Boiler Factory Lofts, 189 Queen St E: 11 Hard Lofts Facing Moss Park

Boiler Factory Lofts is about as small as a Toronto condominium gets: 11 suites in a three-storey brick building on Queen Street East that dates to the 1880s. You buy here for the bones, the ceiling height and the fact that no two suites are alike, not for a lobby or a gym. If you need a garage spot, this is a building to walk away from. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A Victorian brick shell with only 11 owners

The building on this stretch of Queen East is a late-1800s brick structure, and the conversion kept what makes it worth living in: exposed brick, the original post-and-beam frame and plenty of exposed ductwork and piping. It was turned into lofts in 2003, the same era when Toronto’s first wave of hard-loft conversions was winding down.

The developer was Paul De Haas, whose name also sits on the Knitting Mill Lofts further east at 426 Queen St E. Both are small, character-first conversions rather than new builds dressed up as lofts, and if you like one you should look at the other.

Eleven suites across three floors means this is closer to a co-owned house than a condo tower. Every owner’s vote matters, every repair is shared among very few people, and you will likely know your neighbours by name within a month.

Fourteen-foot ceilings and no two suites alike

Ceilings here are commonly around 14 feet, which is the single biggest reason people choose this building. That height changes how a 900 sq ft suite feels, and it gives larger suites room for lofted sleeping areas or tall storage.

The original buyers were able to customise their suites, so the floor plans vary a great deal. Sizes run from about 890 to just under 2,200 sq ft, and two listings in this building can look like they belong to different properties. Ask for the floor plan and the registered size from the status certificate rather than relying on a listing description.

Outdoor space is the other draw. Suites are reported to have their own private terraces, and the rooftop space is divided into individual areas that are not directly connected to the suites below, so expect to carry things up a fair distance. Confirm exactly which outdoor area is exclusive to the suite you are looking at.

Expect the trade-offs that come with real industrial volume. Sound travels in open lofts, closets are often few, and window coverings for tall openings cost more than you think. None of that is a reason to pass, but budget for it.

What you give up: parking and amenities

There is no garage. Parking, if you need it, is outdoor and public, so plan on transit, a bike or a monthly spot somewhere nearby. For a lot of buyers that alone rules the building out, and I would rather you know that before you fall for the brick.

The amenity list is short: a security system, and barbecues permitted on private outdoor spaces. There is no concierge, gym or party room. In an 11-suite building that is normal, and it is also part of why the building stays quiet.

Moving in and out of an older three-storey building also takes planning. Ask about stairs, any elevator or freight access, and how large furniture has been brought in by previous owners.

Queen East at Moss Park, and what is changing

The building faces Moss Park, one of the larger green spaces in this part of downtown, and sits between the St. Lawrence Market area to the south and the Church and Jarvis corridors to the west. Restaurants, cafés and the King East design district are a short walk away; the data panel on this page has the exact transit and park details.

The bigger change is the Ontario Line. Metrolinx has confirmed a Moss Park station around Queen and Sherbourne, so expect years of construction nearby followed by much better rapid transit access. Construction phases can mean noise, closures and detours on Queen, so ask the board what they have heard and plan around it.

This part of Queen East is mixed, with social services, older low-rise buildings and new towers side by side. Walk the block at different times of day before you buy, as you would for any downtown street.

Pricing a building with almost no comparables

The building average is about $870 per square foot. For a hard loft with 14-foot ceilings in an 1880s shell, that is a reasonable figure for downtown, and it sits below what many newer towers nearby ask, even though those towers come with parking and amenities.

The real pricing challenge is that with 11 suites, sales are rare, often one or two a year, and some years none. A single sale can swing the building average, so I price suites here against other small Queen East and Corktown hard lofts, adjusted for size, terrace and condition.

Size matters a lot in this building. The smaller suites near 900 sq ft usually carry a higher price per foot than the large ones near 2,000 sq ft, so compare a suite against others of similar size rather than against the building average.

The fee covers common elements, building insurance and water. Heat and hydro are not listed as included, so ask what the suite pays for utilities over a full year. In a building with tall ceilings and older brick walls, heating and cooling costs deserve a close look.

There are no suites listed for sale right now. For recent sold and leased figures, see the data panel or my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at Boiler Factory Lofts

There is no shared amenity package to speak of. What you get is private outdoor space and a small, quiet building, and you pay for the gym and the parking elsewhere.

Jatin’s honest take on Boiler Factory Lofts

Boiler Factory 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.