Flatiron Lofts, 1201 Dundas St E: Lamb’s Bullnose Lofts on Carlaw

Flatiron Lofts is the half of the Worklofts complex I usually point buyers to first. It is the second phase, finished in 2012 at Dundas and Carlaw, with a curved bullnose end and wide, shallow suites that pull in more light than most condos of its age. It also trades at a lower price per square foot than Work Lofts next door, and I will explain why. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Named for a wedge, shaped by a railway

Flatiron Lofts takes its name from the famous flatiron buildings of New York and Toronto, and you can see why. The site is a sliver shaped by a former rail spur that once curved through the block, and the building follows it, ending in a rounded bullnose that faces the street.

Core Architects designed it for Lamb Development as the companion to Work Lofts at 319 Carlaw. It is a steel-and-concrete building finished in brick and glass, with long horizontal bands of windows wrapping the facade. The result looks more streamlined than the warehouse-style Work Lofts, even though the two share a site and a design team.

The storey count is muddled in published sources. Condos.ca lists 10 floors, while an early UrbanToronto article listed Flatiron at 11 and Work Lofts at 10. The building data and the Work Lofts design description both point to Flatiron being the shorter of the two, so I have used 10.

The developer carries weight here. Lamb Development, led by Brad Lamb, made its name on loft-style condos in former industrial parts of the city, and the two Worklofts buildings were among its east-end projects, sold through Brad J. Lamb Realty. Buyers in this part of town know the brand, and a recognisable developer name tends to help when you resell.

Wide, shallow suites with more light

The best thing about Flatiron is the suite shape. Because the building is narrow, suites are relatively shallow and wide, so more of each unit sits next to a window. In practice that means fewer dark interior bedrooms and dens than you find in a typical deep-plan tower suite.

Condos.ca shows suites from about 477 to 1,475 sq ft. Most of the current listings are one-plus-dens and two-bedrooms in the 600 to 700 sq ft range, with a few much larger suites at the top. Ask for the floor plan and ceiling height of the specific suite, because the narrow, curved footprint means plans vary more here than in a rectangular tower.

The curve does create some odd rooms. Suites at the bullnose end or along the curved wall can have angled walls that are harder to furnish. They often get the best light and views in the building, though, so walk the space with a tape measure before you decide.

Depth matters more than people think. In a deep suite, the bedroom or den at the back can get almost no daylight, and that is often what buyers regret after a winter. A shallow, wide plan like Flatiron’s spreads the window wall across more of the living space, so a 650 sq ft suite here can feel brighter and larger than a 700 sq ft suite in a deep-plan tower.

Living at Dundas and Carlaw

This corner sits where Leslieville’s residential streets meet the old warehouse strip along Carlaw, which was marketed as the Film District when these buildings launched. Converted lofts, newer mid-rises and cafes now line the street, and Queen East is to the south.

The big change is the Ontario Line. Metrolinx is building Gerrard Station where the line crosses Carlaw at Gerrard, the next major intersection north, and Infrastructure Ontario has proposed new mixed-use transit-oriented communities north and south of it, with housing, retail and a grocery store. Expect construction for some time and a much busier, better-served neighbourhood after.

For an owner, that is good for long-term demand, but it also means more new condo supply close by. The automatic panel on this page covers transit, schools and parks as they are today.

Pricing and fees

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $842 per sq ft, below the roughly $961 at Work Lofts next door. Part of that gap is suite size, because Work Lofts has more small suites, and small suites always carry a higher per-square-foot price. Still, for a similar layout, Flatiron often gives you more space for the money.

Five suites were listed for sale at the time of writing. Among those with published details, asking prices ran from about $548,000 to $1,199,000, with most of them one-plus-dens and two-bedrooms in the 600 to 700 sq ft range. That is a healthy number of listings for an 84-suite building, which gives you real comparables to negotiate with.

With that many active listings, I would use them as a live comparison set, then check recent sales here and at Work Lofts to see how close listings are actually selling to their asking prices. Pay attention to which suites sit on the curve or the bullnose end, since those tend to be priced on light and outlook rather than square footage alone.

Fees on those listings averaged about $0.92 per sq ft, and the fee covers common elements, building insurance and water. Heat, hydro and air conditioning are on you, and parking is not listed as included. Beanfield fibre is available in the building, which helps if you work from home.

Building specifications

Amenities at Flatiron Lofts

The amenity package is modest and social rather than fitness-focused: a rooftop deck, a party room, a rec room and a meeting room, with BBQs allowed. There is no pool, which helps keep fees under a dollar a square foot.

Jatin’s honest take on Flatiron Lofts

Flatiron Lofts — frequently asked questions

Looking at Leslieville, Riverdale, the Beaches, Danforth and Leaside more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.