High Point Realty Limited

I have the pleasure of announcing the leasing (2897 Dufferin Street, Toronto) of a restaurant on Dufferin Street, south of Lawrence to La Bella Italia who were successful in renting a long standing restaurant premises in competition with three other restaurants! Previously a six decade location for the previous fabulous tenant who retired. Fabulous authentic Neapolitan Pizza and other Italian food items will once again come out of the kitchen!. Buona fortuna!

The Federal Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program, CECRA, was created to ease the pain on businesses suffering from the effects operating a business during these trying Covid 19 times by covering a portion of their rent. CECRA covered up to 6 months of rent by extending forgivable loans for up to 50% of the monthly rent, in exchange for the landlord cutting rent by 25% & the tenants contributing 25% of their pre-pandemic. The program wasn’t mandatory & depended ...on landlords agreeing to participate. That program is now over & has not been replaced! This concerns both landlords & tenants as concurrently with the program ending is the fact that prohibitions on commercial evictions has expired which means that tenants can be locked out of their premises if they can’t pay rent. Certainly, not so fun times ahead with all the confusion & the effect of Covid 19 on business in Toronto, especially since the City of Toronto has given no relief from realty taxes (sometimes very high), water & sewage charges, & utility charges which must be paid one way or another by Landlords, whether a tenant is in business or not. Challenging times for sure. See more

The second wave is officially underway across the province. And there are rumblings of returning to Stage 2. With the province reporting 700 new cases in its September 28 update, there is a push to intensify the public health measures. A return to Stage 2, with restrictions on indoor dining and bars, places of worship, weddings, gyms, movie theatres, and other non-essential businesses, would be beneficial to keeping schools open but devastating to commerce, however, it would help prevent a further acceleration of infection. Premier Ford is trying to figure out if this is a a wave or a tsunami. They know this will be worse than the first wave, but they are not sure how bad the second wave will be! Let’s all do our part in staying vigilant and safe.

3201 Yonge Street, Yonge & Lawrence LEASED!!

Regarding government support programs, it was announced the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will be extended through to next summer, while there will be enhancements to the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) and the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP). There was also further mention of the revamped Employment Insurance system and the Canada Recovery Benefit which is expected to support previous recipients of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, CREA has monitored the implementation of existing measures and continued to advocate on behalf of REALTORS as new initiatives were developed. We are pleased to see this much needed financial support will remain available to struggling businesses.

It’s been over two years that the Honest Ed's sign was removed from the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst in Downtown Toronto. Now the new development of 916 residential rental suites along with 225,000 sq. ft. of retail, offices, & community uses including new green spaces. is underway. The development will feature several towers of 13, 19, 24, 25 and 26 stories. How the city is growing and developing!

What crazy times we are living through right now!! Everyone has been impacted by Covid 19. It’s truly amazing how Canadians have adapted to the new challenges imposed as a result of what is happening all around us. It is vitally important that we keep a positive outlook for the benefit of our family, community, and those persons who are working on the front lines of this pandemic. We have to stay positive in attitude for our own well-being. So many in our community hav...e been incredible working tirelessly in the medical field, researchers, and first responders such as our paramedics, firefighters, and police services. Our transportation industry is keeping goods moving, manufacturing is trying to up the supply chain together with grocery, pharmacy, and numerous other businesses which are essential to keeping people safe and our economy moving. We need to be kind and considerate of one another, practice responsibility by socially and physically isolating, and keeping in mind that this situation will not last forever!! There is a real opportunity to better connect with our families, friends and piers during this very unusual period of time. Please understand that the commercial and investment real estate industry is still operating, however, at a slower than normal pace. I am working as usual, using all available technology aids from my home office. Last week we had the sale close for an industrial property, with everyone working remotely from home, including advancing mortgage funding from the Business Development Bank of Canada. Although my office staff are working remotely, I am here for you and prepared to help with any of your real estate needs, with respect to sales or leasing of commercial and investment properties, knowing this nightmare will end, hopefully sooner than later. I am actively addressing all required health measures, while maintaining the same level of professional service my clients have come to expect. Please feel free to reach out to me with any of your questions or concerns. I, and all the team at High Point Realty Limited wish everyone good health, safety, and a sense of calm through these unprecedented times. If you have any questions or would like to have a quick call, just write to [email protected] or call my cell phone at 416-786-0002. Stay safe, and stay in!! If you stay in, you can’t get it, or give it!! We all have to work together to keep everyone safe and stay positive for the future!! Stay healthy!! Barry Sklar

Reportedly, Canadian commercial property deals soared to new heights in 2016 as a surge of foreign buyers aggressively bought up office, shopping and hotel properties across the county. It’s a trend expected to continue this year as real estate investors look for safe havens. Investors bought $34.7 billion worth of commercial property valued at more than $10 million last year.

Support My Journey I am participating in the Kidney Foundation of Canada's Jingle Bowl '16 to raise funds to help ease the burden of kidney disease. One in ten Canadians has kidney disease and millions more are at risk! Most people don’t know of my involvement with the Kidney Foundation. Truth is, I was diagnosed with scarring of my kidneys when I was 26 years old! The scarring slowly progressed downward until 1995 when I had to go on dialysis three evenings a week for a y...ear and a half, all the time telling nobody in my business life that I was on dialysis! I maintained a full and successful business and personal life schedule. On January 13, 1997, my sister donated me one of her kidneys! Tragically, she passed away from breast cancer about four years after donating me one of her kidneys! I know firsthand that nothing says I love you more than giving your kidney to your brother!! My continued support of the Kidney Foundation of Canada has been a focus point for myself and High Point Realty Limited in fund raising and peer support for patients needing the help of someone who has been through it all!! On January 13, 2017, I will be celebrating 20 years post transplant!! In honour of my sister and in celebration of my transplant anniversary, please sponsor me and help make a difference. Together, with your support, we can create a future without kidney failure! https://kidney.akaraisin.com/pledge/Participant/Home.aspx

The naysayers see nothing but gloom from Brexit for the City of London, the historical hub of global financial services. But a look at the City’s history shows its ability to survive and prosper against whatever challenges have come. After all that the City has seen, Brexit likely won’t be enough to shake its pre-eminence. London really emerged as a global financial centre in the years between the mid-19th century and the First World War. Through this period, London increasin...Continue reading

KingSett, AIMCo to own half of Scotia Plaza in deal with H&R, Dream REIT KingSett Capital and the Alberta Investment Management Corp. are acquiring a 50 per cent interest in Scotia Plaza, including 100 Yonge St. in downtown Toronto, in a deal valued at well over half a billion dollars. Under the arrangement, KingSett and AIMCo have agreed to buy a 16.67 per cent ownership interest in the property from Dream Office REIT while concurrently acquiring the 33.33 interest currently... owned by H&R REIT. Following the transaction, Dream REIT, which expects to received net proceeds of $115-million in the deal, will continue to own a 50 per cent interest in Scotia Plaza. H&R said is selling its interest for about $433-million and expects net proceeds of about $229-million before closing cost and adjustment after the buyers assume its share of existing financing. H&R says it will use the proceeds to repay debt, including the $180-million in unsecured debentures maturing in July 2016. Closing is expected to occur on or about June 30. See more