Toronto is going through a transformation that few would have imagined just a dozen years ago. This city has long had a livable, attractive downtown with plenty to do, but we didn't necessarily see our Downtown streets as a place to come home to. We have worked, shopped, celebrated, and entertained ourselves in the core, but the suburban dream seemed to pull most people out of core on a nightly basis. Times change though, and lengthening commutes and the sameness of the suburbs became made them much less enticing.

Meanwhile, things were beginning to change Downtown. People had figured out that being able to walk to work, having a huge choice of restaurants, to have hundreds of shops nearby, cultural venues in every direction, and great skyline views when you opened the curtains, was all very appealing. Throw in a strikingly designed building with beautiful amenities, and there was suddenly a new place you would rather lay your head at night. University Avenue was one of those streets that a dozen years ago no one would have expected people would be living. Now this grandest of Toronto avenues has been recognized by developers and the public, and big changes are under way.

Scale model of Residences of 488 University Avenue at the presentation centre, image by Craig White

You can't find a much better spot to live in Toronto than right at a subway station, walking distance to the Eaton Centre, to the AGO, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, Baldwin Street's bistros, Chinatown and Kensington Market's shops, trendy Queen West, the U of T, the Financial Core, and the Entertainment District. At the northwest corner of University Avenue and Dundas Street developer Amexon has a property right in the heart of all of that.

Kitchen vignette at the presentation centre for Residences of 488 University Avenue, image by Craig White

Inside the suites, the rooms will be beautifully outfitted by II BY IV Design Associates. Internationally acclaimed, amongst II BY IV's Toronto accomplishments are the ne plus ultra interiors at the Trump, and in Etobicoke's Humber Bay Shores area, Amexon's recently completed South Beach Condos development with its second-to-none amenities package.

II BY IV's work will weave through the whole development at 488, but it's in the two kitchen vignettes, and the bathroom and master closet vignette on display in the presentation centre that prospective purchasers will get a feel for the high standard of finishes and features that are on offer here.

Kitchen fittings at the presentation centre for Residences of 488 University Avenue, image by Craig White

Kitchens will come with European AEG and Liebherr flush-mounted and integrated appliances, and Kohler faucets and sinks. A wide range of finishing options are on offer. Finishing samples can be seen in the background of the image below, and two full kitchen vignettes are on display in the presentation centre. The two images above and one below show off one of those vignettes, with its dark lacquered wood veneer cabinetry, polished black granite countertops and backsplash, soft-closing precision cabinet drawers and doors, and space-efficient fittings.

Kitchen fittings at the presentation centre for Residences of 488 University Avenue, image by Craig White

Bathrooms are available in contemporary or classic styles designed by II BY IV, the vignette showing off book-matched marble walls, marble tile flooring, a free standing bath, Kohler sink, toilet, and faucets, and an optional television mounted in the mirror. The master bath showers feature multiple wall mounted spray heads, handheld body spray, a rainwater ceiling-mounted head, and digital controls.

Bathroom vignette at the presentation centre for Residences of 488 University Avenue, image by Craig White

Master bedrooms come complete with fully built-out wood veneer master walk-in closets with LED lighting strip-lined shelving and drawers. 

Tailored closets at the presentation centre for Residences of 488 University Avenue, image by Craig White

A combination of high tech light switches and a touch screen allow residents to control temperature, lighting, music, television, multimedia, security features and more.

Automated Suite Controls at Residences of 488 University Avenue, image by Craig White

Amexon Executive Sales Manager Jason Shiff demonstrates below that the automation controls can follow you to wherever you are, controllable from your favourite tablet.

Jason Shiff holds tablet Suite Controls at Residences of 488 University Avenue, image by Craig White

There's much more to learn about The Residences of 488 University Avenue. We have more information and plenty of renderings in our dataBase file for the project, linked below. You will find the address for the presentation centre there which is now open 7 days a week, and links to the official website and a method for registering. Visit one of our associated Forum threads to get in on the discussion, or leave a comment in the space provided on this page.