The Avanti, 760 Sheppard Ave W: A 2013 Mid-Rise in Bathurst Manor

The Avanti is one of the newer buildings on the Sheppard West strip, and that is the whole reason buyers end up here. It is a nine-storey, 118-suite mid-rise from 2013, small enough to feel like a residence rather than a tower, with heat and cooling in the fee. Very few suites come up for sale, so you need to know what you are looking at when one does. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A newer building on an older avenue

Much of what lines Sheppard Avenue West west of Bathurst Street is low-rise retail, older apartments and a run of six- to nine-storey condominiums built in the 2000s. The Avanti, finished in 2013, sits at the younger end of that group. Next to buildings along the same stretch such as Plaza Suites (2003) and Park Plaza (2004), it is roughly a decade newer, and it feels it in the lobby and corridors.

That age gap matters more than the brochure finishes. A building registered in 2013 is about 13 years into its life, which usually means the first round of warranty items has been dealt with but the big-ticket replacements, such as roofing, garage membrane and major mechanical equipment, are still some way off. Buyers who want to avoid a 30-year-old building’s repair cycle often look here first.

Tor-Bel Group built it, the same name behind Plaza Royale a short walk west at 872 Sheppard, so if you like one you should look at both. I could not find much independent reporting on the developer, so I judge this building on its own records rather than its builder’s reputation.

Mid-rise scale, and what 118 suites means for you

At nine storeys and 118 suites, The Avanti is in the size band I like for owner-occupiers. There are enough owners to share the cost of staff, insurance and repairs, but not so many that the lobby, elevators and garage feel like a transit station at 8 a.m.

The other side of a smaller count is that every big repair is split among fewer people. A building of 118 suites has less room to absorb a surprise than a 400-suite tower, which is why the reserve fund study matters so much here. It is also why low turnover is common: when I checked, there were no suites for sale and only a handful for lease.

Suites run from about 550 to 1,315 square feet, so the building covers everything from a compact one-bedroom to a family-sized plan. That range is wider than many newer buildings in North York, which tend to stop well short of 1,000 square feet.

What is in the fee, and what is not

The fee covers common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance and water. Having both heat and cooling bundled is a real advantage in a mid-rise, because it takes the two biggest seasonal swings out of your monthly budget.

Parking is not listed among the inclusions, and neither is hydro. Before comparing The Avanti with an older building on the same street that bundles parking, ask the listing agent whether the suite comes with a space and a locker, and whether either carries a separate monthly charge. That single line can close or reverse what looks like a fee advantage, and it is the question buyers most often forget to ask.

The status certificate will show you the current budget, the reserve fund balance and any planned increases. For a building of this age I also ask for the most recent reserve fund study, so you can see when the first major items are scheduled.

Sheppard West is starting to change

The stretch of Sheppard Avenue West around Bathurst is drawing new proposals. UrbanToronto reports a 12-storey, 328-suite condominium proposed at 824 Sheppard Avenue West, at the northeast corner of Sheppard and Wilmington, and a 35-storey, 331-suite tower proposed at 500 Sheppard Avenue West, east of Bathurst.

UrbanToronto also notes that Metrolinx has been studying a westward extension of Line 4 Sheppard, which could one day add a station near Bathurst. That is a study, not a commitment, and I would not pay a premium today on the strength of it.

For an Avanti owner, the near-term effect is a few years of nearby construction, more competition from new suites, and gradually more people and shops on the street. Look up what is proposed near the building on the City of Toronto’s development application map before you buy. The panel beside this review shows the nearest transit, schools, parks and food.

Pricing: a premium for being newer

The Avanti averages about $748 per square foot, which is above most of its mid-rise neighbours on Sheppard West. For comparison, Plaza Royale averages about $660, Park Plaza about $662 and Portrait Condos at 701 Sheppard about $693, while Diva at 741 Sheppard, finished in 2019, sits higher at about $811.

That puts The Avanti roughly where you would expect for its age: a premium over the 2000s buildings, a discount to the newest one. Whether the premium is worth it depends on the suite. A renovated suite in an older building can be the better buy; an original suite here may need less work for longer.

There were no suites listed for sale when I checked, so there is no current asking range to quote. With turnover this low, recent sales in the building are the best guide, and the data panel beside this review shows those in aggregate. If you want a deeper look, I can pull a full report through my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Avanti

This is a practical package rather than a resort one: a gym, a sauna, a rooftop deck for summer evenings and rooms you can book for gatherings. There is no pool or full concierge listed, which helps keep the operating budget in check in a building of this size.

Jatin’s honest take on The Avanti

The Avanti — frequently asked questions

Looking at York Mills, Don Mills, Lawrence Park, Bathurst Manor and midtown-north Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.