Corinthian Towers, 2550 Pharmacy Ave: A 1971 Tower With Utilities In

Corinthian Towers is one of the oldest condominium towers in this part of Scarborough, and I treat it that way. It was registered in 1971, its fee covers hydro, heat, water and parking, and it has an outdoor pool and tennis court. For the right buyer it is an inexpensive way into a big suite, but only after a careful look at the paperwork. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

One of the early condo towers in North Scarborough

The corporation number tells you a lot. YCC-49 was registered in October 1971, only a few years after condominium ownership became possible in Ontario, which makes this one of the first condo towers in the north end of the old city of Scarborough.

A local history of Bridlewood describes the land around Pharmacy, Warden and Finch as farmland into the early 1970s, filling in with townhouses and apartment buildings over the decade. Corinthian Towers was part of that first wave. Condos.ca does not name a developer, and I could not find one published, so I will not guess.

Being early has one real advantage: the building has decades of history you can examine. Board minutes, reserve fund studies and past projects tell you how the corporation has been run. Ask for them, and read them before you fall for a view.

Large plans, and a size range to verify

Condos.ca shows suites up to about 2,029 square feet. The bottom of its listed range is clearly a data error, so I would not rely on it; ask for the floor plan and measured size of any suite you are considering.

At the top end, a 2,000-square-foot condo is very rare in Toronto, and buildings from this period often had large family plans with separate dining rooms and generous closets. That is the appeal: you can buy house-sized space without a house’s maintenance.

Expect finishes to vary widely. In a building this old, one suite may have a new kitchen and bathrooms and the next may be close to original. Ask what was renovated, whether permits or corporation approvals were needed, and whether any plumbing or electrical work was done.

A building of this age also raises practical questions at the financing stage. Ask your lender early whether it has any concerns about the building, and ask the corporation for its insurance certificate and the deductible, because in an older tower a leak from one suite can end up as an owner’s cost under that deductible.

An all-in fee, and what that means in an old building

Condos.ca lists the fee as covering common elements, hydro, heat, water, parking and building insurance. Hydro and heat together are the two largest household utility bills, so this fee will look high on paper and will be lower than it looks once you compare like with like.

The trade-off is that utility costs are shared. In a tower this age, the heating plant, windows and building envelope decide how much energy the building wastes, and every owner pays for it through the fee. Ask how much of the annual budget is utilities and whether the corporation has done any energy work such as boiler or window replacement.

Parking in the fee is worth more here than it would be downtown. This is a part of Scarborough where most households keep a car, and newer buildings nearby often charge for a space separately or sell it as an extra. Confirm that the suite you are buying has a space assigned to it, and ask whether a locker comes with it.

Condos.ca also lists a pet restriction. I do not know the exact rule, so read the declaration and rules in the status certificate before you make an offer firm.

Pharmacy and Finch, and what may change nearby

The building sits on Pharmacy Avenue just south of Finch Avenue East, in a settled area of houses, townhouses and older towers. Bridlewood Mall, with a Metro, a Shoppers Drug Mart and an expanded library branch, is a short drive east at Warden and Finch. The panel on this page shows transit, schools and parks.

Change is coming to the intersection. UrbanToronto reported in 2022 on a proposal at 2575 Pharmacy Avenue, the south-east corner of Pharmacy and Finch, for a 20-storey tower with 244 homes and a new church building on a site now occupied by a church and daycare. If it proceeds, expect construction across the road and some new supply competing with this building.

What Corinthian Towers costs

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $350 per square foot. That is among the lowest figures you will find for a Toronto condo, and it reflects three things: the age of the tower, the size of the suites, and the expectation buyers have that an old building carries future costs.

When I checked, nothing was listed for sale or for lease, so I cannot give you current asking prices or fees. For recent sold prices, use the panel on this page or ask me for a building sold report.

When you compare this building with a newer one, compare total monthly cost, not just price. Add hydro, heat and parking to the newer building’s fee, then compare the two carrying costs side by side. Then read Corinthian’s reserve fund study, because the low price only holds up if the reserve is properly funded.

Building specifications

Amenities at Corinthian Towers

An outdoor pool, tennis court and sauna are generous for a building of this era and a real summer draw for families. They are also old facilities, so ask when the pool and courts were last rebuilt and what the reserve fund has set aside for them.

Jatin’s honest take on Corinthian Towers

Corinthian Towers — frequently asked questions

Looking at Agincourt, L’Amoreaux, Milliken, Dorset Park and Wexford in Scarborough more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.