Leyad, a leader in the Canadian real estate industry, proudly announces its latest acquisition at 5655 Rue de Marseille. Strategically located in Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, a burgeoning Montreal borough, Leyad is currently outlining an innovative proposal for its most recent purchase. Rather than maintain the property’s original layout as suited for industrial warehousing, Leyad envisions an adaptive reuse of its interior to be transformed into a dynamic hub for local artists and creators.

Following a series of substantial renovations, the building’s vacant spaces will be repurposed into individual studios for a wide variety of artistic practices. These studios will also be surrounded by lively communal spaces, in order to foster meaningful collaboration between its users. “By offering affordable rental spaces in an industrial setting, we aim to encourage collaboration, innovation, and community among Montreal’s creative talents. The facility will be designed to promote a sense of unity, with shared common areas that inspire interaction and mutual support among artists”, says Henry Zavriyev, Leyad’s CEO.

Spanning approximately 65,000 square feet of Gross Leasable Area (GLA) and situated on about 2.0 acres of land, this building was originally constructed in 1968 and extensively renovated in 2013. Located just a 2-minute walk from the metro l’Assomption, it offers exceptional accessibility which will allow artists and musicians from around the city to easily reach its facilities by any means of public transportation.

This acquisition marks an important milestone in the company’s wider efforts to design spaces that contribute to – and promote – Montreal’s vibrant art scene. According to Mr. Zavriyev, “this initiative is more than just an investment in property, it’s an investment in Montreal’s cultural fabric. By repurposing the industrial space for artistic use, Leyad is dedicated to promoting and empowering the local art scene, providing artists with the resources and environment they need to flourish.”

Leyad purchased the building from PROREIT, an industrial-focused public REIT. According to Zachary Aaron, PROREIT’s Director of Investments, “Working with Leyad was a seamless experience. Their expertise and dedication made our transaction smooth and stress-free.”

Moving forward with this project, Leyad is excited to collaborate with local artists, city planners, and the greater community to ensure that their vision aligns with the needs and aspirations of Montreal’s artistic community. Leyad is committed to creating a space that not only serves the practical needs of artists but also contributes to the city’s unique and ever-growing cultural legacy.

Leyad is a leading real estate development company based in Montreal. Founded by Henry Zavriyev, Leyad specializes in the design, construction, and management of residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. Its team of experts is dedicated to providing high-quality and affordable buildings to families and communities. The company stands out for its commitment to innovation, efficiency, and environmental engagements.

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Estate-sized lots, luxury design elements and market- appropriate pricing are the sources of success for the Clarehaven Estates community, located in Claremont, North Pickering, Ont. Since 1977, community developer and new- home builder Geranium has produced visionary creations that are meticulously planned, expertly constructed and designed with sensitivity and respect for the environment, the community and the families who will call them home.

At its most recent sales launch, more than 50 per cent of Geranium’s new portfolio of bungalows, bungalows with lofts and two-storey homes with extravagant finishes sold within 10 days.

“In the current market climate, where many potential purchasers have chosen to sideline their buying decision due to rising interest rates, this is a tremendous response,” says Stephanie Lane, director of sales and marketing.

The builder’s homes range in size from 2,557 to 5,149 square feet and offer an array of desirable options including elevators, media/office rooms and five- bedroom plans. Standard features, like extensive rear-yard loggias, three-car garages, bedrooms with private or shared ensuites and high-end interior finishes add to the built-in value of each home.

Ultimately, the Clarehaven Estates community, along with the thousands of homes Geranium has developed from region to region, is a testament to their passion for building beautiful homes.

Lane says, “The success is the culmination of our strong brand reputation, a great location surrounded by nature and rich in nearby amenities, large lot sizes rarely seen in today’s new communities, and beautifully designed homes. It’s highly rewarding to see the response to a luxury home offering during this time.”

