Toronto Haven On The Bluffs Condos | 38.71m | 10s | VHL Developments | Master Building

[canazian]

Floor 2 in some parts, finishing 1st floor in most parts.

That was last week though, I don't live near it anymore so don't see it as often.

I swung by on Saturday and they are on the 2nd floor on the western tower and on the 3rd floor on the eastern tower

 

[Eug]

I think it will accelerate the development in the area in general. If you go onto the City of Toronto Application Planning site, there are already 4 more similar projects planned along Kingston road. The North side isn't that bad- it is not prestige retail but at the same time the amenities match the current need in the neighborhood. Like any gentrification- once the new upper-market condos are put in, the lower end retail will not have a buyer and will be driven out of the market.

Once owners age, properties will change hands to their children who will more than likely sell to developers. I will be interested to see how much these units go up when the building is finished. A purchaser was trying to flip her 1BR 599 SF unit on Kijiji for $289,900- which is an increase of $100,000. Not sure if it sold or not, but she took it down.

One thing that is concerning is the townhouses that face that ghetto wall. That street beside the building is going to be a security concern.

Where are those 4 projects?

The north side of Kingston is bad after where Danforth merges. But the main problem is securing real estate for condo projects, because many of the stores are individually owned. In order to get a decent sized property for a condo, it would take buying up multiple properties from multiple owners. This is not an issue on the south side, because the lots are bigger and entire malls are owned by single owners. Apparently, some don't care that they don't necessarily bring in big rental amounts, because they are counting on the appreciation of the land upon sale. They toughed it out all those years until the City of Toronto finally rezoned it to allow 12 storey residential.

BTW, on the waterfront on Fishleigh (south of this condo building), a builder reno-and-flipped detached 2-storey home was listed for $2.99 million. I'm not sure how much it sold for, but one neighbour mentioned it wasn't far off list price. If so, that is a remarkable increase since I've lived in the neighbourhood (mid 2000s). It seems that prices in that general area are increasing faster than average, probably because it is a nice area with mostly single-family homes on big lots and is relatively close to the downtown core. I don't know if those price increases will necessarily get reflected in condos there, but it's hard to gauge because there aren't a lot of condos against which to compare.

 

[Edward Skira]

BTW, on the waterfront on Fishleigh (south of this condo building), a builder reno-and-flipped detached 2-storey home was listed for $2.99 million. I'm not sure how much it sold for, but one neighbour mentioned it wasn't far off list price. If so, that is a remarkable increase since I've lived in the neighbourhood (mid 2000s). It seems that prices in that general area are increasing faster than average, probably because it is a nice area with mostly single-family homes on big lots and is relatively close to the downtown core. I don't know if those price increases will necessarily get reflected in condos there, but it's hard to gauge because there aren't a lot of condos against which to compare.

House prices are going through the roof across the city. Nothing different in this area.

 

[OneCity]

Where are those 4 projects?

The north side of Kingston is bad after where Danforth merges. But the main problem is securing real estate for condo projects, because many of the stores are individually owned. In order to get a decent sized property for a condo, it would take buying up multiple properties from multiple owners. This is not an issue on the south side, because the lots are bigger and entire malls are owned by single owners. Apparently, some don't care that they don't necessarily bring in big rental amounts, because they are counting on the appreciation of the land upon sale. They toughed it out all those years until the City of Toronto finally rezoned it to allow 12 storey residential.

BTW, on the waterfront on Fishleigh (south of this condo building), a builder reno-and-flipped detached 2-storey home was listed for $2.99 million. I'm not sure how much it sold for, but one neighbour mentioned it wasn't far off list price. If so, that is a remarkable increase since I've lived in the neighbourhood (mid 2000s). It seems that prices in that general area are increasing faster than average, proba
bly because it is a nice area with mostly single-family homes on big lots and is relatively close to the downtown core. I don't know if those price increases will necessarily get reflected in condos there, but it's hard to gauge because there aren't a lot of condos against which to compare.

The Bluffs housing is going to continue seeing accelerated price growth as they are tearing down every old small house east of the Beach to Port Union. The condo prices here will be bolstered slightly but not as relative until we see more condos of higher quality cleaning up Kingston Road and giving it some curb appeal. This is a good start, but its much more work needs to be done in the next couple decades to change the scenery on the main road.

