Category Archives: City of Toronto

Make Your Winterlicious 2012 Reservations Now!

Posted on January 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s that time of year again – slow, cold and many are realizing the eventual futility of their New Year’s Resolutions. It’s also one of the slowest times of year for the restaurant industry, which is why the City of Toronto has chosen January 27th to February 9th, 2012 to offer us Winterlicious.

Winterlicious is an annual event, now in its 10th year. Restaurants all over the city of Toronto offer prix fixe menus, and diners can have lunch for $15, $20 or $25 and dinner for $25, $35 or $45 depending on the restaurant, not including tax, drinks or tips.

It’s a great opportunity for those who would love to try some of the most high-end restaurants in the city without dropping hundreds of dollars on dinner. Reservations for Winterlicious (and its warm-weather counterpart, Summerlicious) can fill up fast so make them as soon as possible.

The main Winterlicious website is found here.
The full list of restaurants participating in this years’ Winterlicious festivities is found here, including menus and contact information to make reservations.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in City of Toronto

Tagged , , , ,

Most Torontonians Want Land Transfer Tax Repealed

Posted on December 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Toronto Real Estate Board recently presented the results of a poll on the Land Transfer Tax to the City.

“TREB supports the recommended 2012 budget because it continues the process of bringing fiscal sustainability back to City Hall, said Richard Silver, the president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, in a press release. “However, while we support the direction of this budget, we are pointing out that it does not begin the process of fulfilling Mayor Ford’s commitment to repeal the Toronto land Transfer Tax in 2012. This is a commitment that is strongly supported by Torontonians.”

The Toronto Real Estate recently conducted a poll, finding that 65% of Torontonians supported the Land Transfer Tax repeal, while 57% still did even considering the city’s budget issues.

“Notwithstanding the difficult decisions that City Council has faced with regard to the budget, Torontonians understand the Land Transfer Tax is part of the problem because it unfairly forces home buyers and business owners to pay more the their fair share, costing the average Toronto home buyer more than $6,000 every time they move; it is an unpredictable revenue stream that goes up and down with the real estate market; and it makes the City less competitive than other GTA municipalities,” Silver added. “The Land Transfer Tax is simply a band air that has delayed the true solutions to the City’s financial challenges.”

“Toronto businesses face the highest commercial and industrial property tax rates. Making business property taxes more competitive will allow the property tax base to grow, providing long-term, reliable revenue, which ultimately, will benefit residents by relieving pressure on existing taxpayers and improving quality of life in Toronto and the entire GTA by keeping people and jobs close together, thereby reducing traffic congestion,” he added.

The full press release and poll results are available here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in City of Toronto

Tagged ,

Toronto Real Estate Agents Provide More Information About Land Transfer Tax

Posted on September 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Toronto Real Estate Board has released a follow-up presentation to its last press release on the Land Transfer Tax, calling on the City of Toronto to eliminate it despite the budget shortfall.

“We are proud that the Toronto Real Estate Board was the only business organization that had the courage to go to City Hall and call for the fiscal restraint that so many Torontonians want and demand from City Council,” said Toronto Real Estate Board president Richard Silver. “We are proud to be a loud and strong voice in favour of sound and fair financial management from City Hall.”

 

According to the press release, after the Toronto Real Estate Board’s presentation some councillors mentioned that the Land Transfer Tax, which increases closing costs for home buyers, has helped provide the city with financing. But the Toronto Real Estate Board had this to say:

“Four years ago, many of the same city councillors that are currently opposing changes at City Hall claimed that the Toronto Land Transfer Tax would solve the city’s financial challenges. Yet, here we are, four years after the City began collecting the Land Transfer Tax, and the City’s financial situation is the same, if not worse.”

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Before You Buy, City of Toronto

Tagged ,

Greater Toronto Area Realtors Call On City To Repeal Land Transfer Tax

Posted on September 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

“We say no to the status quo,” reads a press release on the Toronto Land Transfer Tax from the Toronto Real Estate Board. “Torontonians elected this City Council with a clear mandate to get the City’s finances in order and change the way City Hall operates, including repealing the Toronto Land Transfer Tax. The public does not expect to see Councillors’ convictions crumble when decision time approaches.”

“Torontonians want the Toronto Land Transfer Tax abolished; they don’t want excuses. Unfortunately, some City Councillors are still targeting home buyers and would prefer to keep this tax.”

A recent survey found that 75 per cent of Torontonians are in support of repealing the Land Transfer Tax, with 68 per cent supporting the measure even considering Toronto’s budget shortfalls.

“The Toronto Land Transfer Tax is a job Killer: economic analyses have shown that about 40,000 Toronto jobs rely specifically on the economic activity that is generated when people buy and sell homes in the City. For resale housing alone, spin-off spending related to home buying, on things like renovations and moving services, pumped $1.4 billion into Toronto’s economy last year.”

The entire press release from the Toronto Real Estate Board is available here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Before You Buy, City of Toronto

Tagged ,

Let’s All Go To The Ex In Toronto

Posted on August 26, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Canadian National Exhibition is back in town, from August 19th to September 5th.

The Canadian National Exhibition (also known as the CNE or “The Ex”) was established in 1879 and is held at Exhibition Place in Toronto. Whether your game is winning stuffed animals or trying different foods on a stick, the Canadian National Exhibition has something for everyone.

