5 Michael Power Place

Some condos are so successful that a second, or perhaps even a third is built as part of the same complex. The Port Royal Place VI Condos, as you might have guessed from the name, is actually the sixth installment of Port Royal Place, with this 2009-built tower constructed 6 years after the first. So if you're in love with this property and can't find a unit, there's always I, II, III, IV, and V.

The 24-storey, brick, stone, and glass edifice contains 207 Etobicoke condos and was constructed by Pemberton Group. Those living at 5 Michael Power Place can rest easy knowing a concierge is looking after the building and its residents, plus they have access to underground parking (with visitor spots), a party room, and a gym.

The homes at 5 Michael Power Place are ideal for residents looking for something on the smaller side. Suites start at 550 and reach to around 950 square feet, and contain one bedroom, one bedroom plus a den, or two bedrooms each.

Classic, elegant wooden doors line the halls of 5 Michael Power, opening up into unfussy living spaces. Although none of the homes in the building spans more than 1,000 square feet, they still manage to feel large and airy thanks to wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows and open concept layouts.

Islington and City Centre West is a large Etobicoke neighbourhood that reaches from the Gardiner Expressway to Rathburn Road, and from the 427 to Islington. This varied neighbourhood is home to industrial pockets, residential areas, and plenty of green space, with the area directly surrounding 5 Michael Power Place about as charming as it gets.

A few blocks north of the Port Royal Place VI Condos sits Dundas Street West, which is home to restaurants, bakeries, and bars, as well as an open-air art gallery of sorts. The stretch of Dundas between Islington and Kipling is known as Toronto’s Village of Murals, as the street is lined with murals depicting the neighbourhood’s history.

When it comes time to grocery shop, residents living at 5 Michael Power Place have numerous options, from the Sobeys Urban Fresh on Bloor West to the No Frills at Islington and Norseman Street. And speaking of food, residents won’t want to miss the Taste of the Kingsway, an annual food festival held in early September on Bloor near Royal York.

Living so close to Bloor Street has its perks for residents heading to destinations throughout the city. Those without access to a car can walk over to Islington Station in about 10 minutes, and from there passengers can hop onto subway trains heading east along the Bloor-Danforth line toward the city centre. When using the subway, residents can reach Union Station in around 45 minutes.

As for residents who prefer to drive, it doesn’t hurt to have both the Gardiner Expressway and the 427 so close at hand. The former is useful for those heading toward downtown Toronto, while the latter can be used to reach Pearson International Airport or the 401. And with wider roadways and a less dense population in Etobicoke, residents driving around the immediate area don’t have to deal with the same level of traffic that plagues the downtown core.