Elevate at Logan, 485 Logan Ave: Stacked Towns at Gerrard and Logan

Elevate at Logan is a stacked townhouse complex, and that format is the whole story. It has 41 suites by Kaleido Corporation at Logan and Gerrard, registered in 2023, many of them two-level homes with their own entrances and rooftop terraces, in a part of Riverdale where new homes are rare. It is not a condo tower and not a freehold house, and you need to know which parts of each you are getting. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Stacked towns, not a mid-rise

In a stacked townhouse, one home sits on top of another, usually with a lower suite on the first one or two levels and an upper suite above it that runs up to the roof. Elevate was marketed as four storeys of these, with a mix of single-level and two-level homes. Condos.ca records three floors, which probably reflects how it counts stacked towns, so look at the actual levels of the suite you are buying.

The appeal is a front door and outdoor space without a freehold price. The trade-offs are stairs, shared walls above or below you, and no elevator. For the upper two-level suites, you may climb two or three flights from the street to your bedroom and more to the roof.

SRN Architects designed the complex with red brick, industrial-style multi-pane windows and glass balconies, a look meant to echo the older brick buildings of Riverdale. Kaleido is a smaller, family-run builder founded in 2014 that focuses on low-rise projects across the GTA.

The layouts that were sold

UrbanToronto previewed several plans during sales in 2019. One one-bedroom-plus-den, The Marilyn, was a two-level suite of about 1,190 square feet on the third and fourth floors, with two bathrooms and a powder room, balconies on both levels and a rooftop terrace of about 359 square feet. Single-level plans included The Cora, a two-bedroom of about 1,028 square feet, and The Selena, a two-bedroom-plus-den of about 1,247 square feet.

Marketing also listed three-bedroom-plus-den plans, and Condos.ca now shows suites from about 554 to 1,966 square feet. That is a wide range for 41 homes. The biggest suites are near the size of a small semi, which is unusual for a new build in Riverdale.

Kaleido marketed the homes with a smart-home system linking lights, alarms, Nest thermostats and appliances, and a Miele appliance package with gas cooktops. A 2023 smart-home setup can age quickly, so ask whether the hub, thermostats and app still work and who supports them.

Parking and lockers are extras

Pre-construction materials described 31 underground parking spaces, 33 bike spaces and 41 lockers, with parking and lockers sold at extra cost. With 41 suites and 31 spaces, about a quarter of the homes have no car space. Check the title or the declaration to see whether the suite you want comes with a parking unit and locker, and whether they are owned separately.

Condos.ca does not list what the maintenance fee includes. In stacked townhouse complexes, hydro, heat and water are often metered to each home, and the fee mostly covers the roof, exterior, landscaping, garage and insurance. Get the actual list from the status certificate before you compare this fee with a condo apartment.

Because the complex has an underground garage under a small number of homes, the garage membrane, ramp and door are shared costs that fall on relatively few owners. The same goes for the roof terraces, which sit over other people’s homes. Ask the property manager how terrace waterproofing is split between the corporation and the owner who uses the terrace, because that line is drawn in the declaration and it matters when a leak appears.

Logan and Gerrard, and the Ontario Line

The site is where Riverdale meets Leslieville, with Gerrard Street East to the north and the residential streets of Riverdale around it. The Gerrard streetcar, the Danforth to the north and Gerrard Square are part of daily life. Transit, schools and parks are listed in the data panel on this page.

The bigger change is the Ontario Line. Metrolinx is building Gerrard station spanning Carlaw Avenue at Gerrard Street, a few blocks east, and the work is at the piling stage. That means construction disruption on Gerrard for now and, once it opens, a new rapid-transit stop within walking distance. Metrolinx has not posted an opening date on its station page.

When rapid transit arrives in a low-rise neighbourhood, more development usually follows. The streets around Gerrard and Carlaw are likely to see more applications, so the view and the quiet you have today may change around you. For an owner, that is mostly upside in value.

Pricing a stacked town

Condos.ca puts the average at about $884 per square foot. For a new stacked townhouse in Riverdale with a front door and often a roof terrace, that is reasonable, and it is well below what a freehold house in the area costs per square foot once land is counted.

Price per square foot is less useful here than in a tower, because a two-level suite with a 359-square-foot rooftop terrace and a single-level suite with a small balcony can have the same interior size and very different value. Compare outdoor space, parking and how many stairs you climb, not just the square footage.

There were no active listings when I checked. With 41 suites and a 2023 registration, resales are only beginning, so there are few comparables. Use the sales in the data panel above with care, and ask me for the building sold report before you make an offer. Nearby freehold sales on Logan and the side streets are a useful second check.

Building specifications

Amenities at Elevate at Logan

There is no gym, party room or concierge. The amenities are outdoor: private terraces and balconies, and a shared garden with barbecues, which is what most stacked town buyers actually use.

Jatin’s honest take on Elevate at Logan

Elevate at Logan — 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.