I’m Steve Fudge, and I sell real estate in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Welcome to my blog on housing, culture and design, where I explore all the facets of real estate, shelter and home. Today I’m sharing my thoughts about the benefits of living in a fantastic central city location.
Even though the pandemic is still very much a part of our lives – as more Canadians have been vaccinated and employers have started asking employees to return at least some of the time to the office – its influence in shaping the purchasing decisions of real estate consumers has abated. What had become a Space Race for bigger houses on larger lots in the suburbs and exurbs suddenly hit its zenith after an unprecedented trajectory of skyrocketing values. And then, triggered by run-away inflation (which prompted an abrupt increase in interest rates and an Exhaustion Movement), the Canadian real estate eclipsed its global spotlight as ‘scorching hot’ and began a spectacular flame out.
Properties that sold in the Spring Market Peak (February, March & April 2022) have, in the past 90 days, tumbled in value by as much as 35% depending on your location. Excuse me? In what locations you ask? Well, while no area is immune to a rebalancing of the market, it’s not the city centre neighbourhoods that are plummeting in value, it’s the suburbs and exurbs. In this CBC article called “Suburban Real Estate Vulnerable If Demand Shifts Post-Pandemic, Bank Of Canada Warns” research showed that the price gap between suburbs and downtown narrowed from 33% to 10% during the pandemic.
But now that the collective focus is shifting to returning to work, the allure of commuting a great distance to punch a time clock has limited appeal which is translating into significant price drops. I get this. Check out my post –> What Are The Real Financial, Emotional And Health Costs Of Commuting?
The ideal lifestyle for me isn’t about living behind gilded gates removed from the masses, but about being in a perfect pad engaged in a dynamic neighbourhood that offers immediate access to all the must-haves an urbanite could want, including cafes, retailers and purveyors of extraordinary delights, leisure & culture hot spots, plus every mode of transportation to all points north, south, east and west. And I thought a great way to demonstrate this is by sharing what I like about a condominium we have listed for sale in King’s Court in the St Lawrence Market Neighbourhood – where you’re rarely wanting for anything, This is truly living life royally!
One of the pillars of urban living is enjoying superior convenience and choice just beyond your front door. Depending on your daily wishes or needs, you should be able to stroll or roll easily to where they’ll be fulfilled! And when life requires you to head a little further afield, having quick and easy access to public transit is a must – so you can spend more time where you need to be, and less time getting there.
After all, isn’t that what downtown dwelling is all about?
There are numerous benefits to a pedestrian lifestyle, which I have written about a number of times, including in this post about The Real Financial, Emotional And Health Costs Of Commuting. Being able to walk or bike – as a means of transportation or simply for fresh air and exercise – contributes in no small way to mental and physical health. (It’s also good for the health of the planet!)
Walkable neighbourhoods are known to foster greater community, as well. It makes sense; instead of being cloistered behind the wheel of a car (individually, in gridlock), connected neighbourhoods allow you to spend more hours interacting and immersed in your community in real-time.
One of the lessons that urban planners are taking to heart from the pandemic, is the myriad of benefits for traffic flow, infrastructure, and public health when walkable and bike-friendly areas are the hub of your urban core. In fact, with our lifestyles returning to pre-pandemic patterns, the City of Toronto is considering reviving the ActiveTO program from the pandemic, where the city was re-imagined in support of pedestrian-friendly traffic. There is talk of making changes to some major arteries to better support cycling- and to reduce vehicular traffic. Here’s a piece from CityNews: “City of Toronto To Review ActiveTO Program Over Ongoing Traffic Concerns“.
Ultimate Urban Experience – Defined
I think that we can all agree that living in the ‘centre of it all’ is highly desirable. It’s one thing to discuss that experience in ideological terms, but how does one determine the potential ‘level’ of benefit at a given address?
Easy! You employ the metrics that have been created to reflect just that: walk scores, bike scores, and transit scores! I’ve written how these metrics are determined in this post: Walk Score: The Measure Of A Pedestrian-Friendly City.
With just a few quick taps on your phone, these scores can give you a broad sense of how connected a location is, and what the movements and patterns of daily life might look like for those who live there.
So what does it mean to reside at an address with nearly perfect Walk, Transit and Bike Scores? It means having a lot of choice and convenience at your fingertips- that is for sure!
