Weeks have passed since our team, here at the Toronto Star’s NewInHomes.com, have taken a minute to pay homage to a past development that is currently embellishing our city’s skyline.  Today, we would like to recognize The Residences of Maple Leaf Square for being an excellent addition to one of Toronto’s most popular districts.

The Residences of Maple Leaf Square is a joint development by Cadillac Fairview, Lanterra Developments, and Maple Leaf Sports + Entertainment.  Completed in 2010, the condominium consists of two towers, reaching 54 and 40 storeys, respectively.  Overall, the immense development spans roughly 1.8 million square feet.  There is a total of about 900 residential units comprising the two condos, the nine storey podium features a boutique-style hotel, and there is a significant amount of retail and entertainment venues at ground level.  The remaining space, approximately 150,000 square feet, serves for office and commercial use.

Both towers boast a sleek contemporary design; simple, yet complementing to the area.  Located on a 2.1-acre site at 65 and 55 Bremner Boulevard, Maple Leaf Square Condos is surrounded by some of Toronto’s proudest establishments.  Residents have a direct connection to the Maple Leaf Square Mall, Union Station, the Air Canada Centre, and Toronto’s convenient PATH System, a 27km long underground retail space.  The condo is also within close proximity to many restaurants, such as the Real Sports Bar & Grill, North America’s number one sports bar.  The district of Maple Leaf Square clearly has all of the entertainment amenities down pact, but it also has the necessities, including the new, expansive Longo’s, a grocery store unlike any you have ever seen.

Besides being enveloped by Toronto’s best, The Residences of Maple Leaf Square also has its own selection of luxurious amenities, exclusive to the residents.  Some of the special features include a state-of-the-art fitness facility, an indoor and outdoor pool which are shared with the hotel patrons, and a 40-seat screening room for watching your favourite films.  Another notable feature of the residence is the sustainable design.  Their green roof is the most impressive aspect of the design because we do not see them enough in Toronto.  The green roof promotes storm water retention and decreases greenhouse effects.

We would like to thank Cadillac Fairview, Lanterra Developments, and Maple Leaf Sports + Entertainment for providing the city with such spectacular mixed-use towers.  Keep a close eye on these developers’ other projects; Lanterra has a number of them on the go, including 609 Sherbourne St. and the second phase of Treviso Condos, which are currently in preconstruction, and Cadillac Fairview is almost ready to break ground on Flaire Condos and LivLofts.

Stay tuned to the Toronto Star’s NewInHomes.com for updates on Lanterra’s or Cadillac Fairview’s other developments.

Readers of the Toronto Star’s HomesAndCondosBlog are well aware of our love for projects that challenge the normal standards of architecture. It is easy to continue to build the same type of tower over and over, but not so easy to push the limits on design. With that in mind, we are very happy to introduce Origami Lofts by our friends over at Symmetry Developments.

Origami Lofts, located at 202 Bathurst St., will be an eight-storey condominium that will feature an intimate collection of just 29 suites. There will be a limited amount of parking spots, and some commercial space. Designed by Teeple Architects, Origami Lofts will be a unique project adorning the eclectic Queen St. West and Bathurst St. area.

What sticks out the most about Origami Lofts is fairly obvious, the design.  The glass building will feature vertical panels with cutouts, and is one of the more innovative designs we have seen for a boutique condominium. It’s not shocking that a design such as this is stemming from the minds of Symmetry Developments and Teeple, as both are known for leaving a lasting impression with their progressive condominium designs.

Symmetry Developments is a builder who has experience with cool and innovative infill projects. Their last project, The Hive, caught attention from everyone in Toronto for not only its cool design, but how they took an underused site in the city and redeveloped it into a sleek, contemporary building.

Keep an eye on the Toronto Star’s HomesandCondosBlog, as well will be all over this one!

The Trimart Research Corporation continues to take a final look at the 2011 low-rise sales market, focusing on the most successful builders in the Greater Toronto Area. Leading the way was Mattamy Homes with 2,011 units, followed by Fernbrook Homes with 729, and Aspen Ridge Homes at 651. With that in mind, let’s take a peek at some other successful December sites in the Greater Toronto Area.

First on the Trimart Hotlist is Hawthorne Village by Mattamy Homes, which achieved 72 sales in December. Located near the corner of Derry Rd. and James Snow Parkway, Hawthorne Village features townhomes ranging from 1,040 to 1,873 square feet. It also features detached homes on a wide variety of lots, ranging in sizes from 1,150 to 4,031 square feet. Prices at Hawthorne Village start at  $299,990.

Second on the Trimart Hotlist is Cornell, a development by Mattamy Homes. Cornell features townhomes ranging from 1,200 to 1,840 square feet, priced as low as $364,990. It also features detached homes on 36′ and 40′ lots, available for as little as $574,990. Cornell obtained 29 sales in December.

Third on the Trimart Hotlist is MacLeod’s Landing by Aspen Ridge Homes with 19 sales.  MacLeod’s Landing features detached homes on 45′ and 50′ lots,  ranging from 2,314 to 3,351 square feet.  Prices at MacLeod’s Landing are starting at $596,990.

Fourth on the Hotlist is Landscapes, a development by Tribute Homes, which achieved 16 sales in December. It features two- and three-storey townhomes, ranging from 1,344 to 3,527 square feet, with prices starting at $340,990. It also features semi-detached homes, ranging from 1,755 to 3,527 square feet, for as low as $404,990.

Fifth on this week’s Hotlist is Thornhill Valley, a development by Remington Homes, with 15 sales last December.  Located at the corner of Rutherford Rd. and Dufferin St., Thornhill Valley features detached homes on 38’ and 40′ lots, ranging from 2,453 to 3,005 square feet. The development also offers a collection of townhomes, ranging from 1,778 to 2,140 square feet.  A Thornhill Valley home is available for as little as $454,990.

All information courtesy Trimart Research corporation.

Back in September 2011, we announced that Empire Communities was preparing to launch Eau Du Soleil, a new condominium development in the Humber Bay area of Toronto. We knew the location and the builder, but were still waiting on the most important aspect of the development, the renderings! Six months later, here we are, happy to share the first glimpse of what Empire has in store for us in Humber Bay!

Located at 2183 Lake Shore Blvd. West, Empire is planning to build a two-tower development, sized 64 and 42 storeys and sharing a common podium. The two towers will hold a combined 1,178 suites, and a significant amount of commercial space is expected at ground level. Empire has brought in renowned Toronto-based architect EI Richmond, who is responsible for the design of projects such as The Modern Condos and Milan Condominiums.

Toronto’s Humber Bay community is an area that has been ripe for development for the past few years. It was known for being home to empty plots of land and underused low-rise buildings. However,  It has now become one of the hottest spots for development in Toronto. Lago Condos by Monarch Group, iLoft and California Condos by Camrost Felcorp,  Ocean Club by Graywood Developments, and Beaverhall Homes are all either completed or under construction in the Humber Bay area. You can also add the Onni Group of Companies’ Westlake communities, and many more to the list!

What do you think of the renderings of Eau Du Soleil?