Plazacorp setting the standard for excellence with projects across the GTA

Over the last decade and a half, Plaza has established itself as one of the Toronto area’s premiere condominium developers, and has set the standard for excellence in customer service.

Despite uncertain times due to COVID-19, 2020 has been a productive and fruitful year for Plaza, with nine condo towers in various stages, and the launch of its new lowrise division. For the second time in three years, Plaza was named Tarion’s Highrise Builder of the Year
at the Homeowners’ Choice Awards.

High standards

The company’s reputation and high standards have been carefully cultivated over the last 15 years, says Scott McLellan, senior vice-president of Plaza. “As land opportunities and venture partnerships became more available to us, we wanted to make it known to the buying population and brokerage community that our product and our service to our customers was going to be outstanding.”

That commitment, as well as challenging its consultants and architects to take the look and feel of Plaza buildings to another level, was integral in building a successful brand. Plaza strives to deliver suites with zero deficiencies and only uses skilled, licensed trades for every project. In 2019, it had an average of less than one deficiency per suite. Plaza has been discriminating about its sites.

“We look for locations on transit lines or close to 400 series highways,” says McLellan. “We knew it was important to be in locations where public transportation would be easily accessible.”

Plaza’s Bijou on Bloor, for example, is a 12-storey boutique condo, steps from the TTC in the heart of up-and-coming Bloor West, renowned for its excellent schools, retail shopping district and vibrant food scene. High Park is just a short walk away. This west-end urban neighbourhood is characterized by wide, tree-lined streets and older homes with welcoming front porches. What has been lacking in the area is housing choices that bridge the gap between lowrise homes and highrise units – until now.

Upscale midrise living

Bijou on Bloor will fill that niche, offering intimate, upscale midrise living just steps from the subway. The contemporary, stylish building has been designed by Quadrangle Architects to complement the surrounding residential neighbourhood. “Bijou will be a jewellery box on Bloor West, the fashion district of Canada,” says McLellan. “It’s an existing vibrant neighbourhood but close to the downtown core. It’s really a
unique place.”

The Plaza team worked closely in collaboration with the Bloor West community and the City, and the result is an intimate building that honours the integrity of the neighbourhood. Each aspect of Bijou on Bloor has been thoughtfully planned with quality at the forefront. Its interiors and amenities are modelled after five-star hotels. Many suites have private terraces, and views to the north will look out over the green canopy of surrounding streets and the Humber River Valley. South-facing views take in Lake Ontario and the CN Tower.

“Bijou is an interesting one, set on top of the subway line in South Kingsway, that was an underserviced area,” says McLellan. “We’d heard from people asking when someone was going to build a condo with larger units, So Bijou has an average suite size of 1,000 square feet.”

Encore at Theatre District, the follow-up to Plaza’s sold-out Theatre District Condos, is a 48-storey tower with private residences and hotel suites, ideal for urbanites who appreciate culture, entertainment, fine dining and a sophisticated lifestyle. “The Entertainment District is becoming an increasingly popular place to live,” says McLellan. “People want to be part of the energy of the area, close to great restaurants, theatres, TIFF and Billy Bishop Airport.”

Plaza Midtown is in Yonge-Eglinton, another highly popular Toronto neighbourhood with transit, upscale shopping, restos, pubs and bars in
its vibrant hub, as well as quiet tree-lined streets.

Prestigious locations

Although it continues to be primarily a Toronto builder, Plaza has ventured into key 905 communities, including Vaughan and Mississauga and has met with resounding success. “In Mississauga, we’re right at centre ice again with our Mississauga Square project and in Vaughan, The Met is in the new Vaughan Metropolitan Centre with the subway station,” says McLellan.

Plaza chose another prestigious 905 location, on the Richmond Hill-King City boundary, to launch its first major lowrise project. King City Estates is a collection of 255 towns, semis and detached homes on a 30-acre site, with about half of the homes released in the first phase already sold. Plaza is also taking registrations for two Toronto infill townhouse projects coming soon, The Briar in desirable Lytton Park and Fairfield Towns at Bloor and Islington.

And of course, Plaza continues to be a major player in the condominium market in key locations, and McLellan predicts there will be pent-up demand for real estate once the pandemic is over.

“We have launches coming, including in Vaughan in the VMC, a new tower at Yonge and Finch close to the subway, and we have a mixed-use project with 620 suites at 400 King West on the site of the old Mountain Equipment Co-op that we’re excited about,” he says.

For more information visit plazacorp.com.