Penthouse 501B 245 Carlaw Avenue

New York State of Mind

A distinct industrial essence with oversized vintage metal windows, refined masonry detailing and an imposing symmetry frequently lacking in contemporary architecture. Both nostalgic and romantic, Penthouse Loft 501B offers the kind of space one is more apt to see in a blockbuster movie than in real life. The view immediately demands your attention featuring a 30’ expanse of windows with an original factory mews southern exposure and truly breathtaking full frontal western exposure that bounces the morning glory skyline or steals the sunset’s majesty.

This sensational unit features a minimalist foyer concealing high functioning practicality and storage. The unit’s professional lighting design invites you in and highlights the multitude of hidden treasures and modern bespoke features. A generous and smartly laid-out entertaining space anchored by original polished concrete floors overlooked through Starphire glass framing a raised sleeping area with plentiful built-in storage and walk in closet.

Natural light is filtered into a gorgeous spa-like washroom with concrete sink, Italian glass tile and waxed stack – soak it in as you and a close friend relax in the two-person extra deep tub (naughty!). Then impress guests in a designer kitchen with clever and quiet functional storage, Blum hardware, Hafele pulls, a seamless granite counter top, Franke undermount sink, appliances, and breakfast bar for guests to sit back and watch the magic. Having one car parking, this freshly re-imagined loft is move-in ready!

Zoned ‘live/work’ – The destination of choice for the high-styled, but down-to-earth buyer.

The Community

Located just north of Queen Street East on Carlaw Avenue, this vintage live/work loft is located in the heart of hip Leslieville. Up the street from the 24-hour Queen streetcar, daily shopping, café culture, and purveyors of the funky and fine, this romantic voluminous space is truly enhanced by a convenient urban village life. Our fav’s include Te Aro Coffee Roasters, Lady Marmalade for Brunch, Leslieville’s newest boutique Good Neighbour, Delica Kitchen for delicious soups, salads and pret å manger sandwiches, and for those who crave something sweet, the always enticing Bobbette and Belle Bakery.

This is the ideal location for nature, water and fitness lovers. It’s just a short stroll, bike, or blade away from the sanctuary of the Leslie Spit and the recreation of the Beach. Imagine, a location with accessible cardio cleansing, contemplation, and day dreaming just steps from your door! And for those who have to hit the road, Carlaw to Lake Shore Boulevard offers easy access to the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway.

From the agent that set high watermarks for his clients in Leslieville, Playter Estates and the Village and one of Bosley Danforth’s 2013 Five Top Producing Agents, A 2014 Top Producing Representative Company Wide and newly anointed member of the Founders Club,

Trevor Bond

Changing the way people look at real estate

Also available: Floor Plans, Features, History and Status Certificate

Overview:

Building Type:                   Hard Loft Conversion

Converted:                          August 10, 1998

Developer:                          Atria (iZone, Garment Factory)

Number of Units               88

Storeys:                               5

Year Built:                          1916

Walk Score:                      96, Paradise

Transit Score:                  98, Paradise

Bike Score:                        93, You guessed it, Paradise

Parking:                             Surface

Bike Locker

Local Car Sharing

Notable Updates:

Fully renovated by previous owner, See Features Summary

Ultra flat Farrow and Ball Paint throughout

Exclusions:

None

Maintenance       $543.46/mo

Tax Year 2016    $3,054.60

Inclusions

Bosch Cooktop & Oven

Bosch Stainless Steel Convection Oven

Rangemaster Down-Draft Hood

GE Stainless Steel Fridge

LG Stainless Steel Dishwasher

Microwave

Two Vintage Factory Pendant Fixtures

Four Leather Adjustable Bar Stools

Whynter 14,000 BTU A/C Unit

LG Front Loading Washer And Dryer

Hot Water Tank

All Window Coverings (Some Blinds And All Rods In Storage Closet)

