After reading the article below does anyone else get the impression they're having trouble moving units. When this project was first announced it seemed like it was a sure sell out.
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BAY AND ST. MARY'S
Furnished suites provide 'turnkey' living near U of T
December 5, 2009 Alex Newman
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
U condos by the Pemberton Group, set between the University of Toronto's leafy campus and the high energy of Bay St, is now making itself more attractive.
In a bid to attract first-time buyers, four smaller Urban Design suites have been introduced with a starting price of $227,000.
Suites range from a 325-square-foot studio to a 590-square-foot one bedroom for $410,900. The roughly 100 Urban Design suites boast large windows facing south, decent-sized balconies, and a view overlooking almost an acre of parkland.
About 80 of these suites come furnished, offering a "turnkey" home with space-saving furniture and accessories. The open-concept 325-square-foot Design I has a generous balcony and the 512-square-foot, one-bedroom Design II offers two large balconies.
All 429 units, from the compact Urban Designs to the one, two and two-plus-den and penthouse suites, have standard features such as custom cabinets, Corian counters and Miele and Blomberg appliances. Flooring is five-inch wide engineered hardwood, and ceilings are nine feet up to the 33rd floor, and 10 feet on floors 34 to 44.
Interiors and amenities are by interior designer Andrea Kantelberg, noted for her sustainable approach. The environmentally friendly lobby has a 24-hour concierge. On the 45th floor, the rooftop offers panoramic views of the city and the university campus. The 4,500-square-foot amenities space includes a party room with wine storage, balcony and a billiards table, exercise room, yoga studio, steam rooms and library/lounge.
The site, designed by architect Peter Clewes of architectsAlliance, is divided into two towers with a perimeter of 19 luxury townhouses. The first tower, on the west – which includes the Urban Design suites – will have 45 storeys, and the next phase will have a tower of 55 storeys. The site's green features include low-E argon filled windows, water-efficient shower heads, Energy Star appliances, sensor-activated lighting, paints with low VOC (volatile organic compound) emission, locally produced Corian for counters, CO sensors in the underground parking garage, three AutoShare parking spaces and a one-year free membership to each suite owner
The west tower has an expected occupancy of 2012. No date has been set for the launch of the 55-storey east tower, which will have just over 500 units. The 30 three-storey luxury townhouses that will rim the two towers are in planning.
In addition to the Urban Design suites, the rest of the units range from 542 to 1,477 square feet, and priced from $338,900 to just over $1 million. Eleven different floor plans are available; one underground parking spot costs $44,100 and lockers are $5,985 each. Maintenance fees run 45 cents a square foot. The sales office at 50 St. Joseph St. (off Bay, south of Bloor) is open Mon. to Thurs., 12-7 p.m., Sat./Sun., 12-6 p.m.; see
www.ucondos.ca for a complete list of features or call 416-546-6605.
Toronto Star
