Burnhamthorpe Gate, Old Burnhamthorpe Rd: 1971 Towns With a Garage

Burnhamthorpe Gate is a 1971 townhouse condominium, which makes it one of the oldest condo corporations in west Etobicoke. That age is both the opportunity and the risk: you can buy a three-bedroom home near Markland Wood for far less than a house, but you are also buying into a complex that has been maintaining roofs, windows and a shared parking garage for more than 50 years. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

One of the earliest condo corporations in the west end

Ontario’s condominium legislation only dates from the late 1960s, so a corporation registered in May 1971 with a number as low as YCC-35 is one of the first generation. Burnhamthorpe Gate predates almost every condo tower in Etobicoke.

It went up as the surrounding area was filling in. Markland Wood, to the south, started building in 1960 and had most of its detached houses done by 1967, with more tract housing at the north end in the early 1970s. Across Old Burnhamthorpe Road, the Architectural Conservancy Ontario inventory records a detached house completed in 1971, the same year this corporation registered.

I could not find a reliable public source naming the original builder. The declaration, which comes with the status certificate, will name the declarant if that matters to you.

Townhouses over a shared garage

The feature that sets this complex apart from many 1970s townhouse condos is the parking garage listed on condos.ca. A shared garage keeps cars off the grounds and out of the snow, which owners appreciate every winter.

It is also the most expensive single thing the corporation owns. Garage slabs, waterproofing membranes, drainage and ventilation all wear out, and repairing them in an older complex can be a major project. I am not saying there is a problem here; I am saying this is the first place I would look in the reserve fund study.

Ask how many spaces come with each home, whether they are owned or assigned, and when the garage was last inspected and repaired. Visitor parking is also listed, which helps a family with guests.

Family-sized homes from a different era

The home listed for sale when I checked was a three-bedroom, which is typical of townhouse condos of this age in Etobicoke. These complexes were built for families moving out of apartments, with bedrooms upstairs, living space below and often a basement.

Condos.ca does not publish a square-footage range, so I cannot give you a size band. Measure, ask for the floor plan, and check whether the listed size includes a finished basement. Many owners in complexes like this have renovated kitchens and bathrooms over the decades, so two homes with the same plan can be very different inside.

The addresses are split between Burnhamthorpe Road and Old Burnhamthorpe Road. A home facing Burnhamthorpe Road will hear more traffic than one facing the quieter old road, so ask which side a home is on and visit at rush hour.

What older townhouse ownership really means

In a townhouse condo, the declaration decides who owns and maintains roofs, windows, doors, fences and patios. In some complexes the corporation replaces all of them on a schedule and the fee reflects it; in others, owners are responsible for parts of their own exterior. Read the schedule of responsibilities before you make an offer.

Condos.ca does not list what the fee here includes. Do not assume water, heat or cable are covered. The status certificate and the budget will tell you exactly what you are paying for. If you plan to renovate, ask what the rules allow too; many older declarations require board approval for new windows, decks or exterior changes.

If you are shopping this corner of Etobicoke, compare it with 13 Silver Shadow Townhouses a short distance east, an 85-home corporation registered in 1973 and managed by the same company. Looking at the two status certificates side by side is one of the quickest ways to see which corporation has done more of its big work already, and what that has done to its fees.

Markland Wood itself is quiet and green, with Etobicoke Creek on its west side, the golf club around it and Millwood and Bloordale parks for walks. The Markland Wood Shopping Centre covers daily needs. You will drive more than you would closer to the core, and the transit and walkability figures in the data panel on this page are worth a close look.

A house-sized home at a townhouse price

With only one home listed for sale when I checked, I will not quote an asking range from a single listing. Supply here is thin, so the sold record is a better guide than any one asking price. For aggregate sold figures and days on market, see the data panel or ask me for a building sold report.

The real comparison is with a detached house nearby, which costs considerably more. A three-bedroom townhouse here puts you in the same part of Etobicoke for much less, in exchange for a monthly fee and shared decisions with a board.

Because there is no published square-footage range, I cannot give a reliable price per square foot. What I would focus on instead is the fee against what it covers, and the reserve fund against what is coming due. In a 1971 complex with a garage, those two numbers decide whether the price is a bargain or a trap.

Building specifications

Amenities at Burnhamthorpe Gate

There is no gym or party room listed, which is normal for a 1970s townhouse complex. What you get is covered parking in the shared garage, visitor spaces for guests and permission to barbecue at home.

Jatin’s honest take on Burnhamthorpe Gate

Burnhamthorpe Gate — frequently asked questions

Looking at Humber Bay Shores, Mimico, the Queensway and central Etobicoke more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.