39 Parliament Street

As expected for a building with such a prestigious address — 39 Parliament Street in the enchanting Distillery District — these condos are the epitome of luxurious modern homes. Although what many Torontonians may not know is that the Parliament Square Condos features considerable accessibility features. Completed in 2000 by Davies Smith Developments, 39 Parliament doesn’t just attract many prospective homeowners seeking Toronto condos for sale, they warmly welcome residents regardless of their abilities.

It’s only fitting that the Distillery District’s distinctive red heart sculpture stands right in front of the condos, since the illustrious team at Quadrangle Architects designed the Parliament Square Condos with care. Rising up to 13-storeys, and set along the charming Gristmill Lane, the building features a distinguished brick façade — preserved from a historical machine shop.

Complementing the brickwork, 39 Parliament’s design incorporates a sense of grandeur thanks to its voluminous cubic window bays. This all culminates in a level of modern penthouses, framed by a boldly articulated awning. Altogether, Parliament Square features a range of architectural forms, bringing a vibrant contemporary aesthetic to Distillery Districts’ heritage-centred atmosphere. Similarly, eclectic retail is located at street level in the building, just next door to its welcoming private lobby and lounge.

Finally, the amenities available to residents include a well-equipped fitness centre, rooms appointed for meetings and hosting parties, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Distillery District, with views of Lake Ontario and the city’s skyscrapers in the not-too-far-off distance.

Since they have been around for a while now, there has been plenty of time for the customization of suites at Parliament Square. As a result, these suites certainly embrace many aesthetics with open arms. Regardless of style or colour scheme added to a unit over the years, each home boasts open-floor plans and great natural light, courtesy of their generous array of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Whenever one of the suites at 39 Parliament becomes available, prospective buyers will want to act fast, as there are only 181 downtown Toronto condos in the entire building. These homes also happen to boast some of the most spacious floor plans of their kind in the Distillery District, ranging in size from approximately 400 to 1,800 square feet. This includes studios, one and two bedrooms layouts, and suites with additional dens as well. And better yet, many of these suites even extend onto private balconies or terraces.

Founded in 1832, the Gooderham and Worts Distillery came to be the largest distillery in the world in the 1860s. The company constructed some grand buildings in the area, which are well preserved and thanks to their contemporary recognition as a National Historic Site.

Perhaps since these building were managed to be kept in such good shape, this alluring rustic environment has allowed for a charming commercial scene to move in. Even though the whisky industry no longer inhabits the neighbourhood, the Distillery District may now be more vibrant than ever.

Home to many independent galleries and a thriving arts scene, the Distillery District is also an eclectic neighbourhood frequented by many artists and musicians who visit the area for both business and pleasure.

Additionally, the Distillery District is home to an active community of residents, which has attracted much more diverse programming to the neighbourhood — especially events that cater to families. For example, the historic streets and alleys make the perfect backdrop for the popular Christmas Market each year.

With pedestrian-only cobblestone streets largely making up the Distillery District’s infrastructure, the neighbourhood is quite walkable for those living in 39 Parliament. Still, when one decides to venture further from home they can do so easily — even without a car.

A scenic walk through David Crombie Park lands one at the nearby St. Lawrence Market, which does not sit far from Union Station, the city’s foremost transit hub. However, when those living in Parliament Square want to get around faster, they can easily hop onto the 514 Streetcar, which stops in the Distillery Loop, a block east of the building. This streetcar carries riders to King Station, a stop north of Union on the Yonge-University-Spadina line, in about fifteen minutes.

For those who prefer to drive, residents are well positioned when living at 39 Parliament. Drivers need only head south for a minute or so to reach Lakeshore Boulevard East, which connects onto the Gardiner Expressway. From here, drivers also have the option to head north up the Don Valley Parkway.