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8 ELM ON YONGE
An architectural triumph by IBI Group soars as a 69-storey landmark above Yonge and Dundas. Developed by Capital Developments, this elegant spire is a beacon for Toronto’s trendsetters and tastemakers. A collaboration with Simu Liu, it’s a nexus of innovation and style.

THE BEDFORD
A collection of elegantly appointed private residences by Burnac, etched into the fabric of Toronto’s celebrated Yorkville-Annex neighbourhood. Developed with Forest Hill Group’s finesse, this 13-storey sanctuary offers heritage-protected views and unmatched 5-star services.

DUO CONDOS
National Homes and Brixen’s 350-unit vision in Brampton, offering proximity to Shoppers World, transit, and leisure comforts.

THE CAPITOL
Hariri Pontarini and Turner Fleischer’s reimagined Capitol Theatre stands as a 14-storey beacon of luxury, with Studio Munge Interiors.

HIGH LINE CONDOS
High Line Condos by Branthaven offers boutique six-storey living, blending modern design with forest proximity and lifestyle amenities in Mississauga.

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Ossington has undergone a major transformation from 2018 to now, and there is much more to look forward to, thanks to the work of Hullmark.

Hullmark is a vertically integrated urban mixed-use developer and asset management firm headquartered in Toronto. We spoke to Jeff Hull, president of Hullmark, about their key role in the development of Ossington.

Hullmark was founded in 1950 by Jeff ’s grandfather, a Polish immigrant, Murphy Hull, who came to Canada looking for the Canadian dream. When Hull moved to Canada, he started in the industry as a plasterer, but, through hard work, Hull was able to move into homebuilding and real estate development, eventually founding Hullmark. The company has built its success by investing in suburban communities and mixed- use neighbourhoods. Today, Hullmark is still a family-run company that is shaping neighbourhoods all over Toronto.

In 2008, Jeff Hull became the president of Hullmark, taking over from his grandfather. He has helped transition the company from a suburban and residential focus to urban development and asset management. This ability to change strategy and pivot with the times is what keeps Hullmark at the top of the industry.

“When my grandparents were young, they were Polish immigrants who lived in the downtown west of Toronto, and, in their day and age, being successful meant moving out to the inner suburbs, getting more space and a detached home. That was the ideal at the time, and so I think we are continuing to follow the ideal way of living and working, but today it’s different, it’s kind of come back full circle where people want to live in a walkable urban neighbourhood with great amenities, and so I think they were following the dream at the time, and we are continuing to follow that. It is the dream that has changed.”

With a passion for real estate, Jeff wanted to carry on the tradition and success that his grandparents had in starting the business.

“Two wonderful things about real estate that are maybe more unique than in other businesses: the tactile nature of real estate — all the time and effort you spend working on real estate. You can touch and feel the work at the end of the day, and I think there is something rewarding about that. The other thing I would say is real estate is very much a business built on personal relationships, and I find that very rewarding as well. You invest in good people and, over time, that ends up being very good for business, and I think that is an easy thing for me to get excited about.”

Although Hullmark has worked on developing many neighbourhoods, Ossington is a particularly special and unique place. Ossington Avenue was named one of the world’s coolest streets in the world by Time Out and is being compared to the likes of SoHo and le Marais. These areas are known for being hip, cool, trendy and effortless. These are neighbourhoods that represent the beating heart of a city, their vibe, culture and feel, making them the perfect spot for both locals and travellers.

Ossington offers all the aspects of a hip and modern street, but with the charm, history and character that makes it so unique. As much of Toronto is modernizing by knocking down older buildings, Hullmark is choosing to maintain their integrity. “Especially today, people crave authenticity, and, working with older buildings, there’s a connection to the past, a craft that can’t be recreated, that has a sense of authenticity that people really value. I think old buildings — particularly once we’ve had a chance to renovate them and bring them up to modern building standards — have this enduring appeal, and I would say it’s because of the authenticity of them.”

