West Harbour City II, 21 Grand Magazine St: Terraces, Townhomes, Big Suites

West Harbour City II is one of the few buildings near Fort York where I can show a family a suite of 1,500 sq ft or more without sending them to a penthouse in a 50-storey tower. It is the second phase of Plaza’s West Harbour City, with a terraced podium, townhomes along the mews and an unusually wide suite range. The trade-off is a fee to match. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

The second phase, and a different look

West Harbour City was built in three phases on the north side of Fleet Street, west of Bathurst, on land that once held the Molson brewery. Phase I is the 36-storey tower at 628 Fleet Street. Phase II is this 28-storey tower on Grand Magazine Street, and the third phase became York Harbour Club. Plaza was the developer and Quadrangle Architects, now BDP Quadrangle, designed the project.

The towers do not look like the glass buildings around them. UrbanToronto called West Harbour City different in a sea of green glass, and its 2015 coverage described the design as a contemporary take on Toronto’s early Art Deco high-rises. Phase II shares Phase I’s beige concrete and dark glass and rises from an 11-storey podium that steps back as it climbs.

Those setbacks are why buyers come here. The stepped podium creates terraces, and the suites that sit on them have outdoor space you rarely find in a tower. If outdoor space matters to you, focus on the podium floors and ask for the terrace dimensions.

Ceiling heights vary by floor and plan. DASH lists 9-foot ceilings for Phase I suites and mentions terrace rooms with 12-foot floor-to-ceiling windows in the amenity areas. I could not find a published figure for Phase II, so measure or check the floor plan for the suite you are looking at.

A real size range, and the townhomes

Suites run from about 439 sq ft to roughly 3,122 sq ft. That is one of the widest ranges in this part of the city. All three suites listed for sale right now are two-bedroom-plus-dens asking more than $1 million, which tells you how much of this building’s market sits at the top end.

The corporation also includes townhomes on Sloping Sky Mews, Fleet Street and Iannuzzi Street. The mews names, like Grand Magazine and Bastion, come from Fort York’s history next door. A mixed corporation of tower suites and townhomes can be stable, since long-term owners tend to take part, but it can also create disagreement over how shared costs are split. Read the board minutes.

Large suites behave like their own market. Do not price a 2,000 sq ft suite off the building average, which is pulled around by smaller units. Use sales of similar-sized suites in this building and in West Harbour City I.

Fees, parking and the shared amenities

Listing data shows the fee covering common elements, parking, water and building insurance. Parking in the fee is a plus. Heat and air conditioning are not listed, which is the reverse of Phase I next door, where listing data shows heat and air conditioning included. Ask the seller for a year of utility bills.

On amenities, listing data shows a concierge, guest suites, a meeting room, a party room and visitor parking. DASH Property Management describes the Harbour Club for Phase I, with an 11th-floor enclosed pool, a rooftop spa with a whirlpool and steam rooms, a fitness centre, a lounge with a grand piano and a theatre. I could not confirm from public sources whether Phase II owners share that club, so ask for any shared-facilities agreement with the status certificate.

Listing data also notes a pet restriction. I could not find the specific rule, so check the declaration before you buy with a pet.

Between Fort York and the Gardiner

Fort York National Historic Site and the Bentway are just north and west, and the lake and Coronation Park are a short walk south. Liberty Village is a few minutes north-west and the CityPlace towers start just east of Bathurst.

For a family, the townhomes and larger suites are the reason to choose this pocket over CityPlace further east. The streets inside West Harbour City are quieter mews rather than through roads, and the park and the lake are close enough to use every day.

The Gardiner and Lake Shore Boulevard are close, which is handy for drivers and noisy for low suites that face them. Exposure is everything here: lake and park views are worth a premium, and suites that look at the expressway or into a neighbouring tower are not. Transit, schools and walkability are in the data panel on this page.

Prices and fees at 21 Grand Magazine Street

The building averages around $998 per square foot. That is high for a 2011 building, and it reflects the large suites, the terraces and the penthouse levels rather than the building’s age.

Three suites are listed for sale, all two-bedroom-plus-dens, asking between about $1,050,000 and $1,950,000. With only three listings, and all at the upper end, there is not much to compare against right now. Recent sales of similar-sized suites are a better guide, and I can pull them for you.

Monthly fees on those listings run from about $1,026 to $1,605. That sounds high until you remember parking is included and the suites are large. Still, with heat not listed, add your heating and cooling costs to compare fairly with buildings that include them.

Building specifications

Amenities at West Harbour City II

The amenities listed for Phase II itself are practical rather than lavish. If access to the Phase I Harbour Club with its pool and spa matters to you, confirm it in writing before you buy. The building’s real amenity is its outdoor space: the stepped podium terraces and the quiet mews around the townhomes.

Jatin’s honest take on West Harbour City II

West Harbour City II — frequently asked questions

Looking at King West, Liberty Village and CityPlace more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.