There Goes the Neighbourhood
from Toronto Life, November 2002

As a youngster in Winnipeg, Gerald Schwartz lived in a modest house with his socialist grandmother, but the renovations on his current Rosedale digs are anything but proletarian. The project, which has involved the purchase of no fewer than four million-dollar-plus properties, is said to be costing the Onex honcho and his wife, indigo Books maven Heather Reisman, about $25 million. The couple, who also own homes in Bel Air and Palm Beach, have hired expert builder Joe Brennan and famed French decorator Christian Liagre to create what will ultimately be their 16,903-square-foot abode. As a service to neighbourhood gossips too discreet to climb up the hoardings and peek over, here's the dirt. Literally.

THE MAIN HOUSE
Schwartz and Reisman bought and moved into 37 Cluny Drive in 1982, the year they were married. Five years later, they purchased 35 Cluny Drive for $1.3 million and tore it down to make way for a huge hexagonal breakfast nook on the first floor and a massive sitting room upstairs off the master bedroom. The couple lived there until this round of renovations. They're now said to be living in a two-storey condo (part of the Prince Arthur on Avenue Road) on Lowther for $30,000 a month. When renovations are complete and they move back to this wing (with its palatial five bedrooms and seven bathrooms), they'll have no trouble sleeping: a security room in the basement will provide peace of mind.

THE GUEST HOUSE
In 1996, Schwartz and Reisman purchased 21 Cluny Avenue for $1.4 million and demolished it. In its place is a suite of rooms for overnight visitors that will be connected to the main house via a nine-foot-wide underground tunnel (you can see the beginnings of it covered in blue tarp).

THE GREENHOUSE
Reisman, who used to run a gardening company, will likely spend many Martha-esque hours in this temperature-controlled jungle, built on the lot of 21 Cluny Avenue. It will be connected to the guest house next door by a bright, high-ceilinged exercise room.

THE GREAT ROOM
This 40-by-31-foot ballroom-style space with fireplace will no doubt be party central for Liberal fundraisers, evenings with international artists (they once hosted a reception for architect Frank Gehry) and movie stars (Barbra Streisand is a pal). Here, they may decide to hang their Warhol, or maybe the Renoir.

THE RECREATION CENTRE
In 1999, Schwartz and Reisman bought 55 Crescent Road for $2.1 million. In 2000, they bought 61 Crescent, next door, for $3.8 million. (It was demolished, despite the $700,000 its previous owner had invested in renovations.) Here, they're building a 30-seat movie theatre with an $800,000 sound system. (Onex invests in Phoenix Pictures, and the couple has many Hollywood friends, including Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, with whom Schwartz has been on safari.) Downstairs, they'll keep their fine wine collection in a 26-by-27-foot cellar and casually entertain in their 26-by-29-foot bar and billiards room.

THE ROTUNDA
A passage will link a two-storey steel spiral staircase in the main house to the great room and recreation centre. Underground, there will be a garage, with 10 parking spaces to accommodate visitors and Schwartz's many vehicles, including a 1956 peacock blue Thunderbird convertible, and his red Porsche 911, given to him by Reisman as a 50th-birthday present.