North York, Then and Now

North York, then and now Suzanne Wintrob, National Post · Feb. 4, 2011 | Last Updated: Feb. 4, 2011 2:28 PM ET Paul Oulahen moved into the Yonge-Sheppard area of North York in 1959. As a youngster, he and his friends shopped at Northtown Plaza and Dempsey’s Hardware, hung out at the Willow Theatre and Mitchell Field’s outdoor rink, and collected chestnuts from the bountiful trees along Yonge Street. There were no buildings taller than three storeys, and nobody knew what a high-rise condominium meant. By the mid-1970s, young Paul and his teenage pals were awed as the area’s first major shopping plaza and office tower — the Sheppard Centre — took shape. After that, every time he and his neighbours turned their heads there was something new on the horizon. In the 1980s, it was the North York Civic Centre (and City Hall), which housed gregarious mayor Mel Lastman, then the popular Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre, and the addition of the North York subway station and the Sheppard subway line. As the area buzzed with activity, a wealth of trendy restaurants, shops and theatres opened their doors to the influx of young professionals and empty nesters moving into the area’s new high-rise condominiums. Now, with 11 high-rise condo projects in the works and another 10 coming to market soon, Mr. Oulahen’s old neighbourhood will see even more changes. “I can’t wait until these new developments are up,” says Mr. Oulahen, of Re/Max Realtron, who works alongside his wife and two sons. “It’s been a long time coming. When you compare it to Bloor Street, Yonge/Eglinton and Bloor West Village, there will be a lot more shops and amenities for people who are living in this community.” Mr. Oulahen says the pace of development over the past decade has “far outstripped” the previous 30 years. Between 1980 and 1999, Urbanation reports, approximately 30 projects and 6,000 units were added to the North York City Centre, while between 2000 and 2010, 54 projects and 14,632 units were added. Mr. Oulahen estimates some 135,000 singles and couples have moved in over the years. With units in the pending projects selling fast despite occupancy two or three years out, Mr. Oulahen expects the area to take on a New York City feel — albeit with much more green space. A quick drive along the North Yonge corridor and it is clear this is a happening place. Most big-name developers have a project or two on the go, translating into 7,300 new units when all are complete. Soon to break ground is Bazis’s Emerald Park, two soaring contemporary towers at the southeast corner of Yonge and Sheppard (emeraldparkcondos.com). One of the most conspicuous is Tridel’s Hullmark Centre at the southeast corner, comprising 682 luxury condo residences in two towers plus office space and a public plaza (tridel.com). Future residents are thrilled at the news that Whole Foods Market’s fourth Greater Toronto Area location will take over most of Hullmark’s 60,000 sq. ft. of retail space. Jim Ritchie, senior vice-president of sales and marketing, says developers have been lured to the area by two subway lines and significant employment. In fact, Tridel has built 6,000 condo units there since the late 1990s and will soon add its Avonshire projects to the list. Prices tend to be more affordable than those in Toronto’s downtown core. Despite so many hands in the pie, Mr. Ritchie says there remains a friendly rivalry between builders because “we all seem to get our share.” “There’s a synergy between a development bringing residents into a city and the many needs and services that they require,” he explains. “Over the last 10 years, we’ve seen many new services opening up along Yonge Street, complementing what’s been there, or in fact bringing something new altogether … We have live theatre, cinemas, a variety of restaurants, new grocery stores have opened up. All of this is supporting the population growth that the higher density form of housing has brought.” Or as Jeff Oulahen, Paul’s 30-year-old son and fellow realtor, puts it: “It’s been a lot of pain, but the gain is finally here.”.

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