319 Carlaw Avenue

Right on a main intersection of Leslieville & South Riverdale that’s filled with hip restaurants, local theaters and trendy retail spaces, is where the Work Lofts at 319 Carlaw Avenue can be found. These sophisticated and modern condos offer comfortable Toronto lofts in the heart of one of Toronto’s best neighborhoods — and one that hasn’t been too overdeveloped just yet.

Built in 2012, the Work Lofts have a façade of grey brick, metal and lightly tinted glass throughout its sharp triangular design, intended to contrast the building’s more rotund sister property next door. 319 Carlaw Avenue also has retail on its ground floor, with one space currently (and conveniently) occupied by a local grocer.

The building also has quite the lineup of amenities for residents to utilize, including a party room, garage parking for residents and guests, a conference room, and a rooftop deck. The building also allows balcony barbecuing, and is open to residents with pets moving in.

Standing at 11 storeys tall, the Work Lofts contain 125 residential units, with an additional 28 commercial spaces available for rent. The homes here range from just under 380 square feet, to about 2,100 square feet. They have one to two bedrooms each, with some floor plans that include dens or extra living spaces as well, so there's plenty of options for buyers of all sorts who are seeking Leslieville condos for sale.

The suites incorporate the soft loft style seamlessly. There are exposed concrete ceilings, walls and pillars, as well as some light exposed electrical wiring for lighting fixtures, but nothing feels too obtrusive. The other interior details, like smooth walls, hardwood floors and even custom built-in shelves add a cleaner, more contemporary flavor to these homes.

Many of the suites at 319 Carlaw boast open-concept layouts and floor-to-ceiling windows that provide bright and spacious rooms, aided further by sliding frosted glass doors in bedrooms and large closets. And large balconies that sit adjacent to living rooms serve as great outdoor spaces for entertaining or hosting parties.

The bedrooms in corner units boast wonderful panoramic views of Leslieville, Riverdale, and the downtown Toronto skyline in the distance. Kitchens feature stone counters, gas stoves, stainless steel appliances, sizeable islands, and ceramic backsplashes, while bathrooms feature large soaker tubs, and ceiling-mounted shower heads. Suites also have their own laundry units, and plenty of storage space.

What was once an industrial district, with housing for the families that ran the factories there, is now a thriving and popular community of artists, craftsmen, and creative entrepreneurs who have brought the Leslieville and Riverdale areas into the 21st century.

Residents who enjoy shopping, dining and going out for late-night shenanigans will be very happy with the area that surrounds the Work Lofts. Surrounding streets like Queen and Dundas East are filled with plenty of interesting local shops, and more shopping can be found at the nearby Riverdale Shopping Centre or Gerrard Square as well.

For nearby entertainment, residents can see a concert at The Opera House, visit one of the many local playhouses for a theatrical performance, or even try their hand at rock climbing at The Rock Oasis. There are also a number of spas, gyms and yoga studios around the area, and residents always have the option to trek to either The Beaches or the Distillery District to partake in whatever festivals or events may be happening there.

Residents who enjoy getting outside have several parks to choose from, such as Jimmie Simpson Park, the Matty Eckler Playground and Recreation Centre, or Greenwood Park, which has baseball diamonds, a pool, a skating rink, and a dog park. Families looking to move into 319 Carlaw will be glad to know that a few good schools are close by as well, including Pape Avenue Junior Public School, Morse Street Junior Public School, and Wilkinson Junior Public School.

Getting to and from the Work Lofts shouldn’t be an issue for residents. A number of bus routes serve the surrounding streets, and streetcars run frequently across both Queen Street East and Gerrard East. Residents can reach the nearest subway station, Pape Station, by taking a bus north for about 8 minutes along Pape Avenue.

Motorists who choose to drive for their daily commute can reach the Don Valley Parkway via Dundas Street East, or they can reach Lake Shore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway by way of Carlaw Avenue.