Hidden Toronto compound that was once a dairy just hit the market

Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood has no shortage of cool houses, but this one might take the cake — or, more accurately, the milk crate.

Once home to Harry's Dairy, the shop that delivered milk by horseback to local cottages in the 1890s, this legendary property at 67 Elm Grove Ave. has been reimagined into one of the city's most unique and creative homes.

And now? It's for sale — in two separate pieces.

The secluded entrance to 67 Elm Grove Ave. 

Realtor Michael Majeski explains that what was once Harry's Dairy compound is now two listings, but three houses.

A bedroom with custom millwork and limewashed walls. 

The first is 67 Elm Grove Ave., which includes two homes on one lot: the original dairy — now a jaw-dropping converted warehouse residence — and an attached three-storey Victorian that fronts Elm Grove Ave.

The living room of 69 Elm Grove Ave. 

The second is 69 Elm Grove Ave., a separate semi-detached duplex that still has the original curved glass window from Harry's corner store days.

A little sleeping nook. 

Together, they tell the story of Parkdale's evolution — from working-class cottages to one of Toronto's most vibrant creative neighbourhoods.

The courtyard. 

Step through the discreet gates at 67 Elm Grove Ave., and you'll find yourself in a courtyard that feels more like a European hideaway than a Toronto backyard.

The courtyard. 

The rear house — the converted dairy — is a masterpiece of scale and texture, and unsurprisingly has been featured in design magazines like Dwell and Canadian House & Home.

Large windows in 67 Elm Grove Ave. 

There are dropped-beam ceilings and exposed structural elements that nod to the original industrial framing, skylights and oversized windows that flood the space with daylight, and long, linear sightlines that connect multiple rooms without unnecessary walls.

Custom millwork and white pine floors.

There's a lot of original character — exposed brick, industrial chimneys, layers of history — but it's been paired with warm-white pine floors, custom millwork, and design details that make it feel contemporary and livable rather than cavernous.

The living room in 67 Elm Grove Ave. with exposed beams. 

Or as Majeski puts it: "Retain a sense of spaciousness without feeling cathedral-cold."

The kitchen in 67 Elm Grove Ave with exposed brick walls. 

The main house centres around a designer kitchen with an open-plan layout that balances intimacy with scale, while the lower level continues the theme with open space and refined finishes.

The dining room in the Victorian house apartment. 

The attached Victorian contains two apartments — a one-bedroom suite on the main and lower level and a two-bedroom suite upstairs with its own rooftop terrace.

The foyer in 69 Elm Grove Ave. 

Then there's 69 Elm Grove Ave., a separate listing but a key piece of the compound's story.

The original tin ceiling in 69 Elm Grove Ave. 

This semi-detached duplex still bears traces of its past life, including the pressed tin ceilings and the curved storefront glass where patrons once walked in to buy milk.

The treetop balcony. 

Inside, the upper unit has a raised living room and a treetop balcony overlooking the street, while the lower unit has a bedroom that opens directly onto a private walk-out terrace.

The apartment in 67 Elm Grove Ave. 

The lower level of 69 Elm Grove Ave. is unfinished but has a separate entrance, so it lends itself well to someone who wants to add a studio, workshop, or additional living space.

A bedroom in 67 Elm Grove Ave. 

Beyond the bricks and beams, this place has serious Toronto creative cred.

A bathroom in 67 Elm Grove Ave. 

As Majeski shared with blogTO, over the years, it's been home to a well-known Toronto photographer, a film director, and countless artists.

The primary bedroom in 67 Elm Grove Ave. 

Its current owner, designer John Tong, was the creative force behind the Drake Hotel, Devonshire Inn, and Drake Commissary — so you know the design here has pedigree.

67 Elm Grove Ave. boasts 5 bedrooms and four bathrooms. 

With parking for two cars, leafy outdoor spaces, and the ability to purchase one or both listings, this is one of those rare properties that manages to feel both historic and future-proof.

The Victorian house front on Elm Grove Ave. 

"This property is next-level unique, but also fun, historical, and a great Toronto story waiting to be told," Majeski says.

The rooftop terrace. 

67 Elm Grove Ave. is listed for $2,980,000, and 69 Elm Grove Ave. is listed for $1,285,000.