Cornerstone Terrace Lofts, 323 Kingston Rd: 8 Suites, a Roof Deck, Low $/sf

Cornerstone Terrace Boutique Lofts is the smallest kind of condominium there is: eight suites in a two-storey building on Kingston Road, with a shared rooftop deck. It also trades at one of the lowest prices per square foot of any condo near the Beach. That makes it a genuine entry point into the neighbourhood, as long as you understand what you are buying into. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Eight lofts on a Kingston Road corner

This is a small, contemporary building on Kingston Road at the western edge of the Beach, marketed as a blend of modern and traditional design. Condos.ca records it as a 2013 build by Wilkinson Construction, with just eight suites over two storeys.

The loft name refers to the suite format rather than an industrial past. This is a new build, not a conversion. Listings have described some suites as two-level, which is how a two-storey building delivers loft-style volume, with living space on one floor and bedrooms on the other.

Two storeys and eight suites means no long corridors, almost certainly no elevator and a front door that feels closer to a small apartment house than a condo. If you need step-free access, confirm the entrance and the suite layout before you book a viewing.

Condos.ca does not list a published architect, and I could not find original marketing floor plans. Ask the seller or the corporation for the registered plan of the suite, and measure the rooms yourself, because in two-level suites the stairs take up floor area that a listing’s total does not show.

From a 378 square foot studio to a 979 square foot two-bedroom

Condos.ca lists suite sizes from about 378 to 979 square feet. That is a wide spread for eight suites. The smallest is a compact studio, and the larger suites include two-level two-bedroom plans.

The small end is where you need to be careful. A 378 square foot suite works as a pied-a-terre, an investment or a first purchase for one person, but it has a limited buyer pool when you sell. The larger two-level suites appeal to couples and to buyers who want separation between living and sleeping space.

With two-level suites, check how the stairs are laid out, where the laundry sits and how the upper floor handles summer heat. Condos.ca does not list heat or air conditioning in the fee, so each suite most likely runs its own system. Ask the seller for a year of utility bills.

The rooftop deck is the shared amenity

Condos.ca lists a rooftop deck and an outdoor patio, with barbecues permitted. On a two-storey building, a roof deck gives you open sky and some neighbourhood views rather than a skyline, but it is genuine outdoor space shared among eight households, which is a better ratio than almost any tower.

Condos.ca also lists a security system and a pet restriction. I do not know the exact terms of the pet rules, so read the declaration and the rules before you assume your dog or cat is welcome. In a building this small, the rules are often set by a handful of owners and can matter a great deal.

Parking is not listed as included in the fee. Ask whether the suite has a space, where it is, and whether it is owned or exclusive-use. On Kingston Road, parking makes a real difference to resale.

A rooftop deck is also a maintenance item. Roof decks sit on top of the building’s waterproofing, so their condition, and who pays to lift and replace the decking when the roof membrane comes due, should be in the reserve fund study.

Living on Kingston Road at the edge of the Beach

The building sits on Kingston Road a short distance north of Queen Street East. You are a walk from the Queen Street shops and the lake, but on a busier arterial road rather than a quiet side street. Suites facing Kingston Road will hear traffic; ask which way the suite you want faces.

Two neighbours give useful context. Beach Club Lofts at 303 Kingston Road is a six-storey 2016 building of about 50 suites, with a fee that covers heat, air conditioning and parking. 325 Kingston Road Condos next door is an older eight-suite building from 2000. Both trade at a higher price per square foot than Cornerstone Terrace on condos.ca.

The upside of Kingston Road is convenience. Everyday shops and cafes along Kingston Road and Queen are close at hand, and you are not paying the Queen Street premium for the address. For a buyer who works downtown and wants the lake for weekends, that is a sensible trade.

Any new mid-rise building on this stretch of Kingston Road would add residents and retail, and resale competition. The panel on this page covers transit, schools and walkability.

Why the price per square foot is lower

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $627 per square foot. That is well below Beach Club Lofts at about $864 and 325 Kingston Road Condos at about $823, and well below the newer buildings on Queen Street East.

Some of that gap is real value and some of it has explanations. The building is small and has no elevator, gym or concierge listed. The fee does not list parking, heat or air conditioning. And with only eight suites, the average is built from very few trades, so one sale can move it noticeably.

There were no active listings when I prepared this page. When one does come up, compare it on total monthly cost, including utilities and parking, rather than price per square foot alone. For recent trades, ask me for the building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at Cornerstone Terrace Boutique Lofts

The rooftop deck and patio are the only shared spaces, and in an eight-suite building that is the right amount. You get outdoor space without paying for a gym or concierge you might not use.

Jatin’s honest take on Cornerstone Terrace Boutique Lofts

Cornerstone Terrace Boutique Lofts — 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.