On The Map
Perch Condos project developer giving back to nature, too
With views of the leafy Highland Creek ravine, the centrepiece of Scarborough’s Colonel danforth Park, Perch Condos will appeal to property-seekers looking to get back to nature. but unlike other scenic builds, the Firmland developments project is giving back to nature, too.
The builder is dedicating nearly 40 per cent of Perch’s property to the Toronto and region Conservation Authority (TRCA), which protects the ravine, says Firmland president Michoel Klugmann. “We are proud to contribute to conservation, and to help ensure that the building stays in touch with nature forever.”
The TRCA required the 11-storey building to be set back from the ravine by 11 metres, with stormwater management tanks installed below grade on the north side of the site to handle run-off and repurpose onsite rainwater. Firmland also removed several tonnes of garbage and debris from the ravine upon taking ownership, and will restore forest to the former Knights Inn parking lot, which currently covers a portion of the site, by planting more than 200 native trees and shrubs there.
“The restoration plan was developed to complement the existing ravine forest and support native wildlife,” explains Ken ursic, a senior ecologist with beacon environmental, the consultancy that helped Firmland broker its arrangement with the TRCA. “Future residents will not only enjoy the bird’s-eye views of Highland Creek’s towering white pines and red oaks, they will get to experience the transformation of former urban lands to forest.”
designed by Core Architects, Perch’s northeast face follows the contours of the ravine, then meets the stacked Kingston road frontage, featuring oversized windows and quadrilateral balconies.
ravine-side, there will be a party room and rooftop dining area, along with an outdoor dog run and a stroller-parking area designed to handle the wide strollers popular among trail joggers and walkers. Perch exceeds City of Toronto requirements for amenity space, with a fitness centre, yoga studio, party room, reading patio, pet spa and karaoke room on site.
“Our Cecconi Simone interiors have taken the feeling of connectivity with nature and expressed it through the amenities and suites,” says Klugmann. “They’ve also done a wonderful job of finding features that really appeal to people of different demographics. young professionals, families, students and mature downsizers will all feel at home here.”
Limited 2020 sales launches were popular with members of the local community, according to Klugmann, who adds that Firmland is now gearing up for a full public launch at the presentation centre — visitors will need to make an appointment — home to a model suite and scale model of the project.
Perch’s curvaceous lobby gives way to 163 condominium units and five integrated condo townhomes with private street entrances, ranging in size from 466 to 1,385 square feet and offering a mix of one-bedroom to three-bedroom layouts with ceiling heights topping 10 feet on several floors. Other notable suite features include kitchen cabinetry and bathroom vanities custom-designed by Cecconi Simone, composite stone countertops, integrated under-cabinet lighting, recessed pot lights in foyers and walk-in closets, and a variety of balconies, terraces and patios.
Those, says ursic, will provide “ideal vantage points for birdwatching or for simply watching the seasonal colours change while taking in fresh forest air.”
units starting in the $400,000s. For more info, visit www.perchcondos.com.