298 Jarvis Street & 296 Jarvis Street

While some prospective buyers are out in search of a brand new, shiny glass tower, others prefer to know that the kinks in their future home have been worked out already. The Metropolitan Essex would appeal to the latter camp, since the building has been on the market for nearly three decades now.

Built in 1991 by Polygrand Developments Inc., the base of the building at 296-298 Jarvis Street is made up of huge white bricks, establishing the scale of the building and an overall feel of grandeur.

There are no hotel-like amenities to be found at the Metropolitan Essex, but rather access to actual hotel amenities. Residents living at 296-298 Jarvis can make use of the extras located in the attached Ramada Plaza Hotel, including a full-sized indoor pool and sauna, a gym, and squash courts — all they have to do is walk across the enclosed pedestrian bridge to get there.

Benefiting those brave enough to drive in the congested streets of downtown Toronto, there’s also plenty of parking available at the Metropolitan Essex. Car owners or not, all residents can feel secure knowing there is onsite security in the building, and life is made just that much more comfortable thanks to the commercial businesses that are located in the building on street level.

The modestly sized Metropolitan Essex reaches to 17 storeys, and is home to 124 Toronto condos. As a result, residents have the chance to get to know their neighbours, while prospective buyers still have an actual chance of seeing Toronto condos for sale in the building appear on the market every now and then.

While there isn’t a wild amount of fluctuation in terms of size and exposure, the units at do vary. Single professionals might opt for a one-bedroom unit, with these starting at around 550 square feet. Families or those who plan to have frequent guests, on the other hand, will be pleased to hear that some suites feature two bedrooms plus dens, and reach up to approximately 1,450 square feet.

Regardless of their size, all of the suites feel inviting, elegant and bright. Floor-to-ceiling windows can be found in some units, while hardwood flooring and tile are common throughout the building. And best of all, amazing views are to be had by residents living at 296-298 Jarvis — especially those living on the uppermost floors.

Living at 296-298 Jarvis in the LGBTQ+ friendly Village neighbourhood has more than its fair share of perks. The area isn’t as cool as, say, Queen West, which received a shout-out from Vogue a few years back, but it’s certainly bustling and vibrant.

For one, the Metropolitan Essex is only a few blocks from Yonge Street. Here, residents can find the Eaton Centre, which contains a seemingly endless amount of stores, and of course a massive food court. Just across the street, cinephiles have their pick when visiting the massive Cineplex Cinemas at Yonge and Dundas. Alternatively, the Imagine Cinemas Carlton Cinema is another great option.

Live entertainment is also within close reach, as residents living at the Metropolitan Essex can visit the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre for a play or the Phoenix Concert Theatre for a concert.

Those looking for some green space around are in luck, as those living in the building can even spend time surrounded by nature during the depths of winter. Allan Gardens, enclosed in a glass and cast-iron edifice that dates back to 1910, is a great way to get some fresh air without being outside.

Slightly farther away is Riverdale Park, a 104 acre green space filled with amenities that range from skating rinks to swimming pools, cricket pitches, and even a farm. The east side of this park also has some hills that serve as spectacular spots for watching the sun set over the city.

Moving around is simple when one lives at 296-298 Jarvis. The building’s minimal distance from Yonge means more than just access to shopping: the subway also runs along this street. College Station takes about 8 minutes to reach on foot, from which passengers can ride north to the Bloor-Danforth line or south to Union Station.

From the latter, those heading out of the city can access VIA Rail trains, Go buses and trains, and the UP service to Pearson International Airport. Using public transit, a trip all the way to Pearson will take a resident less than an hour. Drivers can also reach the airport in about 20 minutes when traffic is at its lightest.