The Lexington, 840 Queens Plate Dr: Woodbine Tower With Heat and AC In

The Lexington is one of the few modern condo towers in the Rexdale and Woodbine pocket of north Etobicoke, and it sits right up against the West Humber valley. Heat and air conditioning are in the fee, there is a concierge, and prices are among the lowest per square foot you will find for a building this young. You trade that for a location that is still very car-oriented. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A tower by the racetrack and the valley

The site is unusual for Toronto. Queens Plate Drive runs north of Rexdale Boulevard, directly across from Woodbine Racetrack, and the Lexington sits between Woodbine Centre and the West Humber River valley lands that belong to the Humber Arboretum. That is where the “by the Park” in the name comes from.

For daily life it means green space and open views on one side, and a commercial and entertainment district on the other. It also means this is not a walkable neighbourhood in the downtown sense. Most residents drive, and the data panel on this page shows the transit and walkability picture in detail.

The developer’s name appears in several forms. UrbanToronto credits Royale Grand Woodbine Developments, while condos.ca lists Royal Developments and describes the builder as Royal Grand Developments. They refer to the same project. The architect was Turner Fleischer Architects.

Phase one of a two-building plan

The Lexington was planned as the first of two buildings. In early 2018 UrbanToronto reported that the City had received a rezoning application for a second phase on the lands just north, with Humber Arboretum valley land separating the two. That proposal called for a 13-storey building of about 125 suites on a five-storey podium, mostly one-bedrooms, with its own amenity space and a four-level garage.

I have not been able to confirm the current status of that second phase, so check it yourself before you buy. If it proceeds, owners here should expect construction nearby, and some north-facing views could change. It would also be a separate corporation, so its costs would not be shared with this building.

Suites, and why heat and AC in the fee matters

Suites run from about 567 to 1,363 square feet, according to condos.ca, which is a more generous range than many 2017 towers. The mix runs from one-bedrooms and one-plus-dens to two-plus-den layouts, and the larger plans are real family options. There are only 17 floors and roughly 170 suites, so the elevator lobby is manageable and you get to know your neighbours.

The fee includes common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance and water. Heat and cooling in the fee are uncommon in buildings of this age, where most developers put suites on individual meters. It makes your monthly costs predictable, particularly in summer, and it partly explains why the fee per square foot is higher than some comparable towers.

Parking is not listed as included in the fee, so confirm whether the suite you are buying comes with a space and a locker, and whether they are owned or exclusive-use.

Daily life between Woodbine and the valley

The valley is the quiet asset. The West Humber River lands of the Humber Arboretum sit right beside the building, so suites on that side look over green space rather than another tower, and that view is protected in a way that a view over a parking lot never is. Ask which side of the building any suite faces before you compare prices.

On the other side is Woodbine. The racetrack is across the road and Woodbine Centre is next door, which gives you shopping, restaurants and entertainment within the immediate area. Event days bring traffic and visitors, so it is worth driving past on a busy weekend before you commit.

This is also an area where concierge and security staff earn their keep. Parcels, visitors and guest-suite bookings all run through the front desk, and in a building of about 170 suites that service is shared among enough owners to stay affordable.

What The Lexington costs

The building average is about $612 per square foot, which is low for a condo registered in late 2017. The discount reflects the location in north Etobicoke, away from the subway lines and the established condo corridors, where buyers have always paid less for the same space.

Five suites were listed for sale when I checked, asking from about $350,000 to $775,000, with monthly fees from about $531 to $1,147. Across current listings the fee works out to about $0.94 per square foot. Remember that heat and air conditioning are inside that number.

For a buyer who wants a concierge building with a guest suite and full heating and cooling in the fee, the entry price here is hard to beat in Toronto. The sold-data panel on this page shows what has actually traded.

The spread of asking prices is wide because the suite range is wide. Compare a suite with others of similar size and exposure rather than against the building average, and remember that a valley-facing suite and a parking-facing suite are different products even at the same square footage.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Lexington Condominium Residences by the Park

The package is about service rather than leisure: a concierge, security, guest suites for visiting family and a gym. There is no pool, which keeps operating costs down, and for many buyers in this area the guest suite is the amenity they actually use most. Ask how guest suites are booked and what they cost per night, since that is the amenity most owners here end up using.

Jatin’s honest take on The Lexington Condominium Residences by the Park

The Lexington Condominium Residences by the Park — frequently asked questions

Looking at Downsview, Weston, York University Heights, Rexdale and northwest Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.