The Gardens at Queen, 60-98 Carr St: Townhomes Off Queen West

The Gardens at Queen is what I suggest to buyers who want their own front door a block from Queen West. It is a 2006 community of 177 condo townhomes on Carr Street, and every home has a patio or a rooftop terrace with a gas line for a barbecue. The neighbourhood around it is in the middle of one of the city’s largest rebuilds. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Townhomes instead of a tower

This is not a condo building in the usual sense. The Gardens at Queen is a group of townhomes spread along Carr Street, with addresses running from 60 to 98 and each home numbered as a townhouse. Condos.ca records it as a two-storey low-rise, but with homes from about 520 to over 2,000 square feet, the plans clearly vary a great deal, so confirm the number of levels in the home you are viewing.

Chestnut Hill Developments built it, and the project was nominated for low-rise project of the year, according to one of the managers that lists the building. The exterior is neo-classical, a deliberate contrast with the glass condos going up around Queen West.

The real draw is outdoor space. Every home has either a patio at grade or a rooftop terrace, each with a gas barbecue hookup. In a neighbourhood where most condo owners get a narrow balcony, a private terrace is a serious advantage.

A wide range of homes, from compact to large

Condos.ca records homes from about 520 to 2,031 square feet. At the small end, that is a one- or two-bedroom stacked unit. At the top end, it is a three-bedroom-plus home with the space of a small house, which is rare this close to Queen and Bathurst.

The two current listings show the spread: a two-bedroom in the 700 to 799 square foot band and a three-bedroom-plus-den at the larger end. Those are very different products, and they appeal to very different buyers.

In a townhome, stairs are part of the floor area. Multi-level plans lose some usable space to staircases and landings, so walk the plan and think about where furniture goes before comparing price per square foot with a flat. Ask also whether the parking space is underground with direct access, or a walk away.

Rooftop terraces are wonderful in July and a maintenance item for the rest of the year. Ask who is responsible for the terrace membrane and decking, the owner or the corporation, because that changes what you should be checking on the roof.

A lower fee, but you pay your own heat

Condos.ca lists the fee as covering common elements, building insurance, parking and water. Heat, air conditioning and hydro are not included, which is typical for townhomes, where each home has its own systems.

On the two current listings, fees ran from about $597 to $1,095 a month. When you budget, add your own heating and cooling bills and, in a multi-level home, expect them to be higher than in a mid-floor apartment, because more of your walls and roof face the outside.

Your own systems also mean your own repairs. Ask the age of the furnace, air conditioner and water heater in any home you are considering, and whether they are owned or rented. At nearly 20 years old, many original units will be due for replacement.

There is an upside to separate utilities. You control your own thermostat and pay only for what you use, rather than sharing the cost of a neighbour who keeps the heat at 25 degrees all winter. Ask the seller for twelve months of gas and hydro bills so you can set a realistic budget before you compare this with an apartment where heat is bundled.

Carr Street and the Alexandra Park rebuild

Carr Street is a quiet residential street tucked just north of Queen West, near Alexandra Park. Queen West’s shops and restaurants are a few minutes’ walk south and Kensington Market is a short walk north and east. The transit details are in the data panel on this page.

The neighbourhood around it is changing. Toronto Community Housing and the Atkinson Housing Co-operative, with Tridel as development partner, are revitalizing the Alexandra Park area between Spadina, Queen, Dundas and Bathurst. The plan replaces 410 rent-geared-to-income homes, refurbishes 396 more and adds 1,540 market units.

Phase 1 has been completed, including new townhouses, the SQ2 condo and new roads. A rental high-rise and a condo at Dundas and Denison were expected to finish at the end of 2025, and full completion is anticipated in 2038. Expect construction somewhere in the area for years, and expect the streets around you to keep improving as it finishes.

What The Gardens at Queen costs

Condos.ca puts the community average at about $596 per square foot. That is low for this location, and part of the reason is format: large townhomes almost always trade lower per square foot than small apartments, and stairs count as floor area.

Two homes were listed for sale at the time of writing, asking from $634,900 to $988,800, with monthly fees from $597 to $1,095. One home was listed for rent.

I would not lean on the average alone. Compare a home here with other townhomes of similar size near Queen West, and look at the sold aggregates in the data panel, which reflect what has actually traded rather than what is being asked.

The rental listing is worth noting for investors. Townhomes with private outdoor space near Queen West rent to a different tenant from a downtown one-bedroom, often couples or small families who stay longer, but check the rental figures in the data panel before you assume a yield.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Gardens at Queen

There is no gym or party room here; the amenity is your own outdoor space. Condos.ca lists a security guard and a security system, and the gas barbecue line on every patio or terrace means you can cook outside without hauling propane tanks through the house.

Jatin’s honest take on The Gardens at Queen

The Gardens at Queen — frequently asked questions

Looking at Queen West, Trinity-Bellwoods, Kensington and Little Italy more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.