50 Bleecker Street Lofts: Four Hard Lofts in a Former Bottle Factory

50 Bleecker Street Lofts is about as small as a Toronto condominium gets: four suites in a former bottle factory, on a side street near Sherbourne and Carlton. Each is a two-storey hard loft of roughly 2,270 sq ft, which is the size of a semi-detached house. You are buying something closer to a freehold than a condo, and you should think about it that way. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A bottle factory, split four ways

The building was once a bottle factory, and the conversion kept the bones: wooden beams, exposed brick and ductwork, high ceilings and, upstairs, hardwood floors reported to be more than a century old. Those floors are original to the factory, which is about as authentic as a Toronto hard loft gets.

It was converted into four residences and registered as a condominium in 1998. Condos.ca lists it as a one-storey building, but the suites themselves are two levels, so think of it as a low factory with lofts stacked inside rather than a conventional floor-by-floor building.

With four owners, this is one of the smallest condominium corporations in the city. That shapes almost everything about owning here, from how repairs are decided to how long it takes to sell.

It also means the building has very little in common with the towers a block away. There is no lobby, no elevator bank and no amenity floor, just a handful of front doors in an old industrial shell. Buyers who come here tend to have looked at Cabbagetown houses first.

House-sized suites with factory windows

Suites are about 2,270 sq ft on two floors. One that sold in 2021 had an open main floor with the kitchen, living area, a bedroom and laundry, and an upper floor with a primary suite, a second bedroom and a sitting area, for three bedrooms plus a den.

That layout works for a family or for a couple who want two offices and room for guests. It is an unusual offer downtown, where most condos of this size are penthouses with prices to match.

The weakness is light. Coverage of that sale noted that the windows are small, with a skylight brightening the upper level. Factory buildings were not designed around views, so visit on a grey day and see whether the light works for you.

Renovations vary. The 2021 suite had a recently redone primary bath and a custom kitchen; others may be closer to the original conversion. With only four suites, each one has to be priced and inspected as its own home.

Self-managed, with utilities in the fee

There is no property management company. The owners run the corporation themselves, which keeps costs down and puts the work of budgeting, insurance, repairs and the reserve fund on four people. If you buy, you will very likely sit on the board or work closely with it.

The fee includes common elements, heat, hydro and water, which is unusual and valuable in a large loft with high ceilings. Building insurance is not listed among the inclusions, so ask how the corporation’s insurance is paid and what your own policy needs to cover.

Parking is limited. At least one suite has sold with one parking space, but do not assume every suite has one. Confirm on the status certificate.

Self-management can work very well in a building this size, where owners know one another and decisions are quick. It can also strain when one owner wants to sell or disagrees on a repair. Ask the current owners how decisions are made, how often the board meets, and who keeps the books, and get copies of the financial statements.

A side street between Cabbagetown and the Village

Bleecker is a short side street near Sherbourne and Carlton, between St. James Town and Cabbagetown. Cabbagetown’s Victorian streets, Riverdale Farm and Allan Gardens are within walking distance east and south, and the Church-Wellesley Village is a walk west.

The immediate area is a mix of high-rise rental towers, co-op housing and older houses, so the block feels different from the heritage streets a few minutes away. Walk it at different times of day, and look at the street from the windows of the specific suite.

For daily errands, Parliament Street’s shops and the Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens are within walking range, and the panel has the transit and Walk Score details.

Pricing a four-suite building

The building average is about $684 per square foot. Because the suites are so large, that means a total price in semi-detached territory, but per foot it is well below newer downtown condos and below most east-end hard lofts.

With four suites, sales can be years apart, and a single sale defines the market. I price a suite here against other large hard lofts in the east downtown and against Cabbagetown semis of similar size, because those are what your buyer will also be looking at.

The buyer pool is narrow: people who want 2,000-plus sq ft, character and a downtown address, and who are comfortable in a self-managed corporation. That buyer is serious when they appear, but you may wait for them.

There are no suites listed now. Set up an alert if you want in. For recent sold and leased figures, see the data panel or my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at 50 Bleecker Street Lofts

There are no shared amenities to speak of, and that is the point. Your fee pays for the building and your utilities, not for a gym you might not use. With heat and hydro included, that is a meaningful saving in a suite this size.

Jatin’s honest take on 50 Bleecker Street Lofts

50 Bleecker Street Lofts — frequently asked questions

Looking at Church–Wellesley, Corktown, Moss Park and Cabbagetown more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.