44 St Joseph Street

Does the thought of a cozy condo in a quiet neighbourhood make you hyperventilate? Do you look at open fields of grass and wonder how many ticks are hiding among the blades? If you answered yes to either of those questions, then perhaps an affordable condo in the heart of dowtown Toronto will make you feel at home — and instead of grassy plains and ticks, you get busy streets and a concrete jungle.

Located at 44 St Joseph St in the Bay St. Corridor, Polo Club II 26 storey building which has severed as a desirable residence for over 30 years. The exterior could be characterized as dated — comprised of brown brick with large bay windows, reminiscent of older condo designs. However, if you ever listened to a word of what you were taught in school, then you know not to judge a book by its cover.

You won’t find all the flashy extras like those found in more modern condos, but this building does provide some nice amenities; pool, gym, sauna, security guard, and parking garage. And the benefit of less amenities is lower maintenance costs, so you won’t pay for a bunch of features you don’t use — who really needs a meeting room or a business centre anyway?

As jaw dropping glass towers rise all over the city, buildings like Polo Club II continue to offer something that can’t be found in modern condos — space. Suite sizes range from 544 square feet to a whopping 2718 for the largest units. And considering the fact that units here are on the lower end of price per square foot for Toronto condos for sale, you’re bound to get great value.

Given that Polo Club II was built in 1988, some units could be in need of upgrading — which gives you a chance to act out your very own reno show. Buyers can expect to find hardwood floors, mostly modern kitchens, bright units filled with natural light, tall ceilings, large bedrooms, and ensuite laundry. Units don’t come with private balconies, but many feature solariums.

Arguably the best aspect of life in this building is the vibrant neighbourhood that awaits just beyond the lobby doors. The Bay Street Corridor is probably the busiest neighbourhood in the GTA, so provided that your lifestyle is a match for the pace of the area, then you’re in for a treat.

If you’re bored in the Bay Street Corridor — you’re not trying hard enough. Brimming with restaurants, pubs, cafes, and sitting on transit lines for fast travel around the city, this neighbourhood isn’t in the heart of the action, it is the heart.

From your front door at 44 St Joseph St, you’re steps from fantastic restaurants — there’s Tokyo Sushi across the street for Japanese, The Wickson Social for shared plates and cocktails, and Crown Princess Fine Dining for Chinese. You’ll also encounter countless spots for a quick bite like Pizza Nova, Hero Certified Burgers, Popeyes Lousiana Kitchen, Subway, and more.

Entertainment options are plentiful, regardless of your interests; head south on Yonge and you have movies and events at Yonge-Dundas square, and there’s the Eaton Centre for an afternoon of shopping. Culture lovers can head north to Bloor for the latest exhibits at the ROM, or catch a show at CAA Theatre. And if all you desire is a drink, you have pubs, clubs, Karaoke bars, and everything in between.

Should you need a breath of fresh air, Queen’s Park is to the west, where you can find tree shrouded benches and paved walking paths.

44 St Joseph St has a 99 Walk Score, so errands can easily be accomplished on foot. Those who rely on public transit have buses on Bay, Wellesley, and Yonge, and Wellesley Station is just around the corner for subway lines.

Drivers will have to suffer through some city traffic, but can reach the nearest highway by heading north on Yonge to Bloor, and then east to Danforth Ave for the Don Valley Parkway.