Beach Hill Residences, by Carlyle Communities, will be one of only a few mid-rise buildings in the Woodbine Avenue corridor.
BEACH HILL RESIDENCES
LOCATION: Upper Beaches, Toronto
BUILDER/DEVELOPER Carlyle Communities
SIZE 483 to 1,009 square feet
PRICE $253,900 to $535,900
SALES CENTRE 763 Woodbine Ave. at Gerrard Street East. Open Monday to Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m.; Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; weekends from noon to 5 p.m.
CONTACT PHONE 416-422-0880 or visit beachhillresidences.com
Like homeowners tending to their gardens at the first sign of spring, Carlyle Communities is busy cultivating an infill site in the Upper Beaches community for a fresh, new building to pop up.
Situated on the crest of a hill at the southeast corner of Gerrard Street East and Woodbine Avenue, the seven-storey condominium will have an exterior finished in bright green, white and black accents.
"Buyers have been very receptive to the project from many levels," says Naram Mansour, president of Carlyle Communities, which sold half the 64 units available since October.
"They definitely love the design of the project, which they feel is very refreshing … and very appropriate for the neighbourhood."
The boutique development will be one of only a few mid-rise buildings in the revitalizing Woodbine Avenue corridor.
"This is going to be unique relative to architecture of the area because we're using quite bright and light colours. We want to instill a sense of optimism in the area," says Roland Rom Colthoff, who is the director of architectural firm, RAW Design.
"The area has more traditional, darker conservative brick colours … and a lot of buildings around town are all window wall systems and use more conservative blue and grey tones."
The project's colour palette also alludes to its use of eco-friendly building practices and features, such as green roofs and a sleek façade with nearly an equal amount of glass cladding and fibre-reinforced cement panels to cut down utility costs.
"The heat retention and cool air retention is significantly higher than pure glass towers," says Mr. Mansour. "The green and white panels allow for better heat retention in the winter and keeps the building cooler in the summer."
Paints with low volatile organic compounds and sustainably harvested wood cabinetry and floors will also be among standard finishes in each suite, which range from studios to two-bedroom plans.
"There's something for everybody," Mr. Colthoff states. "[Also] we did combine units into large two-bedroom units."
Locals homeowners downsizing also appreciate how the principal rooms open up to private balconies, including a 831-square-foot wraparound terrace for a 792-square-foot penthouse.
"Our penthouse suites have been very popular because the terraces are just massive," says Mr. Mansour. "It's very enticing for people, especially people in this neigbourhood who are very outdoorsy and like to be out and about."
Providing only a gym, third-floor party room and terrace on site – as well as some ground-floor retail – was another way to encourage residents to be active in the community.
"If you want to work out, go to a yoga or Pilates studio five steps away, or if you want to hold a condo board meeting maybe hold it at a restaurant, pub or coffee shop," Mr. Mansour states.
"It's attractive for everyone who loves the Beach, so if you're someone who loves to play volleyball Saturdays and Sundays … it's a five-to-10-minute bike ride or a 15 to 20 minute walk."
Many buyers have forgone the $29,900 spot in a parking stacker since there are three major forms of transit nearby.
"We're probably the most convenient transit-oriented project in the neighbourhood," adds Mr. Mansour. "The Gerrard streetcar is literally on the doorstep of the building; the Woodbine subway station on the Bloor/Danforth line is about a 10-minute walk at most; and there's a GO stop at Gerrard and Main."
Monthly fees will be about 55 cents a square foot and occupancy begins early 2015.