365 Church Condos, 365 Church St: Small Suites at Church and Carlton

365 Church is a building I discuss with two kinds of buyers: investors who want a suite that rents easily near Toronto Metropolitan University, and first-time buyers who want a newer tower downtown at a manageable price. Menkes designed it for exactly those people, with studios starting near 320 square feet. Knowing that from the start tells you what to look for and what to avoid. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Built for small-suite buyers from day one

When Menkes launched 365 Church in 2013, the pitch was plain: a tower of studios, one-bedrooms and one-plus-dens a short walk from what was then Ryerson University. Studios started at about 300 square feet, and blogTO’s launch review said outright that most buyers would see it as an income property.

The building that went up reflects that. Suites run from about 323 square feet to roughly 973 square feet, so even the largest plans are modest. There are two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts, but they are a small share of the building, and the three-bedrooms are compact for the bedroom count.

That mix has real consequences for owners. A building weighted toward investors tends to have more turnover between leases, more move-in and move-out bookings and more wear on hallways and elevators. None of that is unusual downtown, but it is something to price in.

Wallman’s tower on a former parking lot

Before construction, the corner held a surface parking lot and low concrete shops. Wallman Architects designed a tower that was marketed at about 29 storeys over a three-storey podium; building records now list 31 storeys, and it reaches about 102 metres.

The architecture is restrained rather than striking. What you get instead is a clean, newer glass building with Munge Leung interiors, completed in 2017, at an intersection that has been changing fast. Much of the value here comes from the corner, not the facade.

Menkes is one of the larger and longer-established builders in the city, and it kept management in the family through Menres. That gives you one practical advantage: when you need answers about construction details, warranty history or original plans, the people who built the building and the people who run it come from the same group, which tends to make those questions easier to resolve.

How to choose a suite here

At 320 to 500 square feet, the details decide whether a suite is liveable. Look for a bedroom that is a real room with a window, a den with a door if you plan to rent to two people, and a kitchen with enough counter and storage to cook. Furniture placement is tight, so measure before you commit.

One-plus-den plans are the sweet spot for many buyers here. A den with a door can serve as a second bedroom or a home office, and that flexibility is what tenants and future buyers pay for. The few larger plans in the 800 to 900 square foot range come up rarely and get attention when they do.

Exposure and floor matter too. Downtown towers keep rising around this corner, so ask what is approved on the neighbouring lots before paying extra for a view, and remember that lower suites sit closer to street noise. Visit at the time of day you would usually be home.

Daily life at Church and Carlton

The corner is one of the most practical in the city. The Loblaws in the former Maple Leaf Gardens is across the intersection, the Toronto Metropolitan University campus starts a few blocks west, and Yonge Street is a short walk away. Church-Wellesley’s restaurants and bars are just north.

This is a busy, mixed downtown area with students, workers and late-night traffic, and it is not quiet. Buyers who love downtown energy are happy here; buyers who want a calm residential street usually are not. Transit, schools and Walk Score are in the automatic panel on this page.

The area is also in the middle of change. Several new towers have gone up or been proposed along Church, Jarvis and Carlton over the past decade, which brings more shops and services but also years of construction nearby. Expect the blocks around you to keep filling in.

What 365 Church costs

The building averages about $864 per square foot on condos.ca. For context, launch pricing in 2013 began around $575 per square foot, with parking sold separately for about $50,000. Small suites carry a higher price per square foot than large ones, so a studio here will look expensive per foot even when its total price is the lowest in the area.

When I wrote this there were three suites for sale and three for rent. Asking prices ran from about $440,000 to about $729,000, with monthly fees of roughly $535 to $860 across those listings.

Fees average about $1.01 per square foot across active listings, which is on the high side for a 2017 building. Heat, cooling and water are included, which offsets some of that, but hydro and parking are not. Compare total monthly cost with nearby towers, and ask me for the building sold report for what suites have actually sold for.

Building specifications

Amenities at 365 Church Condos

For residents living in 400 square feet, the shared rooms are an extension of home: the rooftop terrace, party room and theatre are where you entertain, and guest suites solve the problem of nowhere to put visitors. There is no pool, which helps keep amenity costs down, and the gym and yoga studio cover the basics for most residents.

Jatin’s honest take on 365 Church Condos

365 Church Condos — frequently asked questions

Looking at St. Lawrence, the Financial District and Downtown Yonge more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.