The Edwardian, 801 Lawrence Ave E: A 27-Suite Low-Rise in Don Mills

The Edwardian is the building I suggest to buyers who want condo convenience but think like house owners. It is only four storeys and 27 suites, built in 1997 by Shane Baghai, with suites that start close to 1,000 square feet and run to almost 3,000. There is no pool and no party room, and for the right buyer that is the point. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Four storeys and almost no shared space

The Edwardian is small in every sense. Four storeys and 27 suites is closer to a large house split into homes than to a typical condo, and the amenity list on condos.ca is short: a parking garage, a security system and a pet restriction. There is no gym, pool or concierge listed.

That has real consequences, good and bad. A short amenity list keeps the corporation’s operating costs down, and there is very little shared equipment to wear out and replace. The downside is that there is no one at a front desk to take a parcel or let in a trades person, so plan for that if you work long hours or travel.

Condos.ca credits the building to Shane Baghai, a Toronto builder whose name is attached to a number of North York projects. I have not found the architect, and I am not going to guess.

The building’s name is not explained on any page I found. Given its position on Lawrence near Edwards Gardens, I read it as a nod to the gardens, but treat that as my guess rather than a fact.

Large suites in a small building

Condos.ca lists suite sizes from about 981 to 2,965 square feet. That means even the smallest suite is a comfortable two-bedroom size by today’s standards, and the largest are bigger than many semi-detached houses.

In a four-storey building, a suite often has more than one exposure and a layout closer to a bungalow than a tower unit. With 27 suites over four floors, there are only six or seven homes per floor, and corridors stay quiet.

This is a 1997 building, so the suites will vary a lot by renovation. Ask for the history of each suite you look at: kitchen and bathroom updates, flooring, and whether any walls or plumbing were moved with the corporation’s approval.

Low-rise living has one more practical benefit. With only four floors, the stairs are a real option, and an elevator outage, if one ever happens, is an inconvenience rather than a crisis. The panel on this page shows the elevator record from the provincial regulator.

What the fee covers, and what it leaves out

Condos.ca lists common elements, building insurance, parking and water as included. Heat and hydro are not on that list, which suggests suites are individually heated and metered. For a 2,000-square-foot suite, that is a real monthly cost to add back when you compare with buildings where heat is in the fee.

Parking in the fee is a plus. It means the parking space comes with the suite rather than as a separate charge, which suits the many owners here who drive. Confirm how many spaces each suite has and whether there are lockers before you make an offer.

Condos.ca lists a pet restriction. I have not seen the rules, so read the declaration and rules if you have a dog or more than one pet.

Lawrence East, between the gardens and the Donway

The building sits on Lawrence Avenue East in the stretch between Leslie Street and The Donway West, a short walk from Edwards Gardens and the Toronto Botanical Garden. The Shops at Don Mills are to the east. The panel beside this review shows the nearest transit, parks and food, and this is a location where most owners keep a car.

The area is changing. UrbanToronto lists a proposal at 895 Lawrence Avenue East, at The Donway West, for towers of up to 29 storeys and about 1,000 homes with retail at grade, still at the proposed stage. If it goes ahead, expect more shops and more traffic nearby, and more new condo supply, though very little of it will look like a 27-suite low-rise.

For daily errands, the practical pattern here is a short drive rather than a walk. That is normal for this stretch of Lawrence, and it is why the parking space in the fee matters so much to owners who would otherwise be paying for a second space.

Price per square foot in context

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $939 per square foot. That is high for a 1997 low-rise with few amenities, and it tells you what buyers are paying for: the location, the size of the suites, and the scarcity of small buildings along this part of Lawrence.

With 27 suites, trades are infrequent. 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 guide to what has actually sold.

When you compare this building’s fee with a tower nearby, remember that heat and hydro appear to be on your own account here. A lower monthly fee may be partly offset by utility bills for a large suite. For a closer look, ask me for a building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Edwardian

There is very little shared space here, and that is deliberate. You pay for upkeep of the building envelope, the garage and the security system, not for a pool or a party room you may never use. For owners who already have a gym membership and a cottage, that is money kept in their pocket every month.

Jatin’s honest take on The Edwardian

The Edwardian — 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.