Printers Row Lofts, 525 Logan Ave: Twelve Hard Lofts on a Riverdale Street

Printers Row Lofts is twelve homes in an old industrial building on a residential stretch of Logan Avenue, surrounded by semis and front porches. It is one of the smallest condominiums in the east end, and it trades at a premium because there is almost nothing else like it in North Riverdale. Small also means every owner feels every decision, and that is what I want buyers to understand first. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A 1911 industrial building among houses

Most east-end loft buildings sit in old factory districts like Carlaw. Printers Row is different: it is a single industrial building dropped into a street of houses north of Riverdale’s park belt, so you get loft volume with a neighbourhood that feels entirely residential once you step outside.

Condos.ca describes the building as a former blueprint factory originally designed in 1911, with a name that nods both to its role in the printing trade and to Chicago’s Printers Row district. The same description repeats a story that the building was once the world headquarters of Bell Telephone. I could not confirm that claim from a primary source, so treat it as building lore rather than fact.

The conversion was done by Bob Mitchell, whose firm Mitchell and Associates was behind several of Toronto’s early loft conversions, including the Glebe Lofts in the former Riverdale Presbyterian Church on Pape. The condominium registered in 2001, making it one of the earlier hard loft projects east of the Don.

That timing matters when you judge the building today. A conversion from 2001 has now had more than two decades of owners, repairs and renovations, so the building you buy into is a mature one with a track record you can read in its documents, rather than a promise from a developer.

Large suites, and likely more than one level

Condos.ca lists suite sizes from about 930 to 1,700 square feet across just 12 suites. Those are family-sized homes by condo standards, and at the upper end they are bigger than many Riverdale semis.

Condos.ca lists the building at two storeys. With suites this large in a building this low, expect some suites to use mezzanines, lofted bedrooms or roof-level space, and ask for a floor plan with every level measured. Condos.ca does not list an elevator, so assume stairs are part of daily life until you confirm otherwise.

As a hard loft, the appeal is the original structure: industrial windows, high ceilings and a building that was built for work before it was built for living. Finishes will vary suite to suite after more than two decades of owners, so judge each one on its own condition.

Living in a 12-suite condominium

Very small condominiums are a different ownership experience. Each owner carries roughly a twelfth of any major cost, such as a roof or a window program, which is far more per suite than in a large building. The upside is a board you will know personally and a building where rules can be set by people who actually live there.

Condos.ca does not list a property management company, which can mean the building is self-managed or uses a small manager that is not widely listed. Ask who handles day-to-day operations, how the books are kept, and who the owners call when something breaks.

Condos.ca lists amenities including a gym, party room, meeting room, visitor parking and BBQ permission. For a 12-suite building, I would confirm on a visit which of these actually exist, because amenity lists on small buildings are not always reliable.

North Riverdale on your doorstep

Logan Avenue here is a residential street of older semis and detached houses, with the Danforth to the north and Withrow Park nearby. It is the kind of block where neighbours know each other, and a loft building on it feels more like a large house than a condo tower.

Parking is a real advantage on a residential street of older houses, where off-street spaces are not a given. Condos.ca lists a parking garage here and includes parking in the fee. Confirm which space is assigned to the suite, whether it is owned or exclusive-use, and how easy the garage is to get in and out of on a narrow residential block.

That setting is the main thing you are paying for. The data panel on this page covers transit, schools, parks and walkability in detail.

Why the price per square foot is so high

Condos.ca puts the average at about $1,134 per square foot, which is higher than the Carlaw loft buildings and higher than most east-end condos. The premium reflects scarcity: twelve hard lofts on a quiet North Riverdale residential street is a combination that barely exists anywhere else in the city.

There were no active listings when this page was prepared, and with only twelve suites, sales can be years apart, so the building average is based on very few trades. The useful comparison is often a renovated Riverdale semi of the same size, adjusted for the convenience of condo ownership and the parking included in the fee.

Condos.ca lists common elements, building insurance, water and parking as included. Heat and hydro are not listed, so ask for the suite’s utility costs. For recent trades, ask me for the building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at Printers Row Lofts

Condos.ca lists a surprisingly full set of amenities for twelve suites. The ones that matter most day to day are parking, which is included in the fee, and permission for barbecues; confirm the rest in person.

Jatin’s honest take on Printers Row Lofts

Printers Row 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.