Ceiling Fan

Walk In Closet Mirror

All Electric Light Fixtures

Nest CO2 and O2

Features and Finishes

Polished Original Concrete Floors On The Main Floor

Maple Hardwood Flooring On The Mezzanine And Landing

Hand-Made Solid Maple Grid Over The Radiator

Maple Hardwood Stairs

Maple Handrails w Stainless Steel Brackets

Xenon Lights Along The Staircase

Custom Fitted Floating Starphire Glass Railings

Mezzanine Structure Has A Concealed Steel Frame Supporting The Glass

Hidden Maintenance Galley With Access To Plumbing And Electrical

Radiators Sandblasted And Repainted With A Heat Resistant Paint

Custom Front Hall Closet, Laundry And Pantry Doors in Quarter-Sawn Maple

Top-Quality Hafele Slides

Custom Made Roller Blinds On All Windows

Floating Wall With Integrated Lights To Divide Office Space

Premium Wall Paint, Farrow and Ball Wevet White

Chef’s Kitchen

Custom Cabinetry Made With Quarter-Sawn Maple

Blum Drawers With Soft-Close Slides

Hafele Pulls

All Drawers Are Long For Optimal Storage Area

Custom Built-In Tall Cabinets With Frosted Glass Doors

Floating Shelves Above The Sink With Integrated Pot Lights

Franke Under-Mounted, Extra Deep Sink

Italian Tumbled Marble Tiled Backsplash

Granite Counter Tops, Including A Rare Seamless 10’ Peninsula Counter

Slate Tile Floor

Spa Bathroom

Limestone Tile Floor And Bathtub Surround

Italian Glass Tiles

Custom Concrete Sink And Counter Tops

Custom Floating Cabinetry In Maple

Extra Deep, 2-Person Soaker Tub

Brushed Nickel Sink And Bath Faucets

Rain Showerhead

Errors And Omissions Can Happen, Please Confirm Any Critical Information.  First image depicts this agents vision of a projection wall.  No such equipment is included in the sale of the property.

HISTORY

Wrigley chewing gum might be most commonly associated with America (in particular Chicago and Wrigley Field), but the company has deep roots in Toronto. This was the first place its founder William Wrigley Jr. opened a factory outside the U.S.

William Wrigley Jr. was born in Philadelphia in 1861. A natural if initially wayward salesman, he ran away at age 11 and briefly sold newspapers in New York City before returning home and being expelled from school for pulling pranks. As a teenager he worked as a traveling salesman for his father’s soap company.

The William Wrigley Jr. Company was founded in Chicago in 1891 a few years after an unsuccessful attempt at selling rubber stamps. At first Wrigley sold soap and baking soda, offering incentive gifts to customers who bought in bulk. But giving away free prizes occasionally backfired. Giving away free packs of chewing gum proved to be much more successful.

So, Wrigley quickly directed his prodigious energies toward producing his own line of gums. Early on, Wrigley paid candy maker Zeno Manufacturing Company to produce two products he helped develop: Juicy Fruit and Spearmint. Juicy Fruit was Wrigley’s first product with Spearmint following a few months later. In 1893, Wrigley bought Zeno and re-branded it as the William Wrigley Jr. Company.

When a debilitating economic downturn arrived in 1907, Wrigley did the unthinkable, mortgaging everything he owned to launch a massive advertising campaign, a move that skyrocketed the company into national prominence and set the stage for the company’s future groundbreaking advertising strategies. And then he expanded.

In 1907 or 1909 (opinions differ), Wrigley made his first foray outside the U.S. when he opened a small factory at 7 Scott Street in Toronto (now the site of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts). The 5-storey building was in the heart of the city’s manufacturing district, but the location was only temporary. In 1914 Wrigley’s introduced Doublemint. The same year, Wrigley’s obtained building permits on newly purchased land on Carlaw Avenue and announced that they would soon put up a brand new, state-of-the-art factory to make gum.

An article in the Globe noted: “The largest and finest chewing gum factory in the British Empire will be built by Wm. Wrigley, Fr., Company, Ltd., manufacturers of the famous Wrigley’s Spearmint, on Carlaw Avenue, next to Rolph & Clark’s splendid plant… The building is to be an all-steel, concrete and brick structure of the best-known pattern, four stories in height, with quarter-cut oak trim… Excavating is now in process.”

The south building was the first part of the Wrigley complex and it was finished in January 1916. The vacant field to the north will be where its twin, the north building, would begin construction in the fall of 1916. This was a HUGE project. This was a major building project and Wrigley’s was destined to become one of the largest employers in the Leslieville of that time.

After the Second World War broke out, Wrigley sold all its gum production to the military while running an ad campaign asking people to remember their product and buy again when peace came. Wrigleys’ gum was a standard item in the Red Cross parcels that went to prisoners of war, saving many lives. The parcels were packed in special boxes made where Gerrard Square is today.

Wrigley’s was a good corporate neighbour and a good place to work through the decades after World War II, but by the early 1960s it needed more room to expand and to modernize its operations. In 1963 Wrigley Canada moved from Carlaw Avenue to a new plant on Leslie Street north of Eglinton. The Leslie plant closed in 2016, ending Wrigley’s presence in Toronto after 108 years.

Thanks to Laurin Jeffry, Author