Tannery Lofts, 736 Dundas St E: A 1913 Factory Turned 45 Lofts

Tannery Lofts is one of the few places in the downtown east where you can buy into a real century-old factory for the price of a one-bedroom condo. The original 1913 building at Dundas and River was designed by John M. Lyle and later served as a tannery, and in 2007 Urbancorp turned it into 45 lofts. It is a small, no-frills building, and the details of which suite you buy matter more here than almost anywhere. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Cigar boxes, leather and soap

According to a 2022 blogTO feature, the original three-storey building went up in 1913 to a design by John M. Lyle, one of the better-known Toronto architects of that period. It first housed the Adam Beck Cigar Box Manufacturing Company, and later a tannery and a soap factory. The tannery gives the building its name.

Urbancorp converted it into lofts in 2007. The building today is seven storeys, while the original factory was three, so not every suite sits inside the heritage structure. The suites in the original section are the ones with the classic loft character.

Sources describe the building differently: one calls it a brick-and-beam warehouse conversion, while others focus on its warehouse-style arched windows. Before you buy, ask which part of the building your suite is in.

Ceilings, brick and wood

In the original section, ceilings are about 12 to 13 feet, depending on the source, with exposed brick walls, wood beams and wood-slat ceilings, hardwood floors and tall warehouse windows. Exposed ductwork runs through the open spaces.

Kitchens came with granite counters and stainless steel appliances as the builder standard, though many will have been updated since 2007.

Suites are mostly open-concept and single-level, with a few two-level suites, some with outdoor space. Sizes are compact: about 472 to 893 square feet by one count, with another source citing a range up to roughly 1,300 square feet. Either way, this is a building of one-bedrooms and small two-bedrooms rather than family suites.

A no-frills building, and the parking question

There is no gym, concierge or party room. The building has a bicycle storage room, a security system, and BBQs are permitted. One loft specialist describes it simply as no-frills, which keeps common costs modest.

Parking needs checking. The fee is listed as including parking, but the same loft specialist reports that very few units actually own a space, and that spots can be rented behind the building. Those two statements are not necessarily in conflict, but you need to know exactly what your suite comes with before you firm up.

The amenity listing also shows pet restrictions. If you have a dog or cat, read the declaration and rules first.

Living with a century-old building

A real conversion has quirks a new building does not. Floors may not be perfectly level, window sizes and positions follow the old factory rather than the furniture plan, and sound can travel through wood structure in ways concrete does not allow. Spend time in the suite and listen for footsteps from above.

Large original windows are part of the appeal, but they are also expensive to repair or replace, and in a heritage building that work may need to respect the original look. Ask whether the windows are original, restored or replaced, and who is responsible for them under the declaration.

Small buildings like this one also rely heavily on their owners. With 45 suites, a few engaged people on the board can make a big difference, for better or worse. Reading recent board minutes will tell you more about how the building is run than any listing description.

Dundas and River, a neighbourhood in transition

The building sits at the eastern edge of Regent Park, just west of the Don Valley Parkway and the Don River. Across Dundas, the Regent Park revitalization has been replacing older social housing with new towers, a community centre, an aquatic centre and a large park, and construction in the area will continue for some years.

Cabbagetown is a short walk north, Riverdale is across the bridge to the east, and the Don Valley trails are close. The area is mixed: you will see new condos, older housing and busy arterial traffic in the same block. Some buyers love that, others do not, and I would rather you walk it at night and on a weekend than take my word for it. The panel on this page has current transit and walkability figures.

How Tannery Lofts prices

The building average is about $825 per square foot, which is above the soft-loft buildings around King and Sherbourne such as East Lofts at about $744 and Abbey Lane at about $783. Buyers pay a premium for genuine heritage brick and wood, and Tannery has it.

With only 45 suites, resale is thin. In some years only a handful of suites change hands, and the gap between a suite in the original factory and one in the newer section can be wide. The building average is a starting point, not an answer.

There were no suites for sale when I reviewed the building, only a couple for lease. If you want in, be ready to act quickly. Ask me for a building sold report so you can see what comparable suites have actually sold for.

Building specifications

Amenities at Tannery Lofts

The amenities are minimal: bike storage, a security system and permission for BBQs. That suits owners who want a quiet small building and are happy to go out for a gym and social space.

Jatin’s honest take on Tannery Lofts

Tannery Lofts — frequently asked questions

Looking at Church–Wellesley, Corktown, Moss Park and Cabbagetown more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.