133 Hazelton Ave: Mizrahi’s Classical Mid-Rise at Yorkville’s North Edge

133 Hazelton is the building I show to people leaving a large house who want Yorkville without a glass tower. Mizrahi Developments built it as a nine-storey stone mid-rise at the corner of Hazelton and Davenport, with only 37 suites and a deliberately traditional look. It is quiet, solid and expensive, and the details of the fee structure deserve attention. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A classical building on purpose

When Mizrahi launched 133 Hazelton in 2011, the pitch was a reserved, classical building rather than another glass tower. The architecture is by Page + Steele / IBI Group, and the interiors by Gluckstein Design Planning were designed in the same classical spirit.

The building rises about 36 metres over nine storeys, with the upper penthouse floors stepped back from the street. Not everyone loved that top: one commenter on UrbanToronto during approvals felt the penthouse levels sat on the building like a hat. In person, the setbacks are what give the upper suites their terraces.

The site, at the corner of Hazelton and Davenport, previously held a furniture store. The launch materials described the building as defining the northern edge of Yorkville, and that is a fair description of where it sits: at the top of Hazelton Avenue’s galleries and Victorian houses, facing the traffic of Davenport Road.

Suites sized for people leaving houses

With 37 suites over nine floors, most floors hold only a handful of homes. Sizes run from about 696 square feet to over 4,400, so the building ranges from a large one-bedroom to full-floor-scale penthouses.

The developer aimed the building squarely at downsizers who did not want to give up finishes or space. The size range bears that out, with a top end above 4,400 square feet, and so does the amenity list, which includes guest suites for visiting family.

In a building pitched at this buyer, suites are often finished or altered to the first owner’s taste. Ask for the original plan and a list of upgrades, and compare finishes suite by suite rather than relying on the building’s reputation.

Hazelton at Davenport, day to day

The front door is on a quiet, tree-lined residential street, but Davenport Road is right at the corner. Suites facing north or onto Davenport will hear more traffic than those facing south down Hazelton; visit at rush hour before deciding. Upper suites with terraces look out over the surrounding low-rise streets, and that outdoor space is a large part of what buyers here are paying for.

Yorkville Avenue, the restaurants around Hazelton Lanes and the Bloor Street shops are a short walk south. Ramsden Park is a short walk to the northeast, and the residential streets of the Annex lie to the west. The data panel on this page covers transit, Walk Score, food and parks.

Mizrahi has kept building on this block. Its 128 Hazelton mid-rise sits across the street, and the developer also bought the neighbouring property at 129 Hazelton. Expect the immediate streetscape to keep evolving as those projects mature.

How it compares on Hazelton Avenue

The closest comparison is 36 Hazelton, further south on the same street. Both are small, high-end mid-rises from the mid-2010s, and both list ICC Property Management. 36 Hazelton is smaller still, at around 20 suites over seven storeys behind a restored 1928 school facade, and its suites start larger and sell for more per square foot.

133 Hazelton gives you a wider range of suite sizes, including some under 1,000 square feet, which makes it one of the few ways onto this street below the price of a full-floor home. It also has the more complete amenity package of the two, with a media room, party room and guest suites.

The trade-off is position. 36 Hazelton sits in the middle of the street’s gallery stretch; 133 Hazelton is at the Davenport end, with more traffic at the corner and a bit more distance to Yorkville Avenue. Which matters more depends on whether you want quiet or the shortest walk to dinner.

Pricing and fees

The building has averaged about $1,297 per square foot. That is a premium price for a 2015 mid-rise, and it reflects the location on Hazelton, the small number of suites and the size of the homes rather than a long amenity list.

With 37 suites, sales are infrequent, and only one suite was listed for sale when this review was written. A single listing is not a market, so I will not quote its price here. If you are considering the building, ask for the aggregate sale history over the past few years, which my building sold report covers.

The building profile lists heat as the only fee inclusion. That is unusual, and it may mean water, insurance and parking are handled differently here or simply that the record is incomplete. Confirm exactly what is covered from the status certificate and the corporation’s budget before comparing monthly costs with another building.

In a small corporation, each suite carries a larger share of the fixed costs of concierge, insurance and maintenance. Expect fees to be high in dollar terms, and look at the share assigned to the suite you are buying.

Building specifications

Amenities at 133 Hazelton Residences

The amenities are scaled to a 37-suite building: a concierge, a gym, a media room and a party room, plus guest suites that are genuinely useful for owners whose families visit from out of town. There is no pool or spa. Visitor parking on site is a practical advantage on a street where curb space is scarce.

Jatin’s honest take on 133 Hazelton Residences

133 Hazelton Residences — 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.