Eglinton LRT Route Spurs Development Of Two-Tower Condo Plan

Developer Lindvest is moving quickly to capitalize on the building of the new LRT route along Eglinton with its new Sonic condominium project.

"People want to live on transit lines all over the world, Toronto is no exception," says vice-president Michoel Klugmann, who anticipates a 10-minute commute to Yonge Street from the infill project.

"With the advent of transit, it’s a very quick hop and skip down to downtown, and we're also very close to the DVP."

Situated near the Ontario Science Centre at Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue, the first phase of this two-tower community will be completed on Ferrand Drive in 2019, about two years before the Science Centre station and Eglinton Crosstown LRT will be operational.

"It's an active line with money committed from various levels of government and people can see construction is under way, so it's for real. So this is a high demand area," Mr. Klugmann says.

"We know there will be many projects that follow us, so we believe in the advantage of first movers."

Though few new condominium offerings are available in the area, the site is surrounded by established shops, restaurants, grocers, medical facilities and attractions, from festivals and farmer's markets at the Shops at Don Mills to extensive parkland along Wilket Creek and the Don River.

"Down the block is the Aga Khan Museum, which is a jewel, a Superstore across the street, Shops at Don Mills up the block and all these trails nearby," Mr. Klugmann says.

The builder will also add more than 25,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities. A highlight will be a large outdoor park landscaped by NAK Design Strategies with a water feature, seating areas, playground, fitness apparatuses and a figure-eight walking path.

"Beside the generous amenity area altogether … we have some unique features we've picked up from sunnier cities," Mr. Klugmann says. "We're one of the first in Toronto to have built-in exterior exercise equipment and an exercise track."

On top of a three-storey podium between the high-rises will be a rooftop terrace with cabanas, barbeque, dining and lounging areas. "It's a large oasis, all oriented to flow and bring the outdoors in," Mr. Klugmann notes.

Indoors, residents will find a main-floor community room, meeting booths, a music and theatre room and pet wash station, as well as third-floor fitness and yoga studios and a party room with a bar, dining and games rooms.

The first tower will rise 28 storeys and contain 315 suites ranging from studios to three-bedroom plans with open principal rooms and kitchens.

"They feel generous just by the layout," Mr. Klugmann says.

"Plus, the way we live today, things have to be multi-functional. One example is we'll be offering a kitchen island as a movable kitchen island on castors, so it can serve as a kitchen island, or in a pinch, it could be a card or end table."

U31 Inc., will also ensure utilitarian appointments are upscale, such custom bathroom vanities, frameless mirrors and wall-mounted medicine cabinets.

"We know kitchens and bathrooms are what sell units," Mr. Klugmann says. "One of the things we have that is popular downtown is we're going to have a number of one-plus-den suites that have two washrooms."

Parking will be $20,000 and monthly fees 50 cents a square foot.