603 Sherbourne Street

Situated in the heart of St. James Town, the forthcoming Burke Condos promises to marry both tradition with renewal, and privacy with community. The tall and slender, glass-clad tower at 603 Sherbourne Street will reach to 53 storeys high, with heritage elements and thoughtful landscaping on the ground level to create a sense of welcome. And along with the building comes a rather appropriate slogan: “A Condo. A Community. A Culture.”

The condo takes its name from Edmund Burke, evoking the area’s rich history. Burke is the architect who designed the Anson Jones House, a late-19th-century home that sits on the property and will eventually be home to retail stores. Built for Anson Jones and family in 1895, the home showcases the Queen Anne Revival style, which Burke presumably introduced to Toronto.

Juxtaposing this longstanding structure is the modern tower at 603 Sherbourne, which features architecture by IBI Group and landscape architecture by Janet Rosenberg & Studio. IBI Group, on the other hand, is a major player in the world of architecture (as well as engineering, planning, transportation, and technology), with offices in several countries and headquarters in Toronto. IBI has worked on extraordinary projects around the world, including the Royal Atlantis in Dubai.

Horizontal white bars wrap around the façade, helping the tower to stand out among the sea of glass that characterizes downtown Toronto’s cityscape. And though the tower features an expanse of glass, red brick around the condo’s base allows the building to blend in seamlessly with the older buildings found in St. James Town.

The development of 603 Sherbourne is being overseen by Concert Properties, a developer that has been responsible for establishing major residential properties across the country for over 30 years. In recent years Concert has brought impressive buildings like 88 Scott and the Berczy at 55 Front Street East to Toronto’s downtown core.

The tower at 603 Sherbourne is so much more than a collection of homes. Taking advantage of the enormous size of the building, a generous set of amenities is spread out over three storeys at the Burke Condos. Residents who enjoy entertaining will no doubt get plenty of use out of the building’s chef’s kitchen, private dining room, fireside terrace, and pool tables; and for those who get more of a kick out of being productive, Burke Condos is also equipped with a state-of-the-art gym and co-working and meeting spaces.

The high-rise at 603 Sherbourne is divided into just over 500 units — it’s not too big and not too small. The wide variety of layouts and sizes means that everyone from single young professionals to sizable families and empty nesters can find what they’re looking for here. The majority of suites will feature one or two bedrooms, though 20 studios and 50 three-bedroom units will be found in the building as well.

The homes within the Burke Condos feature refined, muted colours and finishes, which, of course, residents can jazz up as they please. Laminate or hardwood flooring, stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, and stacked washers and dryers are the norm throughout the building, while those living on the uppermost levels are privy to the most spectacular views of the city below.

With museums, food, shopping, green space, and the TTC all around the corner, there’s something for everyone in the Bloor East and St. James Town neighbourhoods.

Outdoorsy types can explore the Rosedale Ravine Lands, which connects to the nearby Lower Don River Trail. Residents heading out from 603 Sherbourne can use this route to reach Cherry Beach in about 25 minutes by bike, while the Evergreen Brickworks takes less than 30 minutes to reach on foot.

When residents of the Burke Condos feel like indulging they can head over to Yorkville or the Mink Mile. The latter comprises the strip of Bloor Street from Yonge Street to Avenue Road, where luxury brands like Gucci and Chanel have set up shop.

In terms of mobility, it’s hard to find a better address than 603 Sherbourne Street. Residents who prefer not to drive can walk just 1 minute in order to reach Sherbourne Station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. From there, the Yonge line is one stop to the west (or a 10 minute walk) which can be used to head south toward Union Station or north up to Finch.

As for residents who drive, the Don Valley Parkway is about a 5-minute drive away from the Burke Condos. This major north-south highway carries cars south to the Gardiner Expressway or north to 404 or 401 in no time. And last but not least, those who enjoy moving around the city on two wheels will be glad to hear there are bike lanes set up along Sherbourne, Wellesley, Bloor, and Gerrard.