The Yorkdale

In Toronto, The Yorkdale Condominiums will bring a new level of connectivity to those who appreciate living in a convenient urban setting. In mid-September, Context and Metropia Urban Landscapes will launch the first tower in this two-tower residence situated on Ranee Avenue at Allen Road, steps from the Yorkdale subway and fabulous Yorkdale Mall. Talk about being connected! Shopping and working at the mall will involve a brief stroll. Anyone attending, working at or teaching at York University will have just a 10-minute commute. Plus, the University of Toronto, Ryerson University and the city’s Financial District are also minutes away.

Imagine all of this for prices beginning from $169,900 for studios. Yes, that’s $169,900. When is the last time you saw a price point like that in the city? One-bedroom designs will start from $199,900; two –bedrooms from $258,900; and two-bedroom, two-bath plans from $289,900. The developers have put a lot of careful thought into the wide-shallow layouts, which allow in more natural light through expansive windows.

These well-designed suites are framed by an impressive 15-storey exterior by KPMB Architects and Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects. Take a look at the renderings and notice how clean, modern and light these mid-rise buildings will be. What a fantastic choice to get in on the ground floor! You can register NOW to be on the priority list for this brand new condominium offering at TheYorkdaleCondos.com.

At Baker Real Estate Incorporated, we’re excited to represent Solmar Development Corp.’s new condominium community, Park Avenue Place. Coming soon to the southeast corner of Jane Street and Rutherford Road, this three-tower residence is adjacent to the incredible Vaughan Mills, one of Canada’s largest shopping centres. Imagine being able to walk to leading fashion and lifestyle brands, a multitude of restaurants and services, and unique venues such as Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World and LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. Talk about something for everyone in the family!

Park Avenue Place

Registrations are pouring in for the first phase of Park Avenue Place, which is also blocks from schools (including York University), the new subway extension, Canada’s Wonderland and a new hospital being built just north of that. Highway 400, VIVA and GO Transit are all easily accessible, making this a convenient spot for commuters. And for those who love to poke around interesting little boutiques, the Village of Kleinburg is a little farther north.

Solmar has pulled out all the stops to create a stunning modern building that will feature 24-hour concierge service in an inviting lobby with polished marble flooring and a marble fireplace. Residents can entertain in the party room with its bar/lounge, have fun and relax in the games and reading rooms, work out in the fitness centre and house overnight company in the guest suite. A favourite spot is sure to be the outdoor landscaped terrace with a fire pit, comfortable seating and great views.

The list of luxurious suite standards is truly impressive, beginning with 9- and 10-foot smooth ceiling heights, and premium laminate, porcelain and ceramic flooring. For the cook in the family, signature kitchens will come with a four-piece European Miele appliance package, quartz countertops and ceramic or glass backsplash. Oh, and add spa-inspired bathrooms to the features list, too. With prices beginning from $296,900 for one- and two-bedroom suites from 648 to 2,162 square feet, the value is amazing.

All of this is brought to you by Solmar, which has been building quality single-family and condominium communities, as well as outstanding commercial properties, across the GTA for more than 25 years. Like all Solmar communities, Park Avenue Place will offer timeless elegance in an exceptional location, and we anticipate brisk sales. For condominium convenience minus the hassles of living in downtown Toronto, get on the Priority Registration list now at www.parkavenueplace.ca.

King Blue Condominiums

Purchase a suite at King Blue Condominiums before November 29, 2013 and receive up to $35,000 cash back AND only a 10 per cent deposit requirement! This opportunity is fabulous, considering the fact that King Blue is the Entertainment District’s best-selling condominium.

Live at King Street West and Peter Street in this Easton’s Group of Hotels’ residence and walk to an incredible array of sophisticated urban amenities. Steps away, you will find theatres, nightlife, restaurants, boutiques, shopping, galleries, Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, TIFF Bell Lightbox and access to the PATH system.

Comprised of 44- and 48-storey towers by Page + Steele / IBI Architects, King Blue will offer astounding views of all of this, and beyond. The fascinating design for King Blue includes the preservation of elements of the historic Westinghouse building façade by ERA Architects. Among the condominium’s amenities will be the BEST rooftop terrace in Toronto, featuring seating, floating fire pits, a bar, illuminated ivy-covered metal trellises and water features.

Residents will also have the exclusive use of a pool, chic party room, theatre room, equipped fitness centre, gourmet kitchen, guest suites and hotel-inspired customer service. In addition, 9,000 square feet has been set aside for the new permanent home of the Theatre Museum of Canada, and there will be thousands of square feet of retail on the ground and second floors.