House prices are going through the roof across the city. Nothing different in this area.

Across the GTA.,

But this South side area of Kingston Rd is one of the many areas of the City seeing a massive change in the types of houses, demographics and money coming in so it's a different increase than the regular insanity of market value. Which is indeed crazy all around.

 

[Privateer]

You will see all the old motels go first, all the way to Markham Road, most have been bought and sold a while ago. For example the comfort inn, at between McCowan and Markham closed over the summer and that property along with the dilapidated house/turned used car lot, are being razed to make way for townhouses. One lot near this property that may (could) house a future boutique build similar to the ones SW on Kingston, that was sold a few years ago was the vacant lot+karate studio on the north side.

 

[OneCity]

You will see all the old motels go first, all the way to Markham Road, most have been bought and sold a while ago. For example the comfort inn, at between McCowan and Markham closed over the summer and that property along with the dilapidated house/turned used car lot, are being razed to make way for townhouses. One lot near this property that may (could) house a future boutique build similar to the ones SW on Kingston, that was sold a few years ago was the vacant lot+karate studio on the north side.

I hear what you are saying regarding the revitalization. But I thought the Comfort Inn was the City's purchase to move the Birchmount mens shelter and demolish the scuzzy motel next door as a possible "park"? Link HERE Not sure how good that meshes. But I dont believe the Opal townhome project is connected to the Comfort Inn. Im a fan of creating more shelter space, but not a fan of building it along the main roads. Bit short sighted by the City, and could be done strategically withing the walls of the City.

Anyhow it's great to see projects like Opal and the new St.Clair/Kingston project Link HERE Getting away from stucco and better quality design is long overdue along this corridor as this stretch really has some great areas hiding behind it.

 

[Eug]

Once Canada’s gateway to Toronto, Kingston Rd. and its motel strip are changing

Coming along Kingston Rd. toward Brimley, you can momentarily think you’ve stumbled into a throwback resort town. The signs for the motels beckon from the side of the road, their lights, lettering and angled geometrics seemingly borrowed right out of 1955. The East Side, the Americana, Henry’s, the Hav-a-Nap, the Royal — they advertise “Color TV” and “Air Cond” and “Weekly & Family Rates.”

It would be easy to wonder if they serve a tourist trade drawn by the majesty of nearby Bluffer’s Park, which is perhaps the most breathtaking natural setting in Toronto, with its lawns and beaches offering views out over Lake Ontario to the south and of the giant chalky jagged geology of the cliff face to the north. But stopping to examine the motels more than momentarily, it becomes clear they don’t do much business with sightseers these days, instead serving customers who rent by the hour or by the month.

Indeed, they have become notorious among locals as problem spots. Some are being torn down and replaced by condos, some adapted. One former motel at the corner of Brimley is now an Islamic centre and prayer room. A former Comfort Inn near Bellamy is scheduled to reopen as a transitional home for formerly homeless seniors this fall. In April, the city is expected to start a process to try to expropriate the East Side Motel in order to tear it down, according to Councillor Gary Crawford’s office. But a handful of others carry on.

---

Photography project Single Rooms utilizes rooms in motels, hotels, and inns as the setting, to explore the interdependent relationship between home and identity.

East Side Motel - Room 22

 

[willwu]

Today.

 

[DianaE]

Here are some photos, the sun wasn't cooperating, so they're not the best quality. But they're working on the 4th floor now. The building seems to be coming along.

 

[DianaE]

I figure i'd give another update as it's been a month. Here are some progression pictures I recently took. I'll try to get some pictures of the north side of the building next time.

 

[Edward Skira]

North side shots would be great @DianaE

 

[OneCity]

Will take some North side if I get a chance coming back

 

[willwu]

Today.

 

[willwu]

Today.

 

[OneCity]

Sometimes the modern concrete look of an unfinished building looks better then the final product. The bones are really perfect for the areas and I just hope they use quality material. Im always skeptical of VHL. I remain hopeful on this one.

I did really like how this has narrowed this part of the street now that its topping off and can start to see how good this area will look with more of these in the future.