Jordan Reiner has lived all over the world – Vancouver, Sweden, Australia and England (he spent a few years in the military) – but returned to his hometown of Toronto in 2013 to put down roots. He always had his heart set on Queens Quay, though, for the views. When apartment-hunting, he fell in love with the building he ended up buying into. “I only wanted a unit here,” the employment lawyer at Lecker & Associates says.
Though furniture “isn’t a priority” to him, once girlfriend Lucia Sobral moves in – “We’re waiting until her lease is up in November” – she has plans to change up the mostly Leon’s and Brick stuff.
Meanwhile, the vistas are the star of this condo. Reiner wakes up to a view of Lake Ontario from his bedroom balcony. From another window he can see the Rogers Centre and from the kitchen he can watch the planes take off from Billy Bishop Airport.
Wish list
Reiner’s was simple: “Views, laundry in the unit and a balcony.” He got all three. The only renovation he’s done so far is to replace the flooring. “It was a gross pink carpet. The first thing we did was start pulling out that carpet.”
What he got
A 950-square-foot unit, one bedroom, one bathroom, in the Aqua Condos on Queens Quay at Spadina.
Number of places seen
Four or five units in the same building.
Original budget
$500,000
What he paid
$450,000
What he says about the neighbourhood
Reiner dismisses the criticism of south-of-the-Gardiner condos. “How much closer could you be to stuff?” he asks. “King and Spadina is a seven-minute walk away, the streetcar is across the road, and even the Island airport is right there!” Reiner and Sobral often eat on King West, with Wilbur Mexicana and Lee among their favourites.
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