Concrete ‘N Cool In River City, Corktown

If you love the soft loft palette of warm wood floors, cool concrete ceilings, exposed metal ductwork, and floor-to-ceiling glazing – and you dream of a home with its own private patio – then this fresh sun-kissed suite in River City is worth your consideration.

Welcome to Suite 326 at 47 Lower River Street!

Situated just south of Corktown’s emerging King East strip, this deluxe River City open plan soft loft is located in Toronto’s first Leed Gold Carbon Neutral complex. Boasting a sun-kissed terrace overlooking the lush common courtyard just steps from the outdoor pool & amenity centre, this slice of ‘swizzle & spice’ is a perfect city pad just minutes from the Financial Core, The Historic Distillery District, the St. Lawrence Market, and hip happening Leslieville (including the Broadview Hotel!).

Located in Toronto’s old centre of industry, I consider the junction of King and Queen Streets East, just west of the Don River, as one of the city’s most engaging – and emerging – frontiers. The Victorian storefronts that line King and Queen, and once gritty brick factories and warehouses that dot the area, are being repurposed into cool understated dwellings and offices serving the post-industrial zeitgeist. This evolving urban fabric is a delicious collision of old and new, where some streetscapes wear their histories on their sleeves, while others display their modernity with statement architecture that is very here, and now.

Spearheaded by Waterfront Toronto, the crown corporation responsible for the transformation of the city’s harbour lands, River City is the first residential development on the former 80-acre West Don Lands, which has been a desolate brownfield for decades. Designed by the celebrated Montreal firm of Saucier + Perrotte Architects for Urban Capital Property Group, the collection of five cutting-edge condominiums completed between 2013 and 2018 occupy a long rectangular site bounded by King Street East south to River Square – a public promenade lined with cafés and restaurants – which is adjacent to Waterfront Toronto’s new Don River Park. To the east is the Don River, while Lower River Street, where the lobby for this residence is located, anchors the western boundary of the site. The buildings – a visually coherent collection of black, white and grey chiselled blocks – stacked haphazardly and bent unexpectedly like steel shipping containers ready for transport at a commercial port – appropriately nod to the historic utility of this once industrial site, while its mix of opaque and transparent glazing plays with the architectural geometry without diminishing its stringent commitment to modernism. As John Bentley Mays, the architectural critic for The Globe & Mail, aptly wrote “By assembling some of the best architects, planners and urban designers in the world to give advice and direction, Waterfront Toronto has apparently avoided the worst ways of making new urban landscape, and found ways of doing so that work well. The structures and green spaces in River City add up to thoughtful city-building at a high level and provide a testament to Waterfront Toronto’s careful oversight of the land in its keeping.

While the architectural merit of the building and the design features of this concrete n’ cool pad will contribute to a superior quality of life, as any urbanite worth their salt will tell you urban living is not about living in isolation – it’s about living through integration – surrounded by spectacular amenities. Which is why the ‘location, location, location’ mantra of real estate is important for any homeowner (as it is the formula to preserve and boost property value over time).

Located in Corktown, this eclectic neighbourhood exemplifies the tale of the Phoenix which rises from the ashes. The name dates from the early 19th century when the area was an Irish ethnic enclave, particularly for Irish emigrants from County Cork. The working-class residents found area employment at brickworks, distilleries, breweries and cork-stopper manufacturers. One of the oldest areas in the city, it lost its lustre in the early 20th century as the rail lines encroached and industry expanded, but the real decline came in the early 1960s when a significant amount of Corktown was demolished to make way for several elevated roadways, including the Richmond Street off-ramp from the Don Valley Parkway and the re-routed Eastern Avenue overpass. Its subsequent rebirth is more recent – in the last 15 years really – but this transformation is adding to the character, value and overall appeal of this dynamic central east portion of downtown. What was once considered sullied is now a cross-section of counter-culture, where village shops, cafes and restaurants populate the streets. There is a buzz in the air here, where historic meets hip! Check out what Corktown used to look like, in this BlogTO piece.

Simply put, River City sits within one of the most transformative areas of Toronto! Wrapped by the $1 billion rejuvination of Regent Park to the North, the restoration of the Distillery District into a dynamic retail and cultural centre to the West, the reinvention of Canary Wharf (transformed for the 2015 Pan Am Games) to the South (which will feature approximately 6,000 new residential units, ample employment and commercial space, at least one elementary school, and two child-care centres, all surrounded by nearly 23 acres of parks and public spaces), and the gentrification Leslieville with its celebrated café culture to the East, this neighbourhood is quickly evolving; it’s becoming the destination of hip, alternative Canucks who value proximity to amenities and an attractive price point.

And I know why!

This hot new hub offers diversion galore with restaurants and bars within a short stroll – it has a Walk Score of 90!  Try the chic Carbon Bar – a converted 2-storey space once used by TV/movie studios and a hot club – for a cute bite or an expertly mixed cocktail.  Brunch or lunch your way over to Morning Glory or Jamie Kennedy’s Gilead Cafe Bistro – just steps away on King East. Head east to Riverside to choose from a variety of options like BBQ at Lady Marmalade, Chef Lynn Crawford’s family style eatery Ruby Watchco, or even have a chill night at local gastrohouse, Prohibition. On a Saturday, take a morning walk to St. Lawrence Market to pick up the freshest produce, baked goods and coffee or head to the Distillery District for dinner to indulge at one of my new favourites called Cluny, nestled in one of the city’s hippest historic districts. Want a spa escape? Get blissed out at Body Blitz!

