DNA North Tower, 1005 King St W: Heat-Included Lofts at King and Shaw

DNA North Tower is the building I show buyers who like the idea of King West but not the price of a new King West tower. It went up in 2006 as part of the DNA development at King and Shaw, it puts heat, water and air conditioning in the fee, and it has 20 years of operating history you can actually read. The trade-off is that it is a 20-year-old building, and you need to buy it like one. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

One piece of a three-building plan at King and Shaw

DNA, short for Downtown Next Address, was Canderel Stoneridge’s redevelopment of the industrial land around King and Shaw. Canadian Architect reported it as part of a roughly $100 million project that also took in the Massey Harris Lofts conversion and a new public park designed by Brown and Storey Architects. The North Tower at 1005 King is the second of three phases; the third, DNA3, went up across King at 1030 King West with a grocery store at its base.

Heights are reported differently depending on where you look. Condos.ca lists this building at 11 storeys, while one loft-specialist site gives the three DNA buildings as 9, 15 and 14 storeys without saying which is which. Treat the storey count as approximate and check the status certificate if it matters to you.

The architecture is loft-inspired rather than a true conversion: brick, steel and glass outside, with large windows and balconies. A two-storey lobby links the first two buildings, which is why you will see the North and South towers marketed together.

Nine-foot ceilings and practical one-bedrooms

Suites here were sold as soft lofts, with nine-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Most of the stock is one-bedroom and one-plus-den, and every current listing falls between 500 and 699 square feet. Condos.ca records a wider range, from about 400 to 1,650 square feet, so there are larger plans, but they trade rarely.

Owner discussion on UrbanToronto from the sales era praised the first phase for efficient layouts, flexible walls and good closet space, while some felt the finishes were plainer than the loft branding suggested. That matches what I see today: a sensible plan matters more here than original finishes, many of which owners have since replaced.

East-facing terraces are the ones people ask for. The ground-level townhouse-style suites facing Douro Street are a different proposition; they are very public at street level, so think about privacy before you fall for the private entrance.

Heat and water in the fee, and why the fee looks high

The current listings average about $1.07 per square foot in monthly fees. That looks steep against a new tower quoting $0.65, but the comparison is not like for like. At DNA North Tower the fee includes heat, air conditioning and water as well as common elements and insurance, so your only big utility on top is hydro.

Most buildings completed in the last decade meter heating and cooling to the suite. Add a realistic winter heating bill and a summer cooling bill back onto the newer building before you decide which one is cheaper to live in. Parking is not listed in the inclusions, so confirm whether a suite comes with a space and what it costs.

At 20 years old, the building is in the window where original mechanical systems, window seals and the garage membrane start to need money, and the building pays for its own heating and cooling plant on behalf of every owner. A fee that has been rising steadily can be a sign of a board funding that work properly, which is what you want. Read the reserve fund study to see which it is.

Massey Harris Park on one side, Liberty Village on the other

The daily reality here is the small park built as part of the same redevelopment, designed as a set of quiet outdoor rooms rather than one big lawn. It is where residents read, walk dogs and meet neighbours, and it makes the corner feel calmer than King Street suggests.

Walk south and you are in Liberty Village with its grocery, gyms and restaurants. Walk north and Trinity Bellwoods Park and Queen West are a short trip. King West’s restaurant strip is east along the streetcar line. The transit and walkability details are in the data panel on this page.

What is changing is density. DNA3 added hundreds of suites and a grocery store across King, and the King and Strachan corner to the east has seen new proposals. Expect more neighbours and more construction over the next few years, and check what is planned near any view you are paying for.

What DNA North Tower costs to buy and to carry

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $861 per square foot. That is well below what new King West towers ask from developer inventory, and it reflects both the building’s age and the smaller suites that dominate the stock.

At the time of writing four suites were listed for sale, asking from $479,999 to $619,000. The one-bedrooms of 500 to 599 square feet sat at the lower end and the one-plus-dens of 600 to 699 square feet at the upper end. Monthly fees across those listings ran from $587 to $691.

Four listings and one rental at once in a 229-suite building is normal turnover, and it means you have real comparables to negotiate with. Ask whether a listing includes parking and a locker, because that difference alone can move the right price by tens of thousands of dollars.

Building specifications

Amenities at DNA North Tower

The package is the useful core rather than a resort: a concierge and security, a gym, a party room and a rooftop terrace with barbecues, plus a landscaped courtyard. It keeps the fee focused on utilities instead of a pool you may never use.

Jatin’s honest take on DNA North Tower

DNA North Tower — frequently asked questions

Looking at Queen West, Trinity-Bellwoods, Kensington and Little Italy more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.