The Beach Condominiums II, 1797 Queen St E: The Middle Sister

The Beach Condominiums II looks almost exactly like the building on either side of it, and that is both its strength and the trap. You get a four-storey, 48-suite building on Queen Street East, a short walk from the lake, with suites sized for real life. But it is its own corporation with its own books, and the published details on it don’t all agree. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

The second building on the old racetrack edge

For more than a century this part of the east end was a racetrack. It opened in 1874 as Woodbine Race Course, was rebuilt and renamed Greenwood Raceway in 1963, and closed after the 1993 season when racing moved to Etobicoke. The site was then redeveloped with houses, townhomes, parkland and a small number of low-rise condominiums.

The Beach Condominiums II is the second of five buildings strung along the old track’s northern edge on the south side of Queen. It registered in November 1999, eight months after The Beach Condominiums I at 1829 and about a year before The Beach Condominiums III at 1765.

Behind the row is the newer street grid of the old track lands, with Woodbine Park and the boardwalk further south. That gives this end of Queen East a slightly different feel from the older Beach: the main street in front, planned blocks and green space behind.

Where the sources disagree

I like to be upfront when published details don’t line up, and on this building several don’t. Condos.ca lists the building as built in 1999, while Dash Property Management’s building page says 2000. The registration date of November 1999 suggests the earlier date is closer, but the exact year matters less than the age of the components in the reserve fund study.

Pets are the bigger one. Condos.ca lists a pet restriction. Dash’s page says pets are permitted. Both can be partly true, since many buildings allow pets with limits on number or size, but you should read the declaration and rules rather than rely on either listing.

Utilities are the third. Condos.ca lists heat, air conditioning and water in the fee but not hydro, while Dash’s page says all utilities are included. Ask the manager directly, and check the status certificate, because hydro can be a meaningful monthly cost.

Suites, terraces and the low-rise scale

Condos.ca records suites from about 612 to 1,087 square feet, almost exactly the same range as the sister buildings. Expect one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom plans, with the larger suites suited to buyers coming out of a house.

The complex is described as heavily glazed, with open layouts and terraces that catch lake and city views. In a four-storey building, that depends a great deal on which floor and which side the suite is on, so I always tell buyers to stand on the actual terrace before they get attached to the idea of a view.

On amenities, condos.ca lists a party room, a meeting room, an elevator, visitor parking, an underground garage and barbecues permitted. Dash’s page also mentions a fitness room and a storage area. Confirm which of these exist today and what condition they are in.

If you are choosing between this building and its sisters, line up the same floor plan in each and compare the monthly fee, what it covers and the reserve fund balance per suite. Because the suites are so similar, those numbers are usually what separates a good purchase from an average one.

Living at the Woodbine end of the Beach

The building sits at the western end of the Beach strip, near Woodbine Avenue, where Leslieville’s shops give way to the Beach’s main street. The lake, the boardwalk and the Martin Goodman Trail are a short walk south.

The Queen streetcar runs along this stretch, and the data panel on this page covers transit, schools and Walk Score. In daily terms, this is a building where you can walk to groceries, coffee and the beach, and where a car is optional for many people.

Expect summer crowds, particularly on festival weekends. Most owners here see that as part of the deal; if you want silence, visit on a hot Saturday first.

Price and fees at The Beach Condominiums II

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $1,026 per square foot. That is almost level with The Beach Condominiums I at about $1,031 and noticeably above The Beach Condominiums III at about $932, even though the suites are nearly the same size. Nearby Beach boutique buildings such as Bellefair Kew Beach Residences, at about $1,012, trade in the same band.

The gap with III is worth understanding before you pay the higher number. It may reflect suite mix, views or a handful of recent sales, or it may reflect something in the building’s finances. A small building’s average moves a lot on a few trades, so treat it as a guide, not a valuation.

There was one two-bedroom suite in the 900 to 999 square foot range listed for sale when I checked, which is not enough to give you an asking range. The fee covers heat, air conditioning, water, insurance, common elements and parking per condos.ca. For recorded sale figures, see the data panel on this page or ask me for a building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Beach Condominiums II

This is a practical amenity package rather than a lifestyle one: a party room, a meeting room, visitor parking and, per one source, a small fitness room. Most owners use the lake and Queen Street as their amenities.

Jatin’s honest take on The Beach Condominiums II

The Beach Condominiums II — frequently asked questions

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