The Dakota, 225 Davenport Rd: Six Storeys, Solariums and an All-In Fee

The Dakota is the building I point to when someone tells me Yorkville is out of reach. It sits on Davenport a short walk from Avenue Road, it is six storeys and about 100 suites, and its fee covers hydro and parking. Per square foot it costs roughly half of what the new buildings on the same street command. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A low-rise on a street of new towers

Davenport Road around Avenue Road has changed more in the last decade than almost any street in midtown. The Florian at 88 Davenport and 181 Davenport are recent luxury buildings, and boutique projects keep appearing along the strip.

The Dakota predates all of that. It is a 1988 mid-rise of six storeys, built by Dakota Land, and it looks and feels like a residential building rather than a statement tower. That is a large part of its appeal to people who want the neighbourhood without paying for the new architecture.

Because it is low, The Dakota is not a view building. What you buy is a quiet suite, a garden and a rooftop deck on a street that is otherwise becoming much denser.

The density around it cuts both ways. More restaurants, shops and services are arriving within a few minutes’ walk, and so are construction hoardings, cranes and lane closures. Ask what is planned on the lots nearest the side of the building your suite faces, and check the City of Toronto development map before you firm up.

Solariums, dens and real kitchens

Suites range from about 823 to 1,762 sq ft, from one-bedrooms to two-bedrooms with a den. DASH Property Management describes large kitchens with breakfast counters, big windows, solariums and generous dens, with hardwood and ceramic floors.

That combination of a solarium and a den is what sets these plans apart from newer buildings. Many owners use the solarium as a bright sitting area or office and the den as a guest room, which gives an 1,100 sq ft suite the function of a much larger one.

These are late-1980s layouts, so expect separate rooms and hallways rather than one open space. Finishes will vary from original to fully renovated, and that will drive the price more than floor level.

If you are coming from a house, measure carefully. A den that works as a guest room on a floor plan may be too narrow for a queen bed once a door swing and a closet are accounted for, and a solarium can run warm in summer and cool in winter depending on its glazing. View the suite at different times of day if you can.

A fee that covers almost everything

The fee list here is unusually broad: common elements, heat, air conditioning, hydro, water, building insurance and parking. In most buildings along Davenport, hydro and parking are separate costs.

When you compare monthly costs, add the other building’s hydro, heating and cooling and parking back onto its fee. Done that way, The Dakota’s all-in number is often competitive even when its headline fee looks higher per foot.

An all-in fee means utility costs are pooled. Ask for the last three budgets and look at how fees have moved, especially as energy costs change.

Parking being in the fee is worth more on this street than it looks. Newer buildings nearby typically sell parking as a separate purchase and charge their own monthly maintenance on it, so a space that comes with the suite and is covered by the common fee is real value. Confirm the space is owned or exclusively assigned to the unit.

Who runs the building

Sources differ on management. Condos.ca lists 360 Community Management Ltd, while DASH Property Management has a page for The Dakota that describes the building and its suites. It is possible that one handles the corporation and the other manages rental suites for owners, but I could not confirm that.

Before you buy, confirm in the status certificate who the property manager is, how long they have been in place and how the board works with them. In a building of about 100 suites, good management shows up quickly in the condition of the lobby, garden and garage.

Small buildings also make each owner’s voice count. With around 100 suites, a few engaged residents can shape decisions on fees, renovations and rules, so read the last few years of board minutes to see how those decisions have gone and how often the corporation has had to go back to owners for more money.

Pricing: Yorkville-adjacent at about $611 per foot

The Dakota averages about $611 per square foot on condos.ca. Along the same stretch of Davenport, newer buildings are far higher: 181 Davenport shows about $1,287, The Florian about $1,259 and the boutique 277 Davenport about $1,074. The Creed Building at 295 Davenport, from 1999, shows about $843.

That makes The Dakota one of the lowest per-foot prices on this part of Davenport, with hydro and parking in the fee on top. The discount is real, but it reflects a 1988 building with modest amenities and no views, not a hidden bargain.

There were no suites for sale at the time of writing. In a small, owner-heavy building, listings come up irregularly, so set an alert and be ready to view quickly. For recent sales, ask me for the building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Dakota

There is no pool or large gym, but a concierge, a sauna, a backyard garden and a rooftop deck with barbecues cover what most owners actually use. The garden is the standout; few buildings on Davenport have private green space at ground level.

Jatin’s honest take on The Dakota

The Dakota — 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.