AURA
AT COLLEGE PARK LATEST RESIDENTIAL SKYSCRAPER TO LAUNCH IN TORONTO THIS MONTH
Charles Hanes
February 11, 2008
 Well, the long heralded, and
patiently wait for, crowning jewel of Canderel Stoneridge’s College Park development
located at the intersection of Bay St. and College has finally arrived!
This final version is 75 storeys high, making it one of the tallest residential towers in
Canada, let alone the city. It will have direct access to the subway, which is nice for
those cold winter days when you are on your way to the Airport for sunnier lands, you can
leave your coat behind, trip down to the subway and right to the airport and off to
Florida! Believe me, once you’ve lived through one of Toronto’s blisteringly
cold winters, you will see the benefit to this!
Important things to note is that the Delta Hotel on Gerrard is south/west so, views due
south will be good but you will have to get up high for an unobstructed view south/west.
Immediately on Aura’s west
side is Liberties on Bay, a three building mid rise development of older condos. Moving a
little north along it’s western wall is College Park II (50+ storey)
and north west is College Park
I (50+ storey). On it’s north wall is College Park shopping complex and luxury
apartments, both mid rise. The shopping component has a mid rise above it as well so views
north will be good.
Yonge Street has never been one of my favorite places. It has always had a two storey
height restriction and it’s impressive that the developer could get approval for the
height, but you will see that the tower sits on a 3-storey podium of shops and businesses
with the tower above, receded back from Yonge St. (good design work).
However, one street to the west is Bay Street (Toronto’s “Wall Street”)
leading down from Yorkville to Toronto’s Financial District is great. The art deco
buildings of College Park are the original Eaton’s Shopping Center and have recently
been rejuvenated thanks to these residential towers as well as the many other residential
developments in the immediate area like Lumiere immediately across Bay Street from College
Park I, The Met I and The Met II at
Yonge Street where you can also find some nice townhouses on Granby in the $600,000 price
range. They are stacked townhouses with a two storey ground level and a two storey upper
unit with balconies and terraces and all facing south (quite nice). Just north along Bay
Street you have Murano I and Murano
II, and Burano, some more
middle market condos
A QUICK OVERVIEW
Canderel Stoneridge is a known developer in Toronto having developed over 2,000
condominium units (built or under construction). I have represented dozens of purchasers
of their condo units and have not had complaints about occupancy, deficiencies, or
closings. No developer is above reproach and there are always things that arise that
require additional initiative by the developer and I personally have never had a problem
arise with them that was not resoved.
Aura is the third tower of a mega residential condo development / commercial
revitalization project in the very heart of downtown Toronto. College Park I has just been
completed in 2007 and registered in a timely manner. College Park II, as of my writing,
has started “Occupancy”. Aura completes a donut around a beautiful park with a
fountain that converts to a public skating rink in the winter. |
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At 75 storeys, if
it’s views that you are looking for, you will find them here. They are releasing only
up to floor 55 on the initial release, but certainly there will be abundant views. There
is select information that you will want to consider prior to selecting views and/or
suites so be sure to register with me right away.
Some of the best townhouses are available immediately inside the 3 acre park, standing
immediately east of the two existing College Park Towers offering the most peaceful and
tranquil place to live that one can imagine! There are only twelve of these luxury 2,200
square foot townhouses with two that will be available on registration. If you are looking
for one of the most unique homes in the city, you will want to have a look at these
townhouses.
You have direct access to the subway and if you’ve lived through one of
Toronto’s bitter cold winters you will hold a special appreciation of this.
You are just 2 cross street blocks from the PATH, the longest underground shopping
concourse in the world! Again, to beat Old Man Winter, the PATH is something that you hope
to live close to in Toronto.
Ryerson University is immediately across the street on the east side of Yonge Street so
parents with kids intending to attend this highly acclaimed University may want to
consider investing today to offset residence costs when they attend, sell the unit after
graduation and offset a bunch of tuition.
All the major hospitals are located just a couple blocks to the west on University Avenue,
so doctors, nurses, administrators, and support staff constitute ideal buyers as well as
tenants for investors.
Next to New York, Toronto is a “world class” place for music, theatre and other
performing arts. From ballet to broadway shows or nightclubs, comedy or opera Toronto
really does have it all!
The bottom line, “Do I Recommend Aura”.
Well, you’ll just have to wait and see, just like me! I’ve asked for more
detailed information but alas, I am only one of the Priority Realtors that is granted
early access to suites and that access is on the 22nd of February.
I’ve been through all of the promotional material that they advanced me and done
further due diligence but cannot publish this information here. I have shared the floor
plans with over 3,000 of my “registered” clients and viewers at my site and have
correlated the overall feedback which is something that I’m confident you would like
to share in before deciding on whether to buy or not.
I have selected the suites that I like and those which I consider “dog suites”.
Register with me and you won’t be ending up with one of the “dog suites”.
I’ll be sending out my thoughts immediately following the event on the 22nd. Until
then, if you have questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. If you think that
you are remotely interested please Register with me and emphasize that you are interested
specifically in Aura and my staff will forward your file to me immediately. You can always
contact my office at 416-783-5000.
I look forward to hearing from and working with you. Until the 22nd, I’m Charles
Hanes |
