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Compared to the glut of towers continuing to re-shape Downtown Toronto, neither of Stafford Homes' upcoming North York developments stands particularly tall. On Avenue Road north of Lawrence, the 7-storey Avenue & Park adds a Page + Steele / IBI Group-designed mid-rise the neighbourhood, while the Turner Fleischer-designed Luxury Town Home Collection at Downsview Park contributes to the increasingly vertical city with a measured dose of new density. According to Stafford President Jonathan Goldman—who co-owns the company along with his father, Gary—however, the interiors tell a different story.
While both buildings are relatively modest in scale compared to Toronto's new-build point towers, Goldman stresses that the generously configured suites accommodate the sort of lifestyles rarely served by the 21st century condo market. "At Avenue & Park, the 36 suites average at 2,000 ft² and run to over 3,000 ft²," Goldman explains, while "the townhomes at our Downsview Park project start at over 2,900 ft², and go up to 3,353 ft²."
Amidst a relatively investor-heavy real estate market that favours compact living spaces, Goldman stresses that Stafford's North York projects (both of which are in pre-construction) almost exclusively target the end-user market. "We're in the business of building homes, and the goal isn't just to sell them; it's to create good places to live."
"There's a very, very limited supply of these kind of homes on the market, which is why I think these projects are particularly significant," Goldman observes. On one side, the sharp rise of urban land costs are quickly making single-family homes unapproachable to the overwhelming majority of buyers. At the same time, much of Toronto's new-build condo market is predicated on small, investor-oriented units in high-rise towers, with average living spaces getting smaller. For Stafford, the two North York projects are an attempt to bridge that gap.
Though the homes offered are decidedly luxurious—suites at Downsview (seen above) start from $850,00, while the suites at Avenue & Park (below) run from approximately $1.5 million—Goldman sees the projects filling an important market niche. At Downsview, the three to six-bedroom townhomes all come with backyards and two-car garages, while the Avenue & Park's suites are meant to provide an intimate, boutique setting that's unlike most new-build condos.
At Avenue & Park, "there are only 36 units, but approximately 8,000 ft² of amenities," Goldman notes, including a 50-person dining room, a sauna, and the fully-equipped gym shown below. Residents will have access to grocery delivery from the Pusateri's which is set to re-open soon across the street, along with dog walking/grooming services and car detailing, and an on-site business centre. Meanwhile, the project—which is among Toronto's limited number of mid-rise developments—also targets the stringent Tier II of the Toronto Green Standard.
"For empty-nesters and people moving out of their houses, both of these developments are aimed at replicating—and enhancing—the kind of lifestyle that people are used to," Goldman explains, adding that the large suites are also well-suited to families. Complementing the spacious layouts, Goldman emphasizes the quality of space as a highlight of both projects. "At Avenue & Park, we have high-end interiors by U31, while the homes at Downsview Park have private backyards and up to six bedrooms. Where else can you find that in Toronto?"
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We will keep you updated as more information becomes available, and Stafford's projects move forward. For Avenue & Park, a November 17th launch party will introduce the development to the market, while registration for The Luxury Town Homes at Downsview Park is now underway. To learn more, make sure to check out our dataBase files, linked below. Want to share your thoughts? Leave a comment in the space below, or join the conversations in our Forum.
