Welcome to my blog on housing, culture, and design! I’m Steve Fudge and I’m celebrating over 3 decades as a realtor and property consultant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Our gorgeous ‘City of Neighbourhoods’ has been built on the strength and vitality of the many unique communities within its borders. It currently has 120 official neighbourhoods to its name. Unofficially? The total is probably closer to 240.
Each of these ‘pockets’, either symbolically or literally, represents a unique history, culture, or class of residents, and those distinctions are reflected in the amenities, food, architecture, and infrastructure found there. Some great examples are Korea Town, The Danforth, China Town, The Fashion District, Little India, the Distillery District, or even arteries like Avenue Road!
City of Toronto urban planners and those in the development industry have long agreed that increasing the population along arterial roads is key to the city’s future growth.
Let’s take a look at emerging Dovercourt Village – home to the Dovercouert BIA. It’s a neighbourhood we’ve adored for a long time, with its intermingling of different cultural communities & economic backgrounds – literally from street to street – within its’ boundaries of Bloor Street, Geary Avenue, Ossington Avenue, and Dufferin Street.
Here are some of the major condominium developments approaching completion that will feed the rebirth of this charming collection of small businesses and make Dovercourt Village a dynamic urban destination!
• A collection of 8 residential buildings, new retail space, a community centre and a park.
• 3,400 housing units, 150 of which will be ‘affordable’.
• Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects
• Situated on the former Galleria Mall site – at the intersection of Dufferin & Dupont Streets.
* The beauty of densification is this: the new project will see a creation of 3.3 million square feet of usable space, up from the present 227K square feet that was, until recently, a derelict shopping mall and massive underutilized parking lot.
This development will spur further densification and gentrification in the area. The upside is the number of new jobs being created and the more efficient use of a site that had seen better days being so car-centric. Construction is already underway and will take a decade to fully complete all 8 buildings.
The completed development – or more like a mini-community! – will comprise 6 mixed-use buildings (including a 56-unit affordable housing building), office and retail space, a new public park, private and public streets, a Community Hub with a daycare centre, and direct access to the Dufferin TTC Subway. (For a closer look at the individual buildings: Marlow (Block C), Marlow (Block D), Marlow (Block E), 1141 Bloor St W, 1159 Bloor St W, and 980 Dufferin.)
The towers will range from 8 to 37 storeys tall, totalling 2130 units.
This project is being co-developed by Hazelview and Fitzrovia and is located on the site of two former elementary schools. The City has awarded this project a historic $50M Community Benefits Package for affordable housing units, park space, childcare facilities, and more!
• A proposed 4 mixed-use rental buildings, standing 36 storeys, 20 storeys, 19 storeys and 9 storeys.
• 1200 Units
• Designed by BDP Quadrangle for Primaris Management Inc.
• Situated on the southwest corner of Dufferin Street and Croatia Street.
‘The Dupont‘ – 840 Dupont (Former Sobeys Site)
• A 9-storey mixed-use building with commercial space on the ground floor and residential units above.
• 329 Units
• Designed by Turner Fleischer Architects for Tridel
• Situated on the intersection of Shaw & Dupont, one block east of Ossignton.
• A proposed 18-storey mixed-use building, including both residential units (affordable rental, market-rate rental) & commercial units (office, retail).
• 246 Units
• Designed by Suulin Architects for TAS
• Situated on the north-east corner of Dupont & Ossignton.
And here are two developments that have been recently completed:
Ossignton Townhomes (2017)
• 54 3-storey townhomes (available in 2-3 bedroom models) up to 1,850 sq. ft. each.
• Designed and built by Dunpar Homes (with “British flair!”)
• Situated on Ossignton, north of Dupont.
Hallam Towns (2023)
• A 4-storey residential addition to the Dufferin Street Presbyterian Church
• 14 Units
• Designed by Battaglia Associates
• Situated at the intersection of Dufferin & Hallam Streets
Densification is key to the survival and growth of urban neighbourhoods. If you increase the size of new buildings for higher density, continue its mix of residential and commercial uses – including encouraging smaller storefronts for local entrepreneurs – and allow as-of-right new construction consistent in scale, setback and height… communities blossom!
All these new housing units coming to Dovercourt Village will ensure an increase in amenities to accommodate the residents of this neighbourhood including increased business for the existing storefronts on Dovercourt near Hallam. Moreover, the future value proposition for owners of the area’s freehold housing is only going to be up, as all those new arrivals to this new high-density housing will be coveting freehold properties like 117 Hallam Avenue (below!) with their own private terra firma!
Have you seen this flexible, multi-use listing?
We call it: A Fantastic Flex House In Dovercourt Village – NOW SOLD!
We’re delighted to introduce you to this charming Flex House nestled on a 21 x 118 foot lot with laneway access to a quaint 2-car garage (plus it has approval for an as-of-right laneway dwelling!) Constructed in 1910 with a later 2-storey extension built on the rear of this dwelling, this residence possesses oodles of curb appeal.
Offering an intelligent flexible space plan, this property can be used in its current iteration as two 2-bedroom suites, or easily converted into a 3+1 bed, 2 bath residence with main floor family room. Need more space? This property has the as-of-right approvals for a 2-storey laneway dwelling of about 1350 square feet! Well-situated, well-proportioned, and welcoming, this residence is an ideal opportunity!
Contact James Ormston (james@urbaneer.com) or Steven Fudge (steve@urbaneer.com), with any questions.
Did you enjoy this? Here are some other posts on Neighbourhood and City development:
• Mid & High-Density Developments Around The Bayview-Leaside BIA
• Dear Urbaneer: Are More High-Rise Towers Coming To My Neighbourhood?
• The Imminent Transformation Of Moss Park & The Garden District – Upcoming Developments
• Why More Condos On The Danforth Is Good
• From Brownfield To Playing Field: A Brief History Of Toronto’s Davenport Village
• A Brief History On The Intensification Of The Danforth In Toronto
• Garden City: The History And Revitalization Of Toronto’s Regent Park Neighbourhood
• Gentrification, Densification, And The History Of Toronto Real Estate
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Since 1989, I’ve steered my career through a real estate market crash and burn; survived a slow painful cross-country recession; completed an M.E.S. graduate degree from York University called ‘Planning Housing Environments’; executed the concept, sales & marketing of multiple new condo and vintage loft conversions; and guided hundreds of clients through the purchase and sale of hundreds of freehold and condominium dwellings across the original City of Toronto. From a gritty port industrial city into a glittering post-industrial global centre, I’ve navigated the ebbs and flows of a property market as a consistent Top Producer. And I remain as passionate about it today as when I started.
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Thanks for reading!
-The Urbaneer Team
Steven Fudge, Sales Representative
& The Innovative Urbaneer Team
Bosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 322-800
– we’re here to earn your trust, then your business –
Celebrating Thirty-Four Years As A Top-Producing Toronto Realtor
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*Love Canadian Housing? Check out Steve’s University Student Mentorship site called Canadian Real Estate, Housing & Home which focuses on architecture, landscape, design, products, and real estate in Canada!