101 McGill Street Townhouses: Seven 1988 Condo Townhomes Off Church St

101 McGill Street is one of the smallest condominiums in downtown Toronto: seven townhouses from 1988 on a short side street between Church and Mutual. They almost never come up for sale, and when they do, they offer something few downtown buyers can find, which is a house-like home with parking a block from Church Street. The size of the corporation is both the attraction and the risk. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Seven townhouses in the middle of downtown

McGill Street is a short side street between Church and Mutual, just north of Gerrard. It has an unusual mix: renovated Victorian houses, small infill projects like this one, and newer towers such as Alter, Tridel’s 33-storey building at 89 McGill.

101 McGill is one of a handful of very small condominiums registered downtown in the late 1980s. Seven homes share one corporation, with a parking garage, visitor parking and a shared rooftop deck where barbecues are permitted.

What you get is the feel of a house on a quiet street, with a garage and someone else handling the common elements, a short walk from Yonge Street. That combination is rare downtown, which may be why none were listed when I wrote this.

What I could not confirm

Public information on this building is thin. condos.ca records one floor, which is almost certainly a data quirk for a townhouse project, since condominium townhouses of this era are usually two or three storeys over a garage. It does not list suite sizes, the developer, the fee inclusions or the architect.

There were no active listings at the time of writing, so I cannot give you a current asking range or a fee per square foot. With seven homes, there may be years between sales, and any average would be meaningless.

If you are looking at one of these townhouses, ask for the condominium plan to confirm size and layout, the declaration to see what parts of the home the corporation maintains, and the budget to see what the fee covers. Those three documents will tell you more than any listing.

The reality of a seven-unit corporation

A corporation of seven owners is closer to a shared driveway than a condo tower. There are few people to share costs, few people to serve on the board, and every decision is personal. When neighbours get along, it works beautifully. When they disagree, there is no anonymity.

Money is the bigger issue. A new garage membrane, a roof or rooftop deck replacement, or exterior masonry work in a building from 1988 is split only seven ways. A repair that costs each owner a few hundred dollars in a large building can cost each owner tens of thousands here. That is why the reserve fund study is the most important document you will read.

The underground garage deserves particular attention. Parking garages are among the most expensive elements to repair in any condominium, and in a very small building the per-owner cost is high. Ask when the garage was last inspected and repaired, and what the reserve fund study forecasts.

Rules matter more here too. In a small corporation, one owner renting short term, renovating noisily or parking in the wrong place affects everyone. Read the declaration and rules for leasing, pets, renovations and use of the rooftop deck, and ask the property manager whether any rule changes are being considered. Do not assume anything that is not written down, and if something matters to you, such as a dog or a home office, check it in the documents before you firm up.

Living near Church and Gerrard

The location is very central. Toronto Metropolitan University is a short walk west, Yonge Street and the Eaton Centre are a few minutes beyond, the Church-Wellesley Village is a short walk north and Allan Gardens is to the east. Few downtown addresses put this much within walking distance while sitting on a street quiet enough for a townhouse.

This is also one of the fastest-changing parts of downtown, with new towers rising along Church, Jarvis and Gerrard. On a quiet side street the effect is mostly construction noise and changing views rather than traffic, but it is worth checking what is proposed nearby. The automatic panel on this page covers transit, schools and walkability.

How I would price a townhouse here

With seven homes and no current listings, there is no reliable building average. I price townhouses like these against three things: past sales in this building, small condominium townhouse projects of similar age elsewhere in the downtown east, and freehold row houses on nearby streets.

The freehold comparison is useful. A freehold Victorian row house on a street like McGill usually sells for more, with no condo fee, but also with no garage and full responsibility for the roof and exterior. A condominium townhouse with parking can be good value against that, provided the fee and reserve fund are healthy.

Newer towers nearby give another frame. Alter at 89 McGill averages about $942 per square foot on condos.ca. A townhouse here should not be priced like a new tower suite, but the comparison shows what buyers pay for new construction on the same street. For aggregate sold figures, see my building sold report, and ask me for a private evaluation if you own here.

Building specifications

Amenities at 101 McGill Street Townhouses

There is no gym or concierge, which is normal for seven townhouses. The shared rooftop deck and the parking garage are the practical amenities, and both are costly to maintain in a building this small, so look for them in the reserve fund study. A rooftop deck shared by seven households can feel almost private.

Jatin’s honest take on 101 McGill Street Townhouses

101 McGill Street Townhouses — frequently asked questions

Looking at St. Lawrence, the Financial District and Downtown Yonge more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.