Ideal Lofts

Ideal Lofts, Toronto
General information
Type Residential/ Condo
Address 301 Markham St. Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6J 3X2
Coordinates 43°39′21″N 79°24′31″W / 43.6558°N 79.4085°W / 43.6558; -79.4085Coordinates: 43°39′21″N 79°24′31″W / 43.6558°N 79.4085°W / 43.6558; -79.4085
Construction started 2002
Completed 2003
Owner Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation TSCC 1455
Height 31 m
Technical details
Floor count 9
Lifts/elevators 2
Design and construction
Architect architectsAlliance
Developer Context Development
Other information
Parking Underground

Ideal Lofts is an architecturally noted low-rise condominium apartment building in Toronto, Canada. It is located at Markham and College Streets in the downtown neighbourhoods of Little Italy and Trinity–Bellwoods.

Architecture

Ideal Lofts' design received an "honourable mention" at the City of Toronto’s Architecture and Urban Design Awards 2003.[1] One judge noted that "it's a very impressive example of the Toronto urban loft-housing model." According to a multiple award winning City of Toronto study[2] the building is a good precedent of a context sensitive and well-massed mid-rise building.[3] It is respectful of the neighbourhood houses along Markham Street to the south. Yet the massing, materials, and façade of the building take their cue from neighbouring heritage industrial buildings (474 Bathurst St, Pedlar People Building, Ladies Wear Building[4]) with a strong brick base.[5] The City of Ottawa Design and Planning Guidelines also reference Ideal Lofts.[6] The building is part of a trend toward better designed condos in Toronto.[7]

The project was developed by Context Development. It was designed by Peter Clewes and Prishram Jain of the architectural firm architectsAlliance in 1999.[8] Interior designers included Cecconi Simone and Crayon Design.[9] The name Ideal Lofts comes from the Ideal Restaurant Supply store which once stood on the site.[10]

The nine story brick and precast concrete condo has 68 units from one bedroom studios to spacious three bedroom penthouses. The units per floor each have different layouts yet all have floor-to-ceiling windows.[11] Many units have permanent, unobstructed views of residential streets lined with houses. The south facing units can see Lake Ontario and overlook neighbours back gardens beyond the grasses and trees on the condo's lower green roof. To the west and north, the view takes in the treetops and heritage buildings. The sixth and eighth floors are two-story lofts with glass and concrete terraces. The units facing either south or west have terraces or balconies. The lofts facing north have juliet balconies. Amenities include a meeting/party room, indoor parking, bike and storage lockers.

Shoppers Drug Mart is a commercial tenant on the ground floor. A below-ground parking garage is divided by an owner and a commercial section. The two-level 46 spot commercial parking section is managed by Impark.[12]

Neighbourhood

Little Italy stretches along College Street, Kensington Market is nearby, and the University of Toronto is a few blocks east. The neighbourhood has bistros, cafés, diverse shops, bars and restaurants on College, Dundas, Markham, Harbord and Augusta streets. Nearby landmarks include Mirvish Village, The Royal Cinema, Italian Walk of Fame, The Mod Club Theatre, and Sneaky Dee's. Within a 30-minute walk are almost two dozen neighbourhoods. Walking north are Palmerston–Little Italy, Palmerston Boulevard, and Koreatown. East are Kensington Market, Chinatown, The Annex, University of Toronto, and Downtown Toronto. To the south is Trinity–Bellwoods and to the west are the Little Italy and Little Portugal neighbourhoods.

The building is in three electoral districts. Municipally it's in Ward 19, provincially it's in Trinity-Spadina, and federally it's in University—Rosedale.

A number of resources for the public are within walking distance. These include Service Canada, ServiceOntario, and the Toronto Western Hospital. The nearest schools are Charles G Fraser Junior Public School, King Edward Junior and Senior Public School, Harbord Collegiate Institute, Central Commerce Collegiate, and Central Technical School. The closest post-secondary institutions are University of Toronto, Ryerson University and OCAD University. The area is served by several Libraries including Sanderson, Lillian H. Smith, and College/Shaw. The Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division manages the The Scadding Court Community Centre which has a gym, indoor and outdoor pools, outdoor skating, and a wide variety of programs and services. More resources can be found at Trinity Bellwoods Park [13] Other nearby parks include: Bickford Park, Alexandra Park and Healey Willan Park.

Transportation

The location has a 100 Transit Score and a 97 Walk Score.[14] The nearest main intersection is Bathurst St. and College St. The nearest subways are ten minutes away by streetcar at Bathurst (TTC) and Queen's Park (TTC). The Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Boulevard, and the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Toronto Island) are also nearby. College St. has bicycle-only lanes on either side. Car share and car rentals are located nearby, and a Bike Share Toronto station is at Markham St and College St.

External links

See also

References

  1. ↑ City of Toronto. "Architecture & Urban Design Awards 2003: The Winners". Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  2. ↑ City of Toronto, City Planning Division. "Avenues and Mid-Rise Buildings Study". Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  3. ↑ City of Toronto. "Mid-Rise Building Typologies" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  4. ↑ City of Toronto. "TORONTO AND EAST YORK COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING 8" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-14.
  5. ↑ Context Development. "Ideal Condominium". Retrieved 2016-04-18.
  6. ↑ Nigel Terpstra. "The Interview: Prishram Jain of TACT Architecture, Part 2". Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  7. ↑ Alex Newman. "Hip young buyers driving better design" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  8. ↑ Ireland, Carolyn (2012-05-31). "Home of the Week: La Dolce Vita, high above Little Italy - The Globe and Mail, May 31, 2012". Toronto. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  9. ↑ Ideal Condo brochure. Context Development Inc, 1999
  10. ↑ Ireland, Carolyn (2012-05-31). "Home of the Week: La Dolce Vita, high above Little Italy - The Globe and Mail, May 31, 2012". Toronto. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  11. ↑ Special to the Globe and Mail (2012-08-23). "Little Italy loft bidder meets asking price - The Globe and Mail, August 23, 2012". Toronto. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
  12. ↑ Impark. "Lot # 458. 301 Markham Street". Retrieved 2014-02-02.
  13. ↑ City of Toronto. "Parks, Forestry & Recreation Trinity Bellwoods Park". Retrieved 2016-10-22.
  14. ↑ Walkscore. "301 Markham Street - Walk Score". Retrieved 2013-12-06.
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