Snap! Crackle! Pop! At The Toy Factory In Liberty Village
offered at $899,900Among busy professionals and down-scaling Zoomers, there is a yearning for amenities and convenience that urban living provides. There is a subtext to that urbanite desire, where a select group seeks an additional dimension in their urban lives – an undefinable quality that lends an extra layer of coolness. After all, who doesn’t want to be current?
Plus there’s that cool vibe that emerges when you repurpose space – and when you fuse the domestic with the industrial. It becomes not just about where you live – but how you live – and how the undercurrents of your daily life combine to enhance lifestyle.
Welcome to Loft 222 at 43 Hanna Avenue.
The Toy Factory Lofts, located at 43 Hanna Avenue in Liberty Village, is the development that set the tone for this neighbourhood’s “industrial revolution” which saw the stylish transformation from the commercial to the residential.
Originally the head office for Irwin Toy (a family run manufacturing and marketing company of a range of leisure products including toys and sporting goods) this eight storey retrofit and additions were completed in 2008 by Lanterra Developments. Designed by Quandrangle Architects Ltd. with interior design by II BY IV Design Associates, the Toy Factory is comprised of 215 originally-designed live-work lofts with over 20,000 square feet of ground level commercial space.
What is most notable throughout the loft itself is the free flow of light and the sensation of space, amplified by soaring ceilings and expansive, wide windows, draping the walls. Elements reserved from the original building, include steel ceiling beams and Douglas Fir posts, contributing to aesthetic appeal and authenticity.
Upon entry, you are greeted with a well-tailored thought-fully designed floor plan. A welcoming foyer with over-sized closet accommodates all your gear, while gleaming wood floors spread throughout the loft, including the kitchen, entertainment space and bedrooms, and interplay with the light, support the richness of colour of the exposed wood and steel beamed ceilings.
The mod kitchen makes a contemporary statement with sleek cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar, as well as a mix of stone and wood counters for prep. The sizeable entertainment zone features soaring ceilings, plank floors, and floor-to-ceiling sliders accessing the recessed south-facing terrace. At one end – tucked off to the rear is the second bedroom, separate but connected to the space, continuing the sense of height, light and air. We love the massive closet in this space (so big it currently contains bunkbeds!), and the dazzling semi-ensuite washroom of the foyer.
The living space continues with an indulgent south-facing master suite. With it’s pretty aspect, great proportions, and generous ensuite washroom and dressing area, this is the perfect respite for lazy Sunday mornings. Who wouldn’t love to curl up for the day in here?
With a mix of authentic hard lofts in the original building and new soft lofts added on higher floors, this complex of unique urban homes has some of the lowest common fees in the city. It is an exceptionally well managed building and is a great investment. It features an amazing set of amenities, including a fitness room and spa, a party room, a common rooftop deck with barbecues and hot tub, and underground and visitor parking. It also has a 24 hour concierge, a high-speed and wireless network throughout the building accessible with user name and password, a business centre and guest suite.
The landscaping is superb; decorative shrubs lend a touch of revitalizing greenery to the urban courtyard which this loft overlooks. The atrium is adorned with unique landscaping of its own, and topped off with sparkling skylights.
Liberty Village has undergone a remarkable transformation, especially when you consider that it has been revitalized from its past as the grounds of Central Prison from the late 1880s. Bound by King Street West and rail corridors to the north and south, Dufferin to the west and Strachan Avenue to the east, this former swath of industrial lands and brown fields has been redeveloped into a mixed use neighbourhood that has a bit of a “suburb-in-the-city feel”, making it a convenient downtown condo and townhouse lifestyle extremely palatable to the suburban moms and dads who helped their kids buy their first condo here. It’s also evolved over the past six years into something more. With the juxtaposition of old-warehouse and modern big-box architecture, along with a 24-hour Metro Grocer, 24-hour Goodlife Fitness, an LCBO and Beer Store, plus lots of shops, restaurants and bars nearby, this tucked away location that makes Liberty Village a coveted hip ‘hood. Here’s a great post sharing some of this area’s architectural history.
For urban professionals, Liberty Village has become the perfect place to call home. This rapidly changing and increasingly sought after neighbourhood was popularized by its vibrant art scene and proximity to the downtown core. Downtown Toronto is just a 15-minute ride away on the King Streetcar, and a 10-minute walk will land you on the Waterfront Trail or in the trendy Queen West neighbourhood, including the much-loved Trinity Bellwoods Park.
There is a host of great eateries and hangs nearby to 43 Hanna, including one of our favorite coffee shops called Balzacs. Williams Landing is a stylish spot to gather with friends, grab a drink and watch the game on one of their numerous, large screens. The Rotisserie House promotes some serious BBQ chicken, known for generosity both in portions and in flavour. And if your Saturday night is ever looking dull, check out the chic Forty2 Supperclub, well-known for their specific brand of urban cool nightlife.
Do you desire a dwell that lets you be fashionably functional, at a location that delivers the sleekest in urban cool? This may be the loft for you!
Want to know more about Toronto real estate or this unique urban home? Contact steve@urbaneer.com for more info!
Is Liberty Village the neighbourhood for you? Check out our Neighbourhood Page on King West, Niagara & Liberty Village including a great flavour video, the city census profiles, plus several of our blogs on local amenities! Or check out our other Neighbourhood Pages and see why we love Toronto’s real estate diversity!