The Hemisphere, 133 Torresdale Ave: Big 1981 Suites, Every Utility In

The Hemisphere is the first of the two towers on Torresdale Avenue, a 25-storey, 195-suite building from 1981. It offers large suites, a concierge, and a fee that condos.ca says covers hydro, heat, cooling, cable and parking, at one of the lowest prices per square foot in the city. The fee is the number that stops people, so that is where I will start. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

The first of two towers

The Hemisphere stands beside Hemisphere II at 131 Torresdale Avenue. Condos.ca lists this tower at 25 storeys and 195 suites, registered in June 1981 as MTCC-551, and its twin at 22 storeys and 172 suites, registered a year later as MTCC-584. They were clearly planned as a pair.

Condos.ca does not record a developer for 133 Torresdale. It lists Tussel Corporation for Hemisphere II, and it would be reasonable to assume the same firm built both, but I have not found a source that says so, so I will leave it as unconfirmed.

They are separate condominiums, each with its own board, budget and reserve fund, and condos.ca lists different managers: St George Property Management here and Whitehill Residential next door. If you are choosing between the two, compare the status certificates and reserve fund studies, not just the suites.

Two- and three-bedroom plans

The listings on the market when I checked ranged from two-bedroom to three-plus-den plans, and condos.ca shows recent suite sizes of about 1,175 to 1,400 square feet. By today’s standards, that is a lot of floor area for the price.

In my experience, early-1980s plans tend to have separate dining rooms, enclosed kitchens and generous closets. Some owners have opened them up, while other suites are close to original. Ask what has been done and whether the corporation approved any changes to walls, plumbing or electrical.

On a 25-storey tower in a mostly low-rise area, upper floors get long views. Ask which way a suite faces, since the twin tower next door blocks some sightlines on one side.

If you are buying an original suite to renovate, get a contractor’s estimate before your offer is firm and read the corporation’s renovation rules. Board approvals, insurance certificates and set working hours all add time to a project.

Large suites also attract a particular buyer. In my experience, families and multi-generational households make up much of the market here, and they look closely at the number of bathrooms and whether the second and third bedrooms are a usable size. Those details drive resale value more than finishes do.

A fee that covers almost everything

Condos.ca lists common elements, heat, hydro, air conditioning, cable TV, building insurance, parking and water. That leaves very little to pay outside the fee beyond internet and your own contents insurance.

Fees across the seven current listings ran from about $1,291 to $1,536 a month. That looks heavy. Before you compare it with a newer building, add back hydro, heating, cooling and a parking space there, which on a suite of 1,200 square feet or more adds up quickly.

With every utility in the fee, the corporation carries the energy risk. When hydro and gas rates rise, every owner’s fee absorbs it. Ask how the budget has moved over the past few years and what the board has done to manage energy use.

Bathurst and Finch, and what is coming

Torresdale Avenue sits just north of Finch, west of Bathurst, in a pocket of North York that mixes 1980s condominium towers with low-rise residential streets. The Savoy at 10 Torresdale is another tower of the same type. Daily errands happen on Bathurst and Finch, and the panel beside this review shows transit, schools and parks.

The corridor is growing. In December 2023, RENX reported that Tenblock proposed three new buildings with 892 units at 155 Antibes Drive, nearby, and noted other projects along Bathurst between Finch and Steeles. Those are proposals, so check their status, but they point to more construction and more neighbours over the coming decade.

For now, the street itself is settled and quiet. Established buildings, mature trees and comparables with long sales histories are real advantages, and with two Hemisphere towers and The Savoy close together, there is usually something comparable on the market. That keeps pricing transparent, but it also means you will be competing with your neighbours when you sell.

Pricing: about $375 per square foot

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $375 per square foot, a little under Hemisphere II next door at about $405. That is one of the lowest per-foot figures in Toronto, and it reflects the building’s age and the size of the fee as much as the location.

Active asking prices across the seven current listings ranged from $437,000 to $717,000. With seven suites for sale, there is real choice, and the spread mostly reflects size, floor and condition.

For recorded sales, use the 12-month data in the panel, and ask me for a building sold report that covers both Hemisphere towers. In a pair like this, the comparison between the two is often where the best value shows up.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Hemisphere Condominiums

A concierge desk is the stand-out: someone at the front door, for parcels, guests and peace of mind. Beyond that the list is practical, with a sauna, a recreation room and rooms for gatherings, which suits the families and downsizers who buy suites this size.

Jatin’s honest take on The Hemisphere Condominiums

The Hemisphere Condominiums — 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.