SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2020 SECTION H ON ON3

©Tridel 2020. ®Tridel,“D”design, Tridel Built for Life, Tridel Built for Life Design, and Built Green Built for Life are registered Trademarks of Tridel Corporation. Project namesand logos are Trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Building and view not to scale. Illustrations are artist’s concept only. *Prices and specificationssubject to change without notice. Royal Bayview, the condominium development, is not affiliated with Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto. E.&O.E. February 2020.

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LUXURY CONDOMINIUM RESIDENCES STARTING FROM $1.2 MILLION*

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An incredible collection of elegant luxury condos, Royal Bayview offershome-sized suites overlooking the private Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto in Thornhill.This is an exclusive opportunity to live in a community lavishly designedto be sumptuous and serenely modern.

A taste of the countrysideCentury home in Caledon has abarn and garage on 10 acres, H4

Trees have stories to tellHighlights from the book‘Around the World in 80 Trees.’ Cullen, H2

Madison Elkhazin’s first condo pur-chase three years ago has taught her a lotabout buying her perfect home.

A hard-working growth equity analyst,Elkhazin, 25, bought a resale suite in therail corridor neighbourhood, betweenBathurst Street and Spadina Avenue.She’s found her commute to work, atYonge and St. Clair Avenue, can take upto an hour; her young neighbours aretransient and enjoy partying; and thereare few restaurants and public spacesclose by. Plus, she’s found the design ofher suite to be awkward.

“This time when I was looking for acondo, I was a lot more diligent aboutthe building, the suite layout and theamenities,” said Elkhazin. “When I pur-chased my first condo three years ago, Ibought in a rush.”

After an extensive search, she foundwhat she was looking for in a new pro-ject in Toronto’s downtown Entertain-ment District, at 55 Mercer, by Cen-treCourt Developments. The coming47-storey building has been designed tooffer “affordable luxury” and to appealto career-minded young professionalssuch as Elkhazin.

She hasn’t finalized which suite she’llbuy yet, but has her eye on a 600- to650-square-foot, one-bedroom-plus-den unit.

“When we design any building, wewant to have a clear idea of the demo-graphic. And with 55 Mercer, it is youngprofessionals in their 20s and 30s whowant to live, work and play downtown,”said Gavin Cheung, a vice-president atCentreCourt.

“These are people who work in bank-ing, law or technology fields who want tolive close to their job opportunities,”Cheung said, adding King West has be-come “Ground Zero” for tech jobs inCanada.

The location at 55 Mercer has a WalkScore of 99 and a transit score of 100.Elkhazin will have a subway stop close tohome and will be able to walk to client

> HOW WE LIVE

Downtown condo courts millennialsUpscale suites come with a 99 Walk Score in the heart of the Entertainment DistrictTRACY HANESSPECIAL TO THE STAR

Condo buyer Madison Elkhazin, right— with CentreCourt vice-presidentGavin Cheung — says “living in abuilding with like-minded people” is ahighlight of 55 Mercer that she’slooking forward to. The 47-storeyhighrise will include 543 condo suites,plus an indoor-outdoor gym, basketballcourt, co-working space and outdoorlounge area.

RENÉ JOHNSTON TORONTO STAR

CENTRECOURT DEVELOPMENTSCONDOS continued on H6

- Flato President, Shakir Rehmatullah

COMING SOON

TOWNHOMES AND

DETACHED HOMES

FROM THE HIGH$500’S

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meetings downtown, even inbad weather since access to theunderground PATH system is150 metres from the building.

When she wants to relax orhave a night out, she’ll be withinminutes of restaurants and at-tractions including the TIFFBell Lightbox cinema, live thea-tre venues, Roy Thomson Hall,the Rogers Centre and CN Tow-er — to name a few.

“The location practically sellsitself as it’s in the centre ofnightlife, restaurants, nightlife,bars, theatres and sportingevents and has incredible con-nectivity via PATH and sub-way,” said Cheung.

At 55 Mercer, a three-level,18,000-square-foot amenitycentre will include the MercerClub, a multi-level gym withcross-fit, yoga and weight-training areas, private exerciserooms with Peloton bikes andan outdoor basketball court.

“We will also have a co-work-ing space and boardroom that’sa nod to young professionalswho want a seamless 24-7 life-style, with a well-appointedcommunal space they can usearound the clock without goingoutside the building,” saidCheung.

Elkhazin is excited about theamenity spaces at 55 Mercer.

“There are no places to sit andstudy where I live now. Thereare only two barbecues for mybuilding and I never get to usethem. The outdoor lounge atthe new condo will be amazingfor me and my family andfriends and we’ll definitely beusing that and the outdoor bas-ketball court.

“It’s going to be an amazingexperience.”

Cheung describes 55 Merceras a “legacy project” for Cen-treCourt — located in a state-ment location with luxe design

and finishes. The lobby will besimilar to a high-end hotel, withFendi furniture and marble andglass finishes.

“The lobby is going to be aclean, stylish space and Fendi isone of my favourite brands,”said Elkhazin. “I will feel proud

to live there.”As well, 55 Mercer has a part-

nership with luxury car dealerPfaff, so residents will have ac-cess to a high-end car-share ve-hicle, as well as deals on rentingfor longer trips with an Audi,BMW or Porsche.

“The reason we’re so excitedabout partnering with Pfaff iswe want to offer luxury experi-ences at affordable prices andthis an example. So many peo-ple are electing not to buy park-ing spots and they won’t need itat 55 Mercer, given its location,”

said Cheung. “We think this willbe a game-changer for resi-dents.”

Elkhazin plans to take advan-tage of those programs.

“This is a great, great perk andfits in with the affordable luxu-ry theme. It’s better for the en-vironment and I’ll get to testdrive all these amazing cars.”

As well, meeting her futureneighbours is a highlight forElkhazin.

“It will be great from a com-munity perspective,” she said.“The company I work with in-vests a lot in the tech sector. I’llbe living in a building with like-minded people. The communi-ty that will be there is one of thethings I’m most looking for-ward to.”

Affordable luxury theme attracts buyersCONDOS from H1

Madison Elkhazin explores the Entertainment District where her new condo — 55 Mercer — willbe built. The neighbourhood has a Transit Score of 100 and a Walk Score of 99.

RENÉ JOHNSTON TORONTO STAR

A luxe lobby is planned, with Fendi-designedfurniture, plus marble and glass finishes.

CENTRECOURT

“The location practically sells itself as it’s in thecentre of nightlife,” the developer said.

Location: Mercer and BlueJays WayDeveloper: CentreCourtDevelopments; Architect: IBIGroup Project: 47-storey tower,eight-storey podium with543 suites from 370-1,050square feet in layouts thatinclude studios, one-bed-room, one-plus-den, two-bedroom and three-bedroom.Priced from $550,000 to$1M+. Suite amenities: Includenine-foot ceiling heights inprincipal rooms, choice offlooring, stone countertops.Building amenities: Three-level amenity space withindoor and outdoor gym,basketball court, Pelotonbikes, co-working space,dining room, boardroom,outdoor barbecues and firepitsTentative occupancy: 2024Contact: www.55mercercon-dos.com

>55 MERCER