Solara Condominiums, 1600 Keele St: Compact Suites at Keele and Rogers

Solara Condominiums at 1600 Keele Street is a building I show to buyers who need a second bedroom on a modest budget and do not mind being in an area that is still finding its feet. It is a 12-storey GenerX building from the mid-2000s with compact, efficient suites and a rooftop deck. Heat is not in the fee, and that is the first thing I would want you to understand. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Compact suites that make two bedrooms affordable

Solara’s suites run from about 444 to 903 sq ft. That is a tight range, and it tells you what the building was designed for: efficient one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms rather than large family suites. Even the two-bedroom plans here stay well under 1,000 sq ft.

A two-bedroom at that size is not spacious, but it does give you a second room for a child, a roommate or a home office at a price that is hard to find closer to the core. Look carefully at how the space is laid out. In a compact two-bedroom, a good plan with no wasted hallway is worth more than an extra 50 square feet.

With 182 suites over 12 floors, the building is mid-sized. It has enough owners to share the cost of repairs, and not so many that the lobby feels like a hotel.

The forum discussion I read described the building’s design as distinctive, and it does stand out among the low-rise homes and plazas around it. I could not find a published architect for Solara, so I have left that out of the specifications rather than guess. If design matters to you, look at the building in person, from the street and from the rooftop, rather than relying on listing photos.

What the fee covers, and the heating question

Condos.ca lists common elements, building insurance, parking and water as included. Heat and hydro are not. Across the active listings, fees averaged about $0.94 per square foot.

In a forum discussion about the building, one commenter said suites are heated by electric baseboards and that they can be costly to run. I have not confirmed this, and it may vary by suite, but it matters. If heat is electric and on your own meter, your winter hydro bill is part of the real monthly cost. Ask the seller for a full year of hydro bills before you compare Solara with a building that includes heat.

Parking in the fee is a plus. Many buildings charge for it separately, so if your suite comes with a space, factor that into the comparison. If you do not own a car, ask whether an unused space can be rented to another resident, because the rules on that vary between corporations.

Water is also included, which helps a little. Air conditioning is not listed, so ask how each suite is cooled and whether the units are owned by the suite owner or by the corporation. That affects who pays when the equipment eventually needs replacing.

The rooftop deck and the amenity list

Condos.ca lists a rooftop deck, a party room, a meeting room, visitor parking and a parking garage. A rooftop terrace is the standout here, because a shared outdoor space with a view makes a compact suite feel bigger in summer.

The same forum discussion said the rooftop was closed for a time. Ask whether it is open now, what the hours and booking rules are, and whether any repairs to the roof deck are planned in the reserve fund study. The discussion also described a security desk in the lobby and well-kept common areas, which is worth confirming on a visit.

Condos.ca lists pet restrictions. Read the rules for exact limits before you buy with a pet.

Living at Keele and Rogers

Solara sits in the Keelesdale part of Silverthorn, south of Eglinton. The streets around it are mostly modest single-detached homes, and the area is known for its hills, which one resident compared to San Francisco. Eglinton Avenue West was the commercial centre of the former City of York, and the York Civic Centre still stands on that stretch.

To the east, the Castlefield Design District runs along Castlefield Road, with furniture showrooms and home decor stores. Closer to the building, daily life is plazas and local shops. The forum discussion described the immediate area as plain but improving, with new restaurants and a bakery opening. The building itself was built on what had been a surface parking lot.

The data panel on this page shows the transit options. For a driver, the building is close to the Highway 400 and Black Creek Drive corridor.

My honest read on the location is that it is practical rather than charming. You are buying into a working neighbourhood of family homes and local businesses, not a restaurant strip. North of Eglinton, much of the housing is rental, while south of Eglinton most homes are owner-occupied. Walk the blocks around the building at night and on a weekend before you decide whether it suits you.

What Solara Condominiums costs

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $653 per square foot. That is higher than several older buildings in northwest Toronto, which reflects Solara’s small suites: compact units almost always sell for more per square foot than large ones.

When I checked, two suites were for sale and none for lease, with asking prices from $445,000 to $449,900. Two listings is a thin sample, so ask for the recent sales; my building sold report shows what actually traded.

When you compare the fee of about $0.94 per square foot with other buildings, remember that heat is not included here. A building with a higher fee that includes heat can end up cheaper to live in.

Building specifications

Amenities at Solara Condominiums

The rooftop deck is the amenity that matters here, because it gives compact suites a shared outdoor room. Beyond that, the package is basic, which helps keep the fee down.

Jatin’s honest take on Solara Condominiums

Solara Condominiums — frequently asked questions

Looking at Downsview, Weston, York University Heights, Rexdale and northwest Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.