Item: The Riviera
Rating: 5
Author: D. Wright

The Riviera

While calling the condos at 228-230 Queens Quay West &quot;The Riviera&quot; might have been somewhat of a stretch, we can appreciate the sort of mood developers were hoping to set. According to Google, a Riviera is &ldquo;a coastal region with a subtropical climate and vegetation,&rdquo; and yet the Riviera Condos are set within a city that experiences subarctic weather for a good part of the year.Thanks to its location in <a href="https://strata.ca/toronto/downtown/the-waterfront">The Waterfront neighbourhood</a>, and of course also because of the name, the Riviera Condos allow residents to pretend they are on vacation 365 days a year. The lakeside location is also tempting to prospective buyers for yet another reason &mdash; many clear and sweeping views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands can be found at 228-230 Queens Quay West.The use of glass only accentuates this point further, as the fa&ccedil;ade of the building hints at the vistas afforded to homeowners here. And while many good views are to be had, those living on the highest floors will likely make their neighbours green with envy, thanks to the building&rsquo;s height of 24 storeys.Built in 2003, 228-230 Queens Quay West is home to just over 500 homes designed for the modern Torontonian. The condo even has its own website and Facebook page for keeping residents in the loop.As for amenities, the condo is outfitted with just enough added perks to make life easier and more comfortable for its residents. These include a concierge, a gym with indoor swimming pool, sauna, and Jacuzzi, a rooftop terrace with four barbecues, visitor parking, and two guest suites.

Landmark

Crossbridge Condominium Services Ltd.

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Residents of the Riviera Condos will find it difficult to run out of things to do around the lakeshore. While beach trips may only be feasible during the summer, thankfully other cultural institutions can be found in the area. In fact, right across the street is the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, which also happens to be free.Beer buffs can visit Steam Whistle Brewing or the Amsterdam BrewHouse, while family fun can be found at the CN Tower or the Ripley&rsquo;s Aquarium. And the best part? All of these attractions are a short walk away from the Riviera Condos.When the weather cooperates, outdoor activities are also abound in the area surrounding 228-230 Queens Quay West. The Martin Goodman Trail is a 56-kilometre long, car-free path, from which cyclists and pedestrians can explore the shores of Lake Ontario and its various parks and beaches.A quick walk or cycle will land urban explorers at the Port Lands and Lower Don Lands, where entertainment might involve strolling through the aisles at T&amp;T Supermarket, taking a dip at Cabana Pool Bar, or picnicking at Cherry Beach.

When designing the suites, developers and architects clearly understood the diversity of Toronto&rsquo;s prospective buyers. As a result, <a href="https://strata.ca/toronto/condos-for-sale">Toronto condos for sale</a> in the building range considerably in size, with various layouts and exposures available to please all sorts of individuals and families.The condos at 228-230 Queens Quay West range from around 500 to 1,500 square feet. They may feature one bedroom, two bedrooms, two bedrooms plus a den, or two bedrooms plus a terrace. This way, creating a home office is just as much of an option as setting up a lush garden on the terrace for those with green thumbs.Speaking of terraces, outdoor spaces (which also include balconies) are encased in glass railings, just to ensure that views aren&rsquo;t tampered with. The suites are also finished with high-end materials including granite, marble, and hardwood, while high ceilings make them all the more desirable.

Travel to and from the Riviera Condos is a breeze, thanks to its central location in <a href="https://strata.ca/toronto/downtown">downtown Toronto</a>. Union Station takes less than 15 minutes to reach on foot &mdash; a trip that can be sped up by catching a streetcar from the stop just outside on Queen&rsquo;s Quay West.From Union, trains heading north on the Yonge-University-Spadina line will assist passengers at making their way through the city. Alternatively, Union Station is also the place to catch VIA Rail trains, GO buses and trains, and the UP service to Pearson International Airport.Using the UP service, a trip all the way to Pearson without a car takes only about 40 minutes. Those heading out of town via Porter Airlines can also reach Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in only 12 minutes via the 509 streetcar, thanks to its location just west along the lakeshore.

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The Riviera is a 24-storey building in the Waterfront neighbourhood consisting of two towers, 228 and 230 Queens Quay W. Landmark Developments completed the building in 2003, and it has 517 condo units.  One-bedroom unit layouts comprise most of the unit mix (50% of the units).

Some of the building's pros:
- The building is well-built and well-managed
- Elevator wait times in this building are pretty reasonable and quick
- The building has breathtaking views all around
- The building has a good mix of amenities, including an indoor pool, a fitness room, guest suites, an outdoor terrace with BBQs, and free visitor parking
- Maintenance fees in the building pay for all utilities (hydro, heat, and water)
- U-shaped kitchens in every unit (at least the ones I viewed with my clients) have an ample amount of counter space
- Very walkable area with lots of amenities around

Some things to consider about this building:
- Maintenance fees are on the higher side @0.90 PSF (although pretty reasonable considering the age of the building, utilities, and the neighbourhood average)
- Some layouts aren't efficient and have weird bedroom spaces due to the building's architecture
- This particular intersection has some of the most brutal traffic in the city

Kenan Yousef

Living at The Riviera has been great! The location by the waterfront is fantastic—close to the CN Tower and harbor. The building’s amenities like the pool and rooftop deck are top-notch.

D. Wright

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The Riviera / Reviews