Maris Shepway Townhomes: 1976 Family Towns at Sheppard and Leslie

Sheppard and Leslie is one of the busiest corners in North York, and tucked just behind it is a quiet set of 1970s condo townhouses called Maris Shepway. They give you a garage, a walk-out basement and a fenced yard within a short drive of North York General, Fairview Mall and two highways. They are also close to fifty years old, and that shapes everything about how I would buy here. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A 1970s townhouse court behind a busy corner

Don Valley Village was built out as a suburb in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Shepway streets are a product of that era. Maris, Carl, Tyson and Yetta Shepway are private lanes inside one condominium, and homes sell under all four names, so set your search to include each of them.

The homes are stucco-finished row townhouses, each with its own entrance, built-in garage and fenced backyard. There are no shared corridors or elevators. Neighbouring complexes along the same pattern, such as Cheryl Shepway and Laurie Shepway, are separate corporations with their own fees and rules, so do not assume what is true at one applies to another.

Being set back from Sheppard and Leslie is the point. The lanes are quiet, the traffic stays on the arterials, and you still have the retail, hospital and highway access of one of North York’s main crossroads.

Layouts: split levels, balconies and walk-outs

The plans here are typical of good 1970s townhouse design: three bedrooms plus a lower level, with the main living floor set above a walk-out basement. The home currently on the market is listed in the 1,400 to 1,599 square foot band, with a balcony off the kitchen and a second off the living and dining area.

Upstairs in that home, the bedrooms have vaulted ceilings, which is not something you find in most townhouses from this period. The lower level walks out to a patio and fenced yard, and it has a fireplace, which makes it a usable family room or home office rather than just storage.

Heating is gas forced air with central air on the listing I reviewed. Each home has a built-in garage plus a second parking space, which is two cars without relying on visitor parking.

In a complex of this age, original 1970s interiors and fully renovated ones sit side by side. The home on the market now has a newly renovated kitchen and bathroom with hardwood floors, while other units may still have period finishes and closed-in layouts, so walk through more than one before you set your expectations. If you are prepared to take on the work, an original home is the way to buy below the complex average; if you are not, budget for the premium a finished home commands.

What fifty years means for the corporation

A 1976 complex has already been through at least one full cycle of roofs, windows and paving, and it may be on its second. That can be good news: the big projects may be done and paid for. Or it can mean the next round is coming. The reserve fund study will tell you which, and it is the first document I would read here.

Current MLS data shows building insurance included in the fee. The declaration decides who replaces windows, doors, fences and decks. In older townhouse corporations these are often a mix of common and owner responsibility, and the split affects both the fee and your own renovation budget.

The listed property manager is ICC Property Management, a Toronto condominium management firm. Ask through the status certificate how long they have managed the complex and whether any special projects are planned.

Daily life near Sheppard and Leslie

This is a practical location. North York General Hospital is at the corner, Fairview Mall and IKEA are a short drive, and Highways 401 and 404 and the Don Valley Parkway are close. For hospital staff and commuters heading downtown or up the 404 corridor, that access is the main draw.

The Sheppard and Leslie area has also seen steady high-rise construction over the past two decades, so expect more density and retail around you over time rather than less. The data panel on this page covers transit, schools and Walk Score in detail.

How to think about price here

There is only one home for sale in the complex right now, so I will not quote an asking range from a single listing. Use the recorded resales on this page, and my building sold report, for what homes have actually sold for.

As a category, condo townhouses of this size near Sheppard and Leslie sit well below freehold semis and detached homes in Don Valley Village, which is why they attract first-time family buyers. The fee buys you a share of insurance and the corporation’s exterior work, so compare it against what you would spend on those yourself in a freehold house.

Inside the complex, condition drives value more than plan. A renovated kitchen and bathroom, newer windows and a finished walk-out lower level can account for most of the gap between two homes with the same layout.

Also check how the fee has moved over the last few years. In a complex this age, a fee that has risen steadily usually means the board is funding the reserve properly; a fee that has barely changed can mean a larger increase or a special project is still ahead. The status certificate and the last two budgets will show you which way it is heading before you commit.

Building specifications

Amenities at Maris Shepway Townhomes

There are no shared recreation facilities here. The value of the complex is in what each home has on its own lot, a garage, a yard and a walk-out lower level, with the corporation handling the shared exterior.

Jatin’s honest take on Maris Shepway Townhomes

Maris Shepway Townhomes — frequently asked questions

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