The Oxford on Markham, 75 Markham St: A 1986 Picture-Frame-Factory Loft

The Oxford on Markham is one of the older loft conversions in this part of the city. Sixteen suites were carved out of a former picture frame factory on a quiet stretch of Markham Street and registered as a condominium in 1986, long before most of the loft buildings around Queen West existed. It is small, idiosyncratic and almost never for sale, and it rewards buyers who know exactly what they are looking for. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A factory conversion from the 1980s

The building at 75 Markham was the home of the Oxford Picture Frame Factory before it was converted to residential use. The condominium was registered in March 1986, which makes it one of the earlier loft conversions west of Bathurst.

Age matters here in two ways. First, the conversion predates the polished, developer-led lofts of the late 1990s and 2000s, so suites tend to be quirkier and more personal, often shaped by decades of owner renovations. Second, the building has been operating as a condominium for nearly forty years, which gives you a long record of maintenance and budgets to examine.

With 16 suites, it is a true boutique building. Your neighbours are a small group of long-term owners rather than a rotating cast of tenants, and the character of the building depends heavily on how that group has run it.

Beams, skylights and suites on several levels

Condos.ca records the building as two storeys, but that understates how the suites work. Listings over the years have described units spread over two and three levels, with exposed wood beams, skylights, high ceilings, hardwood floors, wood-burning fireplaces and private terraces or rooftop patios.

That kind of layout is a big part of the appeal. A multi-level loft here can feel closer to a small townhouse than a condo, with a terrace on top and a fireplace in the living room. It also means stairs everywhere, open sleeping areas in some suites, and spaces that are harder to furnish than a standard plan.

Condos.ca has only thin size data for this building, so do not rely on a published range. Ask for a floor plan and a measured square footage for the specific suite, and check that the bedrooms you are counting have doors and windows if that matters to you or a future buyer.

Fees, governance and what a 1986 building needs

Condos.ca lists common elements, building insurance, water and parking in the fee. Heat and hydro are not listed, so expect to pay your own utilities. With tall ceilings, skylights and wood-burning fireplaces, ask the seller for a year of heating and hydro bills before you compare this building with a newer one.

A conversion of this age has been through at least one major renewal cycle. Roofs, skylights, windows, masonry and the garage are the expensive items in an older factory building, and with only 16 owners, each one carries a meaningful share of every project.

Read the reserve fund study for what has already been replaced and what is scheduled. Wood-burning fireplaces also deserve a question: ask about chimney inspection and whether the corporation or the owner is responsible for them, and check what your insurer requires.

Small buildings run differently. There is no concierge desk and no large management office on site, so day-to-day issues tend to be handled by the manager and a board drawn from a handful of owners. When the board is engaged, that can mean quick decisions and lower overhead. When it is not, small problems can sit.

Ask how often the board meets, how long the current directors have served and whether the corporation has had trouble filling seats. In a building this size, a few committed owners make a real difference to how well it is kept.

Resale is also different. With so few suites, there is rarely a recent comparable sale in the same building, and lenders and appraisers sometimes take longer to get comfortable with an unusual multi-level loft. Build a little extra time into your financing condition.

Markham Street, between Queen and Dundas

This stretch of Markham Street is residential and quiet, a short walk from both Queen Street West and Dundas Street West. You get Queen West’s shops and restaurants without a bar underneath your bedroom.

Trinity Bellwoods Park is to the west, Kensington Market and Chinatown are within an easy walk to the east across Bathurst, and the Ossington strip is a short trip away. The panel on this page has the transit, schools and Walk Score details.

What The Oxford on Markham costs

Nothing was listed for sale or rent at 75 Markham when I wrote this. With 16 suites and long-term owners, listings are rare, and it is not unusual for a year or more to pass between them.

Condos.ca shows an average of about $781 per square foot for the building, but that figure rests on very little data and I would not price a suite from it. Multi-level lofts with terraces and parking can trade well above or below an average like that, depending on size, condition and outdoor space.

The better approach is to compare a suite here with other true hard lofts in Trinity-Bellwoods and Queen West, adjusted for parking and terrace space. The aggregate figures in the panel above help, and I can pull the full sales history through my building sold report if you are weighing a specific suite.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Oxford on Markham

There is no gym, concierge or party room, and in a 16-suite conversion I would not expect one. Underground parking and permitted barbecues on private terraces are the conveniences that count here, and keeping the amenity list short helps keep the fee down.

Jatin’s honest take on The Oxford on Markham

The Oxford on Markham — 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.