Take the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, for example. We have a listing in that community, at the corner of King Street East and Sherbourne – the King’s Court Condominium! Imagine that you live there, where your home has a Walk Score of 96, a Transit Score of 100, and a Bike Score of 99. What’s in store today? For one, you can enjoy the confidence of knowing that all your daily errands can be completed within a 10-minute walk! Cross off those ‘To-Dos’ lickety-split!
Doctor appointment across the city? Meeting friends for dinner and dancing? Plentiful public transit options are nearby to get you there quickly and easily! From your St. Lawrence Market abode, you can hop on the Yonge-University Subway Line at King Station by walking 8 minutes West. Or simply catch the 504 King Streetcar right outside your lobby doors! And soon, just a 5-minute walk north will land you at the new Moss Park Station on the Ontario Line!
Bike lanes beckoning? If you prefer to cycle to your date, it’s easy-peasy when living at this address! It’s a 4-minute stroll to George Street where you can commandeer one of 10 to 15 Bike Share cycles! And for those times when you need a little more storage space (that IKEA couch isn’t going to fit on your handlebars!) AutoShare will save the day! There’s an Enterprise Car Share a 2-minute walk west on King East beside Butter Chicken Roti!
Time to travel? When heading out of the city – whether it’s a few days at a cottage or a week-long adventure to a tropical destination – the last thing you want is to stress over departure times when laden with luggage. Luckily, you can taxi to Billy Bishop Island Airport in just 10 minutes, or Uber can have you standing in the ticket line for Via Rail, the Go Train, or the Union Pearson Express in just 7 minutes!
And this particular address has dreamy pedestrian-friendly destinations for shopping, dining, and living life large, with St. Lawrence Market and a host of cool eateries, bars, cultural institutions, and green space within grasp!
Next time you’re bored on a sunny Sunday afternoon, or you’re eyeing a long list of pragmatic errands to run here, there, and everywhere, take a moment and imagine how different your life might be living within a connected ‘hood and enjoying ultimate convenience!
Carpe Diem!
*Photos and vector illustrations by the digital artist ‘Viktoriia’.
You can create this lifestyle – by living in the right place at the right time! Check out our listing: A Royal Suite At King’s Court Condominium, Steps To Toronto’s Beloved St. Lawrence Market! Beyond being perched amid a central, supportive, & convenient ‘hood, this sun-drenched 1bed+office+den, 1bath stylish unit of 700 square feet is guaranteed to fulfill a lot of your shelter wishes, wants and needs!
NOW SOLD!!
Contact james@urbaneer.com!
Also, check out this pretty penthouse we SOLD last year in the St Lawrence neighbourhood: A Panoramic Penthouse Perch In The St Lawrence Neighbourhood!
Seeking space to spread out and truly enjoy downtown living? This crisp and contemporary suite could be just what you’re looking for! Penthouse 3 is situated at the south-west corner of 39 Sherbourne Street, occupying two-storeys on the 16th and 17th floors. Originally designed as a 2bed + den, 2bath suite, it was reconfigured with the builder – King Plus Development Group Corp – to become a spacious 1-bed, 1.5-bath urban oasis!
And this 1bed 1bath urban pad was perfect for the urban professional! We called it, Culture & Contemporary Living In St. Lawrence Market! Now Sold!
For those who love to live modern, this clean ‘n crisp urban residence is the perfect marriage of style and function! Well-situated in the Toronto’s coveted St. Lawrence Market – where Old Toronto charm meets elegant contemporary living!
Might the personable, engaging and client-service-focused Urbaneer team become the realtors of choice for you or someone you love? We’d be delighted to guide you in securing the best of the best Toronto real estate.
With a multi-disciplinary education in housing – and – 30 years of experience in the property market Steve and his engaging Urbaneer Team offer a foundation of knowledge, experience, and intuitive know-how from which they can evaluate the conditions, target markets, and range of value for real estate at any given time. In fact, it’s how we became top-producing realtors.
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 Twenty-Eight Years As A Top-Producing Toronto Realtor
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*Love Canadian Housing? Check out Steve’s University Student Mentorship site called Houseporn.ca which focuses on architecture, landscape, design, products and real estate in Canada.