Sydnia Yu – Globe and Mail

DEVELOPMENT: South Hill On Madison

LOCATION: Casa Loma

BUILDER/DEVELOPER: Burnac Holdings Ltd.

SIZE: 440 to 1,300 square feet

PRICE: from the mid $200,000s

Burnac Holdings Inc.’s bold move to convert and expand a former Toronto Hydro building into raw lofts with 10- to 14-foot ceilings, exposed duct work and pillars found ready buyers. With that project sold out, the developer has unveiled plans for a seven-storey sister structure composed of smaller, refined suites with nine-foot ceilings, high-end appointments and a secluded setting further north of the nearby railway tracks.

“It’s important to note it’s not a high rise, glass enclosure with every unit being the same” says president Ted Burnett. “There are 159 units here, so people will be able to know their neighbours.

“So it’s more of a nice neighbourhood building that’s got a bit of intimacy to it and a lovely area with tree-lined streets throughout. A lot of buildings we have built are like that.”

Previews are under way for this midrise project, which was named South Hill on Madison to highlight its locale at 377 Madison Ave., just east of Spadina Road between Davenport Road and Dupont Street.

“It’s at the foot of Casa Loma in a wonderful location,” Mr. Burnett says. “It was an area that was underdeveloped for many years. It was a little diamond in the rough, which we’ve hopefully made into a diamond.”

The infill site is close to many urban attractions, from upscale restaurants, such as Mistura and Sotto Sotto, to essential amenities, such as Dupont and Spadina subway stations.

“You get a lot of bang for your buck because you’re in a nice, edgy area of Dupont,” Mr. Burnett says. “If you head west of Dupont, there are a lot of funky shops along there and along Davenport, and Bloor is another 10 minutes away, so you’re really centrally located.”

Similar to the first building, Northgrave Architects designed this Art Deco inspired residence to complement local landmarks in the low-rise community, such as the historic castle and high-end homes on Austin Terrace and the distinguished Castle Hill townhouse development.

Inside, there will be several one- to two-bedroom plus den models between 440 and 1,300 square feet, plus 10 two-storey townhouses on a private road at the north end of the site with up to three bedrooms, separate entrances and garages.

Prices will average $600 a square feet.

“What’s happened over the years is that people want to move south into the core of the city or to the south part of midtown,” Mr. Burnett says. “The size of the place used to be very important, but now people just want to fit within their price range, so units have gotten smaller over the years.”

However, many units will have French balconies, patios or rooftop terraces. “As units got smaller – we’re down to 800 square feet on average – people want a little more space to spread out to,” Mr. Burnett says.

When residents need more space, there will be a lobby with 24-hour concierge and a party room with a kitchen, seating and outdoor amenity space with WiFi access, plus a screening room, gym, yoga studio, pet spa and courtyard.

In consultation with Boychuk + Fuller, suite interiors will be contemporary with engineered wood laminate, quartz, porcelain and ceramic tile finishes, as well as master suites with private bathrooms and walk-in closets with built-in organizers, and kitchens with European-style cabinetry and optional islands with open shelving, storage and seating.

Monthly fees will be in the range of 50 to 60 cents a square foot. A parking spot can be had for $30,000 and a locker for $5,000.

Occupancy will be spring 2015.

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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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