Flaire Condos, 99 The Donway W: Space Age Modern at the Shops at Don Mills

Flaire is the building I show buyers who want to live at the Shops at Don Mills and care about design. Giannone Petricone gave it a look that nods to the 1960s Space Age, with black mullions and wavy balconies, and Cadillac Fairview, which owns the shopping centre, built it with FRAM. You pay a fee that is on the high side per square foot, and parking is not in it. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Design that actually means something

Most mid-rise condos in North York are glass boxes with standard balconies. Flaire is different. Giannone Petricone Associates designed two 11-storey volumes joined by a four-storey base, with window-wall glazing framed in heavy black mullions and balconies that curve in and out along the facade, finished with perforated aluminum and clear glass.

UrbanToronto described the result as reminiscent of Space Age Modern design, which suits a neighbourhood best known for its mid-century planning and architecture. On The Donway West there is a porte-cochère and a landscaped motor court, so arriving by car or taxi feels like arriving at a hotel rather than a parking ramp.

Studio Munge, then Munge Leung, did the interiors. The model suite shown at launch paired wood floors with textured, panelled walls and a restrained palette, and the marketing leaned on generous layouts and the distinctive balconies. For buyers who notice design, the building’s look is a real part of the value, and it photographs well when you come to sell.

Built by the people who own the mall

Cadillac Fairview, which owns the Shops at Don Mills, developed Flaire with FRAM Building Group. It was the partners’ third residential project around the Shops, after two earlier condominiums. The Shops opened in 2009 as an inward-looking outdoor shopping village and has become the local hub for the Don Mills and Lawrence area. Flaire sits on its west edge, between the shops to the east and the established rental apartments to the west.

That ownership link is useful for residents. The landlord of the shopping centre has an interest in keeping the area attractive, and the building has its own retail along its east side. Cadillac Fairview has continued to plan more towers around the Shops, so expect construction in the immediate area over time.

Suites, fees and parking

Condos.ca records suites from about 452 to 1,464 square feet, while UrbanToronto’s project listing gives a launch range of about 504 to 1,100 square feet across one-bedroom, one-plus-den and two-bedroom plans. At launch, buyers could also combine suites into custom layouts, which likely explains the larger figures, so check the actual plan and registered size of any suite you consider.

Suite counts vary slightly by source, too. Launch coverage gave 296 or 297 suites, while condos.ca and UrbanToronto’s project data list 285. Combined suites would account for at least part of the difference.

The fee covers common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance and water. Parking is not on the list, so if you need a space, ask whether one comes with the suite, whether it is owned or exclusive-use, and what it costs each month.

Active listings carry fees of about $0.95 per square foot. That is high for an 11-storey building of this age. The amenity package, the porte-cochère and the design all cost money to run, so before you write it off, compare total monthly cost with nearby alternatives rather than the headline fee alone.

Don Mills and Lawrence, day to day

The everyday appeal here is simple: groceries, restaurants and shops are at the door, in a centre built around outdoor streets rather than an enclosed mall. Commuters who drive have the Don Valley Parkway and the 401 within a short drive. The panel beside this review shows transit routes and walking times.

Because the surroundings are lower density, the towers get open views over the neighbourhood, which UrbanToronto’s launch coverage highlighted. That is worth protecting in your decision: a suite facing a parking area or an underused lot today could face new construction later, so ask what is planned on the land you look at.

The building sits where the shops meet the older rental apartments to the west, so the walk in one direction is all retail and in the other it is quiet residential streets. For many owners, that mix is the point: lively when you want it, calm when you don’t.

Pricing: middle of the market, with a design premium

The building averages about $791 per square foot, a little above Liv Lofts next door at 75 The Donway West, at about $763. I think the newer construction and the design explain much of that gap.

When I checked, seven suites were listed for sale, asking between $509,000 and $1,099,880, with fees from about $589 to $1,196 a month. That range is wide because it runs from compact one-plus-dens up to the largest plans.

Asking prices are not sale prices. Use the 12-month sold summary on this page to see what has actually traded, and for a comparison with Liv Lofts and other Don Mills buildings, request my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at Flaire Condos

The amenities are built around entertaining: a party room with a catering kitchen and bar, a lounge with a two-way fireplace opening to a terrace, and a podium rooftop with cabanas and firepits. Add a fitness centre and you have most of what a couple or young professional needs without leaving the building.

Jatin’s honest take on Flaire Condos

Flaire Condos — frequently asked questions

Looking at York Mills, Don Mills, Lawrence Park, Bathurst Manor and midtown-north Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.