The Summit III, 725 King St W: Parking and A/C in the Fee, King West

The Summit III is the quieter, smaller sibling in The Summit complex near King and Bathurst: 13 storeys and 160 suites, with the same pools and squash court as its taller neighbour. What sets it apart is the fee, which includes parking and air conditioning, and an average price per square foot that is well below newer King West towers. It is a 40-year-old building, and that is what you are really pricing. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Part of The Summit, on its own terms

The Summit is a cluster of brick condominium buildings on the south side of King Street West, west of Bathurst. The Summit II at 705 King is the 20-storey tower with 305 suites. This building, at 725 King, is the mid-rise at 13 storeys and 160 suites. A third building in the family is listed at 701 King Street West, also addressed on Wellington Street West.

Condos.ca credits the complex to Toddglen Construction and Creson Investments, and the two main corporations were registered within two months of each other in 1985. REW lists this building as built in 1983. Either way, it predates almost everything else you can see from its windows.

Being the smaller building has advantages. Fewer suites means fewer neighbours per elevator, and a mid-rise generally feels calmer than the tower next door, while you still share the larger complex’s recreation facilities.

Suites from about 634 to 1,067 square feet

Condos.ca puts suites here at roughly 634 to 1,067 square feet. That is a narrower and generally larger range than the studios you will find in the tower next door, which makes this building more of a one-bedroom-plus-den and two-bedroom building.

Expect 1980s planning: a proper entry, more closet and storage space than a new tower, and kitchens that may still be enclosed unless an owner has renovated. In this complex, the difference between an original suite and a renovated one can be the biggest factor in price, so compare like with like.

REW also lists guest suites, a rooftop garden and a rooftop patio for this building. A shared rooftop matters more here than in a newer building, because the outdoor space attached to individual suites in a building of this age tends to be modest.

The size range also shapes who buys here. A suite of 650 to 1,050 square feet is big enough for a couple who work from home, or for a buyer moving out of a cramped new-build one-bedroom. That buyer pool is steadier than the investor pool that dominates small studios, which tends to help resale in a slower market.

The fee includes parking and air conditioning

Condos.ca lists the fee here as covering air conditioning, common elements, building insurance, parking and water. That is a better package than the one listed for The Summit II next door, where only common elements, insurance and water are listed. Heat and hydro are not on either list, so plan to pay those yourself and confirm in the status certificate.

Parking in the fee is worth real money in King West. If the suite you buy comes with a space, you avoid a separate monthly charge that newer buildings often add. Confirm that the specific suite has a space, whether it is owned or exclusive use, and whether a locker comes with it.

Because the amenities are shared across the complex, part of your fee pays for pools and staff used by more than one corporation. Ask for the shared-facilities agreement and see how those costs are split between the buildings.

Air conditioning in the fee is worth understanding too. Because it is bundled, you are not paying for cooling on your own meter, which helps in a hot summer. Ask the management office how the system works, who decides when cooling switches on in spring and off in fall, and how old the main equipment is, because replacing it in an older building is a large reserve fund item.

Daily life near King and Bathurst

You are a few minutes from King West’s restaurants, Stackt Market and the Fort York grounds, with Victoria Memorial Square and the Wellington parkettes close by and Liberty Village to the west. For streetcars, schools and Walk Score, see the data panel on this page.

This stretch is busy and still changing, with new towers going up around the complex. Suites facing King hear the streetcars and traffic, while the south-facing side generally gets more light and less street noise. Visit at different times of day before you commit.

How it is priced

Condos.ca puts the average price here at about $669 per square foot. Newer King West towers ask well above that, so you are buying a meaningful discount for a 40-year-old building with older finishes and shared amenities to maintain.

Only one suite was listed for sale when I checked, so I will not quote an asking price; one listing is not a market. In a building of 160 suites, turnover is limited, and you may have to wait for the right layout to come up. If you are serious about this building, tell me which plan you want and I will watch for it rather than settling for the first listing.

When you compare this with a newer building, include the parking and air conditioning that are already in the fee here. For the recent sale and lease record, use the data panel on this page or ask me for a building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Summit III

Indoor and outdoor pools and a squash court are uncommon in downtown condos, and having them in a 160-suite building is only possible because they are shared across the complex. Add a rooftop garden and guest suites, and the package covers most of what a newer tower offers, plus a pool most of them skipped.

Jatin’s honest take on The Summit III

The Summit III — frequently asked questions

Looking at Queen West, Trinity-Bellwoods, Kensington and Little Italy more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.