Avani 2 at Metrogate, 275 Village Green Sq: Tridel Tower on the Park

Avani 2 is the building I show first-time buyers who want a newer Tridel tower in Scarborough without downtown prices. It is the second of two matching 35-storey towers in the Metrogate community near Kennedy and the 401, with a shared amenity floor and a central park at the door. The suites are compact and the fee per square foot is higher than older Scarborough buildings, and both facts deserve a closer look. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

The second of two Avani towers in Metrogate

Metrogate is Tridel’s master-planned community at Kennedy and the 401, a cluster of towers and townhomes arranged around a central park. Avani and Avani 2 are a matched pair of 35-storey towers, and UrbanToronto noted that the two share an architectural style that sets them apart from the earlier Metrogate buildings.

Both towers were designed by Graziani + Corazza Architects, with interiors by GCB Interior Architecture and landscaping by Terraplan. When it launched, Avani 2 was planned at 363 suites, and that is the count condos.ca still records.

The two towers are separate condominiums. Avani 2 is TSCC-2754, registered in January 2020. If you are comparing a suite here with one in the first Avani tower, compare the two corporations’ budgets and reserve funds, not only the floor plans.

A building registered in 2020 is still early in its life. That cuts both ways: major components are years from replacement, but the corporation has only a short track record, and its first reserve fund studies set the path for future fee increases. Read the most recent study and see whether contributions are projected to rise steeply.

Club Avani: one amenity floor, two towers

The amenity space was designed to be shared. UrbanToronto reported that the podium-top amenity level was built in two phases, the east side with Avani and the west side with Avani 2, joined into one club serving both towers.

The planned package included a fitness centre with a yoga studio, change rooms and steam rooms, a theatre, a party room with a bar, lounge and kitchen, a billiards lounge, and outdoor terraces with barbecues and lounge seating, plus a ground-floor lounge. Condos.ca lists a concierge, rooftop deck, party room, media room, meeting room and recreation room.

Shared amenities are efficient, but they come with a cost-sharing arrangement. Ask for the shared facilities agreement with the status certificate, so you understand how costs are split between the two corporations and who decides on repairs and upgrades.

Compact suites, built for first homes and investors

Suites at Avani 2 were marketed from 469 to 827 sq ft, in one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus-den, two-bedroom and two-bedroom-plus-den plans. Condos.ca now records a range of about 469 to 875 sq ft. These are efficient, modern layouts, and the smallest one-bedrooms are compact by any standard.

Tridel also marketed a high-floor “Diamond Collection” in Avani 2 during sales, so upper suites may come with better views and upgraded features. If a listing claims a premium for floor or finish, ask the seller for the original purchase documents or upgrade list.

In a building with this suite mix, a two-bedroom-plus-den is the plan that will hold value best with families, and the smallest suites will always compete hardest with rentals and new inventory nearby. Choose your layout with your resale buyer in mind.

Living at Kennedy and the 401

The appeal of Metrogate is the planning. You step out into a central park with paths and green space, and Tridel designed the community with on-site conveniences and a daycare. For a young couple or a small family, that is a better daily setting than a lone tower on an arterial road.

The location is also built for drivers. Highway 401 is right there, and Agincourt and the Kennedy and Sheppard shopping strips are close by. The panel on this page shows the GO, bus and subway options and walking details, so I will not repeat them. Highway noise is the practical trade-off for suites facing the 401, so check which way a suite faces before you book a showing.

The longer-term change is transit. The City’s Line 2 East extension will run 7.8 km from Kennedy Station to a new terminus at Sheppard Avenue East and McCowan Road, east of Metrogate, with a stop at Scarborough Centre on the way. When it opens, this part of Scarborough gets a much stronger subway connection than it has today.

What Avani 2 costs

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $734 per square foot. That is roughly double what large 1980s suites in north Scarborough trade for, and it reflects both newer construction and smaller suites, which always command more per square foot.

When I checked, two suites were for sale, asking between $389,900 and $459,000, and two were for lease. For what suites have actually sold for, use the panel on this page, or ask me for a building sold report.

Fees on current listings work out to about $1.24 per square foot, and condos.ca lists only common elements, building insurance and water as included. That means heat, cooling and hydro are likely billed to you separately, so ask the seller for recent utility bills. The per-square-foot fee looks high partly because suites are small and the amenity floor is large; on a 500 sq ft suite, a fixed share of a big club adds up quickly. Compare total monthly cost, not the fee alone.

Building specifications

Amenities at Avani 2 at Metrogate

This is a full modern package on one shared floor: a proper gym with a yoga studio and steam rooms, a theatre, and party and billiards space for entertaining. In a building of small suites, these rooms work as an extension of your living space, which is exactly what you are paying for in the fee.

Jatin’s honest take on Avani 2 at Metrogate

Avani 2 at Metrogate — frequently asked questions

Looking at Agincourt, L’Amoreaux, Milliken, Dorset Park and Wexford in Scarborough more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.