The faces of the financial district

A handful of condo buildings are home to everyone who lives in the city’s financial centre. Staff reporter Tamara Khandaker talks with residents of one of them: 33 University Ave.

Neil Penney

is a Toronto Catholic District School Board teacher who works in Scarborough but moved to the financial district three years ago. The convenience, transit times and nightlife are the main draws, he says, even though most of his friends live in Scarborough. Penney believes most people choose not to live here because of the “prohibitive costs and a lack of family-friendly residences.”

Nasir Iqbal,

who works in financial services, and Tanima Iqbal, a stay-athome mom, moved to their current address six years ago. “The only people for whom it makes sense to live down here are people connected to the industry, and we’ve found others who live here are younger people who like the lifestyle,” says Nasir. While they live in the financial district with their two children, he says, “the suburbs are better in terms of schools and crowding.”

Gisela Buckler,

who works in marketing, moved into the area three years ago from Richmond Hill. “All I saw at the beginning were suits and ties, and I felt out of place,” she says.

She has adjusted, however. “I don’t need my car — I gave up my car — and I walk everywhere,” she says. Although she gave up a massive home to get an 850-square-foot condo, she says, the sacrifice was worth it.

Neil Couture

is a software consultant. Five years ago, he and his girlfriend moved to the area for work. He says that in the years since, construction has made the traffic situation much worse. “Lots of buildings have popped up,” he says. He’s surprised to learn how few people actually live in his neighbourhood, but says he does notice the contrast between the weekdays and the weekends: “It’s way calmer” on the latter.

Don Takashima

has lived at his current address for about 12 years. He’s retired, but used to work for the Ontario government, “keeping the land surveyors honest.” He says that after his kids moved out of the house, he and his wife moved downtown. He can’t see himself living in a place like Scarborough because it would mean getting into his car every time he steps out of the house.

“I like that I can walk anywhere.”