This year, attractions include a comedy hypnotist, a strong man show, the human cannonball, an ice skating show, rides, midway, a horse show and the return of the Splash Zone. More on the attractions and shows at this year’s Canadian National Exhibition can be found here.

If you’re a fan of Food Network Canada, check out the celebrity attendees this year, ranging from Duff Goldman to Chef Michael Smith.

For information on tickets and how to get to the Canadian National Exhibition, click here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in City of Toronto

Tagged

The My Great Neighbourhood Contest

Posted on August 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

Do you love your neighbourhood? Is it the perfect place to live?

Royal LePage has announced its second year of the My Great Neighbourhood contest, in which Canadians can submit entries about neighbourhoods they love for a $20,000 grand prize.

“Canadians have a lot to be proud about and the My Great Neighbourhood contest allows residents from coast to coast to creatively showcase the many reasons why they love where they live,” said Royal LePage Real Estate Services president and chief executive Phil Soper in a press release. “We encourage Canadians to share the beauty of their city, the caring spirit of their neighbours, or what makes them proud to live in their community,” he added.

In addition to the grand prize of $20,000, a second prize of $3,500 and a third prize of $1,500 are also available. Entrants can consist of individuals or groups, and can either submit a video or photographs with their entry detailing why their neighbourhood is the best place to live. Entries will be voted on by the public and then a jury.

The contest ends on October 21, 2011 and the My Great Neighbourhood website is available here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in City of Toronto, Neighbourhood Information

Tagged , , ,

New City of Toronto Website Lets You Compare Neighbourhoods

Posted on July 15, 2011 | Leave a comment

Wellbeing Toronto, recently launched as an extension of the official City of Toronto website, lets Toronto residents and prospective Toronto homebuyers compare neighbourhoods based on a number of different variables – including crime, civic participation, demographics, housing, economy, health, education and environment.

So, soon-to-be homebuyers who aren’t familiar enough with the city to know exactly where they want to set up shop can determine how many people from their home country live in one neighbourhood compared to another, the number of car accidents in other neighbourhoods or even the number of welfare recipients in a given chunk of Toronto.

Depending on your situation, each of these criteria can have a different level of importance to help you best-rank your future neighbourhood.

While the president of the Toronto Real Estate Board, Bill Johnston, simply said, “wow” when told of the features, the executive director of Toronto’s social development, finance and administration division told the Toronto Star that, “It will allow you to ask whatever question you need to ask. It’s not about producing a single list… it’s about creating a capacity to understand what’s happening in Toronto in all different ways,” he said.

Johnston did add that there could be some negative consequences depending on the popularity of such an application that provides that much information.

“It’s sort of the law of unintended consequences,” he told the Star. “By providing relevant, up-to-date, accurate information, it may have a negative effect on some neighbourhoods.”

The Wellbeing Toronto website is available here.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Before You Buy, City of Toronto

Tagged , ,

Toronto’s Summerlicious Is Almost Here!

Posted on July 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Toronto’s annual Summerlicious festival gets underway this month, from July 8th to July 24th at participating restaurants all over the city of Toronto. Restaurants participating in Summerlicious create prixe fixe lunch and dinner menus at lower prices than usual, and end up feeding more customers than they normally would during their annual summer lull.

During Summerlicious, restaurants will offer lunch menus from $15, $20 or $25, and dinner menus from $25, $35 and $45.

A list of participating Summerlicious restaurants and menus can be found here.

All of the prices include an appetizer, main and dessert, but not taxes, drinks or gratuities. If there are any Toronto restaurants you’ve wanted to visit but never had a reason to, now’s your chance! If you’re not quite sure what you’re looking for, click here to see the Summerlicious restaurants categorized by cuisine.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in City of Toronto

Tagged ,

Ground Breaking At Toronto’s Underpass Park

Posted on June 8, 2011 | Leave a comment

A ground breaking ceremony was held just at the end of May for Toronto’s newest urban park, Underpass Park. Underpass Park will be a large part of the revamping of the West Donlands area near the waterfront, which has been derelict and undeveloped for years.

Central Toronto Real Estate Underpass Park

A rendering of Underpass Park from Waterfront Toronto.

Underpass Park is going to be the first park of its kind in Canada, but other cities like London, San Francisco, Madrid and Buenos Aires all have similar parks. What makes Underpass Park so special is that it will be constructed beneath a maze of overpasses. In other cities, transforming these seemingly unusable spaces into functioning parks has improved property values in surrounding areas.

The park will be under the overpasses of the Don Valley Parkway at Eastern Avenue and Adelaide and Richmond streets.

Bright lighting is essential to the park’s design, adding safety and ambience. The plan is to have reclaimed granite cobblestone walkways, over 50 trees, recycled rubber recreational courts, wide spaces for special festivals, children’s play structures, gardens and mobile cafes.

The entire construction of the park will cost $5.3 million and the first phase is expected to be completed this year.

This site is owned & operated by: Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd Johnston & Daniel Division,477 Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 2L9, 416.489.2121. The content is provided by a number of sources as referenced in the contribution list

→ Leave a comment

Posted in City of Toronto

Tagged , ,