As the Spadina Subway extension reaches its way into Vaughan, and Highway 7 gets set to transform into a lane-separated Viva bus rapidway, the borders of the Greater Toronto Area's urban life are extending. On the stretch of Highway 7 between Islington and Pine Valley Drive in Vaughan, strip malls and parking lots are giving way to new condos and retail, creating pockets of urbanity in a landscape that once seemed an endless suburb.
As iKore Development's Avenue on 7 officially launched this weekend, the mid-rise condo joins a wave of new developments that are re-making Woodbridge into a more dense and transit-oriented community. Though the Downtown skyline glimmers away in the far distance, Avenue on 7 begins to seem much closer to the city with the coming subway terminal to be a 6-minute ride away.
A rendering of the project at dusk, image courtesy of iKore Developments
The HCA Architecture-designed condominium will meet the street with a distinctly urban character, with sleek, modern glazing and a grand entrance that comes out directly onto the street. In addition, the live work units facing Highway 7 are designed to bring commercial activity—and a dose of pedestrian culture—to the area, with salons and professional offices already in the works.
Gino Nave, Director of Sales, gives us a tour of the sales centre, image by Stefan Novakovic
Gino Nave, Avenue on 7's director of sales, explained that the design and location of the project aim to bring together the conveniences and amenities of urban life with the comfort and affordability of Woodbridge. While easy access to the subway provides a valuable connection to Toronto, the established, close-knit neighborhood gives the area a strong sense of community rarely found in the Downtown core. "It's a new type of lifestyle," Nave explains, "that takes the best of Woodbridge, and combines it with urban elements."
A view of the pool/cabana area in the scale model, image by Stefan Novakovic
Touring the sales centre during the project's official launch, a large Myles Burke-designed scale model of the 9 and 10-storey condo greets us inside. The outdoor pool, cabana, and barbecue area, is visible on the condo's northwest corner, secluded from the traffic of Highway 7. "We have an outdoor, salt-water pool," Nave tells us, "which provides a luxurious amenity while keeping maintenance costs relatively low."
The model suite kitchen, image by Stefan Novakovic
Inside the model suite, Nave points to a range of finishes that come standard in every unit. Stone countertops and compact European appliances are included in the base price, while all kitchens will feature a row of 24-inch deep cabinets, providing 6 inches of extra storage space compared to the industry standard.
The master bedroom, image by Stefan Novakovic
Both the master bedroom (above) and living room in the model suite face out to a spacious balcony. Many of Avenue on 7's balconies and terraces will offer unobstructed, panoramic views of the surrounding low-rise area, while the south-facing units will enjoy a distant view of Toronto's skyline.
A rendering of the multi-purpose amenity area, image courtesy of iKore Developments
Avenue on 7's interiors and amenity spaces will be appointed by II BY IV Design Associates. In addition to the rooftop pool area, amenities will include a billiards room and multi-purpose lounge (above), including a serving kitchen and bar. A fitness centre and a guest suite will also be available, rounding out a comprehensive range of amenities.
Though the project's official launch was only this weekend, some 170 of the 276 suites have already been sold, evidencing a nascent demand for urban living in Woodbridge. Additional information and renderings can be found in our dataBase file for the project, linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion? Check out the associated Forum threads, or leave a comment using the space provided at the bottom of this page.
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