Kew Beach Condos, 1941 Queen St E: 12 Two-Level Lofts on Queen

Kew Beach Condos is one of the smallest buildings on the Beach’s main street, and one of the more interesting inside. Its 12 suites include two-level loft-style plans with double-height space, exposed brick, fireplaces and balconies, and the shops, Kew Gardens and the lake are all on foot. Twelve owners sharing one building is also the main thing you need to understand before you buy. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Twelve suites in the middle of the Beach

Kew Beach Condos sits on Queen Street East in the heart of the Beach’s commercial strip, within an easy walk of Kew Gardens, the park that runs from Queen down to Kew Beach. Condos.ca lists three storeys and 12 suites, registered as MTCC-1040 in November 1992.

There is no developer on record, which is common for small early-1990s infill buildings, and it means there is no brand reputation to lean on. The building’s history is in its paperwork: the declaration, the reserve fund studies and years of board minutes.

At 12 suites, this is a boutique in the true sense. You will know your neighbours, and you will share every repair with them.

That has practical consequences. A board of three in a 12-suite building may be most of the active owners, so decisions depend on a few people’s time and judgement. With a professional manager on record, day-to-day work is handled, but ask how often the board meets, when the last annual general meeting was held and whether the corporation has had trouble filling board seats.

Rentals also matter more in a tiny building. If several suites are leased, fewer owners are living with the decisions. The automatic panel shows the owner and renter mix; read it alongside the building’s rules on leasing, which you will find in the declaration and the status certificate.

Two-level lofts with real character

Condos.ca records suite sizes of about 743 to 1,367 sq ft, generous by condo standards. A recent listing described a south-facing suite with a double-height ceiling over the dining room, an exposed brick wall, a gas fireplace and a main-floor balcony, with the bedroom on an upper loft level behind a knee wall that overlooks the space below.

That upper level had its own south balcony, laundry next to the bedroom and an ensuite, with a powder room on the main floor. Layouts like this live more like a small townhouse than an apartment, and they are rare on Queen Street East.

The trade-off is that open loft levels carry sound and light between floors. If you work from home or keep different hours from a partner, think about whether an open bedroom loft suits you. Not every suite will have the same plan, so confirm the layout of the one you are viewing.

Ask which way the suite faces. The listing I reviewed made a point of a quiet south exposure set back from the street, and in a building on Queen, exposure decides both your light and your noise.

Parking and the fee question

The same listing described an underground parking space and a locker. In the middle of the Beach, where street parking is scarce and summer weekends make it scarcer, an underground space is one of the most valuable things a suite can come with.

Sources differ on the fee. Condos.ca lists no inclusions at all, while the listing reported heat, hydro, water, cable and parking as included. If utilities really are in the fee, the monthly figure will look high next to buildings where they are not, and the comparison has to be adjusted. Get the answer from the status certificate before you compare.

An underground garage in a 12-suite building is also a significant shared cost. Garage membranes and drainage are expensive to repair, and here only 12 owners pay for them.

Daily life on this stretch of Queen

You are on the Beach’s main street. Independent shops and restaurants are at the door, the 501 streetcar runs along Queen, and the lake and boardwalk are a walk south through Kew Gardens. The automatic panel on this page covers transit, schools and parks in detail.

The street changes a lot through the year. Summer brings visitors, events in the park and busy patios; winter is much quieter. Street-facing suites hear more of it, so visit at different times before you decide.

Queen Street’s shops turn over often, so the block you see today may look different in a year or two. That is part of the Beach’s charm, but if a particular grocer or cafe is the reason you are buying, do not assume it will always be there. What will stay is the park, the lake and the walkable grid of streets, and those are the lasting reasons to live here.

What Kew Beach Condos costs to own

Condos.ca shows an average of about $734 per sq ft for the building. With 12 suites and very few sales, that number rests on a small sample and can move sharply with one transaction.

There was one suite for sale and none for rent at the time of writing. One listing does not make a range, so I won’t quote an asking figure. I would compare a two-level suite here against other Beach loft conversions and townhome condos, not against standard flats in newer mid-rises.

When you compare fees, separate what is a utility from what is building maintenance. If the fee does cover heat and hydro, part of what looks like a high fee is money you would pay to a utility anyway. For recent traded prices, ask me for the building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at Kew Beach Condos

There is no gym, party room or concierge, which keeps the corporation simple. Bike storage matters more here than most amenities would, because the lake path and the Beach’s side streets are made for cycling.

Jatin’s honest take on Kew Beach Condos

Kew Beach Condos — 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.