TRENDY TORONTO DEVELOPMENT INSPIRED BY L.A. LIFESTYLE
Rodeo Drive Condominiums offers luxury and elegance in the heart of Don Mills
As one of the province’s finest (and first) open-air shopping malls, CF Shops at Don Mills south of Lawrence Avenue is a lifestyle destination, with its chic shops and boutiques, elegant restaurants and cafes. It’s a fitting neighbour to Rodeo Drive Condominiums, a two-tower residential complex being developed by Lanterra Developments in conjunction with the Shops’ owner/ operator Cadillac Fairview.
“Rodeo Drive Condominiums will bring a distinctive and luxurious residential accent to this award-winning lifestyle facility,” says Lanterra chairman Mark Mandelbaum, offering residents an “upscale village ambience.”
Lanterra is known for prestigious residential developments, primarily in Toronto’s downtown core. Recent projects include Teahouse Condos and 11 Wellesley on the Park (at Yonge and Wellesley), Maple Leaf Square (across from the Air Canada Centre), Ice Condominiums (York and Bremner), the Britt Residences (Bay and Wellesley), 3018 Yonge Condominiums (Yonge and Lawrence), Treviso Condos (Lawrence and Dufferin) and Old Mill Condominiums (on the bank of the Humber River in Toronto’s west end).
LIFESTYLE FIRST
For this newest venture, proximity to CF Shops at Don Mills is a huge draw, says Mandelbaum. “It’s true that most of our projects are downtown but occasionally we’re attracted to projects because of locational development. Open-air malls like the CF Shops at Don Mills are prevalent in the southern U.S. but unique here. This is more than a shopping mall, it’s a lifestyle destination, well known in the community and throughout the city.”
Indeed, CF Shops at Don Mills is extremely popular with a wide range of patrons. In addition to its shops and restaurants, the centre runs antique fairs, fashion shows, winter skating, festivals in the centre square and more. It delivers a chic urban vibe with an abundance of surrounding green space (close to Edwards Gardens, Macklin Hancock Park, Duncairn Park and Mike Bela Park), making it a striking site for upscale residential condominiums. “The towers will face O’Neill Road, with CF Shops at Don Mills on one side and a beautiful park on the other, which Cadillac Fairview is now building,” says Mandelbaum. “Here you’re buying a lifestyle — a home with a wide variety of unique local amenities.”
The development’s evocative name, harking to Los Angeles glamour, was chosen for its distinctive character and personality, inspired by the buildings’ luxe surroundings. “We looked at shopping areas where people could walk, shop and enjoy a variety of experiences,” says Mandelbaum, “and Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles is the name that best evokes that idea.”
Rodeo Drive Condominiums are also conveniently close to the Don Valley Parkway and the 401 highways, and will provide easy access to downtown with the new Crosstown LRT (light-rail transit) on nearby Eglinton Avenue, coming soon. The neighbourhood has prestigious schools, walking trails and community centres with golf courses nearby. It’s a mix of city chic and convenience with relaxed and spacious suburban living.
UPSCALE AMENITIES
Location is only a part of the picture. Rodeo Drive promises to live up to its luxurious name and stylish surroundings. Designed by architect David Pontarini and interior designer Alessandro Munge, “the overall design will be stunning and the finishes will be upgraded to live up to the standards we set for all our developments,” says Mandelbaum.
Though its look is upscale and luxurious, suites are affordably priced, ranging from $280,900 into the $600,000s. “Big projects like this have to attract a broad range of purchasers,” says Mandelbaum. “We’re appealing to everyone from local downsizers and young professionals who grew up in this area to ethnic communities and those who want the conveniences and the lifestyle of the neighbourhood.” The condos could be smart investments for those who may choose to rent their unit out in the future. “Rentals are robust in the three other buildings that currently exist in the area of the mall, which is a real barometer of value.”
Early sales are promising. Units in the first building, which began selling in July, are nearly 70 per cent sold.
The second building began selling late last month — all with shovels not expected to break ground until mid-2017, with completion expected in 2020. “We’re very excited about this project,” says Mandelbaum. “We feel it’s the right project in the right place at the right time. And we’re confident residents will be happy once they get their keys.”
This weekend the CF Shops at Don Mills is hosting a Harvest Festival. Stop by the Rodeo Drive presentation centre Saturday and Sunday between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. for festive treats and fun activities. The Harvest Festival will offer festive food and drinks, live entertainment, culinary and floral demos, a pumpkin patch, the Shops Farmer’s Market and more.
Find out more about Rodeo Drive Condominiums at rodeodrivecondos.com.