Fun Living At The Toy Factory In Liberty Village

Welcome to Loft 438 at 43 Hanna Avenue!

Liberty Village is located on one of Toronto’s oldest settlements. Originally an industrial area, it flourished in the 1920s thanks to proximity to the railway tracks as well as a plentiful labour force from nearby Parkdale. In the late 1970s and early 1980s manufacturing operations within Liberty Village began to decline and the decreased industrial activity along with lower property values caused many buildings to fall into neglect.

As the factories moved out, condo developers moved in. And as the ongoing gentrification of downtown Toronto pushed farther outwards from the core, Liberty Village has become one of Toronto’s best neighbourhoods for young professionals, artists and creative types.

The neighbourhood combines high-rise condominiums, mid-rise buildings, and townhomes with retail spaces for cafes, restaurants, shops and cultural places such as art galleries and offices, while still maintaining its historic roots with the preserved tall chimney smoke stacks projecting from the old buildings now serving as the neighbourhood landmarks. The gritty and urban feel to the area remains. The old warehouses were converted into cool offices attracting many know tech and film production companies, and the former factories were turned into lofts settled by a growing residential community.

One of the finest assets of this area is its location. 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 with a community recreation centre (including swimming pool!), dog walking zone, weekly organic market, tennis courts, meandering hillocks, and loads of community events including the Queen West Art Crawl. This park is all you desire in an urban environment!

Liberty Village has a bit of the “suburb-in-the-city” flavour and with conveniences like a 24-hour Metro grocer, an LCBO, a Beer Store, a 24-hour Goodlife Fitness, as well as many other shops, restaurants, and bars nearby, residents don’t even have to go far to get the conveniences of city living. Get your morning coffee from Balzac’s, spend the afternoon tackling the walls at Joe Rockheads, or spend an evening enjoying drinks and bites at the new Local Public Eatery. It’s all just steps from this Home!

The Toy Factory Lofts reside within what was once the Irwin Toy Factory. Originally built in 1910, this seven-storey conversion was completed in 2008 and it’s probably one of the first places people think of when they want to find a loft. Redeveloped and converted by Lanterra Developments and designed by the highly acclaimed Quadrangle Architects, a lot of the original structure’s most impressive characteristics were left intact including the thick brick walls, steel ceiling beams and Douglas fir posts. The building is a genuine mixed-use, live-work complex containing 215 originally designed lofts with over 20,000 square feet of commercial space. The development gets tons of bragging rights, as it won the coveted Project of the Year award in 2005 from the Greater Toronto Homebuilder’s Association, and an unprecedented 7 awards since.

The suites range in size from under 700 square feet to over 2000 square feet, with finishes ranging from fairly basic to multi-million-dollar cool. The builiding offers great amenities including a concierge, shared outdoor terrace with hot tub, fitnes centre, business centres and guest suits. The lobby’s been hooked up with Wi-Fi where freelancing tenants have been known to congregate to make working from home more social. For all the amazing amenities, the maintenance fees are surprisingly reasonable. In fact the fees were greatly reduced in 2012 thanks to some energy efficiency initiatives.

Loft 438 is an ideal setting for those who love adding their eclectic style to a contemporary space. Just shy of 700 square feet, this smartly-tailored one bedroom loft boasts soaring 11-foot ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and round metal ductwork. Well-proportioned, the open plan entertainment space is thoughtfully designed with zones for cooking, dining and relaxing. We love the natural flow of this space and the massive walls that are perfect for showcasing art pieces. Imagine spending an evening entertaining friends or catching up on your favourite TV shows while enjoying a glass of wine at the end of a hectic day.

Tired of the same old take-out dinner? The cook’s kitchen is just the place to practice your culinary skills with stainless steel appliances, Scavolini cabinetry, granite counters and a large island providing for ample storage. Completing this urban space is the ideally situated private bedroom offering generous storage and even room for a king size bed!

Including one locker, very reasonable common fees ($253.74 per month plus hydro) and a great space plan, this rare-to-market loft makes a big impact on a budget. It’s a great option for young professionals, first-time buyers or anyone who is looking for the conveniences of urban living and the bragging rights as a loft owner!

Have we ignited your interest in this fab neighbourhood? Check out our Neighbourhood Page on King West, Niagara & Liberty Village, including our flavour videos, the city census data on the areas plus several past blogs on area amenities. Or view our other Neighbourhood Pages. We love Toronto’s diversity!

Want to know more? Contact Us!