Ossington is an area to which Jeff feels a strong personal connection, having spent a lot of time on Ossington as a young person. “I think Ossington is unique in the sense that it has a broad range of different uses on the street, between fashion retail, hospitality, bars, restaurants and service-based businesses for the local community. Ossington is very small in comparison to other major high streets in Toronto, so I think, by investing in Ossington, we could have a bigger impact by owning fewer buildings. The size of it made it possible for a private real estate investor like us to create change, and I think over the past 10 years we have shown the type of change we have been able to create. It just had these inherent characteristics; it’s small and we could affect change.”

When Hullmark undertakes a project, they look to create the most impact possible in a neighbourhood. This includes tenancy curation, investing in design and getting involved with the community. Using these three tools, they can transform a neighbourhood over their long-term investment. “Our vision is to make it the street that businesses feel like they must be on to appeal to the coolest demographic in the city. We want it to be the place in downtown west — the hub for creative people and cool businesses — and we have seen new retail businesses that have targeted Ossington as the first store location that they are going to open in Toronto.”

With so many great places to visit on Ossington, it may be hard to choose where to start.

Some of Jeff ’s favourite spots include:

• Ride Cycle Club: a spin studio from Vancouver that has a great sense of community and design.
• Lost & Found: one of the premier high-end menswear stores in Canada.
• Mamakas Taverna: one of the best Greek restaurants in the city.
• Bellwoods Brewery: one of the best craft breweries in the city, with an amazing ambiance and extensive patio.
• Formula Fig: a new beauty spa concept, focused on millennial clients and high design.
• Prime Seafood Palace: a Michelin-star fine dining restaurant by celebrity Chef Matty Matheson, designed by Architect Omar Gandhi.

The mix of local independent retailers, restaurants, international flagship stores and everything in between is one of the things that makes Ossington so special. All these businesses perfectly complement each other, where you would be able to spend an entire day on the street. From getting a facial, to dining, to drinking, Ossington offers the perfect mix of businesses that make other high streets worldwide so successful.

Some of Ossington’s success is thanks to its perfect location. The downtown west is the beating heart of trendy Toronto. Ossington is perfectly placed right by Trinity Bellwoods (the largest public park in the downtown core) and is the connector between Queen West and Dundas West. “It is the coolest street in the coolest area, and it occupies this strategic place. You’ve got the flagship stores beside pho restaurants that have been around for 30 years, that kind of high-low, authentic urban experience I think people are drawn to. It feels both high end and also gritty, at the same time.”

Ossington is a street that needs to be experienced. It offers some of the best businesses in the city on one street, but what makes it so special is the feeling you get once you are there. The people, the sense of community, the design and the ambience are what make Ossington one of the top streets in the world.

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Toronto actually didn’t begin on Yonge Street or Bay Street or on Lake Ontario, but farther to the east, in an area bounded by King and Queen streets, and Church and Parliament streets, called Old Town, and it is here in the heart of history that a striking new condominium residence, Alias Condos, by Madison Group, will soon rise.

Situated at Church and Richmond streets, the 45-storey, 546-suite residence will be distinctive on Toronto’s growing skyline with its textured, geometric patterns of sparkling gold-coloured window frames on its facade and glazed black brick designed to cascade down the exterior, topped by the building’s gold crown, bringing a landmark “fireworks” element to the night sky.

Madison Group, a leading real estate development company with properties in Toronto and New York City, has teamed up with Teeple Architects and Turner Fleischer Architects to create this new dimension of living in Toronto’s oldest neighbourhood. With interiors designed by Studio Munge and landscapes by MBTW Group, the vibe of Alias is inspired by the freedom and glamour of rock and roll, which will be right at home in this neighbourhood of urban influencers.

