When Graywood Developments and Phantom Developments teamed up to purchase a site at Jarvis and Carlton, they knew the location provided more than enough inspiration for future development. There aren’t many intersections in Toronto that are steps from a major university, across from a 5-acre park, peppered with historic buildings and within walking distance to hospitals, leading retail and the financial core.

“When it comes to real estate and development, certain characteristics will always cut through the noise. You can’t beat location, you can’t replace experience and you can’t cut corners,” says Stephen Price, Graywood Developments President and CEO. “We spent a lot of time on JAC Condos trying to get the details right. That means acting quickly to save and preserve the historic mansion on-site, developing an amenity program that extends the living space for residents, and making sure the unit mix is what buyers are looking for. But above all else, we wanted to make sure our building was going to be a good fit for the community. When you add it all up, you end up with an attractive proposition for purchasers.”

With housing supply in the core already constrained, and nearby Ryerson University projecting to have 65,000 students by 2030, and an increase of 20,000 students from current levels, the need for more housing in downtown east remains high. Phantom Developments Principal Henry Strasser echoes Price’s sentiment citing the area’s pronounced need for housing as well as its unique combination of convenience, history and location.

“We named the project JAC Condos because we want to be a signpost for a community that is already great. You have ample park space across the street, as well as one of the most beloved gardens in the city. You’re close to Ryerson and St. Michael’s Hospital, not to mention The Village, Eaton Centre and St. Lawrence Market. You can walk anywhere and on top of all of that, you have the uniqueness of Jarvis itself. It’s a historic street, rich in narrative. It’s our responsibility to live up to what’s already here and to help define a new era for Jarvis and Carlton,” says Strasser.

Despite a fire late last year, the facade of the original 1902 Beaux Arts heritage house was saved and will be integrated into a recreation of the original structure. The re-created mansion will merge with a new podium-tower designed by Turner Fleischer Architects. Lead architect and Principal, Russell Fleisher, says the design was context-driven, drawing inspiration from the aforementioned Allan Gardens and general historic nature of Jarvis, but also a more recent, contemporary addition to the neighbourhood—the Equilibrium mural, completed in 2018, by Spanish street artist Okuda San Miguel.

“Clearly Allan Gardens is the most important area amenity. All of us who live in Toronto, at some point or another, will find ourselves at Allan Gardens. Having an iconic piece of Toronto right outside your door is special, and really drove the design of the massing,” says Fleischer, explaining how the design tapers the edges of the building and strategically locates balconies in order to minimize the JAC’s presence on the garden.

“But Jarvis is a street of many eras and to only focus on the early history would ignore how instantly recognizable Okuda San Miguel’s mural has become. Colour became a very important element in our design. We wanted to inject vibrancy and excitement to complement the power of the mural.” A pattern of prismatic, extruded modules were added to the south and east facades of the tower to add depth and texture. The modules will be treated with special paint, changing colour depending on the angle of the viewer and the position of the sun.

At grade, the podium is divided into two main pieces. The new-build-podium will be clad in brick and feature the building lobby, complete with an outdoor courtyard, fireside lounge and a gallery space. The restored heritage house will feature the original north and east sides of the 1902 building, with the rest being rebuilt. The house will serve as a gathering place for building residents, with a curated selection of amenity spaces including a fully-wired tech lounge, coffee bar, library and multiple flex spaces to facilitate working and learning. A serenity room and Yoga studio round out the offering space for reflection, meditation and relaxation.  

A private shared laneway behind the heritage house will feature dedicated bike-parking with direct access to the building for cyclists.

“We were inspired by the energy of the area so the interiors evoke an approachable, youthful vibe. The common interiors are designed to cater to all types of activities, from quiet and personal areas such as study nooks, individual contemplation spaces, and a yoga studio, to casual social gathering spaces like a gaming and movie room, bar and multi-purpose room, and arts and crafts studio,” says Melandro Quilatan, President and Co-Founder of Tomas Pearce. “There is a strong modern aesthetic while being sympathetic to user comforts, deliberately designed with a thoughtful tech approach in each amenity zone. Materials and finishes are sleek, matte and natural.”

JAC Condos suites range from studios to three-bedroom suites with pricing starting in the $400s. Generously programmed homes come complete with Quartz slab backsplash and countertops, modern open concept living/dining spaces, stylish wood-grain plank laminate flooring and European inspired soft-close cabinetry. In an effort to appeal to more buyers, Graywood and Phantom are offering a generous limited time offer deposit structure that calls for 5% of the purchase price to be paid in 2020, 5% in 2021, 5% in 2022 and the remaining 5% at closing.

About Graywood Developments
Graywood Developments is a private investment management company based in Toronto that specializes in the development of real estate properties of exceptional quality. For the past 35 years, Graywood has worked hard to create communities that are not just optimized for life today, but built with a vision of a prosperous tomorrow. With a keen eye on how, and where people want to live, and a passion for projects that get noticed and endure, we work hard to ensure that our purchasers are making the right investment, both personally and financially.

About Phantom Developments
As visionaries in thoughtful urban development, the company leads with integrity, innovation and a personal commitment to the highest quality design practices. For over 50 years, Phantom has played a key role in numerous prestigious projects in the Greater Toronto Area contributing to help define the city’s vital communities with exceptional building designs. The company takes great pride in securing select locations with the utmost attention to shaping beautiful environments inside and out to complement modern urban lifestyles.