The Somerset, 1A Dale Ave: A 1972 Low-Rise on the Rosedale Ravine

The Somerset is what a lot of buyers picture when they say they want Rosedale but not a house. It is a three-storey, 33-suite building from 1972 on Dale Avenue, backing onto a treed ravine, with heat and water in the fee and a resale price per square foot well below the newer midtown buildings. The catch is age, and I want you to go in with your eyes open. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

One of the city’s early condominiums

The corporation number tells part of the story. YCC stands for York Condominium Corporation, the numbering used for condominiums registered in the early years of Ontario’s condominium legislation, before the Metro Toronto (MTCC) and later Toronto Standard (TSCC) series. YCC-66 was registered in February 1972, which makes The Somerset one of the earlier condominium corporations in the city.

That history cuts two ways. On the plus side, the building has more than 50 years of operating records, budgets and board decisions behind it, so you can see exactly how it has been run. On the other side, original systems in a building this age have either been replaced already or are due, and you need to know which.

The scale is the other draw. At three storeys and 33 suites, this is closer to a large house divided into homes than a condo tower. You will know your neighbours, and there is no crowded lobby or long elevator wait.

Large suites, and a ravine behind the building

Condos.ca shows suites from about 533 sq ft up to almost 3,000 sq ft. That top end is unusual in any condo building and very rare in one this small. It suggests some suites are full-floor or combined homes that compete with Rosedale townhouses rather than with one-bedroom condos.

Listing material for the building describes it as backing onto a ravine with mature trees and parkland. In practice that means the rear-facing suites look into green space rather than at another building, which is the single biggest reason people choose this address over a newer midtown condo. Suites facing Dale Avenue look onto a quiet residential street instead.

Underground parking is reported, and lockers are available with at least some suites. Confirm exactly which parking space and locker come with the suite you are buying, and whether they are owned units or exclusive-use common elements.

Heat, water and cable in the fee

The maintenance fee covers common elements, heat, building insurance, water and cable TV. Having heat in the fee is common in buildings of this age and it makes winter costs predictable. Hydro is the main utility you pay on your own.

I could not find current fee figures because there were no active listings when I checked, so I will not quote a number. When you do look at a suite here, compare the fee with what you would pay for heat, water and parking at a newer building, not with the headline fee alone. Older buildings with bundled utilities often look expensive until you add the bills back to the alternative.

Living on Dale Avenue

Dale Avenue sits in South Rosedale, among winding streets and cul-de-sacs that were laid out to slow traffic down. It is a quiet, walkable pocket of large houses and mature trees, with the ravine system close by for walking.

For errands, listing material points to groceries on Sherbourne Street and to the shops and food halls along Bloor Street. Most day-to-day shopping is a walk or a short drive rather than at your door, which is the price of living on a residential street rather than above retail. Transit, schools, parks and Walk Score for this address are shown in the data panel on this page.

Condos.ca also flags pet restrictions at The Somerset. I could not confirm the details, so read the declaration and rules in the status certificate before you assume a dog or cat will be allowed.

Rosedale at an older building’s price per square foot

Condos.ca reports a building average of about $604 per square foot. That is a large discount to newer buildings in midtown, many of which trade at $900 to $1,200 a square foot. Some of that is age, some is the fee, and some is that large suites always trade lower per square foot than small ones.

There were no suites for sale or for rent when I checked, which is typical of a 33-suite building where owners tend to stay a long time. That scarcity means you may wait months for the right suite, and the few sales that do happen can vary widely depending on size, exposure and how recently the suite was renovated. Be ready to move quickly when a suite does come up.

Because comparables here are so thin, I would not rely on the building average alone. Ask me for the building sold report, and expect to price the suite partly against similar low-rise buildings in Rosedale and the Annex.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Somerset

There is no gym, pool or concierge here, and that is part of why the building works at this size: fewer shared facilities means fewer things to staff and replace. You are buying a quiet address and a ravine view, not an amenity package. Bike storage and visitor parking cover the practical basics, and the security system matters in a building without a staffed front desk.

Jatin’s honest take on The Somerset

The Somerset — 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.