GTA

These Toronto rowhouses are over 130 years old and were home to Roy Thomson. Now, a unit listed for $1.7 million

Built in 1887 and designated by the City of Toronto as a heritage property in 1973, this fully renovated Victorian townhouse boasts nearly 2,600 square feet of living space.

By Alessia Passafiume Staff Reporter Thu., March 31, 2022 (2 min. read)

Toronto’s storied history may be slowly turning into storeys of condo units, but not for the row houses on Monteith St.

Listed at $1.7 million, this heritage property at 22 Monteith St. in The Village sits near homes previously occupied by notable figures — including Roy Thomson who used to live at 32 Monteith. 

And while condos have since popped up in the area, these rowhouses have managed to survive for more than 130 years.

“You really have this moment where you don’t feel like you’re in downtown Toronto,” selling agent Devin Glowinski with Forest Hill Real Estate Inc. said of the unit that overlooks Barbara Hall Park and the Toronto Aids Memorial. “The house feels very tranquil,” in part, due to its rich history, but also the finishings inside, he adds.

Built in 1887 and designated by the City of Toronto as a heritage property in 1973, this fully renovated Victorian townhouse boasts nearly 2,600 square feet of living space including the basement, new white oak floors, up to five bedrooms and four bathrooms. 

The home also features two patios, a kitchen adjacent to the rooftop deck, perfect for hosting barbecues, along with two other kitchens in the basement and on the main floor, giving it a “stately” feel, Glowinski says.

The homeowner is a trained and nonpracticing architect, and the home’s heritage details have been “preserved and amplified” using high-quality materials and detailing, including bringing some outside details inside, he adds. The interior arches, including a custom millwork bookshelf in the dining area, mimic the exterior of the façade throughout the main floor, giving this heritage home a modern feel.

So why is this piece of Toronto’s history going for $1.7 million?

Glowinski said another two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo that was going for $1.4 million also factored into how 22 Monteith was priced.

“The market is saturated with highrise condos and there are limited opportunities to own well-built character homes,” he said, referencing the influx of condo buildings downtown in recent decades. 

“The potential for a secondary suite and rental income gives this property room to grow.”

David Sussman, a realtor and TREB member, also said the listing price is in line with what similar units sold for recently, including six-bedroom, three-bathroom unit in the Church-Yonge Corridor that salso sold for $1.4 million in January.

But for buyers looking to upgrade the exterior — you’re out of luck, Sussman says, citing strict rules for the exteriors of heritage properties and repairs that may be costly to fix, depending on the level of designation the property has. 

This could also be a factor as to why the property has been on the market for nearly a month, Sussman adds.

What’s notable about this property is its location in the Village and how rare larger units like these are, Glowinski says. It can be the perfect place for families who co-parent, or it can be used for intergenerational housing with one’s chosen family as each floor can act as a separate unit equipped with a kitchen, he explains.