South Core is lively, lakefront, prized and prestigious
If a lively and active downtown lifestyle is what you’re after, check out Toronto’s South Core. It might also help if you work in the nearby financial district, as residency in this prestigious neighbourhood has its price.
So-called for its proximity to the downtown core but, obviously south… from the railway lands to Lake Ontario, and bounded on the west by Lower Simcoe Street and on the east by Lower Jarvis Street.
Indeed, Toronto is blessed with a prized waterfront location, which in recent years has seen billions of dollars in development, from public spaces to new residences to new commercial and retail opportunities. And the South Core is a prime example of this growth.
Sustainable and connected
Consider, for instance, the Southcore Financial Centre (SFC), a major mixeduse, sustainable complex. Designed to exceed the expectations of today’s globally connected businesses and sophisticated urban travelers, SFC comprises two striking LEED Gold certified office towers totaling 1.4 million sq. ft. and The Delta Toronto – a premium four-star, 560- room, next generation hotel.
Or One York Street by Menkes Developments, a 35-floor, 800,000- sq.-ft. Class AAA building at York and Harbour targeting LEED Platinum certification.
The sustainability and connectivity of these projects typify the redevelopment underway in the South Core. Both buildings boast direct and enclosed access to the PATH to Union Station for TTC, GO Transit the UP Express and more, and beyond through Toronto’s underground network. Within easy walking distance are landmarks such as Scotiabank Arena, the Rogers Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, world class restaurants and the city’s Entertainment and Theatre districts.
Then there’s Maple Leaf Square, a multi-use complex and public square next to Scotiabank Arena, with a newly expanded video screen for live outdoor public broadcasts of Leaf and Raptors games, and home to Real Sports Bar & Grill, one of North America’s largest sports bars.
Residential opportunities
But the South Core isn’t all about office towers and commerce, as residential opportunities are also part of the development. New condominiums have sprouted up, along with the office towers, including Harbour Plaza by Menkes Developments, located at 88 Harbour St. and 100 Harbour St. Here, along with similar connectivity to the underground PATH, residents enjoy a 30,000-sq.-ft. health club, outdoor terrace with tanning deck and other top-drawer amenities.
Also nearby, slightly to the west at Spadina, is CityPlace by Concord Adex, one of the first major condo developments in the area.
Now that the west and central portions of the waterfront are well along in development, and you can’t go any further south into the lake, condo growth is spreading east. Menkes has Sugar Wharf Condominiums at Sugar Beach, and Tridel is building Aqualuna at Bayside, at Merchants Wharf and Queens Quay East.
And then, a little further east and perhaps a few years down the road, there’s the proposal for Sidewalk Labs, the 12-acre, smart-city site at Quayside, which is planned to include a mix of housing types, public spaces and other high tech amenities.
Location, location, location
South from the railway lands to Lake Ontario, bounded on the west by Lower Simcoe Street and on the east by Lower Jarvis Street
Key landmarks
- Harbourfront
- Maple Leaf Square
- Queen’s Quay Terminal
- Redpath Sugar Refinery
- Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
- Scotiabank Arena
- Southcore Financial Centre
- The Power Plant Art Gallery
Select condo projects
162 Queens Quay by Empire Communities
Harbour Plaza by Menkes Developments
One Yonge Condos by Pinnacle International
Sugar Wharf by Menkes Developments
Gary Switzer Chief Executive Officer, MOD Developments[/caption]
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Noorez Lalani President, MOD Developments[/caption]
Artist’s rendering of tower at 55C Residences[/caption]
