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Residential

On the map: A condo with attitude on the east side

Apr 6, 2022

Originally Published By: The National Post

Iris Benaroia,  Publishing date:Apr 06, 2022  •  1 hour ago  •  3 minute read  

The condo’s curved façade at Church and Richmond streets, where a park will be built to the west of the site.
The condo’s curved façade at Church and Richmond streets, where a park will be built to the west of the site. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON GROUP AND BINYAN STUDIOS

Everybody knows, you’re either a Beatles fan or a Rolling Stones fan because you can’t be both in equal measure. Lennon strikes a chord with the light and joyful crowd, while Jagger’s swagger speaks to a brooding audience. And it’s that darker, grittier version of rock and roll that will come to define ALiAS Condos, says Josh Zagdanski, vice-president of high rise at Madison Group, the developer behind the project.

Destined for Church and Richmond, on a former parking lot, units at the 45-storey 546-suite tower start in the mid $600,000s. Sizes range from 350 to 1,400 square feet for studios to three-bedroom layouts, and some suites come with terraces and balconies. The occupancy date is 2026.

“You have this edgy vibe next to sophisticated parts of downtown,” says Zagdanski. “It’s in the nexus of all these amazing areas of Toronto.”

St. Lawrence Market, the Financial District and the universities OCAD, George Brown and Ryerson are close by, as are restaurants and shops. There’s also swift access to transit and the highways.

Black-trimmed arches and Keith Haring wallpaper are features of the kids’ play area.
Black-trimmed arches and Keith Haring wallpaper are features of the kids’ play area. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON GROUP AND BINYAN STUDIOS

Teeple Architects and Turner Fleischer Architects teamed up on the condo’s bold and dramatic design. Glazed black brick will have a shimmery cascading effect down the façade. Up top, the gold in an illuminated crown is picked up again in gold-framed windows.

“There’s a sense of attitude outdoors and indoors,” says Zagdanski.

To the west of the condo, the developer is creating a new city park with public art installations. There will also be 7,000 square feet of street-level retail, where future restaurant patios and patrons will spill into the street.

The design provocateur Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge, who has leathered walls in the past, brings his signature suaveness to the interiors. In the lobby, a massive white marble concierge desk with marble ceiling-height columns sharply contrasts a black crystal Baccarat for Chrome Hearts chandelier, a striking handblown piece and the crown jewel in the space. Drama continues with ribbed concrete walls and marble floors.

No less alluring are the residences, each one “a declaration of timeless rock star glam punctuated by polished quartz, steel and porcelain accents,” according to press materials.

Dark, moody kitchens were designed by Studio Munge.
Dark, moody kitchens were designed by Studio Munge. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON GROUP AND BINYAN STUDIOS

Despite the glam, the goal is a mixed demographic, says Zagdanski: “We designed the building to have a broader audience that includes families. Our larger suite layouts are targeting young families.”

The posh playroom is unconventional with its black and white palette and Keith Haring line drawing wallpaper. Craft rooms and a projector lounge are other features of the space.

Suites with a glam-rock aesthetic are appointed in polished quartz, steel and porcelain accents.
Suites with a glam-rock aesthetic are appointed in polished quartz, steel and porcelain accents. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON GROUP AND BINYAN STUDIOS

In co-working areas there are private meeting rooms with a coffee bar as well as an outdoor space.

Additional amenities include an indoor-outdoor pet spa with an AstroTurf playpen; landscaped outdoor lounges — greenery is by MBTW Group, and the design is by Studio Munge — with grill areas; party rooms with a pizza oven; round-the-clock concierge with automated parcel storage; a fitness centre with private exercise pods and a Peloton room; and guest suites.

Suites at ALiAS Condos start in the mid $600,000s. Units range from studios to three-bedrooms, from 350 to 1,400 square feet. For more information, visit aliastoronto.com.

There will be 18,000 square feet of amenities in the building, including a contemporary outdoor lounge.
There will be 18,000 square feet of amenities in the building, including a contemporary outdoor lounge. PHOTO BY PHOTO COURTESY OF MADISON GROUP AND BINYAN STUDIOS

Three things

Stroll seven minutes south to Sugar Beach, at the foot of Lower Jarvis, where a sandy stretch dotted with lounge chairs and umbrellas offers views of the lake.

Classic diner fare, from BLTs to buttermilk pancakes, is on the menu at The George Street Diner, right around the block. 129 George St.

Oysters, lobster, crab, scallops, sardines and calamari – get that underwater fix taken care of at Pearl Diver Seafood. 100 Adelaide S