Dufferin is Jogging Away From Its Past

For more than a century, Dufferin Street’s detour along Peel and Gladstone avenues—commonly known as the Dufferin Jog—has been a defining feature of West Queen West, and an ever-growing nuisance for vehicles (especially TTC buses), nearby residents, and developers. The jog first came into existence in 1884, when Dufferin Street was cut in half to make room for the railway lines that currently run over Queen Street West. Since 1966, the City has had plans on the books to eliminate the jog, but the Dufferin Street underpass was only given the go-ahead recently due in part to West Queen West’s redevelopment.

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Toronto Sheppard and Yonge Office Space for Lease – June 2010

For floor plans or a survey of available office space in Toronto provide your contact info here and I will be in touch with a custom survey of office space tailored to your needs. It can’t get any easier that that!

Siamun executive desk blends tech with beauty

Unlike the hip and cool Mac workstations, this exquisite wooden office desk called thr “Siamun executive desk” appeals with its classic looks and neat design. But just before you dismiss it in favor of a hi-tech workstation, you should know it hides a 22” LCD monitor within, hidden from view until you are ready to use it with the simple push of a remote control button. [Read more]

St Lawrence Market – Toronto Renovations

The winner of the St. Lawrence Market North Building architectural competition is Adamson Associates Architects and Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, also known as the “red team.”

BlogTO article

Financial Core Toronto – Office Space for Lease – June 2010

For commercial real estate advice or a custom survey of available office space call 416-992-9869 or contact us here!

Green Roof Bylaw Set to Take Effect in Toronto

Things are about to get a lot greener around Toronto — well, at least when looking down from above. On January 31st, two environmental initiatives designed to foster a more sustainable urban landscape will take effect: a new Green Roof Bylaw and a tougher version of the Toronto Green Standard (TGS).

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Toronto Office Space for Lease – Downtown East – June 2010

OfficeSearchToronto.com tracks available office space across the GTA. Want a survey or availability report somewhere else in Toronto? Are these space too big? Call us at 416-992-9869 or E-mail Me!

First Canadian Place gets a new skin

Article on the renovations of First Canadian Place from BlogTo.

Brookfield Properties, the current owner of the tower, has decided to replace the marble cladding. Starting from the top and working down, each one of the marble slabs on the faces of the building will be replaced with textured spandrel glass – essentially opaque panes of glass that will feature a triangular pattern to create visual depth.

Office Space for Lease – Midtown Toronto June 2010

For commercial real estate advice or a custom survey of available office space call 416-992-9869 or contact us here!

Address	Available Space (sf)	Asking Gross Rental Rate (psf)	Asking Monthly Rate
1 St Clair Avenue E	2,012	$33.24	$5,573.24
1 St Clair Avenue E	1,615	$33.24	$4,473.55
1 St Clair Avenue W	2,777	$32.50	$7,521.04
100 Sheppard Ave E	1,799	$31.72	$4,755.36
110 Eglinton Ave E	3,237	$29.98	$8,087.11
110 Sheppard Ave E	2,164	$35.26	$6,358.55
1300 Yonge Street	2,045	$29.43	$5,015.36
150 Eglinton Ave E	2,475	$28.60	$5,898.75
160 Eglinton Ave E	1,957	$29.00	$4,729.42
161 Eglinton Ave E	2,782	$30.06	$6,968.91
1867 Yonge Street	3,126	$33.27	$8,666.84
1881 Yonge Street	2,758	$34.27	$7,876.39
1881 Yonge Street	1,581	$34.27	$4,515.07
1992 Yonge Street	2,108	$24.95	$4,382.88
20 Eglinton Ave W	1,500	$36.95	$4,618.75
20 Eglinton Ave W	3,396	$36.95	$10,456.85
21 St Clair Avenue E	1,533	$32.43	$4,142.93
21 St Clair Avenue E	3,498	$32.43	$9,453.35
2190 Yonge Street	1,573	$36.73	$4,814.69
2300 Yonge Street	3,525	$36.95	$10,854.06
25 Sheppard Ave W	2,689	$31.71	$7,105.68
30 St Clair Avenue W	2,016	$40.95	$6,879.60
3080 Yonge Street	2,021	$34.13	$5,748.06
3080 Yonge Street	3,655	$34.13	$10,395.43
36 Eglinton Ave W	2,810	$29.78	$6,973.48
40 Eglinton Avenue E	3,432	$31.98	$9,146.28
4101 Yonge Street	2,826	$34.40	$8,101.20
4120 Yonge Street	2,321	$39.35	$7,610.95
4211 Yonge Street	1,597	$35.50	$4,724.46
4211 Yonge Street	3,800	$35.50	$11,241.67
45 Sheppard Ave E	2,177	$33.42	$6,062.95
4576 Yonge Street	1,616	$32.95	$4,437.27
4711 Yonge Street	3,478	$38.53	$11,167.28
477 Mnt Pleasant Rd	1,749	$25.20	$3,672.90
478 Mnt Pleasant Rd	4,000	$25.20	$8,400.00
4950 Yonge Street	1,564	$39.50	$5,148.17
5000 Yonge Street	3,139	$44.54	$11,650.92
5001 Yonge Street	2,514	$33.10	$6,934.45
5160 Yonge Street	3,329	$37.83	$10,494.67
55 Eglinton Avenue E	3,200	$24.81	$6,616.00
60 St Clair Avenue E	1,780	$26.30	$3,901.17
90 Eglinton Avenue E	1,534	$35.60	$4,550.87
90 Eglinton Avenue E	3,494	$35.60	$10,365.53

