111 Elizabeth Street

111 Elizabeth Street has an interesting — unsettling, even — history. On May 3, 1977, the Italian Mafia set off a bomb in Wah Kew Chop Suey House, a restaurant then inhabiting the building’s ground floor retail space.

While this was a result of some issue involving gambling and money owed, the history of setting off explosives at 111 Elizabeth did not stop there. Later, filming for the American-Canadian series Kung Fu: The Legend Continues took place in the parking lot here. At one point, producers even set up a fake market and blew it up while filming an episode.

And finally, the building was finally blown up on purpose, this time to make space for a new set of condos.

Today, One City Hall Place graces the land at 111 Elizabeth Street. And the 2007-built structure shows no signs of being destroyed any time soon, thanks to its reception by both Toronto Star architecture critic Christopher Hume and the residents who live in the building. Hume, who calls the building “sleek” and “retro-modernist,” gave One City Hall Place an A grade, surprising for someone known to be difficult to impress.

Perhaps this is partly because the façade at 111 Elizabeth Street is interesting enough that it doesn’t look like every other building in the city. The geometric, horizontal patterns are reminiscent of a game of snake played on a Nokia flip phone (which even happen to be cool again in the minds of some hipsters).

Designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Young + Wright Architects Inc., One City Hall Place features 521 downtown Toronto condos spread out over 16 storeys. The building was developed by Diamante Development Corporation, with interiors by Cecconi Simone. And thanks to this interior designer, communal spaces are playful and in tune with nature: entire walls are filled with plants, while others have water flowing down them.

As for the amenities, these are yet another selling point for prospective buyers who fall for the these condos. Not only do the concierge and security have a good reputation as far as Toronto condos are concerned, but the building also boasts a gym, sauna, pool, party room, guest suites, rooftop garden, and visitor parking — a useful lineup that somehow comes without exorbitant maintenance fees. And to top it all off, residents have access to the on-site car share program, as well as bicycle storage.

With suites ranging in size from approximately 350 to 1,950 square feet, first-time buyers and small families will be equally satisfied with Toronto condos for sale at One City Hall Place. Regardless of size, high ceilings allow the homes to feel spacious and comfortable as can be.

Exposures vary as well, from studios to homes with two bedrooms plus a den. And while most units come equipped with private outdoor spaces, certain homes at One City Hall Place boast oversized balconies perfect for dining al fresco.

Even from inside these condos the sun is constantly shining, thanks to windows that reach from ceiling to floor.

Located in the City Centre area dubbed as “Little Tokyo,” it doesn’t really get more central than 111 Elizabeth Street. While different areas of Toronto peak in terms of trendiness, only to eventually wane, this location is one of the exceptions.

Set amidst the city’s foremost hospitals and universities, as well as business and commercial zones, One City Hall Place is, as Diamante puts it, “minutes from everything.” The Market by Longo’s even inhabits the ground level retail space, meaning residents need not go far for a freshly stocked fridge and pantry.

The Eaton Centre is also just a few blocks away: both a mall and a tourist attraction all rolled into one, this expansive shopping centre is one of the best in the city. In 2015 almost 50 million visitors walked through the mall, and its most notable new resident is Saks Fifth Avenue. Underground, the Saks Food Hall by Pusateri’s is a popular lunch spot for people who work in the area, and a great place to pick up a hostess gift before heading out for the evening.

With Dundas Station only a 5-minute walk away, residents can hop onto a train and travel to any area of the city in no time. Northbound trains offer connections at the Bloor-Danforth line, while southbound journeys will land passengers at Union Station, where they can connect with buses and trains leaving the city, as well as the UP service to Pearson International Airport.

Drivers can reach the Gardiner Expressway via a quick ride south, from which they have access to the Don Valley Parkway to the east and the 427 to the west.