21 Nelson Street

With the skills of so many reputed firms pouring into the development, it’s no wonder the 2011-built Boutique Condos has been such a success. The developer is Urban Capital Property Group and the development partners are Malibu Investments, Toronto and Alit Developments, and Tel Aviv.

In addition to the aforementioned developers, 21 Nelson Street certainly wouldn’t look the way it does without the design created by ZAS Architects. A wood paneled entryway greets residents, while red brick and glass make up the rest of the building — with glass concentrated at the top and brick at the bottom. While the building is sizeable, it isn’t necessarily soaring: the Boutique Condos spans just 13 storeys and hold 334 units.

On top of this generous number of homes, 21 Nelson also happens to be home to an enormous array of amenities. During the summer months residents can hang out on the building’s rooftop terrace, swim in the outdoor pool, and lounge in a cabana by day or sit by the fire pit in the evenings. The roof is also equipped with barbecues, meaning residents won’t even have to leave in order to fuel up.

Prospective buyers needn’t be concerned about their exercise routines, as the Boutique Condos allows its residents to work out without leaving the building. There’s a gym on site with cardio facilities, weights, and a yoga area, as well as an indoor resistance lap pool.

The concierge at 21 Nelson even offers more services than found in the average condo: residents can (for a fee of course) have their dogs walked, groceries delivered, or homes cleaned. And for those who love to play host, the building contains guest suites and plenty of visitor parking, plus a party room.

The homes at the Boutique Condos range dramatically in size: the coziest units start at around 400 square feet, while the largest reach to approximately 2,500. Prospective buyers can expect to find Toronto condos for sale here in one or two bedroom layouts, all of which are sleek and slightly industrial in style.

Floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows are found throughout the entire building, and each suite boasts a balcony or terrace. As a result, the homes feel bright and spacious, regardless of their size or layout.

Contemporary kitchens are prepped to impress home-chefs of all proficiency levels with their state of the art appliances and granite countertops. Other recurring features at the Boutique Condos include engineered hardwood flooring, while certain suites also boast walk-in closets.

Living in the heart of the Queen West neighbourhood means diversions are never hard to come by. Residents of the Boutique Condos have the best of the city’s attractions and eateries at their doorsteps. Weekends or days off might involve catching an independent or international film at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, watching a mainstream film at the Scotiabank Theatre, visiting the CN Tower or Ripley’s Aquarium in The Entertainment District, or cheering on the Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre.

While the options for eating out are nearly endless for those living at 21 Nelson, those who prefer to cook have their pick of grocery stores: a Rabba Fine Foods and an Independent City Market are about equidistant from the building, to the east and west respectively.

Outdoorsy residents will also be able to find plenty of green spaces surrounding their homes. The recently renovated Grange Park takes around 12 minutes to reach on foot, while the slightly larger Harbour Square Park — which also happens to back onto Lake Ontario — is just over 20 minutes away.

Regardless of one’s preferred method of transportation, getting around downtown Toronto is a breeze for those living at the Boutique Condos. Osgoode and St. Andrew Stations, on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line, are both accessible via a 5-minute walk. From either of these stations, travelers can hop onto trains heading north or south. For those heading east or west, residents can simply walk a few short blocks to either King or Queen Street in order to reach a streetcar.

Alternatively, drivers can use one-way streets like Richmond or Adelaide to avoid the traffic that builds up on major arterial roads. For longer journeys, however, residents might opt to drive south until they reach the Gardiner Expressway — a fast-paced highway that traverses the southern edge of the city.