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John Tavares, arguably the biggest free agent to sign in Toronto Maple Leafs history, has put down roots in his new city by purchasing a home in the family-friendly High Park neighbourhood in the west of the city.
Land registry records show Tavares and his wife, Aryne Fuller, purchased the High Park area home in late August for $3.6-million, a discount from the original asking price of $3.78-million.
The previous owners, Brenda Alves and her husband Colin, were on the title of the house for a little less than a year, but since 2016 had joined with Stephen Keating of SK Design Build to renovate and restore the 1911 Edwardian-style home.
Converted from a four-unit rental building back to a single-family home, the finished product features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, several sizable walk-in closets, a rec room and home theatre in the basement all spread across 6,000 square feet of “back to the bricks” renovated space.
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The finishes are high end without being gaudy: marble counters in the laundry room, mahogany doors to the balcony (and for the overhead fan blades), an expansive soaker tub, even an appliance caddy cabinet in the kitchen that cuts the power to tucked away toasters and whatnot when the door is closed.
The home also features a sophisticated security system.
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While pricey, it’s not the sort of imposing Bridle Path or Rosedale mansion or acreage (the lot is 50 feet by 102 feet) some had suspected the Leafs’ highest-paid player might splurge on after signing his seven-year, $77-million deal this past summer.
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Tavares was born in Mississauga but raised in Oakville, Ont., and many Leafs fans speculated on social media that the star centre would buy something on the lake in one of those communities.
High Park makes some practical sense. It’s a 15 minute drive (in traffic) west to the Leafs’ practice facility in Etobicoke, and about the same to zip eastward to Scotiabank Arena on game nights.
The neighbourhood is also home to some of the city’s better ranking public and Catholic elementary schools.
The Globe and Mail attempted to contact Tavares through Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, but there was no comment at press time. The seller’s listing agent Andrea Morrison of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd. declined to comment.
With files from Madeleine White
Shane Dingman