About a year and a half ago I wrote a column about the various condo communities the Greater Toronto Area has to offer. I said it might help you understand the areas best if you liken them to different types of relationships. And just in the way of relationships a lot can change over the course of 18 months. Here’s a fresh look at how each area has changed, and what it offers now.
The area normally on people’s minds is the downtown core. Specifically, for the purposes of this article, imagine Bloor Street to the lake, between Yonge Street and Spadina Avenue. This is like that sultry dame you believe has it all. The looks, the sex appeal, the flash — everything right down to the toll it’ll take on your wallet. This area stands to offer it all, but you should be weary of whether she’s what you’re actually in need of, or will benefit from. If it’s a fling, know it’s a fling. If you’re looking long-term ensure it’s realistic.
Moving over to King West. For our purposes we can include everything between Spadina Avenue to just west of Bathurst Street, and between Queen Street down to the lake. This area is chic, trendy, and more unique. Truth be told the downtown core offers a certain practicality, namely proximity to the Yonge line. King West, I’ve found, tends to offer a higher level of substance in the way of charm and thrill, of course along with the high price that such things, as well as such relationships, often come with. Authentic lofts, for example, can be best found in the King West area. Along with relative convenience in the way of location, King West remains an up and coming hotbed of entertainment and fine dining. The same kind of luxuries that would make a relationship with a foreign, exotic beauty both tempting, alluring, offer a unique thrill all of course, again, at an equally enthralling price. And of course there is always the underlying truth that, in the long run, such wayward romances tend to have their expiry. Know what you’re getting into and if you’re looking for such a romance.
An area that I didn’t really discuss before is Downtown East, or “the other side” of Yonge. This area is more like a relationship with that girl with the wilder attitude and just a hint of a dark side. Not in a destructive kind of way, but an enticing kind. Her tastes aren’t as expensive but the thrill she offers is just as real. The problem with this kind of area is that while many would find its own unique advantages quite entertaining, it’s not for everybody. In other words, the Downtown East area has many advantages, specifically price oriented, so long as you can handle its lack of polish, shine and glitz.
The Yonge and Eglinton area is very much like King West, except it is already established. It’s like that foreign beauty who no longer finds the need to pose because she is cultured, established, confident and aware. She is also fighting off suitors on an hourly basis so you need to be equally confident and surefooted to even stand a chance. In a nutshell, if you want to get into the popular Yonge and Eglinton area come armed with knowledge, and a capable wallet.
There remains North York, Etobicoke and Mississauga, as well as the up and coming Downtown Markham area. These are the more practical, perhaps less arousing relationships — at least on the surface. The confines of this space will have me discuss these in detail in the next edition. Until then remember whether it’s a condo or a relationship you’re looking for, before you can go and find it, it’s a good idea to have an idea of what it is you’re looking for.
For any questions/comments on this article or anything in general please feel free to e-mail Amit at
amitp@rogers.com
. Amit is a Realtor/Developer with Re/Max.
