Governor’s Hill II, 3600 Yonge St: Big Suites, Full Service on Yonge

Governor’s Hill II is one of the few buildings on Yonge Street where a downsizer can find a suite the size of a house and still walk to the subway. It is a ten-storey, 119-suite condominium from 2000, the younger of two Governor’s Hill buildings, with valet parking, a pool and squash courts. The questions here are about age and fees, not about the address. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

The second Governor’s Hill

There are two Governor’s Hill buildings on Yonge Street. The first, at 3800 Yonge, was finished in 1990 with 10 storeys and 143 suites. This one, at 3600 Yonge, followed a decade later with 10 storeys and 119 suites. Elli Davis’s page on the pair credits both to Tridel, and another broker page credits Governor’s Hill I to Tridel as well.

Condos.ca leaves the developer field blank, so I am treating Tridel as likely but not confirmed. The listed manager, Del Property Management, is part of the same group, which is consistent with a Tridel building. The declaration in the status certificate will settle it.

Ten storeys is a modest height for Yonge Street. It keeps the building at a scale that fits the established streets around it, and it means fewer suites per elevator than a 30-storey tower.

The two buildings are separate corporations, each with its own budget, reserve fund and board. If you are weighing a suite here against one at 3800 Yonge, compare the corporations as carefully as the suites. The older building is a decade further along in its repair cycle, which can cut either way depending on what has already been done.

Suites from about 1,100 to 5,400 square feet

Condos.ca lists suite sizes from about 1,087 to 5,376 square feet. The smallest plans are a generous one-bedroom-plus-den or two-bedroom size, and the largest are among the biggest condo suites on this stretch of Yonge.

That range is the reason the building exists. It suits owners leaving houses in Lawrence Park, Hoggs Hollow and York Mills who want to stay close to Yonge. Most suites are sized for a dining table, a home office and guests.

After 25 years, the suites vary a lot by renovation. Some will have new kitchens and bathrooms and some will be close to original. Ask for the renovation history and whether any changes to plumbing or walls were approved by the corporation.

Large suites also mean a smaller, more patient buyer pool on resale. If you might need to sell on a schedule, allow extra time compared with a tower full of one-bedrooms.

The amenity package and what the fee covers

Condos.ca lists a concierge, guest suites, a sauna, a security guard and a parking garage. Elli Davis’s page on both buildings adds a lot more: valet parking and porter service, an on-site manager, an indoor saltwater pool, squash courts, a fitness area, a library, a wine cellar and meeting rooms. Confirm which of these are in this building and which are shared or only at 3800 Yonge.

The fee inclusions also differ by source. Condos.ca lists common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance and parking. Elli Davis’s page lists water, central air, cable TV, building insurance, common elements and parking. The status certificate and budget will show the real list, and it is worth checking before you compare this fee with another building’s.

Condos.ca lists a pet restriction. I have not seen the rules, so read the declaration and rules before you buy if you have pets.

Daily life between Lawrence and York Mills

The building sits on Yonge Street south of York Mills Road, close to the top of the Hoggs Hollow valley. Elli Davis notes that York Mills subway and GO station are close, and the panel beside this review shows the exact transit options, parks and food nearby.

Being on Yonge rather than on a side street is the practical difference from many large-suite buildings in this part of North York, which tend to sit on quiet, car-oriented streets. Large suites, a staffed lobby and Yonge Street frontage together are what owners here are paying for.

Yonge Street frontage has a cost too. Suites facing the street hear more traffic than those facing west or onto the side streets, so visit at rush hour and listen with the windows open before you choose between two otherwise similar plans.

Price per square foot in context

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $825 per square foot. For a full-service Yonge Street building with suites this large, that is lower than many buyers expect, and it reflects the building’s age as much as its location.

Per-foot figures in a building like this blend very different homes. A 1,100-square-foot suite and a 5,000-square-foot suite are not the same product, and the largest suites usually sell for less per foot. Renovation and view move individual suites further away from the average.

Expect the monthly fee to read high next to a newer tower. With staffing, valet service, a pool and squash courts to run, and heat and cooling in the fee, the honest comparison is with the cost of running a house nearby, not with a building that offers a gym and a party room.

One suite was listed for sale when I checked, and one listing is not a range, so I am not quoting its price or fee. The 12-month trading data in the panel on this page is the best starting point, and I can prepare a building sold report that compares sales here with Governor’s Hill I.

Building specifications

Amenities at Governor’s Hill II

This is a club-style amenity package from an era when large Yonge Street condos competed on service, with valet parking, squash and a wine cellar rather than a rooftop lounge. Confirm which facilities are in this building and which are shared with Governor’s Hill I.

Jatin’s honest take on Governor’s Hill II

Governor’s Hill II — frequently asked questions

Looking at York Mills, Don Mills, Lawrence Park, Bathurst Manor and midtown-north Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.