This Area May Be Toronto's New Upper West Side

By: Lisa Van de Ven

Some developers consider the Junction the next Bloor West Village -- a west-end neighbourhood with a strong business component and the potential for residential growth.

At least that is what Nexxt Development Corp. feels. The developer is investing heavily in the area with what will be, if all goes to plan, one of the community's largest residential projects.

"I think it has the potential of Bloor West Village -- certainly in just raw square footage, it has the space," says Kevin Rachman, project co-ordinator for Nexxt. "I think it's always been a sort of unique community."

Still in the planning stages, the Nexxt project at Keele Street and Dundas Street West (as yet unnamed) proposes 635 residential units. The development will include three towers -- 22, 20 and 10 storeys -- and a lowrise townhouse component. "We think an influx of residents will really give that revitalization its final push," Mr. Rachman says.

The revitalization project initiated by the City of Toronto to improve the Junction played a big part in Nexxt's interest there. "I think if those mechanisms for revitalization weren't in place, we probably would have just left the site," Mr. Rachman says.

"The fact that there's active involvement from residents, from businesses and from landowners in the area to make this a stronger, safer, a cleaner community and a revitalized community -- is important, and it's been great participating in that."

Other developers also have been attracted by the changes in the area. "I guess what we're starting to do is look at this area as sort of the new Toronto Upper West Side," says Brad Lamb of Brad J. Lamb Realty Inc. "It's always been sort of derelict -- The Junction doesn't have the most positive connotation when it comes to lifestyle or housing.... But we're looking at it, saying this is an interesting neighbourhood, and some very neat housing is coming out of here."

Mr. Lamb is marketing Chelsea Lofts on the edge of the Junction at Lansdowne Avenue and Dupont Street. Developed by Namara and Garden Park Homes, the 70-unit contemporary loft building is being built on the site of a former TTC streetcar turn-around.

Units range from 480 to about 900 square feet and are priced from $120,000 to $225,000. Features include large balconies, nine-foot exposed concrete ceilings, hardwood floors and sliding walls.

Another development underway is Glenlake by Georgian Homes at Dundas Street West and Glenlake Avenue. The seven-storey building has 130 units ranging from 550 to more than 1,000 sq. ft. They are priced from $139,900 to more than $300,000. The suites feature hardwood floors, balconies, granite breakfast bars and underground parking.

According to Pat Baker, the president of Baker Real Estate, the building's clientele is very local. "We actually have people from further afield, because it's so close to High Park and Bloor Street and the subway, but it's certainly attracted a lot of people in the area. People, once they've lived there, want to stay there.

"It was a great piece of land. It's hard to find terrific condo land in the middle of a residential area. Developers are looking for that type of thing," Ms. Baker says.