City
Condo of the Week: 68 Broadview
For all of those who have dreamt of a life akin to Walter White, here's your chance to occupy a former drug warehouse. Uh, a Rexall drug warehouse, that is. This two-storey loft includes a patio the size of many new downtown condo units (sadly), and an integrated TV and surround stereo system included with the loft. All for the low, low price of just $845,000. And if that sounds unreasonable based on your current financial status, just remember there that are always alternate means of supplementing your income. Just take it from Walter.
SPECS:
Address: 68 Broadview, Loft 605
Price: $845,000
Size: 1,200 - 1,399 sq ft
Bedrooms: 1 + 1
Bathrooms: 2
Parking Spaces: 1 (Second space for sale, listed separately)
Locker: 1
Monthly Maintenance: $560.32
Taxes: $3,778.00 (2012)
Building Amenities: Roof deck, party room, security
NOTABLE FEATURES:
- Bose surround sound system and TV included
- 21.5 ft ceilings
- Hardwood floors
- Granite countertops
- Stainless steel appliances and sub-zero fridge
- 4-Piece bathroom on main floor
- 3-Piece bathroom on second floor with limestone tiles
- 400-sf ft terrace
- Built-in master closet
- Main floor office area
GOOD FOR:
Catching incredible sunsets (west exposure), keeping guests out of your master ensuite, checking out the traffic on the DVP. Also suitable for very tall people, people with very tall friends, claustrophobics, barbecue-enthusiasts, and nostalgic Rexall employees.
MOVE ON IF:
You like the ability to draw your bedroom curtains without affecting light in the rest of the suite, or you're looking at condos specifically to rid your life of stair-climbing. You believe a home office should have two walls (at the very least), and fear that dreams of falling will become that much more terrifying when waking up in a bed that's seemingly suspended in air.
Additional photos:
If you had the dough, would you buy this condo? Let us know where you stand in the comments below.
Discussion
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As it said in the article - the terrace is practically as big as most new 1br condo's in downtown.
Cue whining and nitpicking from people who can't afford it.
(I can't afford it.)
Normally these posts feature some kind of overpriced nonsense, but this... is downright amazing.
BlogTO, can you guys include more pics in these House/Condo of the week features? It'd be nice to see more of what these places have to offer since majority of us can't afford it...
Awesome place, the only one issue with the west facing units, and even more so in regards to this unit, as its all glass, is that it gets so unbelievably hot from April to October.
Yes, we have A/C but you really have to keep it pumping all day to help keep the unit cool.
On the flip side, we rarely have to turn the heat on from Nov to April, as it stays relatively insulated due to the same westerly exposure.
$845K is actually reasonably priced for that unit.
Im in same square footage, albeit different lay out, on lower floor and we paid $550K back in 2010. So id say that pricing is about right.
Perfect location too. 10 minutes to downtown, super access to DVP/Gardiner, vibrant community in Riverside.
Great post!
Beautiful!
It's quite true about the west exposure. It was like a sauna every day coming home from work during the summer time. The top of backboard of my bed was warped from the sun, since it was right up against the window. But the view of the downtown core is hard to turn down, it's simply amazing when you sit out on the balcony and have lunch on the weekends.
Even though I rented my place (which was in the x05 column as well), it does have a great maintenance fee because it doesn't have all those useless and costly amenities that you find in every other condo these days. But best of all, these places are built to last, you won't find falling glass here.
Did you have issues with the sound proofing between you unit and neighbouring units?
Its has become quite a problem for the building, whereas the builders have been taken to court and it appears as though the tenants "won" and they are going to be fixing the issues. Although, i wont hold my breath on that.
Curious to know if you were privy to anything during your time there?
This was NOT indicated in the status certificate, and my lawyer handing the purchase couldn't find anything.
After a week, it became apparent that this is a big problem.
I can hear my neighbours both beside and above me...I have a call into to property management so we'll see what transpires.
To what Awesome said, it's a great area, 10 min streetcar over to Yonge, up to Danforth, not much farther to the Beaches, and tons of great stuff on your doorstep...excluding Jilly's of course ;-)
Cheers !
Gives the area a bit of rough character. And they are very welcoming.
But yes, we were never made aware of the sound issues either when we moved in. And much like you, the sound is terrible. Doesn't help that our neighbours are brutally loud. Even with knowing how piss poor the sound is, they don't use any common sense to their noise making. I love calling security on them time and time again.
I talked with property management recently and they informed that the issue is getting finalized within the courts. Whatever that truly means. They said they should be fixing it "in the near future".
Like to hear the response you get from them also.
If you guys get this problem solved, you should be able to really enjoy your time in this loft.
I live in a similar hard loft and the sound proofing is atrocious on all sides (above, below, and sides). I can hear my neighbours talking, footsteps, neighbours having sex, and even coughing.
Our Board has looked into our building's sound proofing, and they had an engineer confirm that it was up to code (which doesn't say much for Toronto's building standards).
I would be interested to know on what grounds you guys won your settlement, because most--if not all--conversions (and a lot of new condos) are known for poor sound proofing and are all likely to pass code.
Sound proofing is important. One of my biggest peeves has been about the lack thereof in some places I've lived in.
It has won awards for its re-use of an old warehouse and its design (Sound notwithstanding).
Living in a place like this isn't just parties and social image or whateverthefuck.
People do prefer to live a different way, not just in your standard condo or boring semi detached house.
Your blatant ignorance is quite interesting though.
But what i have been told by our property manager is that it will be getting fix.
Whatever that means, your guess is as good as mine.
The current state of the walls is atrocious though. Between units all there is 2 dry wall on one side, empty space, some studs then the neighbouring drywall. Absolutely no insulation whatsoever between them.
Im just as curious to know what they plan on doing. Will it just be spray foam put in between the walls, will the actually add one some sort of sound deading devices, etc.
Either way, it will be very interesting to hear the outcome shortly
Simply Stunning. Maybe i'll look into buying back in....
Contrary to what Patricia writes, the additions (penthouses) would also have the same soundproofing issues as the original building underneath. The original building's structure would not be able to support the weight of better soundproofing materials.
This building and area is still under-valued I think. Just look at the growth on Queen East. Compared to Cabbagetown and Riverdale, this area is relatively inexpensive. This will be a million dollar loft in a few years.
*Conversion of an old building that's exactly like the old building used to be
*Big space that's enough to fit a cat in (as well as a ton of other stuff)
*Windows that let you see out into the world (including one in you bedroom)
*Classic, ageless apartment design reminiscent of the older apartments still around from the 50's, 60's, and 70's (no overabundance of glass except where glass is SUPPOSED to be)
CONS:
*Place is a bit far from shopping and public transit for its own good (occupant will have to be driving to the nearby Loblaws all of the time, or walking there with shopping cart)
*Too much sun shining inside unit in summer, with the increase in cooling bills just to keep it cool when the AC is run, and no way to put up curtains to block out said sun
*Not being able to bring in own stereo/TV set (what if you have a big old Pioneer 40-inch CRT [cathode ray tube] TV set that still works and want to use it?) Of course, I might be wrong about this, but still...
Can't wait to see what this part of the city looks like in 2033.