On Site, Rainsford Condominiums, Walsg Group.
One Rainsford
Location: Beaches
Developers: Riedel Group and Mitchell and Associates
Size: 972 to 3,227 square feet
Price: $500,000 to $2.2-million
Contact: To register, phone (416) 698-0707 or visit www.onerainsford.com
The development and sales teams behind a boutique condominium residence in the Beaches were convinced that a large, public advertising campaign was hardly necessary to attract widespread attention.
Simply by using word-of-mouth marketing among their collective client base, about 40 per cent of the infill development has been sold prior to the official launch late last month.
"It's a very rare opportunity because there are just not many pieces [of land] like this around and certainly not situated where this one is so close to the lake and everything else on Queen Street," says Robert Mitchell of Mitchell and Associates, which is developing the project with the Riedel Group.
"[Plus]it's a different type of project than something you'd find in the Beaches."
Only 28 luxury suites will be built within the six-storey building, which was named One Rainsford after its address at the northeast corner of Rainsford Road and Queen Street.
The site is steps from beaches, boardwalks, parks and trails by the waterfront, as well as pools, tennis courts and a lawn bowling club.
Queen Street shops, restaurants and pubs also provide much entertainment, not to mention annual events such as the Beaches International Jazz Festival.
"There are so many things to do here, it's like a village in the city," says Mr. Mitchell, who is also a local resident.
Another major highlight of this mid-rise building - fashioned from glass, charcoal clay brick and natural stone materials - is the amount of space offered in individual suites.
They will range between 972 and 3,227 square feet.
"There are so many condos when you come around the Beaches, but unit sizes are six, seven or 800 square feet," says Mr. Mitchell.
"There are a lot of people who don't want to live in an 800-square-foot unit, and at the same time, aren't in a position - or don't want to take home the responsibilities - of taking care of a two or 3,000 square-foot house."
To cater to buyers' various needs, models offer one to three bedrooms plans in single or double-storey layouts. "There are 28 units and we probably have 27 different layouts," says Mr. Mitchell. "They're fairly unique spaces."
Some will have dens, media rooms and two-storey living rooms open to above.
However, units will generally have open concept kitchens and master bedrooms with private bathrooms, as well as walls of floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies with gas outlets.
"A typical unit in another building may be 15 to 16 feet wide," adds Mr. Mitchell. "These … units are 30, 40 or 50-feet wide ... so you get a lot more light coming into the space."
Penthouses will have the benefit of fully landscaped rooftop terraces, which can be customized with features such as infinity pools.
Standard appointments in each unit will consist of nine-foot ceilings, crown mouldings and a gas fireplace, as well as a foyer decorated with high baseboards and wainscoting.
Flooring materials will include engineered wood, bamboo, porcelain tile and stone.
"The interiors, the appliances, the fireplaces and all of the details in it are what you'd expect in a house in Rosedale or Forest Hill not in a … condominium," says Mr. Mitchell.
Parking and a locker are included in the price of each unit.
The building will incorporate many energy-saving initiatives and will not have expensive recreational facilities to operate, which will keep monthly fees below 30 cents per square foot. "It's a fairly low maintenance fee for a building like this," says Mr. Mitchell.
Construction begins this year for completion by fall 2012.