Canvas Condos, 2301 Danforth Ave: Compact Suites Near Main and Woodbine

Canvas Condos is the building I show buyers who want a newer condo on the east Danforth at an entry-level price. It is an eight-storey Marlin Spring mid-rise from 2020, between Woodbine and Main, with a concierge, a rooftop terrace and suites that are mostly compact one-bedrooms. That last point decides whether it works for you. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A mid-rise that steps down to the houses behind it

Graziani + Corazza designed Canvas as a seven-storey brick-and-glass street wall along Danforth, with the eighth residential floor set back and a mechanical level above. On the Danforth side, balconies are inset into the facade rather than hung off it, which keeps the street face tidy and gives those balconies some shelter from wind and noise.

The south side is different. There the building terraces down toward the low-rise houses behind it, a common way for Toronto mid-rises to transition to neighbouring houses. That is where the suites with larger terraces are, and they look over rooftops and backyards rather than traffic.

Interiors were designed by U31. Marketing promised quartz counters in kitchens and baths, stainless steel appliances and wide-plank laminate floors. These are standard finishes for a 2020 building, so judge each suite on its condition and any owner upgrades rather than the brochure.

The project went through a City rezoning application filed in late 2015, broke ground around 2017 and registered in 2020. That makes it a relatively quick build for Toronto, and it means the building has now been through its first few years of operation, so there is a real budget history and at least one reserve fund study to read rather than a developer’s projection.

Mostly one-bedrooms, and smaller than marketed

The plan reported by UrbanToronto in 2018 was 4 studios, 100 one-bedrooms and 66 two-bedrooms. Condos.ca now shows suites from about 427 to 827 square feet, even though early marketing mentioned suites up to about 961 square feet. Either the largest plans were dropped or they are rare enough not to show in the data, so do not count on finding one.

In practice, Canvas is a building of compact one-bedrooms, one-plus-dens and modest two-bedrooms. That makes it a good first purchase and a common investor buy, and less suited to a family that needs a third room. A two-bedroom here is usually closer to 700 to 800 square feet than to 1,000.

The unit count is not settled across sources. UrbanToronto described 170 units, including 14 rental units, while Condos.ca lists 166. If you are buying, ask the property manager whether the rental units are held by one owner, because a single owner of several suites can carry weight at owners’ meetings.

Parking, retail and the concierge

The underground garage has two levels with 93 spaces for residents and visitors, according to the 2018 construction report. With around 166 to 170 suites, that is well under one space per suite, and parking is not listed in the fee. Confirm in writing whether the suite comes with a space or a locker before you firm up an offer.

At grade there are four small retail units, about 180 square metres in total, covering most of the Danforth frontage. Ask what they are and how their share of common costs is handled in the budget.

Canvas has a concierge, which is unusual for an eight-storey building on this part of the Danforth. It is a real convenience for parcels and visitors, and it is also one of the larger lines in the operating budget. If owners ever face a fee squeeze, concierge hours are often the first thing debated.

Daily life between Woodbine and Main

This stretch of the Danforth is east of the busy Greektown blocks and quieter, with local shops, cafes and a subway station on either side. Woodbine and Main Street stations, the Danforth GO station and nearby parks are covered in the data panel on this page.

The location suits people who want the subway and a main street without paying Riverdale prices. The houses south of the building lead toward the Upper Beach, and the area is still adding mid-rise buildings, including Linx at Main and Danforth to the east, so expect more neighbours and more retail over the next few years.

Entry-level pricing, with a fee to watch

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $816 per square foot. That is one of the more accessible figures for a newer building on the Danforth, and it reflects the small suite sizes as much as the location.

Three suites were listed for sale when I checked, asking from about $375,000 to about $648,000. Fees on those listings ran from about $435 to $716 a month, which works out to roughly $0.95 per square foot. That is on the high side for a five-year-old building, and it likely reflects the concierge.

The fee covers common elements, building insurance and water only. Heat, hydro and parking are on top. Compare the total monthly cost, not just the price, against nearby older buildings that include more in their fee.

Having three suites on the market at once in a building this size is normal for the east Danforth, and it gives you real comparables. When several similar one-bedrooms are listed together, the one with parking, a south exposure or a terrace usually sells first, and the plain north-facing suite is where a buyer has room to negotiate.

Building specifications

Amenities at Canvas Condos

Condos.ca lists a concierge, gym, party room, rooftop deck and visitor parking. Marketing also described a yoga studio, pet spa, guest suite and a rooftop with a fireplace lounge, barbecue dining and a bocce court, so confirm what was actually delivered before you count on any of those extras.

Jatin’s honest take on Canvas Condos

Canvas Condos — frequently asked questions

Looking at Leslieville, Riverdale, the Beaches, Danforth and Leaside more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.