“Old Town is not only one of Toronto’s key intellectual centres, but also it’s a destination for the city’s most innovative thinkers and powerful cultural influencers,” says Josh Zagdanski, vice president of High Rise at Madison Group. “We’re honoured to be able to add our own mark on what it means to experience urban freedom. That’s what we set out to accomplish with this blazing beacon of rock and roll attitude meeting edgy sophistication, and I’m confident we’ve accomplished it.”

Residences will range from studios to three bedrooms in sizes of 360 to 1,400 square feet, starting from the mid-$600s and all offered in sleek and contemporary styles with polished quartz, steel and porcelain accents. Select suites will have private terraces or balconies, and all residences will offer stunning city views. For the security of residents, 24-7 concierge services are offered, along with the convenience of automated parcel storage.

Alias Condos will feature 18,000 square feet of indoor and amenity spaces, including a fully equipped fitness centre, indoor and outdoor private play areas for children, party rooms complete with a pizza oven, co-working spaces with coffee bar and private meeting rooms and extensive outdoor lounge areas with landscaping and grill stations.

At the ground level, there will be 7,800 square feet of retail space with ample room for spill-out patios. The mixed-used development will also provide an exciting new public park on the west side of the project, which will be centred around a distinctive art display, ensuring residents and the neighbourhood at large are socially engaged in community-building and activities.

Two hundred years ago, Old Town brought new life to a young town finding its way in the world. Today, Alias Condos will bring the oldest neighbourhood new life with a dynamic urban environment that embraces the history of its surroundings, while invigorating its bright and promising future.

The post Alias Condos: Bringing An Elevated Lifestyle And New Energy To Old Toronto appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Family, friends and clients were all in attendance, as well as the City Councillor, Gino Rosati, and Member of Parliament Francesco Sorbara. Rosati and Sorbara helped facilitate the event, for the brothers of Save Max Gravitas Realty, with their grand opening. Avi and Deep were elated to have everyone come out and celebrate this amazing journey on which they are about to embark. To show their appreciation, they provided small gifts and sentimental tokens to each guest who attended in person. A cake and ribbon-cutting followed to continue the festivities and to celebrate this new journey. Guests were also able to view their pre-construction gallery with more than 10 projects from different builders on display. 

It can only go up from here for the brothers, as they have an amazing year to look forward to with this new space. Avi and Deep are ready to help new clients in the community for any realty needs. Email them at sales@gravitasrealty.ca or give them a call at (905) 897-4848. 

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The City of Richmond Hill is continuing to make significant progress restoring the Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory (RHDDO) Park to its former splendour. Richmond Hill’s acting mayor, Joe DiPaola, had a chance to comment on the continuing development of the site. “The Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory Park will be a destination park where visitors come to see Canada’s historic observatory, celebrate the stars and enjoy acres of natural parkland. Already a popular and cherished landmark in our community, I am amazed by the work that was done to these buildings to restore these historic treasures.” The RHDDO property is a 76.5-hectare site located in central Richmond Hill between Bayview Avenue to the east, the CN rail line to the west, 16th Avenue to the south and Hillsview Drive to the north.

During the last year, complex work was cautiously carried out on the 86-year-old buildings to restore the exterior heritage features to their initial state. This consisted of refurbishment of wood windows and doors, repairs and preservation of metal surfaces, replacement of metal roofing and flashing, masonry and concrete repairs and renovation. Ward 6 Councillor Godwin Chan, chair of DDO Park Project Steering Committee, is enthusiastic about the project. “I am excited to see the progress taking place at the Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory site where the buildings have been restored to their former glory. The revitalized buildings add to the natural beauty of the park that can be enjoyed by all residents in the future.” Karen Cilevitz, Ward 5 Councillor and vice-chair of DDO Park Project Steering Committee, is also passionate about the project. “I am proud that the unique Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory is enroute to becoming a vibrant and inclusive place where our community can gather, learn about astronomy and appreciate natural green spaces.” The City of Richmond Hill owns the 40 hectares of parkland, the Observatory Dome facility with the original 1.88-metre telescope and the Administration Building.

