10 Willison Sq, Toronto

Whether one thinks of it as ‘boutique’ or ‘low density,’ the fact of the matter is the Dragon Condos is relatively petite — especially for a newly developed building in downtown Toronto. Rather than take advantage of the high demand for homes in the area, Ideal Developments opted to focus on quality when planning their project at 270 Spadina Avenue and 10 Willison Square.

Ideal contracted Young + Wright / IBI Group to design the building itself, and the result is a 10-storey edifice whose colour scheme resembles that of the new TTC streetcars that pass by along Spadina. The façade features a generous amount of glass, dark grey masonry, and red and white detailing.

Completed in 2017, the building is home to more than just 95 residents: 5,000 square feet of retail space can also be found below the homes, on ground level. And on top of all the shops, residents also share the building with a generous array of amenities.

Those living at the Dragon Condos can pocket the cash they might have spent on a gym membership, since the building is equipped with fitness facilities of its own. There’s also a party room, theatre, rooftop terrace with barbecues, meeting room, and indoor and outdoor lounge areas, making this the perfect building for anyone who plans to entertain often.

With plenty of bicycle parking at 270 Spadina, Active residents will also be able to rest easy knowing their bikes are safe and secure each night (residents who purchased units during preconstruction were even given a brand new bike to park there). Speaking of safety, the building also features an on-site concierge and security guard.

Although there isn’t an enormous number of them, Toronto condos for sale at the Dragon Condos vary quite dramatically in size. The coziest of units starts at around 400 square feet, with the largest spread out over approximately 1,000.

Regardless of the size of one’s home, all of the suites at 270 Spadina are literal gems: they’re named after stones such as amber, sapphire, opal, emerald, and diamond. Every home also feels spacious thanks to ceiling heights that reach to 9 feet high. Finishes are expectedly contemporary, with features like stainless steel appliances and stacked washer and dryers found throughout the building.

Aptly named, the Dragon Condos is located within Chinatown, where the symbol of the creature can be spotted in many of the neighbourhood’s shops and restaurants. And while Torontonians travel to Chinatown from far and wide to dine on dim sum or shop for imported foods, residents living at 270 Spadina and 10 Willison Square can simply step outside the building to find these specialties.

The Dragon Condos is technically also situated in Alexandra Park, a charming residential neighbourhood surrounded by Kensington Market to the north and Queen Street West to the south. The former is bursting with local businesses from cheese shops to vintage boutiques, while the latter is home to everything from brand name shops to hip cafés, restaurants and bars.

When the time comes for running errands, residents needn’t travel too far. The Chinatown grocery stores along Spadina and Dundas are inexpensive options; alternatively, organic and imported goods can be found in Kensington Market. And when in need of a one-stop shop, those living at the Dragon Condos can reach the expansive Loblaws at Queen and Portland after walking for just 10 minutes.

Whether residents prefer to travel by car, bicycle, public transit, or on foot, it’s easy to reach any area of the city when living at the Dragon Condos. Cyclists can use quiet side streets to get around the immediate area, while Adelaide, Richmond, and Spadina are all equipped with bike lanes.

Drivers can also use any of the aforementioned streets to reach surrounding areas like the Entertainment District or Liberty Village. Longer journeys, on the other hand, might involve a drive on the Gardiner Expressway, which can be reached in no time via Spadina.

As for those without cars, living steps from the corner of Dundas and Spadina means having easy access to streetcars that run along both of these streets. The Spadina streetcar carries passengers down to Lake Ontario or up to Spadina Station, while the Dundas route travels west toward Trinity Bellwoods or east to the Eaton Centre. A westbound trip on the Dundas streetcar also offers passengers the chance to transfer onto the subway at either St. Patrick or Dundas station.