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Home of the Week, 11A Gilead Place, Toronto. The urban laneway known as Gilead Place was occupied by some pretty derelict old buildings when architect Brian Kucharski decided in 2006 to build the Corktown Lofthouses. “Terrible things were happening in the laneway,” agent Robin Pope says of the criminal activity that the abandoned area attracted. In the Victorian era, the lane was lined with tiny “shanty town” workers’ cottages that were likely occupied by employees at the nearby Gooderham and Worts. The master bedroom on the third floor has a 10-foot high ceiling and an ensuite bathroom with a walk-in glass shower enclosure.Mark Wilson

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There’s been a surge in building all around the district known as Corktown and the area has become extremely popular with homeowners who want to live close to downtown and the area now known as the Distillery District.Mark Wilson

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Working with only a slim plot of land, architect Brian Kucharski emphasized the vertical when he designed and built the eight freehold townhouses. At 11A, homeowners George Argyropoulos and Katerina Barouma have 1,900 square feet of living space with three bedrooms, a den and three bathrooms.Mark Wilson

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Mr. Pope points out that ceiling heights vary by room, with a range from nine feet to 13. ‘It has a different volume of space when you go from room to room.’Mark Wilson

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On the lower level, a room facing the street has an above-grade window. Behind that, a garage is meant to hold one car but Mr. Argyropoulos and Ms. Barouma have been known to also squeeze in a Smart Car beside their regular-sized vehicle.Mark Wilson

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Across the laneway, celebrity chef Jamie Kennedy has set up his Gilead Cafe. People who live in the lane often run across for their coffee, breakfast and lunch, says Mr. Pope.Mark Wilson

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Stairs lead up to the living room. The open staircase serves as an atrium that brings light down to each level. ‘The stair has a more industrial feel – kind of borrowing from the history of the neighbourhood,’ says Mr. Pope.Mark Wilson

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A view from the kitchen. The uppermost level is a rooftop terrace with a portion occupied by a green roof. ‘You have a view 360 degrees,’ says Mr. Pope of the vistas towards the CN Tower in one direction and the newly created Don River Park in the other.Mark Wilson

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The first floor is occupied by the kitchen with apple green cabinets by Scavolini.Mark Wilson

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Mark Wilson

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