Toronto house featuring the famous 'Rodney the Tree' for sale at almost $3 million

When 44 Massey St. last sold in 2016, it was a garbage-filled shell of a home. But designer and builder Jamie Beurklian clearly saw potential in the early 1900s house. 

Since 2016, the home has been painstakingly transformed by Beurklian into a minimalist architectural marvel that's as practical as it is beautiful.

And yes, it comes with its own local celebrity — Rodney the Tree.

The front entrance. 

Let's start with the house. From the outside, it blends seamlessly into the historic neighbourhood, but with a modern extension, it draws the eye ever upward. 

The upstairs unit. 

Inside, the home features soaring ceilings and a light-filled interior with oversized windows, biophilic design elements, and meticulous attention to detail that eliminates things like baseboards and bulkheads entirely.

The lower unit kitchen. 

Beurklian, who owns and designed the home, told blogTO he used computer modelling and green building practices to maximize space and efficiency. The result is a kind of design symphony — clean, warm, and deeply considered.

All the furniture comes with the house. 

Many of the materials have stories of their own.

The front door. 

For example, Beurklian told blogTO that the front door was crafted from salvaged rafters from the original roof.

The platform bed. 

Much of the furniture and art throughout the house was also handmade by Beurklian himself, including a king-sized platform bed in the lower unit that had to be built inside the room and literally couldn't be removed without destroying it. 

A bathroom. 

The home also includes high-end custom elements like concrete sinks, dual showers, Australian wall-hung toilets, and radiant in-floor heating.

The living room in one of the units. 

44 Massey St. is design-forward, but also resilient, built with commercial-grade flooring and advanced mechanical systems, including snow melt and irrigation setups.

A living room that walks out to a balcony. 

And as a bonus, Beurklian shared it's only the 19th century house in the city to be approved for a green roof.

Another bathroom with double showers. 

And that's just what’s already in place.

The kitchen in the upper unit. 

The home was designed with future upgrades in mind, including rough-ins for a rooftop patio, backup generator, solar panels, and even holiday lights.

The back patio. 

Out back, there's a four-season shed already wired and plumbed, designed to be a full bar with in-floor heating — the perfect party annex, just waiting for your finishing touch.

A bedroom. 

44 Massey St. is also a smart investment.

The basement with polished concrete floors and tons of storage. 

The legal two-unit dwelling currently brings in between $9,000 to $10,000 per month and is being sold fully furnished — art, plants, custom pieces and all.

The sleek kitchen designed by Beurklian. 

Beurklian designed the home to be completely turnkey, making it ideal for both end-users and investors who appreciate great design.

Each unit has their own outdoor space. 

And then, there's Rodney.

The front porch and floating stairs are coated with microcement.

Standing proudly in front of the house is one of Toronto's most beloved local landmarks: Rodney the Tree.

Skylights bring in tons of natural light. 

With over 200 Google reviews and a five-star rating, Rodney is a citywide sensation and even a minor international tourist attraction.

Rodney. 

He has been described as "an absolute legend" and "a once-in-a-lifetime experience." Rodney even has his own Instagram account, and it's probably only a matter of time before there's "Rodney the Tree" merch.

A sitting area. 

Technically, Rodney is a fairly average Eastern Redbud — but in Toronto, he's a full-on icon. Owning the house means sharing your yard with a certified neighbourhood legend. Not many homes can offer that.

A dining area. 

Between the location (steps from Queen West, King West, and the upcoming Ontario Line), the thoughtful design, and the built-in celebrity status thanks to Rodney, 44 Massey St. is a rare Toronto listing that probably won't come around again anytime soon. 

The back of the house. 

44 Massey St. is listed for $2,750,000.