By Monika Warzecha – Toronto Life

Corktown, because the historic neighbourhood has lofty ambitions

What used to be a don’t-walk-here-at-night zone is being reinvented by builders like Streetcar Developments and Brad Lamb into a booming mid-rise condo ‘hood. By the end of 2010, 68% of the real estate sales in Corktown were condos. These include plenty of lofts: the Queen City Vinegar Co. Lofts (shown above); the four-building Corktown District Lofts (shown below); and Trinity Lofts, an eight-storey, curvy construction that bridges the gap between the Distillery and King Street and gives good space for the buck ($550 per square foot). With nine-foot-high exposed concrete ceilings, the Trinity units appeal to designers who work in the area’s studios or professionals looking for a 20-minute walk to Bay Street.

As for Corktown’s megaprojects, the vacant land west and south of the neighbourhood is undergoing massive change with River City, an 80-acre planned community under construction in the West Don Lands that includes condos, townhouses, restaurants, new parks and even an elementary school. Factor in the Regent Park revitalization to the north and Corktown is ready to pop.

BOUNDARIES
From Berkeley Street to River Street; from Shuter Street to Front Street

AVERAGE PRICES
2009: $408,019
2010: $428,017
2011: $501,055

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St. Lawrence, because everything an urbanite needs is within a five-minute walk

Established in 1803, St. Lawrence isn’t exactly a scrappy young upstart. But what it’s done exceptionally well on the urban-planning front, particularly since the ’80s and ’90s, is supply condo stock—spacious units made for empty nesters (80 George Street, Old Yorke Place) and young professionals (buildings on the Esplanade). Today, new towers are going up, including the Berczy and Backstage on the Esplanade, and realtors are pushing the neighbourhood’s boundaries as far north as Richmond and Queen, where the Post House and Vu condos are up and running. It makes for one of the city’s best car-ditching zones—here is a walking tour to prove it.

BOUNDARIES
From Yonge Street to Parliament; from Front Street East to the Gardiner

AVERAGE PRICES
2009: $348,353
2010: $385,609
2011: $401,811

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Contact Laurin Jeffrey for more information – 416-388-1960

Laurin Jeffrey is a Toronto Realtor with Century 21 Regal Realty. He did not
write these articles, he just reproduces them here for people who are
interested in Toronto real estate. He does not work for any builders.
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