10 Walker Avenue: 34 Summerhill Townhomes Tucked Off Yonge Street

10 Walker Avenue is a small townhouse complex that most people walking up Yonge Street never notice. Its 34 homes sit set back from the street in Summerhill, tall and narrow, with garage parking underneath and terraces out back. It is one of the more practical ways to own a house-like home steps from Yonge, as long as you like stairs and understand a 1980 complex. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Tall, narrow homes with stairs to match

A 2018 blogTO feature compared the homes here to Amsterdam canal houses, and the description fits. The home it covered had three labelled storeys plus a basement and a small loft, with living space and a fireplace on the main floor, two bedrooms on the second, and a primary suite with a walk-in closet and ensuite on the third.

That layout is the main trade-off. You get far more separation between living, sleeping and work space than any apartment can give you, but you climb for it. blogTO joked about the stairs, and I would take that seriously if you are buying for the long term or for a parent.

Condos.ca lists the complex as one floor, which reflects how it records townhouse complexes rather than the homes themselves. Ask for the actual floor plan and the square footage of each level, including the basement, before you compare a home here with a condo suite.

Garage below, terraces behind

Parking is handled underground. A Heaps Estrin listing described a lower level that walks out to the parking garage, and blogTO noted one space with the home it covered. In the Globe and Mail’s coverage of a larger double-width home, the finished basement gave access to two-car parking, so the count varies by home.

Outdoor space is the other draw. Listings describe private terraces, some facing west over the complex’s grounds, and a small patio with room for a barbecue, which condos.ca confirms is permitted. The Globe noted that an end home had more privacy and a much larger terrace than the others, which tells you that position within the complex matters.

The homes are set back from the street, which keeps them quieter than the Yonge Street address would suggest. Ask which homes face the interior grounds and which face the street or neighbouring buildings.

A complex built for downsizers

The Globe and Mail described the complex as a small group of homes off Yonge Street and quoted the listing agent saying buyers were often downsizing from larger houses nearby. At least one pair of homes was combined into a double-width home decades ago, which shows how owners here have adapted the homes to stay longer.

That owner profile tends to shape the complex. Long-term owners usually care about upkeep and keep the grounds in good order, but they may also hold firm views on renovations, exterior changes and spending. Read the board minutes to see how the corporation makes decisions, and ask what owners may change on their own.

What a 1980 complex needs now

After more than four decades, the big shared components here have been through at least one replacement cycle, or are due for one. In a townhouse complex with an underground garage, the garage membrane and waterproofing are usually the largest single cost, followed by roofs, windows, terraces and masonry.

None of that is a reason to avoid the complex. It is a reason to read the reserve fund study closely, compare its plan with what the board minutes say has actually been done, and ask the manager whether any major project is coming. A complex that has kept up with its work is often a better buy than a newer building that has not yet faced its first big bill.

Inside each home, expect a wide range of conditions. Some owners will have renovated kitchens and bathrooms; others will be close to original, and the price should reflect that.

Summerhill daily life

Walker Avenue sits just off Yonge Street in Summerhill, with the shops, cafes, restaurants and banks of the Yonge strip a short walk from the door. The Globe and Mail’s coverage highlighted that mix, along with the subway.

The data panel on this page shows the transit, school and walkability details. Day to day, this is a location where you can leave the car in the garage for most errands, which is a big part of why the complex appeals to owners leaving a house.

What 10 Walker Avenue costs

There were no active listings when I checked, and condos.ca does not publish a building average per square foot for this complex. With 34 homes and owners who tend to stay, sales are infrequent, so the best guide is the most recent sales of similar homes in the complex, adjusted for size, renovation, parking and position.

Price per square foot is less useful here than in a tower, because the homes vary so much: some are standard width, at least one is double width, end homes have larger terraces, and basements and lofts may or may not be counted in the square footage. Make sure any comparison measures the same thing.

Condos.ca does not list fee inclusions for the complex. Get the budget from the status certificate and confirm which utilities each home pays directly, because a townhouse complex often bills heat and hydro to each home. Compare the fee with what it would cost to run a freehold house of similar size, including the roof, snow clearing and parking.

Building specifications

Amenities at 10 Walker Avenue

There is no gym or party room, and there does not need to be: the amenities here are your own terrace, your own fireplace and a parking space below. Visitor parking is a real advantage when family comes to visit.

Jatin’s honest take on 10 Walker Avenue

10 Walker Avenue — frequently asked questions

Looking at Yorkville, the Annex and Midtown more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.