Fifeshire Gardens, 96 Fifeshire Rd: 36 Large Suites off Bayview

Fifeshire Gardens is the building I mention to downsizers who are leaving a house in York Mills or Bayview Village and refuse to live in a shoebox. It has only 36 suites over six floors, and the smallest is still more than 1,200 square feet. It is also nearly 40 years old with high monthly fees, so it is not for everyone. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A boutique building on an estate street

Fifeshire Road is better known for large detached homes on deep lots than for condominiums, which is what makes this building unusual. Fifeshire Gardens is a low, six-storey building of just 36 suites, built in 1986 by Moksem Corporation, and it sits at the Bayview end of the street.

That scale changes daily life. With six suites or so per floor, you get to know your neighbours, elevator waits are short and the lobby feels like a private building rather than a hotel. It also means the costs of running the building are shared among very few owners.

I have not found the architect or any published design history for the building. What matters more at this age is how it has been maintained, and that is something the status certificate and reserve fund study will tell you. Ask, too, how the board communicates with owners. In a small building, a well-run board and an engaged group of owners are worth as much as any amenity.

Every suite is house-sized

Suites here run from about 1,246 to 2,053 square feet. There are no small one-bedrooms aimed at investors. The size range points to a building made up mostly of large two- and three-bedroom plans.

That is the main reason buyers come here. A downsizer can bring a dining table, keep a proper den or guest room, and still have storage. In newer North York buildings you would need to buy a penthouse or combine units to get this much space.

Because the building dates from 1986, many suites will have been renovated at least once, and the quality of that work varies. Look carefully at kitchens, bathrooms, windows and the in-suite heating and cooling equipment, and ask what the corporation is responsible for and what falls to you.

Why the fees look high

The two suites listed for sale when I checked carried monthly fees of roughly $1,495 to $1,551. That is a big number until you remember the suites are well over 1,200 square feet and the building has only 36 owners sharing its costs. Small buildings do not get the economies of scale that a 300-suite tower does.

Condos.ca lists common elements, air conditioning, building insurance and water as included. Heat and hydro are not on that list, so ask how each is metered and what typical monthly bills look like. Parking is also not listed as included, so confirm whether the suite has a space and whether any charge applies.

In a building this size, one large repair can move the fee or trigger a special assessment, because there are few owners to spread it across. I have not seen any information about past assessments, so read the reserve fund study and board minutes before you commit.

Daily life between Bayview and Yonge

The building sits just off Bayview Avenue, between Highway 401 and Sheppard. Bayview Village shopping centre is up at Sheppard, and the 401 is very close for anyone who still drives regularly. Buses run along Bayview, and the panel on this page shows the nearest subway and the walk.

This is a car-friendly, quiet pocket rather than a walkable urban one. The streets around are residential and leafy, which is exactly what most buyers here want. If you want to walk to a dozen restaurants, North York Centre or Yonge and Sheppard will suit you better.

The area around Bayview and Sheppard is not standing still. UrbanToronto reported in January 2026 that QuadReal’s plans for the south block of the Bayview Village site have evolved to include towers of 44 and 52 storeys. If that proceeds, the shopping centre up the road becomes a much denser node, with more shops and services, more traffic and years of construction. Fifeshire Road itself should stay much as it is, but factor the change into how you think about the neighbourhood over the next decade.

For downsizers who have lived in St. Andrew-Windfields, York Mills or Bayview Village for years, the appeal is staying in the same neighbourhood, keeping the same routines and dropping the snow shovel and the lawn.

Price per square foot, and what is asking now

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $529 per square foot. That is low for this part of North York, and it reflects both the age of the building and the high monthly fees. Large suites in older buildings almost always trade at a lower price per square foot than small new ones.

Two suites were listed for sale when I checked, asking between $785,000 and $850,000, with monthly fees of roughly $1,495 to $1,551. One suite was also listed for lease.

With only 36 suites, sales are infrequent, so comparables are thin. I would look at recent sales here alongside other large-suite buildings near Bayview and Sheppard, and adjust carefully for renovation level, floor and exposure. A fully renovated suite and an original one can be far apart in value even when the floor plan is identical. My building sold report can pull the history together.

Building specifications

Amenities at Fifeshire Gardens

The amenity list is short: a gym, a sauna, a security system and underground parking. People do not buy here for amenities; they buy for space and a quiet, small-building feel.

Jatin’s honest take on Fifeshire Gardens

Fifeshire Gardens — frequently asked questions

Looking at Willowdale, Yonge & Sheppard, Bayview Village and North York Centre more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.