Suite prices begin from $199,900!  Be sure to stop by King Blue’s exciting Presentation Centre at 355 King Street West. Find out more at www.kingbluecondos.ca!

When trying to pick the ideal new home, people want to love where they hang their hats – but getting out and about quickly and conveniently is also a huge priority.

That’s why purchasers at Zancor Homes’ latest condominium, Xpression in Richmond Hill, will be excited to hear about the coming transit plans for Yonge Street North of Highway 7.

Xpression will be ideally situated on the east side of Yonge, just across from the soon-to-be-renovated Hillcrest Mall, the retail centre in the area.

Now that the Town of Richmond Hill has approved a new official plan, watch for other big things in the area – including new transit lines. The plan, calls for the creation of a high density urban zone. And, as we all know, the only way to foster a healthy, vibrant urban environment is with efficient transit. So, Richmond Hill is also planning a series of major transit expansion initiatives. This includes the eventual extension of the Yonge subway line to the Richmond Hill Centre Terminal. This direct connection to downtown Toronto will spur growth and ongoing development in this already bustling nucleus of the 905 region!

Meanwhile, in the first phase of this major transit expansion for Richmond Hill, residents will see the widening of Yonge Street (between Hwy 7 & Major Mackenzie) to allow a dedicated transit lane for a bus rapid transit route (a BRT).

All this new transit means that the already growing town of Richmond Hill is poised to become a major urban hub in the next decade. The timing is perfect for people who want to call this vibrant area home! To learn more about Xpression, check out xpressioncondos.com or visit the presentation centre and model suite at 9471 Yonge Street (905) 237-7810.

For those of you looking for an ideal location in the heart of the 905 Region in Richmond Hill, go no further than Xpression, the latest cosmopolitan condominium from Zancor Homes.

Xpression is a modern, 15-storey condominium with 452 suites in two towers, which rise from a six-storey podium. Xpression is unlike anything else in the area – and it’s poised to raise the bar on condominium living in Richmond Hill.

Ideally situated with all the amenities of the city in a convenient Richmond Hill location, Xpression will rise on the east side of Yonge Street, between Highway 7 and Major Mackenzie Drive. Xpression is also just across from Hillcrest Mall, which is set for a major renovation. It will be home to a number of new retailers, including one of Canada’s very first Target stores. From Xpression, you’ll be able to discover the area’s sparkling diversity of local restaurants, shops and chic fashions just across the street.

Richmond Hill is experiencing a transition from suburban to a truly urban centre. With future transit expansions already in the works the new BRT system will commence construction up Yonge Street from Highway 7 early next year, watch for this growing town to emerge as a true urban centre.

The new YRT transit line is scheduled for completion just as Xpression’s first residents will be moving into their new homes. Perfect timing!

Driving to your destination is also a breeze with Hwy 407 just minutes to the south.

To learn more about Xpression and all that the surrounding area has to offer, visit www.xpressioncondos.com or the sales centre at 9471 Yonge Street, (905) 237-7810.

Diversifying your real estate portfolio just got a lot more exciting, with FIRST condominiums in Calgary. Baker Real Estate is pleased to have the exclusive Toronto listing for this remarkable new residence by Fram Building Group and Slokker Group. The first residential condominium in Calgary’s new master-planned East Village community, FIRST is situated on Confluence Way at 5^th Street. Dramatic views of the Bow and Elbow Rivers will be part of the everyday life of residents. These riverfront homes begin in price from only the mid-$200,000s! In the GTA, you would have to go to the 905 areas to find $500 per square foot pricing. But in Calgary, FIRST is literally steps from the city’s urban centre.

Designed with extensive feedback from focus groups in mind, FIRST will be one of seven buildings that Fram + Slokker will develop in the East Village. Touting it as a “New Calgary” for the next generation, this neighbourhood will feature stunning works of public art, extra-wide sidewalks, river access and more. The new C-Train station makes commuting downtown a breeze.

In the heart of it all, FIRST will contain amazing amenities. How about a “Creative Hangout Room” where soundproofing makes it possible to rock out to music with friends? OR a Wi-Fi Café in the lobby complete with a flat-screen TV, espresso station, seating, fireplace and art gallery wall? For entertaining and relaxing, there will be a rooftop Sky Lounge with a games room, meeting room, server kitchen and access to a rooftop patio. And for those who like to keep fit, a fitness centre and yoga room make it possible without leaving home.