Financial Core Patio Guide – Toronto

BlogTO put this great list together. Personally, I like Jack Astor’s at Yonge and Dundas.

Here’s a roundup of 10 of the best patios in Toronto’s Financial District.

Bymark
At the south end of the TD Bank Tower overlooking Wellington (and across from Tory’s), one of Bay Street’s swankiest restaurants emerges from the PATH with a heated patio that’s partly covered with plenty of shade. An outdoor bar provides easy access to libations to wash down indulgent eats like the foie gras BLT or $35 burger.

Duke of Devon
Just east of Bymark near the corner of Bay and Wellington, the Duke of Devon offers a more casual, pub-like setting with a still Bay Street-ish menu featuring mini burgers, lobster caesar salad and watermelon mojitos. It’s the closest patio to the Design Exchange but something tells me that’s not really the draw.

Jump
Just as the name suggests, this bar and restaurant is really jumping come the late afternoon and early evening. The west facing patio in the courtyard of Commerce Court is large, attractive and comes complete with an outdoor bar and plenty of seating options. It’s more casual than Bymark but still sophisticated enough to inebriate clients with apple pie martinis and beer battered onion rings.

Ki
At the south-east corner of Wellington and Bay, this Brookfield Place destination serves up some of the freshest (if not priciest) sashimi in the city. The patio is perfect for couples or large groups and like most of the options in this part of town has an outdoor bar, heaters and comfy seating that’s a far cry from your typical plastic table and chairs setup.

Debut Cafe and Bar (121 King St. West)
What was that about plastic tables and chairs? For cheap suds in cheaper looking digs, the Debut Cafe and Bar is the place. Your’re much more likely to find temps here than traders but with a $3.99 all day breakfast and domestic bottled beer for under four bucks I don’t hear too many people complaining.

The Keg
One of Bay Street’s favourite hangouts, the Keg on York St. between Richmond and Adelaide has a small, covered street-side patio and a much larger one in the back. This is the patio to take large groups where fast and efficient service is made easy with a dedicated outside kitchen and bar area.

Reds Bistro & Wine Bar
At the north end of First Canadian Place where Adelaide meets Sheppard St., this high end wine bar draws an older crowd who come to its streamlined patio for housemade charcuterie, a 3,000 bottle wine cellar and a ridiculously large selection of cheese. With this large a wine list, it should be no surprise that Reds offers Toronto’s largest selection of by the glass wine options (currently 88).

Duke of Westminster
Located right next to Reds, this sister pub of the Duke of Devon (they have the same menu) has two small patio areas directly outside the north entrance of First Canadian Place. Green Moosehead umbrellas provide more than enough shade. Have a pint and then stop in and say hi to the friendly receptionists at the nearby Toronto Board of Trade.

Schezuan Schezuan
This Chinese restaurant makes for a good but greasy lunch-hour option on the second floor of the First Canadian Place. The south-facing patio overlooks King St. and is a nice alternative to the nearby food-court. Best during the noon-hour (read: don’t go after work).

Vertical
Also on the second floor of First Canadian Place, Vertical restaurant provides a stark contrast to its Chinese neighbour with white tablecloth service at its larger outdoor space where there’s slightly better views of the action on King St. below. The setting is much more elegant and attracts a well dressed executive-level crowd who rendezvous for mini meatball sandwiches and stiff margaritas.

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