The Brownstones at Westown, Parrotta Dr: Stacked Towns with Parking In

The Brownstones at Westown were sold as a way to stop renting: stacked townhomes with a front door, two bedrooms and a parking space, priced below what a house in this part of the city costs. That pitch still holds, but stacked towns are a specific product with specific trade-offs, and buyers often do not realise what they are until they live in one. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Brownstone styling on a suburban arterial

Lindvest, part of the H&R group of companies, was selling the Brownstones by 2014 as a new phase of its Westown community at Weston Road and Sheppard. RN Design drew the facades with New York brownstones in mind, mixing stone and brick, and LUX Design handled the interiors, with STUDIO tla on the landscaping.

The result is a row of low-rise blocks with a more urban face than the houses and plazas around them. It is not a historic district, and it does not pretend to be one. What the styling buys you is a complex that has aged better visually than many plain stacked-town projects of the same era.

At launch, two-bedroom suites were advertised from $329,900 with a parking space included, and Lindvest’s own marketing pitched them at renters ready to buy. The early buyer pool ran from first-time buyers to empty-nesters, and that mix of owner-occupiers is still the profile I would expect here today.

How the stacked format works

These are stacked townhomes, not traditional towns. Suites come in one-level and two-level designs, with one unit sitting above or below another. You get your own front door and no elevators or corridors, but you also share floors and ceilings with neighbours, which is closer to apartment living than many buyers expect.

The launch plans were mainly two-bedroom suites, with a powder room plus a full bathroom and the bedrooms placed away from the main living area. The Astoria model, at 942 square feet, was the one Lindvest showcased. Across the corporation, suites now run from about 568 to 1,220 square feet, and current listings include a three-bedroom as well.

Ask which level a suite is on. Lower units often have a patio and easier access but may sit partly below grade, while upper units carry more stairs and usually a balcony or terrace. Some plans include glass privacy screens on the outdoor space. The difference in light, noise and stairs between levels is bigger than the floor plan suggests.

Storage is another practical point. The launch plans put closets in the foyer and primary bedroom, a walk-in in the second bedroom and space in a utility room, but there is no basement or garage of your own. If you own bikes, sports gear or seasonal furniture, ask whether a locker comes with the unit.

Parking in the fee, and the 2016 versus 2019 question

Lindvest priced each suite with one underground parking space, and parking is still listed in the fee inclusions. That is a genuine advantage in a complex where most households drive, and it simplifies comparing fees with buildings that charge for parking separately.

Sources differ on the project’s timeline and size. UrbanToronto’s project database shows a 36-unit, four-building phase at 2277 Sheppard Avenue West completed in 2016, while the corporation that covers 60-100 Parrotta Drive and 2315-2355 Sheppard, TSCC-2600, has 240 units and was registered in December 2019. The most likely explanation is that the Brownstones were built and registered in more than one phase. Confirm on the status certificate which corporation and which phase a given unit belongs to.

That matters for two reasons. Fees, reserve funds and rules belong to the corporation, not to the marketing name. And sale comparisons are only valid if you are comparing units within the same corporation and of the same stacked type.

Daily life at Weston and Sheppard

This is the car-friendly northwest edge of Toronto. Lindvest marketed Highway 400 and 401 access and a short drive to downtown, and the complex is surrounded by established low-rise housing, plazas and parks, including a newer park with a sports field and splash pad that opened near Westown.

It is a practical location for families and commuters heading to Vaughan, Brampton or the airport corridor. It is not a walk-to-everything neighbourhood, and the panel on this page shows the actual transit options and walking distances.

Price per square foot, fees and active listings

The building averages about $631 per square foot. Five suites were listed for sale at the time of writing, asking between $599,000 and $729,900. That is meaningfully cheaper than a freehold townhouse in this area, and comparable to or below a two-bedroom in a new tower once you account for the included parking.

Fees across active listings ranged from about $380 to $470 a month and include common elements, building insurance and parking. Lindvest originally estimated fees at around $0.19 per square foot at launch. Current fees are well above that, which is normal: launch estimates for stacked towns are routinely optimistic, and real costs appear once snow clearing, landscaping, garage maintenance and insurance are funded.

Hydro, heat and water are not on the published inclusion list, so add them when comparing with an older all-inclusive apartment building nearby.

The included parking is worth putting a number on. If a comparable tower charges a separate monthly amount for a space, or sells parking as a separate purchase, the real cost gap between that building and the Brownstones is wider than the sticker prices suggest.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Brownstones at Westown

There are no shared amenities beyond landscaping, visitor parking and permission to barbecue. For a stacked townhouse complex that is normal, and it keeps the fee focused on the buildings, garage and grounds rather than on a gym or party room.

Jatin’s honest take on The Brownstones at Westown

The Brownstones at Westown — 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.