A Panoramic Perch In Toronto’s Hip & Happening Fashion District

Located in the central west quadrant of the city centre, in proximity to all points north, south, east and west, is The Morgan, an Art Deco-inspired condominium located at 438 Richmond Street West. Tucked away in the heart of the Fashion District – and Yes, it’s still filled with loads of fashion! – this very accessible neighbourhood beckons leisurely strolls to hip King and Queen West for shopping or delectable dining whisks you by streetcar to the financial core or University of Toronto or offers the ease of a few minutes driving to the onramps of the Gardiner Expressway, providing speedy access to the airport, cottage country, or all points in between. In proximity to the Theatre District, Chinatown, Harbourfront, the Rogers Centre, or the Island Airport, and around the corner from some of the City’s finest culinary spots and urbane boutiques, this is literally living in the centre of it all!

The Neighbourhood

Dating as far back as the early 1800’s, this area was established by immigrants from numerous places (Jewish, Asian, Portuguese, Irish, Polish and Ukrainian), each throwing down roots in their own enclaves – including Chinatown and Kensington Market to the north – and spreading out geographically from this common beginning point. Centred on the industrialization of the garment trade, this area is equal parts historical and contemporary, featuring an eclectic mix of working and merchant class houses to the west and high-rise condominiums to east. Today, the Fashion District is a testament to the product of re-invention; the neighbourhood is home to a number of swish, swank condominiums, transforming this area since the 1990s from utilitarian to utopian, where spaces are coveted, edgy, and cool!

Of course, it’s not simply enough to have a fabulous home; you must be surrounded by lifestyle-enhancing amenities. Living at 438 Richmond Street West means having easy access to some of Toronto’s coolest offerings, like the restos and boutiques of hip Queen West, and those in emerging just-up-the-street Chinatown. Literally, at every turn, there are hot spots for noshing, nightlife, and shopping. You know you’ve struck neighbourhood ‘gold’ when your nightly dilemma isn’t about trying desperately to find something to do, but rather having to decide between a plethora of options!

The area’s restaurant scene is diverse and exciting, with steadfast standouts like uber-hip Spoke Club (temporarily closed for a full-gut renovation), and the amazing drinking and food emporium Gusto 101. Some of our other nearby favs include Buca, Jimmy’s Coffee, Marben, 416 Snack Bar, Bar Chef for cocktails, and our guilty pleasure, The Burger’s Priest. For French cuisine in regal surroundings, consider the blind tasting menu at Alo. For fun fusion of haute cuisine with an eclectic, kitschy atmosphere, pop by the dining-car inspired Aloette – located in the same building as Alo – just a mere five-minute walk from home. Wondering where to meet for Brunch? We recommend you give Le Gourmand a try!

For evening entertainment, live music fans will love being able to stroll over to the iconic Horseshoe Tavern – just a few minutes from your front door. And if you’re a movie buff, 438 Richmond Street West is also an excellent home base during TIFF, and just a hop skip and a jump from the huge Scotiabank Theatre. Even the Rogers Centre is walkable!

Sublime urban living wouldn’t be complete without access to great green space within walking distance, and there are many choices in this neighbourhood. St. Andrew’s Playground is an easy jaunt away and is slated to receive extensive improvements to its playground in 2020 to accompany the existing off-leash dog park. Also, a quick walk away is the expansive, 2.7 hectare, Alexandra Park. This is a park for all seasons, with an artificial ice rink with community programming, ball diamonds, volleyball court, skateboard park, wading pool, picnic areas, community gardens and more. Residents of the Morgan are also only a five-minute streetcar ride from the opportunity to stroll, picnic, play a little tennis, or go for a skate (depending on the season) at renowned Trinity Bellwoods Park. How awesome is that?

