When Adam Ochshorn entered the former yarn factory at 50 Bartlett Ave. in Toronto, he says that he was blown away by what he saw. In fact, he likens it to urban lofts that one would see in New York City.
“It’s got almost 19-foot-high ceilings, exposed brick on the inside, (and) steel post and steel beams supporting the structure of the building,” says Ochshorn, principal at Curated Properties.
After visiting the location with partner Gary Eisen, the two boutique developers knew that they wanted to save the building, which, with boarded-up windows, had fallen into a state of disrepair. Right now, work is being done to reconstitute it, he says.
Curated Properties recently unveiled its plans for the site, a condo development called Lanehouse, featuring 13 loft houses and three flats. It will be one of few examples of residential laneway development in Toronto, and might even be the largest of its kind.
Such developments are typically custom built by architects and contain only one or two units, Ochshorn says. The difficulty in developing a laneway, he explains, is if it doesn’t have a connection to the street, it may not be possible to hook sewer and water services up without breaking bylaws. Fortunately, this site has a connection to Bartlett Avenue.
One benefit of building in a laneway, which Ochshorn says they didn’t realize until they took possession of the site, was how quiet it is, even though this one is located in the city’s central core. Sandwiched between Bartlett and Gladstone Avenues, one block away from Dufferin Station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line, the site is part of the emerging Bloordale neighbourhood. Popular local haunts Arte Gelato and Rustic Owl Café are within steps from it; and the renowned Bar Isabel is just a few blocks away.
Behind the design are project team members Audax Architecture and Nivek Remas. The exposed brick and steel will remain so, and other features will include aluminum-clad windows, metal staircases, polished concrete floors and vaulted ceiling elements on the second floor, Ochshorn says. Buyers will be able to choose from industrial-inspired finishes, such as a bronzed look for the metal staircases and a patina style for the faucets rather than the standard chrome, he adds.
Lanehouse will follow up Curated Properties’ Edition Richmond, which was named the Building Industry and Land Development association’s 2013 mid-rise project of the year. Drawing on the successes of past projects, Ochshorn says it was important to incorporate a connection to the outdoors in the project. To that end, Lanehouse’s units will feature private rooftop terraces. Plus, skylights in the master walk-in closets and over the tubs in the master baths will let natural light in.
The project isn’t geared toward those looking for a 500-square-foot one-bedroom unit, Ochshorn says — those buyers have plenty to choose from downtown. With prices starting in the low $500,000s, and units spanning anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 square feet, plus balconies and terraces, he anticipates the project will attract interest from people who are looking at old detached and semi-detached homes in the surrounding neighbourhood. Those houses often spark bidding wars, with the winner potentially dealing with higher-than-expected costs to renovate them, he explains.
Curated Properties is in the process of obtaining a site-specific zoning bylaw and site plan approval for Lanehouse from the City of Toronto, and Ochshorn says that early feedback is favourable. Pre-registration has commenced, with construction targeted to begin in September. First occupancies are targeted for late spring 2015.
Michelle Ervin is the editor of CondoBusiness.
