The Barrington, 1486 Bathurst St: Car Elevators and $1.55 Fees at St Clair

The Barrington is an 18-storey tower on Bathurst Street just north of St Clair, and the first thing to know about it is underground: cars are parked by two automated car elevators instead of ramps. That choice shaped the building, and it helps explain fees that run well above most midtown condos. The suites are well specified and the location is excellent, so the real question is whether the monthly cost works for you. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A garage that runs on car elevators

The Barrington’s parking garage has five levels, three below grade and two above, and cars reach their levels on two automated car elevators. The design removed the need for ramps, which saves space and ventilation on a tight Bathurst Street lot.

It is a clever answer to a small site, and it changes daily life. Getting your car out depends on machinery rather than a drive down a ramp, so ask owners how long a typical wait is at rush hour and what happens when one elevator is down for service.

It also changes the budget. Car elevators need specialised maintenance contracts and, eventually, major component replacement. Those costs sit with 93 owners, and they are one reason I would read the reserve fund study here more closely than in a building with a conventional ramp.

Developers also offered a car-share program for residents who drive occasionally but do not own a car. Ask whether it is still running, because it affects whether you need to buy a parking space at all.

Suites designed for owners, not investors

Condos.ca lists suites from about 555 to 2,201 sq ft. At launch, the developers quoted 555 to 2,177 sq ft; the Knightsbridge collection of two- and three-bedroom suites, from 734 to 2,201 sq ft, accounts for the top of the range.

Ceilings are about nine feet in the living areas, with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balconies or terraces. Kitchens were specified with granite or quartz counters, stainless steel appliances and under-cabinet lighting, and laundry is an in-suite stacked washer and dryer vented to the exterior.

The Knightsbridge plans were laid out with privacy in mind. One two-bedroom of about 860 sq ft placed the bedrooms at opposite ends with two balconies, and the three-bedroom-plus-den penthouses, all over 2,150 sq ft, were planned with five balconies each.

Tanner Hill and Associates designed the interiors with a British theme: solid wood entry doors, antique nickel hardware and painted baseboards and casings. It reads as traditional rather than minimalist, which suits the Forest Hill and Humewood buyer the building was aimed at.

Why the fees are high

Active listings in October 2026 averaged about $1.55 per square foot in monthly fees, which is high for Toronto. Condos.ca lists heat and water in the fee, which accounts for part of it, and the car-elevator garage, concierge and a small owner base account for much of the rest.

Suites have individual control of heating and cooling, so heat in the fee does not mean you cannot set your own temperature. Hydro does not appear in the inclusions, so expect your own electricity bill on top.

Ninety-three suites is a small number to carry an 18-storey tower with staff and a mechanical garage. The upside is a quiet building; the downside is that every shared cost lands on relatively few owners. Ask for the budget, the reserve fund study and the last two years of minutes, and look at whether fees have risen faster than inflation.

Bathurst and St Clair

The Barrington faces Bathurst Street with canopy-covered retail at grade and a concierge lobby. St Clair West’s restaurants, cafes and shops are a short walk south, and the residential streets of Humewood and Forest Hill are close by.

This is one of the more established parts of midtown, with mature trees, older houses and a busy main street. Units facing Bathurst get street noise; units higher up and facing east or south get the longer views toward Forest Hill and downtown.

At 18 storeys, The Barrington rises well above the houses of Humewood behind it, so upper suites on that side look over low-rise streets and mature trees rather than into another tower. On the lower floors, the outlook depends far more on which way the suite faces. That openness is part of what you are paying for, and it is worth checking whether anything nearby could change it.

Transit, schools, parks and nearby restaurants are listed in the panel on this page.

Price per foot versus cost per month

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $779 per square foot, which is reasonable for a 2020 tower at Bathurst and St Clair. On price alone, The Barrington looks fair for the location.

When I checked in October 2026, three suites were for sale with asking prices from $439,000 to $1,995,000, and monthly fees on those listings from about $1,022 to $3,110. One suite was listed for rent. That range shows how wide the building is, from compact one-bedroom-plus-dens to suites of more than 2,000 square feet.

The fee is the number to model. At about $1.55 per square foot, a fee here can be several hundred dollars a month higher than in a comparable building at $0.80, and that difference reduces what buyers can borrow and what they will pay. Run the total monthly cost, not the price, before you decide this is good value, and recent sale figures for the building appear in the panel on this page.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Barrington Condos

Condos.ca lists a concierge, gym and party room. Developer material from the launch adds a lounge with a catering kitchen and dining space, a fitness area for yoga, a billiards room and an outdoor terrace lounge with a barbecue and city views. It is a social, entertaining package rather than a resort one, which fits a building of mostly owner-occupiers.

Jatin’s honest take on The Barrington Condos

The Barrington Condos — 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.