Bold N’ Bright On Broadview Avenue In Riverside

Once predominantly home to much of the city’s industrial fabric, for a period of time the downtown east side was not considered a desirable location. It was a working class neighbourhood that housed many of the employees of the area’s factories and the rail yards which supplied them. This popular post provides an overview of Why Toronto’s East Side Real Estate Has Historically Been Cheaper. But since the 1980s, the area began attracting white collar professionals who valued the proximity to the financial core. While a lot of the modest row, semi-detached and detached brick and frame housing stock remains occupied by Anglo working-class and Asian immigrants, more and more housing have been upgraded and renovated into luxury property. Old industrial warehouses along Carlaw Avenue have been converted into loft condominiums, and a number of former commercial and industrial sites have been redeveloped into modern mid-rise condominiums. In fact, the area’s transition and revitalization from poverty to popular has been topic of fascination by urban academics for the past forty years.

Today, South Riverdale, including nearby trendy Leslieville and the newly emerging Riverside, are the kinds of neighbourhoods where young professionals and creative types frequent hip cafés and restaurants, chic boutiques, and funky furniture stores. Along with a bustling main strip, the area also has a generous amount of green space. Sports enthusiasts can head to Greenwood Park for outdoor swimming, baseball, and come winter, ice skating. Ornithophiles can spot snowy owls and Baltimore orioles at the Leslie Street Spit, and Sunday strollers can meander along the winding paths at Cherry Beach.

It’s steps to everything and a stone’s throw from downtown and all that Queen East has to offer. Dine, shop and play without leaving your neighbourhood. Start your day with a morning latte at Te Aro Coffee Roasters, (just a short walk away) or pick up fresh and wholesome bite at the nearby Delica Kitchen. Or stop in for a drink and tasty app at Goods & Provisions a few blocks east on Queen. Want to check out a new band? No better place to discover new sounds like at the historic Opera House. And for those who have to hit the road, the 501 Queen Streetcar runs for 24 hours and can get you all the way to Long Branch in Etobicoke. If you prefer to move around the city by car, Carlaw to Lakeshore Boulevard offers easy access to the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. Need a ZipCar? There are two located 3 blocks away on Queen at Saulter. How amazing is that?

This ideal urban setting is also the home of The Ninety at 90 Broadview Avenue, just south of Queen Street East. Redeveloped and converted by Harhay Construction and designed by Core Architects, the structure was built partially above a century-old, four-storey office building while those offices remained occupied. The original purpose for the building was as a Coca Cola bottling plant, and since the concrete pillars were strong enough to handle more floors on top, instead of tearing down the structure as other developers proposed, Harhay liked the idea that the building provided a place for living and working. The 9-storey building, featuring 220 units ranging in size from 434 square feet to 1250 square feet, offers loft-styled architecture, open concepts, and exposed concrete. The suites offer 9 to 11-foot ceilings, exposed concrete column per plan, hardwood floors throughout living areas, floor-to-ceiling windows, and European kitchens with stainless steel appliances.

Boasting 10-foot ceilings, this 483 square foot 1-bed 1-bath pied-a-terre is the perfect pad for the young professional looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the busy downtown core and still maintain accessibility to all of the action. As you enter, you’re are greeted with exposed concrete ceilings and dark hardwood flooring throughout. To your left, is a luxe contemporary kitchen, complete with stainless steel appliances, a marble backsplash, and European style finishes courtesy of Scavolini. To your right, opposite the kitchen, is a bonus closet space, ensuite washer and dryer, and a fresh, clean-lined 4-piece bathroom which features a deep, modern soaker tub.

Beyond the kitchen, the living area unfolds toward a wall of windows that offers panoramic city views and bathes the space in natural light. The private 116 square foot balcony is perfect for catching up on your favourite novel or enjoying a nightcap! Complete with a barbecue gas hook up, it’s a great extension of your entertainment space when friends come to call!

The bright master suite, accessed through sliding doors off the living space, boasts a generous closet and an exposed concrete feature wall. This will be a welcome sanctuary when you need a break from the bright lights of urban living.

Are you a young professional looking to embrace a pedestrian lifestyle in the heart of downtown? This bold n’ bright loft is your perfect jumping off point! Offered for lease at just $1,500 per month (plus heat and hydro) beginning August 15th, this marries location and lifestyle in one cool package!

Wanna know more? Contact julian@urbaneer.com for more information.

Want to learn more about this neighbourhood? Check out our Leslieville / Riverside / South Riverdale Neighbourhood Page, 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!