Two condos in Toronto heritage home just hit the market for almost $5 million each

Toronto doesn't exactly make it easy to find a condo with character. Most new builds lean glassy and generic, but every once in a while, a project comes along that merges history with luxury in a way that feels genuinely special.

That's precisely what's happened at 62 Charles St. E., where the 1885 Second Empire Victorian has been completely restored on the outside and is now totally customizable on the inside.

Known as the Thomas Smith and Arthur Coleman Houses, the semi-detached homes were originally built by Toronto contractor Arthur Coleman in partnership with painter Thomas Smith.

A digital image of the kitchen and dining room of the lower unit. 

Their distinctive Second Empire style — mansard roofs, patterned slate shingles, buff-brick details, and double-door entrances — still stands proud today after a painstaking exterior restoration.

Fun fact, the restoration only happened because it was part of deal the developer Cresford had to strike to build the neighbouring Casa Complex condos. 

A digital image of a living room in the lower unit. 

"These are heritage protected, so the masonry, slate roof, and windows were all redone in a way that's sympathetic to the original grandeur of the 1880s residences," says one of the listing agent's Paul Maranger of Sotheby's International Realty. 

A digital image of the kitchen in the upper unit. 

The developers stripped everything back to the bricks, then teamed up with Lorne Rose Architects, Nazem + Rose Design, and Castle Rock Homes to craft modern interiors that rival luxury hotels.

A digital mock-up of a bathroom. 

Although for now, they're just raw spaces that can be fully customized to meet the buyer's needs.

The dining room in the upper unit. 

That means soaring 11-foot ceilings in the newly dug-out lower level, chevron white oak floors, marble ensuites, smoky glass cabinetry, and Miele and Wolf appliances — basically, whatever your design imagination (and budget) can dream up.

The dining room in the lower unit. 

There are four suites in total, split between the two restored semis. Each semi has a lower two-storey suite (main and lower levels) and an upper suite (second and third floors). Each suite is complete with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

A digital rendering of the rooftop patio. 

As for outdoor space, the upper units come with huge rooftop terraces — complete with hot tubs — overlooking the soon-to-open city park, while the lower suites have their own small but charming side courtyards.

A home gym in the lower unit. 

For buyers who want to go big, the option is there to combine units — or even purchase the entirety of both houses — for a jaw-dropping 9,230 square feet.

Another bedroom in the lower unit. 

"Given the flexible zoning, it would make for the ideal plastic surgery clinic, boutique law firm, venture capital firm, or design studio. Or even a live-work scenario where someone runs their business from the main and lower levels and lives upstairs," says Maranger.

A digital image of the upper unit bedroom. 

The location doesn't hurt either—you're minutes from Bloor's Mink Mile, Eataly, Cineplex, and two subway lines.

A digital image of the bedroom in the lower unit. 

Right now, the only drawback is the surroundings: on one side, there's 66 Charles St. E., a site that's in play for a future high-rise development, plus the ongoing construction of The Charles at Church. On the other side, you're flanked by towering high-rises, which can make living in a two-storey heritage home feel a little less charming. 

The living room in the upper unit. 

The other downside for us regular folks is that all that history and luxury come with a hefty price tag.

A digital rendering of the rooftop patio. 

The upper unit is listed at $4,295,000, the lower at $4,795,000, and if you want the whole thing? A cool $8,950,000.