In just about every multi-unit residence in the city, people come home to a lobby big enough for a concierge desk and an elevator that will take them to their own walled-off hideaway.At High Park Lofts at the corner of Roncesvalles Ave. and Dundas St. W., residents return to a sunlit courtyard filled with greenery, where they find their neighbours relaxing on indoor balconies and chatting with one another, rain or shine.In a city where buildings are filled with residents who barely know each other — and one can feel lonely even with neighbours in close proximity — this inner courtyard has helped residents of this building connect.“We are definitely more than just a condo. We take care of each other and everything here by ourselves. It’s more like a small community,” said Ieva Fraser, a retired physical and occupational therapist who’s lived in the building with her husband since it opened in 2007. The seven-storey, 94-unit building has a unique design. Each upper-floor apartment has a small balcony that overlooks the atrium. A glass rooftop allows daylight to filter through while protecting the balconies from rain and snow.That’s allowed the residents to personalize their slice of public space. The majority of these balconies have been converted into offices, art studios and coffee nooks. Sometimes they serve as playgrounds for children.The ground level is used for parties, concerts and casual get-togethers. There are couches and a table, a double sink and a washroom. There’s even a small library facing a series of well-kept planters.The indoor courtyard gives the impression of “a large living room,” said Benjamin Greenhill, a real-estate agent with Keller Williams group who has listed and sold some units at the High Park Lofts.“You can’t find these types of balconies anywhere else. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Greenhill said, adding that residents can basically us ...
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