Even if schools aren’t something that you or your family require right now, they are an important amenity in the asset-boosting mantra of “location, location, location” for real estate. 438 Richmond Street West is well-situated to a number of excellent schools! A quick 10-minute walk will get you to Ryerson Community School that offers programming from JK-Grade 8 and is known for its linguistic and cultural diversity. St. Mary’s – part of the Catholic Board – is very walkable too, and offers French Immersion. Harbord CI is a leading public school in the city, known for strong programming and an excellent school paper – Harbord Tiger Talk! Even speciality schools dot this neighbourhood, including Beverly School, a barrier-free establishment that specializes in special needs children and with specific programming to set them up for success as adults, and Cornerstone Montessori Prep, featuring their renowned Montessori methods of education for pre-school through to Grade 12.

And just behind this building is Graffiti Alley, one of our favourite destinations in the city, and an ever-changing showcase of street art by local and international artists. The alley runs parallel to Queen Street West from Spadina to Shaw Street and is a hot spot both for locals and for tourists armed with selfie sticks.

The Morgan Condominium

For those who crave a sweet suite in the heart of the city, you can’t get a space more delectable than this stylish space in The Morgan! Completed in 2002 by Great Gulf Homes, this winner of the 2005 Award of Excellence from the Ontario Association of Architects was designed by Quadrangle Architects. Containing 217 suites over 16 floors, this Art Deco-inspired building that honours the architectural merits of The Fashion District was deemed a landmark by The Globe and Mail. Suites range from modern studios to classically sophisticated two-bedrooms suites, designed to showcase the unique architecture of the building and frame the views of the Toronto skyline from all directions. Building amenities consist of a rooftop patio, a fully-equipped fitness centre and yoga studio, His/Her saunas and change-rooms, a lounge, a dining room with kitchen, a billiard room, a theatre room, 24-hour concierge, and visitor parking.

Have a pet? The Morgan is very pet positive, allowing two pets per unit regardless of size (the only exceptions are “attack dogs” and anything deemed exotic). And St. Andrew’s Off-Leash Dog Park is just a block away – how convenient is that?!

Suite 715 boasts 1025 square feet of thoughtful sun-drenched living space. Perched on the south-east corner of the seventh floor, this intelligently-designed split-plan 2-bed 2-bath suite marries clean modern lines with a classic contemporary aesthetic, including nine-foot ceilings. I love how well-proportioned this home sweet home is, with ample room for oversized furnishings, an abundance of wall space for your art collection, and a panoramic south-east vista framed by brilliant over-sized factory-style windows!

From the moment you step into the suite, the ample tiled foyer with a large closet and 4-piece washroom offers a wonderful reception area for you and your guests. It breezes into a wide hall that passes the sleeping quarters and connects you to the Entertainment Space. Beautifully proportioned, the Entertainment Space features wood floors, high ceilings, and near floor-to-ceiling windows that capture all the morning and afternoon sun. This living area is shaped like a massive bay window and offers panoramic views of the neighbourhood’s original brick and beam architecture, the more recent contemporary glass-edifices, and the Bright Lights Big City synergy of Spadina Avenue bustling below and the CN Tower soaring above. At night it’s a glittery shrine with an uber-cool vibe, which is just one of many reasons that make The Fashion District so popular!

We love the efficient galley kitchen fitted with stainless steel appliances, stone counters, and a classic pass-through to the dining area that allows the resident chef to remain a part of the action when hosting! When it comes to the sanctuaries for rest, this suite has been well-designed, offering the preferred split plan layout, with the second bedroom featuring wood floors and south exposure – well-suited to a guest-room-home-office. On the opposite side of the suite, the Master Bedroom boasts wall-to-wall closets, a generous east window, and an ample 4-piece ensuite bath – the holy grail of condo living!

For the buyer seeking a steps-to-everything residence in a well-managed, well-maintained, and well-presented downtown condominium, this dynamite opportunity includes one car parking and deeded locker.

Well-suited for the busy professional who works hard plays hard, and adores the excitement and variety of downtown living, this Fashion District offering is a contender for the most-dynamic property on offer!

Do you feel the pull?

Curious to know more about the location? Here are our Neighbourhood Pages on Queen West and King West featuring our flavour videos, city census data, plus each neighbourhood’s Amenity blogs! And consider checking out our other Neighbourhood Pages in the central part of Toronto!

Have questions?

Contact Steve@urbaneer.com for more info!