One of my favorite places in Toronto is Chinatown. My fondness for the area which is bordered on the South just below Queen Street and on the North by Queen’s Park and running from just west of the Eaton’s Center to just beyond Spadina, is probably just a fall back to my longing to revisit Hong Kong.

The condo business has given me a great deal but nothing moreso close to my heart than the time that it afforded me in Hong Kong and Mainland China. As a luxury residential condominium sales specialist in the early 1980’s one did not have to be a rocket scientist to see the downturn (or what others called the crash) looming on the horizon.

After all, you couldn’t go on selling these dreams in the sky forever. Once all of these condo developments that we were selling like hot cakes (we sold our over 400 suites at 1001 Bay in 10 days!!!) were completed, there would inevitably be a slump which in sales and marketing terms means that your income is about to dry up.

As the market was falling down around us in Toronto in 1989 I was approached by an old friend in the business Abe Rutenberg who had been retained by an Ottawa developer to try to figure out what to do with a property at 38 Elm Street just west of Yonge Street. The site was situated between Yonge and Bay and had been originally conceived to be a hotel, like one that the developer had already completed in Ottawa. Apparently the Delta Hotel balked when it learned of the developers plans to build a competing hotel right at its back door and the developers had to go back to the drawing board. The challenge arose in that they had already started pouring the cement and the floorplans were, one might say "carved in stone". Abe had pointed out to them that they would really need a "closer" and he recommended that they retain me.

I recall being enthusiastic about the site specifically because of its proximity to Chinatown as I was aware of the political climate in Hong Kong with 1997 only 8 years away. The Developer couldn’t seem to get his head around the Chinese dilemma but was willing to cover my retainer and give me the flexibility that I felt I needed. They brought in another professional condo sales rep who had been Marty Atkins’ (the then Condo Guru of Toronto condo marketing), a top producer. You could tell they were nervous in having to pay two top guns to sit on their site.

With the demise of the Toronto condo market fully underway and developers going into bankruptcy at regular intervals, selling these high priced condos would have been difficult if it were not for my Asian buyers. In the matter of a few short months I managed to sell 48 "units" while Elizabeth, as talented as she was could muster only 4 sales to her North American clients. The size of the units was another factor as someone moving out of Hong Kong was more than accustomed to small spaces. My homework had paid off because when I originally saw the crunch coming I sat on a beach in Fort Lauderdale Florida and strategized where my career would lead to next and my conclusions had told me that Hong Kong was my next frontier. 38 Elm St. at Minto Plaza was proving to be my preparatory school for the next phase of my life and for that I truly thank the Greenbergs for granting me the opportunity to gain my education in Chinese culture, norms and communication styles.

The first thing that I can and will always say about the Greenbergs and their development company Minto Developments is that they build a first rate product. They recently developed a parcel of land at the west end of Yorkville Ave (Canada’s Rodeo Drive) called the Prince Arthur and if you haven’t seen it yet . . . get there because architecturally it is worth the trip. I was in Yorkville the other morning at sunrise and in spite of the cold Toronto morning air the light glimmering off this architectural gem was stunning. Minto only does the best and for anyone considering the purchase of a Toronto condominium and you see the name Minto, you can be assured that you are going to get quality.

As I reminisce about the many condominium developments that I have been fortunate enough to be associated with either in a sales and/or marketing capacity I cannot help but be thankful to those that I have worked for and with. Most Realtors do not fully understand what the sale of a condo entails. Most are not aware that a condo, moreso than bricks and mortar, is a lifestyle. Condos have afforded me a lifestyle for both my work and my relaxation as well as offering me a conservative and sound investment portfolio. In this series of articles, I will not only share with you my knowledge and advise about the condo lifestyle in general but also the condo market in the Toronto area including thorough knowledge of the actual developments that make up this market. If you have any questions or would like to challenge any recommendations I welcome your input and promise to publish your comments.

38 Elm St at Minto Plaza offers one of the most comprehensive amenities floors on the market with a large swimming pool and exercise facility but also offering business rooms, meeting rooms, formal party room with dance floor and kitchen and uncompromising workmanship throughout.

For Chinese buyers interested in being more ingrained in the Chinese community as opposed to Minto Plaza’s positioning on the fringe of Chinatown, you can look at Chestnut Park, Village By The Grange, 1 Park Lane, and Residences of the Artisans. Dim Sum is served at numerous Chinatown restaurants and the Peking Duck, barbecued pork, and every other Chinese delicacy is available at pretty well every corner. As for me, I just like the atmosphere of the busy cramped streets full of merchants doing exactly what the Hong Kong merchants did daily. For a cultural experience, take a walk or drive to Chinatown. You’ll be glad you did.

The newest and brightest star in the Chinatown area is a development situated on the corner of Spadina and Oxford that is named the Kwong Fat Hong Building that is just about to be marketed.   Charles Laurie Hanes.

Underground: Downtown Walkway "Path" Neighbourhoods: Annex, Avondale, Bay Corridor, Bloor East, Casa Loma, Chinatown, Downtown East, Entertainment District, Fashion District, Financial District, Harbourfront, King West Village, Merton, North York, Queen West, Rosedale, St.Lawrence, Summerhill, Yonge & Eglinton, Yonge & St. Clair, York Mills, Yorkville

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