Castlemere, 75 Crescent Rd: A 1912 Rosedale Estate Divided Into 13

Castlemere is not a condo building in the usual sense. It is a Rosedale house from 1912 that was turned into 13 suites in 1986, so you get old-house character on one of the city’s best streets at a fraction of what a house there costs. You also get old-house problems, and nobody at a front desk to call about them. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A house first, a condominium second

The building began life in 1912 as a private estate on Crescent Road and was converted into condominium suites in 1986. That makes it one of a small number of Rosedale conversions where you can own part of a pre-First World War house rather than a suite in a purpose-built block.

I was not able to confirm the original owner or architect from the sources available to me, and I won’t guess. If the history matters to you, the City of Toronto’s heritage register and the Toronto Public Library’s archive are the places to start, and the seller may have material from previous owners.

What the history does tell you is how the building works. The structure, walls and much of the envelope are more than a century old, while the suite divisions, plumbing stacks and services date from the 1986 conversion or later. You are buying both eras at once.

Thirteen suites, all different

Recorded suite sizes run from about 805 to 1,583 square feet. In a conversion, no two suites are quite alike: rooms follow the original house, so expect irregular plans, rooms of unusual shapes, and suites where the best feature is a bay window, a high ceiling or an original fireplace surround rather than an open-concept kitchen.

That is the appeal and the risk. A suite that suits you can feel like nothing else on the market, but resale buyers are a narrower group than for a standard two-bedroom. Look at how the plan would work for the next buyer as well as for you.

Ask for a measured floor plan. Sizes in converted houses are often estimated, and the difference between a listing’s figure and the real one can be significant. Also ask which suites have exclusive use of outdoor space and how parking is allocated, because on a residential lot both are limited.

A lean fee, and what that means

The fee covers common elements, building insurance and water. Heat and hydro are not listed as included, so ask for a year of utility bills. Century-old houses can be expensive to heat, especially with original or single-glazed windows.

The amenity list is short: a security system, and a pet restriction in the rules. There is no concierge, gym or party room. That keeps the fee down, but it means owners deal with deliveries, contractors and visitors themselves, and small problems go through the property manager rather than a front desk.

With only 13 owners, any large repair is shared among very few people. A roof, exterior wall repairs or a new boiler or heating system is a big number divided 13 ways, so the reserve fund is the most important document in the purchase.

Living on Crescent Road

Crescent Road is one of the best-known residential streets in Rosedale, lined with large houses and mature trees. Castlemere sits near the Yonge Street end, which puts the shops and restaurants of Yonge Street within walking distance while keeping you on a quiet street. The data panel on this page covers transit, schools and nearby parks.

The point of living here is the setting. You get a Rosedale street address and the scale of an old house, at a price far below what a house on the same street would cost.

How I approach buying a conversion

A converted house needs more homework than a purpose-built condo. I start with the status certificate and reserve fund study, then the declaration, which sets out what each owner is responsible for. In conversions, the line between your suite and the common elements can be drawn in unexpected places, such as windows, fireplaces, balconies or a share of the garden.

Next, I would want a home inspector to look at the suite and, where the corporation allows, the shared systems. Ask about the electrical service, the age of the plumbing and the heating set-up for each suite. Original windows have charm, but they can be drafty, and replacing them may need approval from the corporation and possibly the City.

Then I check how the building is insured and how the 13 owners make decisions. A small board means things can move quickly when owners agree and slowly when they don’t. Recent minutes will tell you which kind of building this is.

Pricing: Rosedale at an older-suite price

The building profile shows an average of about $763 per square foot. That is low for Rosedale, and it reflects smaller suites, a lean fee with few services, older systems and the narrower buyer pool for converted heritage space. There were no suites for sale at the time of writing.

With 13 suites, sales are rare, and each one depends heavily on its own condition and layout, so treat the average loosely. My building sold report shows what has actually closed.

When you compare costs, add heating and hydro to the fee before you set it against a building where those are included.

Building specifications

Amenities at Castlemere Apartments

There is no amenity package here, and that is deliberate. You are paying for a historic house on a Rosedale street, not for a gym or a concierge. The upside is a fee that is not carrying the cost of staff, a pool or a party room you might never use.

Jatin’s honest take on Castlemere Apartments

Castlemere Apartments — frequently asked questions

Looking at Yorkville, the Annex and Midtown more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.