346 Davenport: Family-friendly living in downtown Toronto
Costas Kivelos and his wife, Jimmi Kazantzi didn’t hesitate when they had the opportunity to purchase a 1,500-square-foot condominium at new development, 346 Davenport.“I’ve believed in this project since I first found out about it two years ago,” said Kivelos, 41, a realtor with Right At Home Realty and father of 2-year-old twin sons. “There was a buzz at the opening launch party, and it’s still happening.”In fact, although 346 Davenport is still in the pre-construction phase, about half the units are already sold.“When the site became available, it seemed like an obvious location for families who want to be downtown,” said Peter Freed, president of Freed Developments, the developer and builder. “It’s more of an upper-end location in the city. It’s a small, boutique building. We’re not catering to investors; we’re focusing more on users.”The nine-storey, 70,000-square-foot building features 35, two- and three-bedroom condominium units ranging in size between 1,000 and 4,400 square feet and priced between $800,000 and about $4 million. The units are open plan in design, with large outdoor terraces, and are attractive to both couples and families.
“You’re seeing a renewed interest in larger units,” said Roland Rom Colthoff, director at RAW, the building’s architect. “There are very few detached houses available downtown and people increasingly are buying condos. With all the services available, it makes for a great lifestyle.”It is these buyers RAW had in mind in designing 346 Davenport.“We wanted to replicate a home as much as possible,” Colthoff said. “They are tall units and most have no bulkheads so you get a clear flat feeling. There is also a large outdoor space, the same as a single-family home, and most units have parking for two cars.”The suites themselves are appointed with high-end amenities. The kitchens have Miele appliances and contemporary European-style cabinets. There are freestanding soaker bathtubs, frameless shower enclosures and natural stone countertops in the bathrooms. The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows throughout and the wide plank, engineered hardwood flooring has an acoustic underlay. About half the units have direct elevator access, providing additional privacy.