“I am excited to see the progress taking place at the Richmond Hill David Dunlap Observatory site where the buildings have been restored to their former glory. The revitalized buildings add to the natural beauty of the park that can be enjoyed by all residents in the future”

Ward 6 Councillor Godwin Chan, the chair of DDO Park Project Steering Committee

Supplementary efforts were made to protect the structures for the future, such as the installation of new foundation waterproofing and drainage systems, upgrades to existing municipal services, and improvements to electrical systems. The restoration work is an integral part of the RHDDO Park Master Plan and was finished on time and within budget.

Its unique historical features make the RHDDO a popular commercial filming location. For example, scenes from the well-liked Netflix series The Umbrella Academy were filmed on the site. This site is a vital part of Canadian history and Richmond Hill’s rich heritage. A number of important studies have taken place at the observatory, including the first direct evidence that Cygnus X-1 was a black hole.

The city is also progressing on other projects recognized in the first stage of the plan, setting the groundwork for the improvement and development of this destination park that will draw visitors from the entire the GTA.

Woodlot restoration work already ongoing will protect and improve the natural areas in the parkland and return the woodlands to a healthy forest. More than 8,000 trees and shrubs have been planted and fencing has been installed to guard the recently planted trees from browsing deer and to permit tree growth.

Later on this year the city will commence building a 2.25-km trail system so residents can enjoy more of the natural beauty of this park during all seasons.

For more information about the history of the RHDDO visit .

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York Region’s reputation as an outstanding area to live, work and play has caused an explosion of new condominiums.

Vincent Condos
Development by Rosehaven Homes,
Townwood Homes and Guglietti Brothers Investments

Launched this past summer and currently in pre-construction, this 40-storey tower at 2901 Highway 7 and Jane St., in the heart of Vaughan, Ont., at the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, is developed by Rosehaven Homes, with a scheduled occupancy of early 2026.

Vincent Condos will be a towering statement of contemporary style, designed by KIRKOR Architects and Planners, and features 447 suites in sizes ranging from 388 to 855 square feet, anticipated to start from the $400s and all with a modern feel and layouts practical for everyday living and entertaining.

Its location is ideal in that it is surrounded by fine dining, cafés, bars, shops and businesses, and adjacent to parks, trails, golf courses and schools. As it is in the centre of a major transit hub, Vincent Condos will be only minutes from York University and an easy commute to downtown Toronto.

Vincent Condos’ amenities include a 24-hour concierge, a fully equipped fitness centre and yoga studio, a private dining room, private party room, spectacular 60-foot lap pool, children’s playroom, pet spa, co-working space, sports simulator and smart parcel locker system.

The Rose Hill Condos
Development by Capital North Communities

This six-storey luxury boutique condo by Capital North Communities is located at 197 Woodbridge Ave., in the heart of downtown Woodbridge, Ont., overlooking the Humber River and nestled nearby the natural beauty of North Johnson District Park. Designed by KNYMH Inc., The Rose Hill Condos contain 85 suites offered in 24 different floor plans, in sizes ranging from 519 to 1,824 square feet. Priced from the $480s, the project has an estimated occupancy of spring 2023.

The building features private terraces and large balconies, designer kitchens and large windows for an abundance of natural light. Amenities include a rooftop terrace for private entertaining, party room and lounge area, and a fully equipped fitness centre and full sauna. The Rose Hill Condos are ideally situated near some of the best dining, shopping and entertainment options in Vaughan. Access to the bus routes of the York Region Transit services is just steps from the front door, allowing easy transit to York University or Seneca College campuses and connecting to nearby Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and the Toronto-York Spadina subway for easy commutes to downtown Toronto.

