It's officially been a year since Torontonians were sent home from their downtown offices, hoping that two weeks of quarantine would aid the city in flattening the curve.
And what a year it has been. Weeks turned into months, and those months layered up until spring came back around. By now, most have acknowledged this situation is "ongoing," and have been trying to sort out how to make the most of it.
When working to optimize an experience, it makes sense to begin -- well -- at the beginning. And these days, thriving (as opposed to merely surviving) starts with the home.
While it's long been understood that one's abode should be cozy and comfortable, the importance of loving where you live has never been as important as it is today. And though desperate times can call for desperate measures, the home-buying experience shouldn't be one filled with sacrifice. In fact, conversely, home-hunters should -- now more than ever -- be seeking out places that allow them to have it all.
St. Clair Village (Frontdoor Developements)
Answering such a call is St. Clair Village.
Rising off the north side of St. Clair Avenue West between Innes Avenue, McRoberts Avenue, and Caledonia Road, the 41-home Frontdoor Developments project could not be arriving at a better time.
READ: St. Clair Village: The Perfect Property at the Perfect Time
With a history marked by decades of custom home, real estate, and community development in Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and more, the Frontdoor team -- helmed here in the city by Gary Tiz -- is exceptionally well-versed in creating family-friendly builds.
Now, with outdoor space and accessibility at their forefront, the development company is planting roots in Toronto's soil.
And at the city's centre, no less.
Where location is concerned, families might call the St. Clair West strip paradise. With rec centres, green spaces, parks, and family-friendly amenities at every corner, the area is bursting with opportunities for activity.
(Wave bye bye to kids' complaints they've got "nothing to do.")
Friends of Earlscourt Park (Facebook)
What's more, within just a few minutes of St. Clair Village sprawls 13-hectare Earlscourt Park, which houses sports fields, ball courts, paths, a dog park, a wading pool, and a children's playground.
Joseph J. Piccininni Community Centre and Giovanni Caboto Rink, Pool, and Tennis Courts are also nearby. Read: if you happen to Marie Kondo your belongings before the big move, all your sports gear should definitely make the cut.
READ: St. Clair Village is Poised to Bring Outdoor Space to the Heart of the City
Foodies, too, will benefit from the ultra-walkable strip, which is stacked with bakeries, independent grocers, and eateries. Indeed, as the spring air blows through the city, La Paloma's artisan gelato is calling. If Bar Ape, a little further to the east, is more your speed, the St. Clair LRT will have you there in minutes.
La Paloma on St. Clair Avenue West
Or, you could skip the ice cream altogether and simply ride the rocket to St. Clair West subway station, which means access to Line 1 and -- by association -- all of downtown in mere minutes. (It has been established, the core is merely sleeping, and there will come a day when zipping down for a show or shopping excursion is once again standard routine.)
Back at the builds themselves, St. Clair Village residents are promised ample space to work, play, and live. Inside each semi-detached abode -- and through their respective outdoor areas -- these spaces meet homebuyers needs both new and traditional, all while considering expectations for the future.
The requirement for a home-office, for example, isn't about to dissolve, and buyers can trust their St. Clair Village home will have space for a desk and chair setup. Meanwhile, the luxury of private outdoor spaces might have just become a given property's most valuable asset, and that's one area where these builds particularly shine.
Large and private backyards, rooftop patios, and broad balconies are swoon-worthy aspects of the St. Clair Village project, where a buyer's desire -- nay, need for personal outdoor space is prioritized. During COVID times, of course, these features are particularly inviting, but we needn't pretend that one's own area from which to soak up the sun could ever be called less than luxurious.
Though spring is in the air (and so too are fantasies about a glass of rosé in on the chaise lounge out back), the builds at St. Clair Village are cold-weather-ready, too. Be it on a rainy summer's night or mid-winter afternoon, residents will surely find the same sense of freedom indoors as they'll find outdoors, thanks to these abodes providing another increasingly-coveted feature: space.
Indeed, these properties span across multiple levels, with finished basements, elevator options, and, if chosen, the ability to have a master retreat rest on its own private level.
St. Clair Village (Frontdoor Developments)
And, complimenting the airy interiors -- where natural light will glow and fresh air will breeze through -- are chic, high-end luxury details such as Miele appliances and quartz counters. This is without mentioning the European-inspired open concept plan in the kitchen, which lends itself just as well to family dinners as it does to meals with friends.
Speaking of hosting, pals who drive needn't fret about where to park their ride while they tour your new pad, as each home is complete with a large, rear-lane garage.
All the while, the exteriors of these homes -- made up of stunning modern architecture with brick, stone, and wood details -- could be likened to the special wrapping paper used to secure a thoughtful gift for someone special.
(That comparison really is quite fitting, when you think about it.)
The price tags on these builds land in the range of $1.5 million and, as construction is already in the works, phase one of the project has already been entirely snatched up by eager homebuyers.
But that's not to say those just now learning about the development have missed their chance to experience it; the second phase of suite releases is on the horizon. And, for those who tend to struggle with patience, St. Clair Village sees you -- this development's move-in dates are projected for before the end of this year.
If you're one of the many who set out with hopes 2021 would be more joyful, hopeful, and positive than 2020 was, it's safe to say moving toward St. Clair Village would be a step in the right direction.
To find out more about St. Clair Village and to register for more information on the project's second phase, click here.
