637 Lake Shore Blvd
The place to be if you love sailing — the building is next door to Toronto’s highly reputable National Yacht Club. The building was originally built in 1929 for the Tip Top Tailor clothing company, a popular men’s clothing chain in Canada.
Specs: The units have the concrete pillars and exposed duct work. The two storey units have soaring floor to ceiling 13 ft windows and Juliette balconies. The Tip Top lofts feature 256 lofts ranging in size from 600 to 2,580 square feet with over 50 unique floor plans. The 1 bedroom units start in the mid $300s and the 1 bedroom plus den start at the low $400s. The few penthouses that do come on the market can go from $1,000,000 – $2,000,000.
Amenities: Next door to National Yacht Club and Alexandra Yacht Club. The building is at the foot of the Martin Goodman Trail — perfect for runners and cyclists and just a short walk away from Harbourfront. Residents can enjoy a fully equipped fitness centre,
yoga/aerobatic room, concierge and bbq patio.
Last September, I was at the Harbourfront Sailing Club on Queens Quay with fellow members. The sun was going down and we had just sailed in from our weekly Tuesday friendly/competitive regatta. After every race we sit down together in club’s backyard patio and chip in $4 for a bbq dinner and $2 for a pint of beer (or in my case a pint of iced tea — not big on the beer, more of a wine person but the atmosphere wasn’t fit for wine). Our beloved chef on the side/biggest sailing competition would prepare a feast so good, it felt like we were taking advantage of his ‘club member special and/or I’m just a nice guy’ price. It was picture perfect: the city lights were starting to come out and the orange sky was fading behind the condos. We had good sailing, good food and good conversation and I was sincerely in awe of Toronto. There was nothing more that I could possibly want. Then the Rogers Centre opened its roof and treated us to a little bit of the U2 concert.
Days like that may just be perk of living downtown, but it’s also about the atmosphere you get when you take a bunch of like minded people and put them all together in a condensed urban centre. Camaraderie happens.
For the residents of CityPlace, Toronto’s largest multi-tower condo community in the Harbourfront District, the Rogers Centre treats them to free summer concerts frequently. Part of the development overlooks the Rogers centre – Queens Quay and spans across 52 acres, including an 8 acre community park. The 6 building, 1500 unit complex offers residents fantastic amenities (Superior fiber optic high speed internet access, a Terrace, a Catering Kitchen, a Fitness Facility, Karaoke, Squash, Tennis, an Indoor Running Track, Pool, Sauna and Bowling Alley — to list a few), but gives off a Campus-like vibe with a younger demographic and a large population of renters. CityPlace is not just a place to live, it’s a way of life, it’s a co-ed fraternity where the code is ‘be young, single and ready to mingle’ and if you aren’t carefree and energetic then you’re a minority.
