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

DOWNTOWN WALKWAY "PATH"

Let’s face it, Toronto is downright cold in the winter months! Unlike our American counterparts, Canadians have not abandoned the core of its city. Sensitive to such issues as urban sprawl and its environmental issues coupled with gasoline prices, time management getting to and from work and a host of other quite logical reasons, Torontonians are flocking to the downtown core in droves.

We Canadian’s are industrious people, more than qualified to face down old man winter. Years ago, the cities designers factored in Toronto’s innovative approach to winter inhabitation building an underground walkway reminiscent of the streets of Hong Kong with small boutique shops adorning each side of a mammoth intertwined web of corridors linking a substantial area of the downtown core.

Residential condo developers, sensitive to the cries of their buying public have responded by grabbing up land adjacent to or at least as close as possible to this underground known as the "PATH".

Starting just above Dundas Street in the Atrium on Bay a knowledgeable foot warrior can navigate their way through the Eaton Centre, into the Bay and into the Bay Adelaide Centre which, when construction is completed will continue on south through Scotia Plaza. For now, pedestrians are directed west through The Bay into the Sheraton Centre at Queen Street and University Avenue and then south through the Richmond Adelaide Centre into First Canadian Place where once again choices abound. You can go east to Scotia Plaza and then south from there into Commerce Court and on into BCE Place. Alternatively you can head west from First Canadian Place under University Avenue and on the Roy Thompson Hall, CBC Headquarters and on to the Skydome. At First Canadian Place you may also decide to continue  south through Royal Trust tower and on into Toronto Dominion Centre, Royal Bank Plaza and into Union Station. Plans are set to continue on south into the Air Canada Centre. Amazing, and all without Old Man Winter’s chilling breath numbing your exposed extremities.

Starting at the northern end of the PATH, let’s check out the Ellington which is just north of Dundas at the intersection of Carlton and Yonge Street. It was developed in the late eighties and residents moved in during the early 90’s. Access to the PATH is actually gained by crossing Yonge Street, entering College Park and walking south through this magical historic gem of a commercial space and out onto Yonge at the south end, dropping two corners to Atrium on Bay and into the PATH. Conservatory on Bay, The Gallery, The Penrose and Royalton, all on Bay at College have direct access into College Park with the same jump outside and back into Atrium on Bay and the PATH. Liberties on Bay and Horizon on Bay along with Minto Plaza all offer excellent access into Atrium on Bay and thus into the PATH.

If you notice that I skip over some condos it is usually just because I do not recommend them and it is important to emphasize that just because I mention a condo development here does not mean that I endorse that condo development in any way. Some are definitely better than others and that is one of the key reasons why you would have me represent you in selecting and purchasing your condo. All condo developments have what the industry calls "Premiere suites". The majority of the remaining suites in a good development site have decent or not bad suites and all, yes all have "dog suites" which are usually sold to unsuspecting Buyers who get caught up by the floor plan or tactics of the selling agent.

Continuing south from Dundas Street along Yonge Street we will find the new Pantages Tower, one of my favorite developments in the city uniquely offering great views in almost every direction. Prices have gone up a couple times but there is still a good selection of suites left. Let’s share a couple of ideas here if you are looking to invest.

The best location and most conceptual property in the city is located just west of Yonge Street on the south side of King. The property has been around and for sale for years but most developers were intimidated by the narrow nature of the site with a bank on each side and a streetcar line running along one of the busiest core streets in the city. 1 King West is a magnificent presale condo that I have been watching closely for months now. With a new marketing plan launched in November offering fully customized suites and the introduction of a new partner it looks like this project is finally on track however its pricing is substantially ahead of the market and its maintenance fees are almost double its counterparts in the neighborhood.

Just east of Yonge along King Street, The Metropol is a development worth mentioning with high ceilings, respectable construction and a full range of sizes including some interesting townhomes facing a quiet side street. Continuing east we come into one of the high demand areas of St. Lawrence Market area (The St. James, New Times Square, Market Square, King George Square, 25 George St., etc.) however these condos do not fit our mold of being adjacent to the PATH. Great high demand area though.

The Esplanade is another high density residential development offering quick access into the PATH via BCE Place and/or Union Station. 71 Front Street offers some surprising large residences at great per footage rates. From here we have to travel to the west side of the core over to University Avenue where the range of condo residences covers the virtual gamut. Just across from Roy Thompson Hall on Simcoe Street you will find Symphony Place, one of my favorite established residences dating back to the early 1990’s. You can access the PATH from Roy Thompson Hall. Right on University is 33 University an upper end residential community built in the early 90’s.

There are a great deal many condo developments going up in the downtown core but few that are walking distance to the PATH. Some interesting projects are being developed over by Skydome and Blue Jay Way with the APEX, SoHo Grand Hotel Condominium, ICON, and Morgan which I will update you on soon.

If you have specific questions, complaints or information that you would like to pass onto me or have posted at this site please don’t hesitate to email me. I value your input and look forward to hearing from you.

Laurie

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