Marina Townhomes of South Beach, Stadium Rd: Waterfront Towns With Terraces

The Marina Townhomes of South Beach are the closest thing downtown Toronto has to living at a marina without owning a boat. These are low-rise condo towns on Stadium Road, with private terraces, no elevators to wait for and the water beside you. They are not a tower, and you need to price and inspect them differently. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Townhouses by the marina, not a tower

This complex is a row of low-rise condo townhouses spread across several addresses on Stadium Road, from 28 to 38. There is no lobby, no concierge and no elevator bank. You come and go from your own front door, which is the reason most owners chose it.

The setting is the selling point. Listings describe marina and lake views, nearby yacht clubs and access to the Waterfront Trail. Being at the water on a quiet side street, rather than on Queens Quay itself, gives it a calmer feel than the towers to the east.

Listings also mention marina docking access. Do not assume a boat slip comes with a suite. Slips at nearby marinas are usually rented separately, so if a slip matters to you, ask exactly what the listing means and get it in writing.

Flats, multi-level units and terraces

Sizes range from about 475 sq ft to about 2,685 sq ft, which tells you the complex mixes very different unit types. At one end are single-level ground-floor flats. One listing describes a two-bedroom of about 600 to 699 sq ft on one level, with no basement and two private terraces adding roughly 300 sq ft of outdoor space.

At the other end are multi-level units. Another listing describes a suite with living space on the main floor, a second bedroom and den above, the primary bedroom on the third level, and a private south-facing rooftop terrace of more than 200 sq ft with a gas barbecue hookup.

Because the formats are so different, the building average per square foot is a rough guide at best. Compare a rooftop-terrace unit only with other rooftop-terrace units, and a ground-level flat only with other flats. Outdoor space here is part of the value, so ask for its size in writing.

Owning a town in a condo corporation

The fee here covers common elements, building insurance, parking and water. It does not include heat or hydro. Listings describe individual forced-air gas furnaces and central air, so you pay your own gas and electricity, and you are responsible for your own heating equipment.

One listing noted that its water heater was rented. That is common in Toronto townhouses and worth checking on every unit, since a rental contract transfers to you and adds a monthly cost. Ask the seller for the furnace, air conditioner and water heater ages and contracts.

With no tower to maintain, the corporation’s big costs are roofs, terraces, the underground garage and the grounds. Rooftop terraces sit directly over living space, so their membranes matter a great deal. Read the reserve fund study for roofing and terrace replacement and ask whether the corporation or the owner is responsible for terrace surfaces.

Daily life on Stadium Road

Stadium Road is a short side street running south from Queens Quay West toward the water. That location is what makes the complex feel removed from downtown even though it is not. Listings point to grocery stores, an LCBO, the Financial District and the Billy Bishop airport all being nearby.

Being this close to the island airport is convenient for travel, and it also means aircraft are part of the background. How much that matters depends on the unit and on you, so visit at a busy time of day before you buy and listen for yourself.

Transit, schools, walkability and nearby parks are covered in the data panel on this page. The detail I would add is that summer on the waterfront brings cyclists, walkers and boaters past your door. Most owners here see that as the point, but a unit facing the trail will be busier than one facing inward.

What the Marina Townhomes cost

The complex averages about $722 per square foot. That is lower than most waterfront towers to the east, but the comparison is uneven: you are paying for land, terraces and a front door rather than a concierge and a pool.

Current listings for two-bedroom and two-bedroom-plus-den units ask between $995,000 and $1,228,000 across three suites. That puts the larger units here in competition with detached houses in some inner suburbs, which is the real choice many of these buyers are making.

Fees on those listings run from about $623 to $710 a month. Remember that this fee excludes heat and hydro, so add your own utility bills before comparing it with a tower fee that includes them.

Because units differ so much in layout and outdoor space, I would look at sales of the same unit type over a longer period rather than the last few months alone. Rooftop-terrace units and ground-level flats with large terraces rarely come up at the same time, and pricing one off the other is how buyers overpay.

Building specifications

Amenities at Marina Townhomes of South Beach

There is no gym, pool or concierge, and that is why the fee is moderate. The amenity is your own outdoor space and the marina next to you, so judge each unit by its terrace and its view. Visitor parking is also on site, which is a real help for a townhouse community where guests often drive in.

Jatin’s honest take on Marina Townhomes of South Beach

Marina Townhomes of South Beach — frequently asked questions

Looking at King West, Liberty Village and CityPlace more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.