Artist Interview: Clare Scott-Taggart

We’ve been very curious about the story behind some of the beautiful art we’ve seen set amongst various condos, many which were commissioned to ensure that our city does not become a plain old concrete jungle.

We took some time recently to sit down with Clare Scott-Taggart, artist and creator of Across the Great Span of Time at Shane Baghai’s St Gabriel development. Located on the north side of Sheppard just east of Bayview, the beautifully crafted sculpture sits gracefully in front of St Gabriel, quietly greeting visitors and passersby.

We visited Clare at her west Toronto studio to learn a little more about her sculpture and what makes her tick as an artist.

More after the jump...

Condo Sales: The Past 30 Days at Circa

This week, let’s head a little north of the city for a look at Tridel’s Circa.  With its first phase completed in late 2008 and second phase in occupancy earlier this year, the elegant architecture of Circa’s two towers can be admired at the northwest corner of Warden and Hwy 7 in Markham.  The development offers a wide range of suite types and sizes, and like most of Tridel’s condos, this building houses a variety of first-class amenities including a virtual reality golf centre.

In the past 30 days, a total of three units have sold at Circa I with prices ranging from $273,800 for a 1-BR unit to $420,000 for a 2-BR suite of about 1,000 sq ft.  Eight units were also leased over the past month from $1,350 for a 1-BR suite, $1,700 for a 2-BR+Den and $2,100 for a 3-BR+Den.

If you’re wondering how property values have held up over the past couple years, a 2-BR+Den suite that sold in September 2008 resold earlier this year for $45,000 more than it did in 2008, while another 2-BR+Den unit that sold in September 2009 recently resold for $18,000 more than it did last year.

For more information on Circa, please click here.

If you’re a Realtor and would like to share similar stories, please contact us at info@livehigh.com to participate or be featured in a post.

Please note that units can vary greatly in features and finishes which would normally be considered in any purchase or sale. Any transactions outlined above are for general information purposes only and may not reflect those of typical suites. LiveHigh.com is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided or for any damages or loss resulting from the use of such information. For further information on these or other sales, please consult a real estate specialist.

Condo Sales: The Past 30 Days at Hillside Ravines

Following our first Past 30 Days post, we’ve decided this week to take a look at State Building Group’s Hillside Ravines. Completed over three phases from 2000 through 2006, Hillside Ravine’s three low-rise buildings sit upon a vast area of lush greenery in the highly-coveted Hoggs Hollow neighbourhood. Situated just east of Yonge St between the 401 and York Mills, Hillside Developments offers residents a nice range of building facilities coupled with a quaint yet convenient location, providing the perfect mix for those who seek a quiet, active lifestyle.

In the past 30 days, a total of three units have sold between the three buildings at Hillside Ravines with prices ranging from $370,000 for a 1-BR+Den unit of 753 sq ft to $545,000 for a 2-BR+Den unit of approximately 1,300 sq ft. Two units were also leased over the past month from $1,750 to $2,450 for a 1-BR+Den and 2-BR+Den suites, respectively.

If you’re curious about how property values have held up in this development over the past few years, a 2-BR+Den unit that sold in Phase III was just resold for $80,000 more than it did in June 2006, while another a 2-BR+Den unit that sold in Phase I was just resold for $94,100 more than it did in September 2006.

For more information on Hillside Ravines, please click on the following links: Phase I, Phase II and Phase III.

Please note that units can vary greatly in features and finishes which would normally be considered in any purchase or sale. Any transactions outlined above are for general information purposes only and may not reflect those of typical suites. LiveHigh.com is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided or for any damages or loss resulting from the use of such information. For further information on these or other sales, please consult a real estate specialist.

Condo Sales: The Past 30 Days at Radio City

Ever wonder how much people are actually paying these days for a home in the sky? Well, with a new weekly feature that we call The Past 30 Days, we’ll be indulging that very curiosity!

Media reports create a lot of buzz and tend to help fuel (or depress) market activity, but with so many stories about the boom and bust of real estate, it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s really going on. We believe that facts speak for themselves. So, by profiling various condo buildings throughout the city and sharing how much featured units have sold or leased for within the past month, we hope to create a ‘snapshot in time’ that will give you a better sense of how the condo market is doing over time.

This week, we’ll take a look at Context Developments’ Radio City. Completed in 2005, Radio City’s critically-acclaimed high-rise towers and townhomes can be found on the former site of CBC’s headquarters on Mutual Street, located just north-west of Carlton and Jarvis. This modern building is the perfect example of new-meets-old, retaining some of its old school charm with the preservation of its heritage buildings.

In the past 30 days, a total of four units have sold at Radio City with prices ranging from $287,900 for a 1-BR unit of 577 sq ft to $505,000 for a 2-BR suite of 866 sq ft. Two units were also leased over the past month from $1,300 to $2,100 for 1- and 2-bedroom suites, respectively.

If you’re curious about how property values have held up in this building over the past couple of years, a 1-BR unit that sold in 2009 was just resold for $30,900 more than it did just 16 months ago, while a 2-BR unit that sold in 2008 was just resold for $55,100 more than it did only 21 months ago.

For more information on Radio City, please click here.

Please note that units can vary greatly in features and finishes which would normally be considered in any purchase or sale. Any transactions outlined above are for general information purposes only and may not reflect those of typical suites. LiveHigh.com is not responsible for the accuracy of information provided or for any damages or loss resulting from the use of such information. For further information on these or other sales, please consult a real estate specialist.

Construction Begins on West Don Lands’ First Park

Waterfront Toronto, together with the Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto, officially broke ground today on Don River Park.  Don River is a massive new park that will be the cornerstone of the new West Don Lands community.

Don River Park Quick Facts (as provided by Waterfront Toronto):

LOCATION

•    West Don Lands: East of Bayview Avenue, South of King Street to the rail corridor, West of GO/CN Rail lines and the Don River

PARK SIZE

•    Approximately 7.3 hectares (18 acres)

DESIGN TEAM

•    Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, Inc. (lead design firm)
•    Other team members: Maryann Thompson Architects, ARUP (engineering), Pine & Swallow Environmental (planting soils), Great Eastern Ecology (ecological systems) Creative Irrigation, Trow (geo‐technical), The Planning Partnership (public consultation), and Greenberg Consulting (urban connections)

BUDGET AND TIMING

•    Budget: $25,759,964 for the Park+Pavilion project

•   Timing: Construction on Don River Park began in August 2010. The park is scheduled to open in late 2011/early 2012.

If you are interested in this area, click here to see the condos that are nearby.

Rendered plan of Don River Park

Don River Park central lawn

Don River Park lowland wet meadow

All images are credited to Waterfront Toronto.