Oftentimes, when people think of Rosedale they think of century-old brick archways, turrets – beautifully ornate stately houses. However, in the immediate post-war years, Rosedale condos began to pop up, built with yellow brick and creating an interesting and complicated melange of buildings that sometimes house five hundred people immediately next to a single-home family.
The late 1940s brought about waves of change. People were opting for brand-new turnkey apartments that were sleek and easy to rent over opulent mansions that needed a lot of maintenance and had too many bedrooms for a family without a staff. It seemed that South Rosedale in particular, would grow into the 20th century and define elegance and refined living in both the detached home and apartment lifestyle.
Do not be mistaken, of the 19 apartment buildings built between the post-war era and 1962 when the Ontario Municipal Board approved a rezoning bylaw to ban future apartment construction, each of these buildings are as grand and architectural as the homes they sit next to. “The Kensington” on Dale Avenue houses a massive port-cochère, “The Southgate” at 45 Glen Road displays a stunning period stair rail that can be seen through a large glass curtain-wall. Take a tour for yourself around the neighbourhood to see how modernist architecture fits just perfectly in the Rosedale community.
In spite of the small clash over whether condominiums belonged in Rosedale, it is very clear that Rosedale condos are here to stay. There are three up-and-coming new builds that you should be on the lookout for that both emulate the class and grandeur of Rosedale estates, and arguably, take that sophisticated lifestyle one step further: Scrivener Court (5 Scrivener Square), the Hill and Dale Residences (at the corner of Summerhill and Rosedale) and 820 Church Street. These Rosedale condos have been designed with clean lines and decadent finishes.
Scrivener Court is a combination of a 26-storey rental tower and an 8 storey mid-rise that will combine new grade-level retail while maintaining the historic storefronts along Yonge Street. These Rosedale condos pay homage to the famous red-brick buildings that are famous in Rosedale while incorporating all of the modern amenities Torontonians have grown fond of in other parts of the downtown core.
The future of Rosedale condos is bright with 820 Church Street, conveniently located near Rosedale at the rear of the Toronto Reference Library. Imagine yourself in a 37-storey condo adjacent a 5-storey podium containing space for institutional uses overlooking one of the most prime locations in all of Toronto. That life could soon be yours!
If you are looking for an ultra-exclusive address, look no further than the 17 condos at the Hill and Dale Residences that personify luxury and a trend-setting lifestyle.
I am not sure where the notion came about that modernity and history are mutually exclusive, because if the history of Rosedale has taught me anything it is that history is dynamic. Mary Jarvis in 1826 was one of the first settlers in the area and named the neighbourhood after the abundance of wild roses that grew along her estate. If history had stopped at that moment in time Rosedale would have been one massive property with nothing more to write about. Instead it was the belief in beautiful growth that allowed for the Jarvis estate to be subdivided in 1854 to become Toronto’s first “garden suburb”.
From 1854 onwards the bulk of the beautiful homes we come to admire and associate with Rosedale were built, and those properties subdivided again to form historically important post-war apartments. Today, we look forward to new life and new technology to invigorate Rosedale once again with stunning new condominiums that you can call your own very soon.
If you want to learn more about the Rosedale neighbourhood, please have a look at my video that gives you a virtual tour of the area including all of its charms. If you liked what you saw, or have any questions regarding Rosedale, please feel free to also check out my page about the neighbourhood. You can pop any queries you have there and I will get back to you very shortly! I hope you love Rosedale and its stunning condos as much as I do, they are one of the most culturally rich parts of our country.