Suites are available from studio designs to two-bedroom+ den  layouts, all appointed with top-quality finishes. The contemporary open-concept plans include kitchens offer the choice of two different concepts in three colour schemes. The kitchens feature a custom-designed island that can be pushed to the side to accommodate both sit-down meals and buffets. All balconies and terraces have a gas line BBQ hook-up for even more entertaining possibilities. The residence also has many green features that cut down on the use of natural resources.

In a nutshell, FIRST is going to change the way people look at living in Calgary, and at Baker Real Estate, we are proud to be part of it all. To find out about investment opportunities, contact us through www.baker-re.com.

Recently, we blogged about Calgary’s East Village and the first residential condominium there, aptly called FIRST. Baker Real Estate is excited to have the exclusive Toronto listing for this outstanding residence by Fram Building Group and Slokker Group. Investing at the beginning of the East Village’s exciting rejuvenation is wise, because of what the area will have to offer residents. The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) is implementing a master plan for 49 acres in the downtown east core.

A mixed-use community in the finest sense of the word, the East Village will eventually be home to thousand, as well as grocery stores, shops, restaurants, theatres, medical services and more – all within walking distance of each other. Unlike other urban developments that rely on existing infrastructure, these amenities will be new, and targeted at what today’s urban sophisticates want and need. CMLC studied best practices from around the world, and has designed the area as a true urban village where people will get to know their neighbours as familiar faces on the street and in the public realm.

The East Village experience will be dynamic, energetic, diverse and smart. Calgarians can now work AND live downtown rather than commuting to bedroom communities. Interestingly, rather than one age group attracted to this new residential scenario, East Village appeals to everyone from first-time buyers and young professionals to the move-up market and maturing baby boomers. What they all have in common is a desire to live downtown in the heart of Calgary’s cultural and entertainment areas. This bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly section of the city offers the exciting urban experience, and only a few feet away, the calmness and natural greenery of the riverbanks.

With suites starting from just the mid-$200,000s, FIRST offers an extraordinary opportunity to get in on the ground floor of this amazing metamorphosis. The East Village is THE place to be in Calgary. To find out more about investment opportunities, visit www.baker-re.com.

Those of you who are thinking of diversifying your real estate portfolio, or who travel to western Canada often on business and need a pied-à-terre, may want to look to Calgary, where an urban metamorphosis is going on. The Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) has a remarkable redevelopment underway on the 49-acre property between historic Fort Calgary and the downtown core. Part of the Rivers District Revitalization Plan, this community is situated at the confluence of the scenic Elbow and Bow Rivers. The design for the area will transform it into a vibrant, mixed-use, creative neighbourhood with outstanding recreational, dining and residential opportunities. The East Village is changing the way people look at Calgary by providing a beautiful and convenient link for urban explorers.

Baker Real Estate now has the exclusive Toronto listing for FIRST by Fram Building Group and Slokker Group. This will be the first residential condominium constructed in Calgary’s new urban village. Livability is the key driving factor in the redevelopment, and FIRST certainly offers that – for incredible prices. Suites start from the mid-$200,000s, or approximately $500 per square foot. You can find that kind of pricing in the GTA, but not in downtown Toronto. At FIRST condominium, your suite will be just a stroll to Calgary’s urban centre and the scenic natural areas along the rivers.

Part of CMLC’s rejuvenation includes a new bridge being built to St. Patrick’s Island, which along with St. George’s Island are a stone’s throw from East Village. St. Patrick’s Island features a picturesque park that is also being improved to serve all residents of Calgary. Suite owners at FIRST will be able to walk out of the condominium and access RiverWalk, which meanders four km along the south side of the Bow River, and eventually along the west bank of the Elbow River to Lindsay Park. RiverWalk will be an important part of everyday life, offering benches, picnic areas, outlooks, a wide public plaza, terraced steps to the riverbanks, designated spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, native plantings and more.

That covers “live” and “play” – and many FIRST residents will be able to add “work” to their lifestyle benefits. The nearby Bow Building, Canada’s tallest office tower outside Toronto, is nearly complete, and companies are moving into the lower floors. Those who work at the headquarters of EnCana Corporation and Cenovus Energy can commute on foot or by bicycle. And for those whose jobs take them farther from home, Calgary is home to C Transit, a light rail that runs right through the heart of East Village. Entertainment-lovers and sports fans will appreciate living close to Scotiabank Saddledome, as well as the new National Music Centre, which is slated for completion in 2014.

The excitement in Calgary is phenomenal as the entire east section of the city becomes invigorated. Now is the perfect time to be among the first to explore FIRST and all that the East Village has to offer. To find out more, visit www.baker-re.com.