An application submitted to the City of Toronto seeks rezoning and Site Plan Approval for a new 29-storey condominium tower at 210 Bloor Street West, just across the street from the Royal Ontario Museum. The site is currently home to the two-storey Remenyi House of Music. The plan from developer Tribute Communities calls for a Core Architects-designed tower rising 111.4 metres in height, containing ground floor retail with condominium units above.
Site of the proposed development, image via submission to City of Toronto
Despite its proposed height, the building would contain just 42 generously-sized condominium suites, with a single two-bedroom layout 285 m² in area, and 41 three-bedroom units averaging 460 m² in area. No studio or single-bedroom units are included in the proposal, with Tribute evidently aiming to attract mostly established families looking to enjoy the luxury condo lifestyle. The building would have 126 m² of ground-floor retail space fronting onto Bloor.
210 Bloor West, image via submission to City of Toronto
The building would set itself apart from other avant-garde designs on the block with its own take on the geometries at play in the ROM’s crystal, and at Exhibit Residences to the east. 210 Bloor West’s east and west facades would be a tessellated pattern of interlocking triangles of tinted and reflective curtainwall glazing.
210 Bloor West, image via submission to City of Toronto
The ultra-slender north and south facades will consist of balconies, sheltered by glazing crimped at east and west ends. Uniformly straight balconies are planned for the lower and uppermost portions of the tower, while the stepped back mid-levels would feature a mix of straight and faceted balcony arrangements.
Residents would have access to 2,017 m² of indoor amenity spaces located in the south end of the second level, while private balconies are large enough to meet the City’s outdoor amenity requirements. The building would be served by a three-level underground parking garage containing 80 spaces for residents, to be accessed via a pair of car lifts at the rear of the building.
210 Bloor West, image via submission to City of Toronto
Additional information and images can be found in our database file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum thread, or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
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Buying a house for the first time can be overwhelming to say the least. If you’re wondering what neighbourhood to go with, what you can afford, or even how to just get started on the process, let us take some stress off your hands! We’ve teamed up with Hopewell Residential to give you 7 tips to ensure the home you end up with is everything you dreamed of.
Hopewell Residential is a five-time Developer of the Year award winner, so their expertise is second-to-none in Calgary and beyond. Who better to learn home-buying tips from than the homebuilders themselves?
Create a checklist of needs & wants
This is a biggie. When you’re buying your very first home, you’ll want to weigh your needs vs. your wants. Ensuring you have what you love in your first home is a big, big deal.
What should you do? Easy. Set up a list of needs and a list of wants, but be pretty strict with yourself, and make sure you take your lifestyle into consideration. With the increase in remote work over the past year, it’s important to keep in mind that a home office or flex room might just be the key to maximizing at home happiness. Especially if you’re thinking you might be expanding your family later on, spare rooms and extra space is key (but more on that later!).
Or for instance, you might need a home in an area with a high walkability score, but you want to be close to certain amenities. Set yourself up with the right level of compromise and the number of homes that actually fit your ‘perfect’ idea will skyrocket.
The real estate market in the Ottawa Valley can be summed up this way: people from far and wide are in a buying frenzy, but there’s hardly anything to buy at the “store,” and the limited inventory is overpriced.
This “stampede” — as one realtor described it — will affect rural towns as residents grapple with finding affordable housing and agonize over their inability to purchase homes in their price range.
“We are seeing a lack of inventory in all price ranges,” said Laura Keller, a real estate agent from Carleton Place.
Helen Vincent, a Renfrew realtor, said she’s never seen a market like this in her 36 years of practice. “We postpone offers for four to five days in order to get all the buyers,” she said.
Multiple offers — between seven and 10 — became the norm, with cash offers and no conditions, as buyers faced bidding wars. “In Ottawa, they have up to 50 (offers),” she added.
“It’s very stressful. You’re going to get nine (people) ticked off, and one happy. So many people are disappointed,” Vincent said.
Terry Stavenow, an Arnprior realtor for 40 years, said that “the pent-up need took over with inventory going low. It made a stampede on everything that was available.“
“Brand new housing — it’s very much gone. Several building developers are rushing to get inventory. They usually don’t do construction in the winter months,” said Stavenow.
Buying a home for the first time is exciting and a commitment to the future. It’s often challenging, too, and the process requires a lot of steps, many of which can be tricky to navigate as a first-time home buyer.
What are some things you should keep in mind as a first-time home buyer?
First-Time Home Buyer Tips
Here are 10 tips to keep in mind as you begin your journey toward homeownership.
1. Have Your Finances in Order
It’s wise to begin saving as early as possible once you’ve made the decision to purchase a house. You’ll need to consider the down payment, closing costs (which often range from 2% to 5% of the down payment), as well as move-in expenses.
You also need to understand the other costs of homeownership, such as mortgage insurance. property taxes, utilities, homeowner’s insurance, and more.
2. How Much Can You Afford?
Knowing how much you can realistically afford in a home is another important financial consideration. Look for the home of your dreams that fits your budget.
One way to avoid future financial stress is to set a price range for your home that fits your budget, and then staying within that range. Going through the preapproval process will help you understand what price range is realistic for your budget.
3. Make Sure Your Credit is Good
Another thing to keep in mind as a first-time home buyer is your credit score because it determines whether you qualify for a mortgage and affects the interest rate that lenders offer.
This is another good reason for getting preapproved before you start your search. Learn more about the preapproval process and your credit score.
4. Choose The Right Real Estate Agent
A good real estate agent guides you through the process every step of the way. He or she will help you find a home that fits your needs, help you through the financial processes, and help ease any first-time buyer anxiety you may have.
Interview several agents and request references.
5. Research Mortgage Options
A variety of mortgages are available, including conventional mortgages – which are guaranteed by the government – FHA loans, USDA loans, and VA loans (for veterans).
You’ll also have options regarding the mortgage term. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is popular among many homebuyers and has an interest rate that doesn’t change over the course of the loan. A 15-year loan usually has a lower interest rate but monthly payments are larger.
6. Talk to Multiple Lenders
It’s worth your time to talk to several lenders and banks before you accept a mortgage offer. The more you shop around, the better deal you’re liable to get – and it may save you thousands of dollars.
7. Get Preapproved First
Getting a mortgage preapproval (in the form of a letter) before you begin hunting for homes is something else to put on your checklist. A lender’s preapproval letter states exactly how much loan money you can get.
Learn more about the preapproval process and how preapproval provides you with a significant competitive advantage in our article How Preapproval Gives You Home Buying Power.
8. Pick the Right House and Neighborhood
Make sure to weigh the pros and cons of the different types of homes based on your budget, lifestyle, etc. Would a condominium or townhome fit your needs better than a house? What type of neighborhood appeals to you?
9. List Your Needs and Must-Haves
The home you purchase should have as many of the features you prefer as possible. List your needs in order of priority; some things may be non-negotiable to you personally.
10. Hire an Inspector
Hiring an inspector is another crucial step in the home buying process. An inspector will tell you about existing or potential problems with the home, and also what’s in good order. You can learn more about home inspections and how to find a home inspector through the American Society of Home Inspectors website.
Buying a home for the first time is a challenge, but it’s one you can handle with the right planning and preparation.