Our Favourite Lofts
The Candy Factory - 993 Queen Street West
Taking up an entire city block, this massive conversion loft at Queen West and Shaw St was 10 years in the planning. Built in1890, the building spent several decades as headquarters of the Cee Dee Candy factory. After extensive renovation and conversion, the five-storey factory building now houses 120 residential lofts, plus amenities and underground parking.
Designed by Quadrangle Architects in 1998, The Candy Factory has a cachet and popularity beyond most lofts in the city. Interiors are warm, featuring real hardwood floors, exposed fir columns and beams, wood ceilings, 12-foot high ceilings, floating spiral ductwork and factory-sized windows. Amenities include a 24 hour concierge, live in superintendent, a guest suite, party room, fitness room, and oversized hallways. A quintessential loft conversion.
Suites range from 650 sq ft to over 1,500 sq ft; two-storey penthouse lofts have huge terraces. Trinity-Bellwoods Park and 24 hr streetcar access are at your front door.
The Chocolate Factory - 955 Queen Street West
This popular Queen West conversion has meshed original industrial buildings with a new 6-storey addition, integrating red and yellow brick with a more modern, glass-filled aesthetic. The neighbourhood is vibrant, full of galleries and restaurants, and spacious Trinity-Bellwoods park is literally across the street.
Be sure when you are interested in a unit at Chocolate that you find out whether the unit is part of the new section or original conversion--the style can be quite different.
Stewart Lofts - 32 Stewart Street
Like its neighbours (e.g. 66 Portland), this sleek, very modern "soft loft" (i.e. new construction, not a vintage conversion) takes a no frills approach to the common areas--emphasis is on the individual units. Massive, floor-to-ceiling warehouse-style windows, 10 ft ceilings and raw concrete columns and ceilings give the place an industrial feel. Floors are quality hardwood and finishing touches are stylish. The location one block south of King Street West and just east of Bathurst is quickly becoming a prime west side loft zone.
Massey Harris Hall - 915 King Street West
A true loft conversion and one of the first in the neighbourhood, this building was the former office building for the Massey Harris tractor company. This heritage property was built in 1883 and designed by the same architect who went on to design Toronto's Old City Hall. The 2003 conversion features exposed brick walls, wood posts and beams and radiant heated floors; some bathrooms were created out of the old payroll vaults, with vaulted metal ceilings. New construction of two-storey penthouses with large terraces were added on top.
The Wrigley Lofts - 245 Carlaw Avenue
This 5-storey historic building was originally a Wrigley's warehouse before undergoing a true loft conversion; it was built in 1907 and converted into 79 loft units in 1998. The units are true open concept loft live/work spaces with 13.5' ceilings, exposed brick and wood beams, concrete floors, large fluted columns and floor to ceiling warehouse windows. Many have metal Spiral Stairs to raised mezzanine Master bedrooms. Maintenance fees are low due to limited amenities. Many owners have done considerable renovations and upgrades to their suites. This building is considered great value for a loft conversion.
Located in the heart of eastern Toronto's Film District, and ideally located close to The Beaches, Downtown and an easy walk to The Danforth or Queen Street East.
The Broadview Lofts - 68 Broadview Avenue
This 5-storey building was originally a turn-of-the-century Rexall drug warehouse. Units are open concept lofts with tongue and groove ceilings, exposed brick walls, concrete floors and large industrial windows. Many original elements of the warehouse have been incorporated into hallway and common area design, such as massive metal doors. The building has a glass-encased party room and a rooftop patio with fantastic views of the city, and a creative solution to a (typical for hard lofts) lack of balconies: separate-entrance terraces that are associated with, but not attached to specific units. Two floors of new lofts were also built on top of the original building.
Broadview lofts is right in the Film District, steps to Queen Street East's growing funkiness and with easy access to the DVP.
The Tannery Lofts - 736 Dundas Street East
The Tannery Lofts is a beautiful 100 year-old heritage building built in 1905 and modernized into attractive lofts. The building has only 40 units so it is an intimate boutique type loft. It has 13' + ceilings, large windows, original exposed wood post and beams and brick walls. Blending in with the old building is a new three-storey addition with a brick facade and warehouse-style windows. Some units are single level and others are 2 storey open concept lofts; some units have private patios or roof terraces.
The Tannery Lofts project (built from, you guessed it, a tannery) sits just east of River Street near the Don Valley Parkway. The neighbourhood is in transition, so it's not for everyone--yet. We personally love the units we've seen. Just don't let them tell you it's in Riverdale! (Crossing the bridge makes a big difference)
i-Zone Lofts - 326 Carlaw Avenue
This funky Live/Work zoned loft building actually feels like a warehouse at times. Located in the east end Film District, one of the fastest-developing areas in Toronto, units have 11 foot high ceilings, hardwood floors, and a large, raw, open concept feel. Some units have existing large roof top terraces or the permission to build a terrace, and there are many businesses operating in the building mixed in with residential tenants.
Argyle Authentic Lofts - 183 Dovercourt Road
At five stories, The Argyle Lofts was and remains the tallest structure in the immediate neighbourhood. The distinctive corner bakery entrance today serves as the loft's front door, with the clock retained as a reminder of the building's industrial past. The history and charm of this building set it apart from other industrial loft conversions in Toronto, as does its residential location that only gets more desireable every year.
Robert Watson Lofts - 363 Sorauren Avenue
Robert Watson Lofts consists of two buildings: a vintage conversion and a modern concrete, steel and glass construction. The vintage half was converted from the 1903 Robert Watson candy factory building. Right next door is Sorauren Park, and west-facing units overlook a quiet residential neighbourhood that stretches to the nearby Roncesvalles, with its shops and restaurants and proximity to High Park.
Sorauren Lofts - 347 Sorauren Avenue
Initially a ball bearing factory, 347 Sorauren is actually the combination of an initial mill-style warehouse with two new additions. It features a combination of interesting industrial finishes, including 15-foot ceilings and massive timber columns and beams. Some of the more affordable units have only a large skylight for natural light! (Cool, but not for everyone.)
Noble Court Lofts - 24 Noble Street
The Noble Court Lofts are located just north of Queen Street West and west of Dufferin. The building was converted from industrial offices to live and/or work spaces in 1989 and features 10.5 ft. ceilings, exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, timber columns and beams and large windows. At writing common areas are being updated; many units overlook the train tracks, which means some white noise but guaranteed unobstructed views and lower prices than you would find for equivalent units elsewhere.
Queen City Vinegar Co. Lofts - 19 River Street
Originally owned by the Queen City Vinegar Company, this is an authentic loft conversion of a nearly 100 year old warehouse located in the up and coming Queen Street East/Leslieville area. With a combination of new construction and vintage conversion lofts, this three-storey building houses live/work lofts, with two new storeys added above to create the new-construction glass addition. Features vary depending on floor plan and location.
