35 Ormskirk Ave: Two-Storey Suites, a Pool and Hydro in the Fee in Swansea

When a family tells me they need three bedrooms in Swansea and cannot stretch to a house, 35 Ormskirk Avenue is often the first building I show them. The suites here are big, many of them laid out over two floors like a townhouse, and the fee covers heat and hydro. It is a 1971 building, and that is both why the price per square foot is low and why you need to read the paperwork closely. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Built as townhouses stacked nine storeys high

The feature that sets this building apart is its two-storey suites. Listings describe a townhouse feel: the living space and kitchen on one level, and the bedrooms and a full bath upstairs. It is a stacked-townhouse idea built nine storeys high, and it gives these suites a very different feel from a typical condo floor plan.

In daily life that layout matters more than any amenity. Your bedrooms are separated from the living space by a staircase, not a hallway, so a family with young children or someone working late at the kitchen table does not keep the rest of the household up. It also means stairs inside the suite, which rules the building out for some downsizers.

Bramalea was one of the big Ontario developers of that era, best known for building the planned community that became part of Brampton. This was an early entry in Toronto’s condo market. YCC-59 is a low corporation number, from when condominiums were still a new form of ownership in Ontario.

Family-sized, and the numbers prove it

Strata.ca’s unit mix tells the story. About 42% of suites are two-bedroom-plus-den plans, around 30% are three-bedrooms, and a further 6% are three-plus-den. Two-bedrooms make up most of the rest, and one-bedrooms are almost absent. Very few buildings in west Toronto have this many three-bedroom suites.

Size ranges differ by source. Condos.ca shows about 1,070 to 1,354 square feet, while strata.ca’s summary runs from about 880 to 1,539. Either way, the typical suite is well above the 600 to 800 square feet you get in a new two-bedroom nearby.

Listings describe oversized private terraces, and BBQs are permitted. That combination, a large terrace and a barbecue, is uncommon in a condo and well suited to a family.

Swansea, between the Humber and High Park

The building sits off South Kingsway in Swansea, on the quiet residential side of the Gardiner. Condos.ca notes the South Kingsway on-ramp is only a couple of minutes away by car, which is a real advantage if you commute west on the QEW or north on the 427. Riverside Drive, Ormskirk Park and the Humber River trails are close by.

For errands, a Sobeys is a minute or two away by car and the Cheese Boutique is a short walk. Bloor West Village’s shops are up the hill. The data panel on this page has the transit and walking details. Expect to use a car or the bus more than you would living on Bloor itself; this is a neighbourhood location rather than a main-street one.

A 55-year-old building in the middle of a refresh

A recent listing says a phased common-area renovation is due to finish in October 2026. That is good news if it is already funded, and a cost to plan for if it is not. Before you buy, ask the property manager what the project covers, what it costs and how it is being paid for: reserve fund, special assessment or fee increase.

Heating and cooling work differently here than in a newer building. One listing describes electric baseboard and wall-unit heating with ductless air conditioning on both levels. With hydro in the fee, your own bill stays flat, but the building’s energy costs are shared among all owners. Watch how fast the fee has risen in recent budgets, because that is where those costs show up.

Scale helps here. With 196 suites sharing the bill, a large repair is spread across enough owners to stay manageable in a way it never could be in a 30-suite building. The question is not whether the building will need money, because every 55-year-old building does. It is whether the board has planned for it, and the reserve fund study answers that.

Pricing and fees: what the numbers say

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $563 per square foot, which is low for this part of the city. Strata.ca’s figures by unit type are higher, at roughly $530 to $705 per square foot, though it does not state the period they cover. Strata.ca recorded six sales and three leases in the past 12 months, a thin but usable sample for a building this size.

The reason for the discount is no mystery: age, original building systems and a fee that is high in dollars. The fee also covers a lot. If heat, hydro, water, parking and cable are all included, as condos.ca says, compare it with a newer building’s fee plus your own hydro bill and parking charge before you call it expensive.

There was only one active listing when I checked, so I won’t quote an asking range. Strata.ca reports an average holding period of more than 23 years, which means owners stay and resales are not frequent. For recent trades, ask me for the sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at 35 Ormskirk Condos

For a building this age, the amenity list is generous: an indoor pool, a sauna, a gym and a tennis court, plus a games room, a children’s playroom and a hobby room. Strata.ca also mentions a squash court, and a recent listing describes a fenced dog area for residents; confirm both on a visit.

Jatin’s honest take on 35 Ormskirk Condos

35 Ormskirk Condos — frequently asked questions

Looking at High Park-Swansea more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.