Smaller Suites Popular on Front St. W.
from today's Star....90% percent sold out in 1 day....
Smaller suites prove popular on Front St. W.
November 14, 2009
Tracy Hanes
TORONTO STAR
A new condo offering small, affordable suites in the west downtown core has been a resounding hit with
buyers, who snapped up 90 per cent of the units on the first day of sales for Tridel's Rêve.
Sales for the midrise project, at 560 Front St. W., just west of Portland in the popular King St. W. neighbourhood, opened Oct. 24 and 276 of 315 units sold that day.
"It was a very successful opening," says Jim Ritchie, senior vice-president of sales and marketing for Tridel.
"We saw an opportunity in the marketplace that hadn't been available, and that was for smaller suites priced under $300,000."
Ritchie says his company was confident the project would open to strong sales, based on expressions of interest through the Internet and from the number of inquiries Tridel received about the project. A long line of potential buyers showed up hours before the 10 a.m. opening at Tridel's corporate head office at Dufferin and Finch. The Rêve site isn't suited to building a sales office on, says Ritchie.
The most popular suites were 540-square-foot, one bedroom units priced from $250,000 to $260,000 and 645-square-foot models with one bedroom and den, priced from $310,000 to $320,000. Other unit sizes, from studios to three bedrooms, are available.
As well as affordability, Rêve's prime location was a draw.
"It's a pretty neat area but we didn't want to compete with the other pricey, trendy condos in the neighbourhood. This was a niche we recognized," says Ritchie.
The west downtown core includes the fashion and entertainment districts and boasts trendy restaurants and cafes, dance clubs, boutique shops and industrial warehouses converted into lofts and offices.
Most buyers at Rêve are young, first-time purchasers. Ritchie says amenities were determined with them in mind and include a stylish party room and state-of-the-art fitness and wellness centre with yoga area, change rooms and sauna. The building also includes a meeting room, lounge, theatre and rooftop terrace.
Award-winning interior designer Alex Chapman and senior member of his design group, Kelly Cray, designed the common areas to strike a balance between classic elegance and modern sophistication.
Wallman Architects and Burka Architects Inc. designed Rêve, which will be a building with modern design, staggered balconies and coloured metal panels.
The suites include energy efficient low-E windows which are extra tall, plank laminate flooring in kitchen and living areas, seven-inch baseboards, cultured marble countertops with integrated sinks and soaker tubs in the bathrooms, plus stacked washer and dryer, low-flow faucets and showerheads.
Kitchens include four stainless steel appliances, including a range with Ceran (glass ceramic) top, quartz or granite countertops, ceramic tile backsplashes, extra-tall cabinets and pullout vegetable sprayer.
Ritchie says construction will start in the spring, with occupancies about 18 months later.
Some suites are still available for sale; potential buyers should visit the Tridel Store at 2 Carlton St.
Hours are Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, weekends & holidays, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Visit
www.560front.com for more information.
Toronto Star