Hillmont at SXSW
Development by Primont Homes

Currently in pre-construction with its estimated completion in summer 2025, Hillmont at SXSW is the next phase of the 42-acre master-planned SXSW community at Islington Avenue and Highway 407 in Vaughan. Developed by Primont Homes with inspired architecture by Quadrangle Development, the two 19- and 22-storey luxury contemporary towers will be located at 7082 Islington Ave. and will be close to transit, shopping and dining.

The interior spaces by Figure3 are designed to reflect the project’s natural ravine setting by incorporating warm tones, varying textures and a neutral colour palette, with a generous use of stone, woods and metals conveying a feeling of tranquility throughout its public spaces and suites. The two towers will rise from a shared podium surrounded by landscaped gardens, designed by NAK Design Group, and a 30-acre ravine.

Starting at the $600s, the suites range in size from 615 to 1,341 square feet and feature large, curving balconies as extensions of indoor living space. Amenities are curated to promote an engaged and social living environment and include splash pads, a yoga studio, library lounge, fully equipped fitness studio, outdoor barbecue area and think space lounge.

Mobilio Condos
Development by Menkes Developments Ltd

The latest project by Menkes Developments, one of Canada’s most successful and prolific developers, Mobilio Condos will be opening next year in the core of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, at Highway 7 and Jane Street. This project represents the first phase of the Mobilio master-planned community, a carefully thought-out community, which perfectly balances residences, amenities and green spaces.

Turner Fleischer Architects Inc. has designed the two 20- and 21-storey towers, and the first contains a total of 550 suites, all of which are currently sold out. The buildings are located just south of the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway station, allowing for easy access to the entire GTA. The project is located near fine dining, retail shops and an abundance of entertainment options, which make Vaughan such an attractive place to live, work and play.

Featuring a 24-hour concierge, the buildings’ amenities include a bar, games room, movie theatre, co-work lounge, meeting room, kids’ playroom, social TV and party room with kitchen and bar area, outdoor play area and an outdoor terrace with barbecue for entertaining and hospitality.

The post On The Rise: York Region’s Condo Boom Shows No Sign Of Slowing appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.

Lino Arci sets himself apart from other realtors by his wisdom garnered from experiencing many different types of markets and providing his community with reassurance and confidence that he and his team will always be able to provide a successful sale. To celebrate this incredible milestone, Lino Arci did what he always does: donating a portion of every commission to the Children’s Miracle Network and organizing a yearly food and toy drive for the Vaughan Food Bank. Lino Arci understands and values the importance of the role he plays in the community that has welcomed him with open arms. “It’s so important for the community to come first, because it is the great people of Vaughan, Ont., who have welcomed me into their homes.” With a strong team behind him, including his wife, Italia, son, Anthony, and daughter, Jessica, Lino Arci doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. “I feel very strong, I’m so proud of our community involvement and I hope to do this for many more years to come.”

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The architect and interior designer recently finished work on the luxury space, which aimed to bring a calming atmosphere to contemporary design. The finished apartment sits at 4,500 square feet and includes three bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as spaces to relax.

To do this, Jasmine Lam applied the experience she has gained in creating luxury private residences, offices and retail stores for more than 23 years. Working with a colour palette of black, grey and cream, the space’s ceilings stretch high, complete with cove lighting, while the introduction of large oak panels gives each of the home’s areas its own definition. As a designer known to include an impressive array of artworks in her finished designs, Lam fully fitted One57 with furniture, art and accessories that enhance the space’s esthetic.

Lam founded her studio in 2002 in New York. Since then she has completed projects around the city, as well as in Miami, South Florida, the Hamptons and beyond. She’s also the recipient of a number of awards, including New York Cottages & Gardens Magazine’s Innovation in Design award for both 2017 and 2018.

Alongside her design work, Lam is a member of the MoMA Contemporary Arts Council and Architecture + Design Circle. She’s also a philanthropist, supporting causes around breast cancer research, education and sustainability.

The post One57’s, Jasmine Lam: Made In Manhattan appeared first on City Life Toronto Lifestyle Magazine.