If proximity to green space is important to you, or your furry best friend, there are several stellar opportunities to commune with nature nearby! For an afternoon picnic or after dinner dog walk, choose from Sumach-Shuter Parkette, Percy Park, or Lawren Harris Square Park. For a longer, scenic stroll, the new Corktown Commons is practically in your backyard! And one musn’t forget that Corktown butts up against Toronto’s magnificent waterfront communities and port lands, which offer a host of scenic and outdoor rec opportunities! Imagine being able to walk out your front door and into the spectacular 18-acre Don River Park – a lush expanse of native woodlands, sprawling grass lawns, and vegetation home to various wildlife! Well, River City is situated right beside it, making the Don River Park an ideal spot for residents to run, walk, cycle, or just hang out! And if you’re partial to a freshly transformed community space, you’ll love Underpass Park! Once the dark and empty underbelly of the Richmond Adelaide ramps, a $5M renewal project by Vancouver-based Phillips Farevaag Smallenberg and Planning Partnership created the most extensive park ever built under an overpass in Canada!

Really…. could you imagine having all of this at your doorstep? And it’s not just the stellar neighbourhood amenities that are within your grasp while living at River City; this building has a practically unbeatable Rider’s Score of 98, ranked for its access to other neighbourhoods via multiple forms of transit. You’re mere steps from the 504 King streetcar & 501 Queen Streetcar, that connect you to the subway line and can drop you in any neighbourhood east to west, while the Parliament Street & Broadview Avenue buses will whisk you away North to Bloor or South to the Waterfront. Have to hit the road for the weekend? Access to Lake Shore Boulevard and Queen’s Quay are only a minute away, as is the Billy Bishop airport and the ferry to the picturesque Toronto Islands! Headed to Ikea or out to do big grocery shop and need a car? There’s a hybrid car share program right in the building, as part of the sustainability initiatives! It doesn’t get more convenient than that!!

This ideal urban home is in Phase One of River City (at 51 Trolley Crescent and 47 Lower River Street), just south of King Street East. Completed in 2013 by developer Urban Capital, Phase One’s sexy and sustainable structures (which won BILD’s Best Design Award) are some of the most eye-catching in the neighbourhood, while giving a subtle nod to the community’s industrial past. The largely dark exterior of 47 Lower River Street is made up of black panels and sparkling glass, accenting playful angles and a minimal but modern aesthetic. These two buildings (connected by a three storey enclosed bridge), were the creative product of Montreal architects Gilles Saucier and Andre Perrotte. “The River City complex is recognized as being Toronto’s first LEED Gold Carbon Neutral residential development. Designed with a philosophy of reducing environmental impact and creating a healthy living environment, the River City project allows residents to feel good about their carbon footprint.” There are a combined 329 suites between the two buildings (47 Lower River contains just 100 units), ranging from studios to large two-bedroom plus den suites that all share certain characteristics, including open concept living spaces, 9-foot concrete ceilings and contemporary finishes.

Suite 326 is an efficiently laid out one-bed, one-bath urban retreat that’s perfect for busy professionals – swinging singles and contemporary couples alike – who want to own a slice of downtown without being mired in debt! Perfectly proportioned, well-situated on the quieter courtyard side of the building, and smack dab in the heart of Toronto, this crisp contemporary space marries utility, style and convenience.

As you enter the intelligently-designed 470-square-foot interior, you’re immediately struck by its soft loft style; the white walls, the 9′ concrete ceilings, and warm wood floors – combined with an expansive glass panorama walk-out – gives a sense of privacy and freedom while being grounded to something much larger than yourself. The suite’s entertainment area is bathed in natural light and oozes relaxation. The open kitchen sits quietly along one wall, awaiting your culinary creativity! The white cabinetry contrasts beautifully with the stainless steel appliances and concrete with plenty of storage and display shelving to boot!

The sleeping sanctuary – located off the generous foyer and luxe spa washroom with deep soaking tub – can provide a welcome respite from a busy day embracing city life. Even someone who loves the ‘bright lights, big city’ experience needs to curl up and cocoon in their own oasis now and then, so just close the frosted sliding doors that bisect the suite – allowing only the softest glow of daylight to filter through – and take some “me time”! However, when you are in the mood to socialize, retract the sliding panels to visually expand the space and get the dance party started!!

Love outdoor space? You’ll be wanting to invite your colleagues, friends, and family over for drinks to share summer bliss on your personal tiki terrace! Waiting just beyond the over-sized sliding glass door, this private outdoor space of around 122 square feet – with the lush green roof beyond – makes you feel like you’re at ground level, looking out on your own backyard!

This suite has the benefit of being located 3 doors from one of the guest suites (just $75/night!), down the hall from a common entertainment lounge, and steps to the outdoor courtyard swimming pool, without taking an elevator. How amazing is that? You can find even more amenities – like the exercise centre and meeting rooms on the ground level plus 5 underground visitor parking spaces. Having reasonable common fees, independent utilities (for gas, hydro and water), and some unique features (the custom blackout draperies + outdoor sectional are included!), this soft loft is a hard bargain!

For those seeking a concrete ‘n cool space in one of the city’s most happening ‘hoods – where the contemporary comforts of domesticity merge with the dynamic urban landscape – this is a stellar contender!

Want to learn more? Contact Steve (steve@urbaneer.com) for more info!

Interested in learning more about the Corktown neighbourhood? Visit our Cabbagetown / Corktown Neighbourhood Page with video, census data statistics and past blogs showcasing why we love this area. Or click our Neighbourhood Pages to see more of where we sell! We love Toronto real estate, with a forte in unique urban spaces!