Minto Skyy, 1048 Broadview Ave: A LEED Gold Tower on the Don Valley Edge

Minto Skyy is the tower people point to when they drive up Broadview past the Don Valley. It is 24 storeys in an area that is otherwise houses and low-rise apartments, so the views are wide open, and it was one of the early LEED Gold condos in the city. The question is whether that is worth paying a premium for in East York. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A tower where there are almost no towers

The defining fact about Minto Skyy is its height relative to its surroundings. At 24 storeys, it rises well above the house streets of Broadview North and Playter Estates, and the edge of the Don Valley sits right beside it. Minto described the views as looking over Todmorden Mills Park, and suites on the west and south sides get the valley and, higher up, the downtown skyline.

That matters for resale as much as for daily life. A clear view over parkland is hard to block, because nobody is building a tower in the ravine. On a downtown street, your view is only as safe as the next empty lot. Here, the valley side is about as protected as a condo view gets.

The other side of the coin is that the building stands alone. You are not in a cluster of condos with shared retail at the base. You are on a busy arterial road at the top of the valley, and you should check how much road noise reaches the suite you are looking at.

LEED Gold, and what it means in practice

Minto says the building was certified LEED Gold, with the certification awarded in 2012, two years after completion. The features it listed are practical rather than showy: Energy Star appliances in every suite, heat recovery ventilation, high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment, and water fixtures it said use over 40 percent less water than the Ontario Building Code baseline.

There were also multi-chute recycling and organics disposal on every floor, secure bike storage for residents and visitors, low-VOC paints and adhesives, and, at the time, green power purchased for half of the building’s annual electricity use. That last item was a developer commitment, so do not assume it still applies today.

For an owner, the useful part is mechanical. Heat recovery ventilation and efficient equipment help the corporation, because heat and air conditioning are included in your fee. The flip side is that this equipment is now around 16 years old. Ask what has been replaced, what is scheduled, and whether the reserve fund study prices it correctly.

Suites from compact one-bedrooms to large penthouses

Condos.ca puts the suite range at about 466 to 2,780 square feet. That is a wide spread. The bottom end is a compact one-bedroom, while the top end is a large penthouse, bigger than many of the houses on the streets nearby.

The middle of the range is where most of the resale activity is likely to be: one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom suites, many with balconies facing the valley or the city. Split two-bedroom plans with two bathrooms appeal to downsizers from the surrounding neighbourhoods, and that is a big part of the buyer pool here.

I could not find the architect or interior designer for the building in any source I checked, so I have left those out. If design pedigree matters to you, ask the seller’s agent whether they have the original marketing material.

Daily life at Broadview and Mortimer

This is a car-optional rather than car-free location, depending on where you work. Broadview is a main road, and the Danforth is to the south; the panel on this page shows the actual transit options and distances.

The practical draw is the combination of the valley and the established neighbourhoods around it. You are beside the Don Valley and within reach of the shops and restaurants of the Danforth, while living in a building with a concierge and underground parking. For people moving out of a house in East York or Riverdale, that pairing is rare.

Parking is listed in the fee, which usually means the cost of running the garage rather than a promise that every suite owns a space. Check the status certificate for the parking and locker units attached to the suite you are buying, and ask about visitor parking if family will be coming to you, since condos.ca lists it as available.

What Minto Skyy costs, and what the fee covers

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $830 per square foot. That is a solid number for East York, reflecting the views, the height and the fact that there are so few comparable towers nearby. It is below many newer condos closer to the core, but you are paying for an older building with a fixed view rather than new finishes.

The fee inclusions are generous. Air conditioning, heat, common elements, building insurance, parking and water are all listed as included, so the main utility on your own account is hydro. When you compare fees with a newer building that meters heat and cooling by suite and charges parking separately, put those costs back in before deciding which is cheaper.

There was only one unit for sale when I checked, so I am not quoting an asking price or fee. A building with almost 200 suites and one listing tells you supply is thin; check the data panel for the recorded sales before you set a budget.

Building specifications

Amenities at Minto Skyy

The package is the right size for 198 suites: a concierge, a gym with a sauna, a party and dining room, a theatre and a rooftop deck. There is no pool, which keeps the operating cost down, and for many owners the valley next door does the job a big amenity floor would do elsewhere.

Jatin’s honest take on Minto Skyy

Minto Skyy — 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.