Empire Maven, 1700 Avenue Rd: 58 Large Suites Built for Downsizers

Empire Maven is a seven-storey, 58-suite building on Avenue Road at Brookdale Avenue, and almost every decision in it points at one buyer: the person selling a house nearby who does not want to leave the neighbourhood. Suites run past 2,000 square feet, the kitchens carry Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances, and there is a concierge downstairs. The question is not whether it is well made; it is whether the price of that size makes sense for you. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A boutique building on Avenue Road

Seven storeys and 58 suites is small by Toronto standards. Empire markets Maven as a boutique residence with a classic facade, and the scale fits the stretch of Avenue Road north of Lawrence, where the street is lined with low-rise shops and the side streets are detached houses.

The building occupies a corner of Avenue Road and Brookdale Avenue, which is why it carries both addresses. Its neighbours to the west are the houses of Bedford Park-Nortown, so the upper floors look over a low skyline rather than other towers.

Architect credits differ between sources. The UrbanToronto project thread lists Rafael + Bigauskas, while posters in the same thread describe RAW Design as responsible for the later design. I would treat the architect as unconfirmed unless the corporation’s documents say otherwise.

Large suites and an appliance package to match

Condos.ca lists suites from about 770 to 2,388 sq ft, and the range is weighted toward size. Even the smallest unit here is larger than a typical downtown one-bedroom, and the top end is house-sized. Developer material describes one- to three-bedroom plans.

The listed finishes explain who the building was built for. Kitchens came with custom Irpinia cabinetry, a 36-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, a 36-inch Wolf gas range, a Wolf microwave and an Asko dishwasher, with composite stone counters. Bathrooms have large-format porcelain tile and, depending on the plan, soaker tubs or frameless glass showers.

Ceilings are about nine feet, excluding bulkheads and dropped areas. That is standard for a building of this calibre rather than exceptional, so if ceiling height is a priority, look closely at each plan’s bulkheads.

Outdoor space is part of the pitch. Balconies and terraces were specified with electrical outlets, some with gas connections for a barbecue, and terraces with paving stones and a hose bib. For a downsizer giving up a garden, a terrace with a gas line is a real feature.

Fees, metering and what to confirm

Condos.ca lists common elements, building insurance and water in the fee. Developer feature lists, however, describe individual hydro and water metering for each suite. Those two descriptions do not fully agree, so check the budget and the status certificate to see exactly how water is billed.

Heat and cooling are individually controlled, and hydro is metered by suite, so expect to pay your own energy costs. In large suites with a lot of glass, those bills can be meaningful in summer and winter, so ask the seller for a year of statements.

In a 58-suite building with concierge service, a gym, guest suites and a rooftop, the fixed costs are shared by relatively few owners. That usually means a higher fee per square foot than a large tower. It is the price of a small building with staff, and it is worth confirming that the reserve fund contributions are keeping pace.

At around five years old, the building is still within the later years of Ontario’s new-home warranty coverage for some items. If you are buying a resale unit, ask the seller whether any warranty claims are open for the unit or the common elements.

Life at Avenue Road and Lawrence

Empire positions the area around its tree-lined streets and boutique shops, and that is a fair description of Avenue Road north of Lawrence. Daily errands, cafes and services are along the avenue, and the residential streets behind are quiet.

This is a car-friendly location, and most buyers here will own a car. Confirm parking and locker arrangements for the unit, because in a building with large suites, a second parking space can matter to resale.

For buyers coming from a house in Bedford Park, Lawrence Park or Nortown, Maven offers a way to stay close to the same streets and services without the stairs and the yard work. Transit, schools and the nearest parks are listed in the panel on this page.

Pricing large suites in a small building

Condos.ca does not publish a building average per square foot for Maven, and only one suite was listed for sale when I checked in October 2026. With 58 suites, the building turns over slowly, and large suites trade even less often.

That makes pricing a matter of careful comparison. I would anchor on the recent sales in the panel on this page, then on other boutique condos along Avenue Road and in the Yonge and Lawrence area, adjusting for suite size, terrace, exposure, parking and level.

Large suites usually sell for less per square foot than small ones in the same building, because the buyer pool narrows as the price rises. Factor in the monthly fee and your own energy costs too, and compare the total with keeping your house, because for many buyers here that is the real alternative.

One more point on resale. A building this small depends heavily on a few owners deciding to sell, so the next buyer of your suite will be comparing it with whatever happens to be on the market elsewhere on Avenue Road at that moment. Buy the plan, exposure and terrace you would want to keep for years, not the one that looks cheapest today.

Building specifications

Amenities at Empire Maven Condos

The amenity list is short but well chosen for the buyer: a concierge, a boutique gym, a social room, guest suites for visiting family and a rooftop patio with views. Guest suites in particular suit downsizers who no longer have a spare bedroom for the grandchildren.

Jatin’s honest take on Empire Maven Condos

Empire Maven Condos — frequently asked questions

Looking at York Mills, Don Mills, Lawrence Park, Bathurst Manor and midtown-north Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.