Tasteful landscaping and parterre gardens will surround the Blythwood at Huntington condos

Tracy Hanes – Toronto Star

In contrast to the busy traffic on Bayview Ave., all is calm inside the sales centre for Blythwood at Huntington condos. There’s a sophisticated serenity about the foyer with its marble floor, subtly elegant tones and domed ceiling.

It’s the type of vibe that should appeal to the local Lawrence Park crowd who may be growing weary of the maintenance demands of their large homes and are looking for alternatives in the neighbourhood.

“And the ravine will be a big draw,” says Jim Ritchie, sales and marketing vice president for Tridel, which has partnered with Concert Properties on the project, to occupy the site of a former chiropractic college.

Oh yes – the ravine. The 120-unit condominium building will overlook the Sherwood Park ravine, a protected greenspace with stands of century and-a-half-old oak, elm and maple trees. The views from the sales office kitchen vignette hint at what condo dwellers can expect to see from their balconies: scenes of old-growth forest that change from verdant green in summer to a blazing palette of reds and golds in fall.

To take advantage of the views, the buildings (eventually there will be two) will not face Bayview Ave.; they’ll be perpendicular to the street to face the woodland, which will be just 15 metres away.

“The vast number of suites will face onto the ravine,” says Ritchie.

Blythwood at Huntington isn’t the first project Tridel and Concert have partnered on. “We’ve been building their luxury retirement buildings, including Tapestry in Etobicoke,” says Ritchie. “It was a natural fit.”

The eight-storey building in the first phase, designed by Kirkor Architects, is classical in style and will be reached from a tree-lined driveway and formal roundabout, surrounded by landscaping and parterre gardens. Wrought iron gates and clipped boxwood hedges will face Bayview Ave.

“Our targeted buyer in all likelihood moving down from a large home,” says Ritchie, but says the suites may also appeal to well-heeled younger professional couples. “There is a need for a luxury condo project in the area. We have created different sizes suites, different exposures, to appeal to various demographics.

“This is geared to the end users. It’s not an investor building,” he says.

Since its mid-May opening, more than 25% of the suites, which start at $550,000s and go to $2.5 million, have sold. (HST is included). All suites are two bedroom; some also include dens and/or family rooms. Sizes range from 920 to just under 3,000 square feet.

“But we are combining two suites together to make one large suite for one of our buyers,” says Ritchie.

Designer Alex Chapman of Chapman Design Group was recruited to design the interior spaces and common areas.

“This (type of project) is Alex’s niche,” says Ritchie. “What he did from a design perpective here is first class.”

Because the people who buy here are the type who enjoy entertaining, spaces are designed to accommodate gatherings. Suites will be outfitted with cornice mouldings, nine-foot ceilings, engineered hardwood, porcelain tiles and Irpinia kitchens with extended cabinets, convection ovens, granite countertops and Energy Star stainless steel appliances. The model kitchen is traditional with a modern sensibility.

Huge renderings of suite interior rooms show possible colour palettes, including some sophisticated schemes combining hits of mauve or red with grey-brown neutrals.

“One thing we pride ourselves on at Tridel is that we’re able to fully customize our colour selection,” says Ritchie. “We’ll move things around for buyers and we will put palettes together. People expect us to help them and lead them to the right choice. It’s timeless design. We find that people not only want to buy a new residence, but they’ll want to bring in all new furnishings too.”

The lobby will set the luxurious tone with its intricately patterned marble floor, domed ceiling and seating area with fireplace. Amenities include concierge service, party room with bar, guest suites and outdoor terrace as well as private dining room and service kitchen. The party can be divided into smaller rooms for intimate gatherings or opened up for larger celebrations. On the lower level will be an outfitted fitness, weight and yoga studio and swimming pool and steam rooms.

The building will be built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards, to offer energy savings and eco-friendly features to residents.

The condo’s location in Lawrence Park is within easy access to numerous amenities. The Canadian Institute for the Blind is across the street and Sunnybrook Health Centre is just north, as is York University’s Glendon campus. Also close by is a 24-hour grocery store, restaurants and boutique shopping.

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Contact the Jeffrey Team for more information  –  416-388-1960

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