Nova Urban Towns, 57 Finch Ave W: 42 Stacked Towns With a Car Elevator

Nova Urban Towns is for buyers who want the space of a townhouse and the address of Yonge and Finch, and who can live with stairs and a car elevator. It is 42 large stacked townhomes on Finch Avenue West, every one of them bigger than most condo apartments in the area. It is a niche product, and the right buyer will love it. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Stacked townhomes, not a tower

Nova is a low-rise building of stacked townhomes: condo units arranged over four storeys, with a townhouse look from the street and front doors that open outside rather than onto a corridor. It sits on Finch Avenue just west of Yonge, a short block from one of the busiest intersections in North York, but it lives far more quietly than the towers around it.

The approved plan is notably family-oriented. Planning coverage of the project describes a final scheme of 42 large units, 35 of them two-bedroom-plus-den and 7 three-bedroom, replacing an earlier version with 70 smaller, mostly one-bedroom units. The developer’s own marketing describes the range as two to three-and-a-half bedrooms. Either way, there are no studios or small one-bedrooms here.

The architect named in the planning coverage is SRN Architects. The exterior combines masonry with wood-grain textured metal longboard cladding, which gives the building a warmer finish than the glass towers on Yonge.

One design detail to see in person: the planning coverage notes that several units share a common porch with four or more entrances, and that private yard space is minimal. If you are picturing a traditional townhouse with its own patch of grass, adjust that picture. Your private outdoor space is the balcony or terrace, and the entry is shared with neighbours.

Space, ceilings and finishes

Condos.ca lists units from about 1,042 to 1,404 square feet. That is roughly the size of a small house, spread over two levels in most stacked-town layouts, with oak stair treads, risers and handrails specified by the builder.

Ceilings are smooth and about nine feet. Floors are a mix of wide-plank and porcelain tile, and kitchens and bathrooms were specified as European-inspired. Every unit has outdoor space, with balconies and terraces described as generous in the builder’s material, some with private terraces.

Stacked towns have a particular feel. Upper units usually have the larger terrace and no one above them; lower units usually have easier access and, in some layouts, a patio at grade. Neither is better in every way, so view both before deciding.

These units suit people who furnish for real life: a dining table that seats six, a proper home office in the den, storage for bikes and strollers. That is the main reason I show stacked towns to families who have outgrown a one-bedroom-plus-den but are not ready for freehold prices.

The car elevator and other practical details

Parking is in a secured garage reached by a car elevator rather than a conventional ramp, a common solution on narrow urban lots. It works, but it is a mechanical system with real running and replacement costs, and when it is down for service, nobody drives in or out. Ask how often it has been out of service, what the maintenance contract covers and how the reserve fund plans for its eventual replacement.

Bicycle parking is enclosed at grade, and the site includes illuminated walkways and a landscaped outdoor amenity area with a trellised picnic space. There is no concierge, gym or party room, which keeps the fee focused on the building rather than staffed services.

With only 42 units, every major cost is shared among very few owners. The car elevator, roofs, terraces and garage waterproofing are the big-ticket items to watch in the reserve fund study.

Living a block from Yonge and Finch

The location gives you the Yonge Street strip of restaurants, groceries and services on foot, with the Yonge subway line serving the area. Finch Avenue itself is a busy arterial, so units facing the street will hear traffic, while units facing the interior of the site are the quieter choice. Transit, school and walkability details are in the data panel on this page.

The Yonge and Finch area is changing quickly, with more towers planned and under way along Yonge. That brings services and some construction disruption. For a low-rise building like Nova, it also means the townhouse format will become rarer nearby over time, which supports long-term demand for this kind of unit.

Pricing and fees: what to expect

Only one unit was listed for sale when I checked, with two listed for lease, so there is no meaningful asking-price range to report. In a 42-unit complex, turnover is low and each sale moves the averages, so read the 12-month figures in the data panel with care. Large units in small complexes also take longer to find the right buyer, so plan your own exit with that in mind.

The right comparables are other stacked and condo townhouses in Willowdale and Newtonbrook, plus large two-bedroom-plus-den apartments in newer towers nearby. Price per square foot often looks lower in stacked towns than in towers, but you are trading amenities and elevators for space and a private front door.

Condos.ca does not show what the maintenance fee includes here. In most stacked-town buildings, owners pay their own hydro and heating through individual systems, but confirm that in the status certificate, along with the parking and locker allocation. For help pricing a unit, book a call.

Building specifications

Amenities at Nova Urban Towns

The amenity here is the outdoor space: private balconies and terraces, a landscaped common area and a picnic spot under a trellis. If you want a gym, pool or concierge, this is the wrong building; if you want space and a quiet front door, it is the right one.

Jatin’s honest take on Nova Urban Towns

Nova Urban Towns — frequently asked questions

Looking at Willowdale, Yonge & Sheppard, Bayview Village and North York Centre more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.