above which will be the first two towers, as well as in a future phase 2 to the north, above which will rise another two towers. The development's 15,000 square-feet of retail space will be leased, not sold, allowing management to ensure ongoing high standards for the retailers.
Ghods Builders' VP of Business Development, Dr. Honey Ghods, told us about the company's plans for one of the retailers at the development. "We are bringing in a high-end US-based virtual grocery store that has yet to make an entry into the Canadian market. It allows you to sit back and relax in your living room and order your groceries virtually, including the ability to review the ingredients in your food, important for the health savvy shopper. After residents complete their order, the groceries will be delivered directly to the resident’s suite."
Retail at 5959 Yonge will also include a florist as well as a dry cleaner. Unlike most dry cleaning facilities, clothes will only be collected and returned here, while actually being cleaned off-site, a major plus for health conscious residents looking to avoid the chemicals associated with dry cleaning.
Amenity offerings have become a major selling point for the project, promising residents access to some impressive indoor and outdoor spaces. "What really makes our project unique is the amenities", said Dr. Ghods. "We have 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenity space occupying four storeys of the development."
Outdoor amenities provide important common outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Several outdoor spaces can be found along the south side of phase one's podium, while at ground level a parkette will be located at the east end of the development site.
Views are the big reason condo buyers are attracted to high floors, but not everyone will buy a high floor suite. "In addition to these four storeys of amenity spaces, residents will also have access to the two-storey 'Chai Atrium', occupying the same amount of space as three full condo units on the 32nd floor of the taller 43-storey tower" Dr. Ghods told us. 5959's Chai Atrium will allow all residents—including those living on lower floors of the development—a common space to take in the views from high above North York. Unlike some condo party rooms, the Chai Atrium won't need to be rented out ahead of time, and residents are free to come and go as they please.
5959 will also offer plenty of amenities not depicted in the scale model, including four party rooms with capacity ranging between 80 and 140 people, connected to adjoining common spaces. Two of these party rooms include full kitchens, sure to be appreciated by residents who host gatherings and dinner parties. There will also be guest suites and a well-stocked library.
A full-size, two-lane bowling alley will be situated right next to a glass multi-sport LED fitness court featuring adjustable lines that allow the court to be used for over a dozen different sports, the first of its kind in a Canadian condominium development. This innovative feature was developed in Europe, before Ghods brought the technology to Canada, implementing it in a private home on Post Road in Toronto’s posh Bridle Path neighbourhood. Despite the impressive amenity offerings, Ghods expects affordable maintenance fees of $0.55 per square foot.
You can find more information about 5959 Yonge by visiting our dataBase file, linked below, for a comprehensive collection of images and facts about the development. To get involved in the discussion, visit the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided at the bottom of this page.
| Related Companies: | Sigmund Soudack & Associates, STUDIO tla |
