Toronto's South Core: Welcome to the new live/work/play

Don Kearney

April 22, 2014

Just over a decade ago, what is now known as the "South Core" in Toronto wasn't a place you'd expect to meet a friend for a great meal, spend time in a new trendy condominium, or shop for delectable food. That was then; today the South Core is quickly becoming Toronto's live, work, & play destination all in the same spot.

Peter Menkes, President of Menkes Commercial/Industrial Division, saw the area filled with parking lots and realized its potential immediately. With close proximity to public transit including Union Station, the TTC, and GO Transit, and the fact it was adjacent to the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard, it made perfect sense to create a place where a person can do it all from one location.

With the immense success of 25 York Street (known as Telus House), commercial tenants began flocking to the area and the newly-announced One York Street will continue the tradition and add to the new commercial sense this area is partially becoming known for. "This is the new centre ice for where people want to be," says Menkes. "People are the driver of this new wave of office development because they want to work, live, and play in their own backyards, so to speak, which is the downtown."

In addition to office space and a host of new retail spaces, the area has some of Toronto's most popular tourist destinations. The Air Canada Centre, Rogers Centre, CN Tower, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Harbourfront Centre and the new Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, are all within a short walking distance making it easy to attend concerts, special exhibitions or sports games even if they're last-minute decisions.

Living in the South Core is becoming second-nature to Torontonians who have seen a number of new projects come to the area with very intricate and world-class architectural features that have reshaped the city?s skyline and some of the most sought-after building amenities are appearing in South Core projects.

If food variety is what you?re after, the area has it in spades. Whether its eclectic meals from establishments like e11even or Aria Ristorante or catching the game at Real Sports Bar and Grill, your taste buds are covered. Feel like cooking a delicious meal yourself? The variety of delicious options at Longos or Loblaws will make it hard to choose what to make.

With everything this neighbourhood has to offer and all of the new amenities coming soon, including a flagship Target location, Toronto's South Core is like having your own entertainment complex that you live beside right in the heart of the city.