The Taylor Lofts, 1238 Dundas St E: Boutique Lofts With Real Townhomes

The Taylor Lofts is the building I suggest to buyers who like Leslieville but do not want a tower. It is a 96-suite Streetcar building from 2016, small enough that neighbours know each other, with a row of townhomes tucked behind it that are some of the most interesting freehold-style homes you can buy in a condo. Supply is the catch: very little comes up here. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

The quieter sister to The Carlaw

Streetcar launched The Taylor in April 2014 as the eastern half of a block it was already building at Dundas and Carlaw. The Carlaw, a 12-storey building next door with Crow’s Theatre at its base, went first; The Taylor carried the same architect, TACT, east along Dundas at a much smaller scale. UrbanToronto described the corner as a post-industrial landscape with almost no residential density only a few years before.

The design is deliberately low-key. TACT used Öko Skin slat panels in warm brown and red tones, a patterned window layout and balconies that step down toward the east, so the building eases into the row houses beside it. The Dundas Street entrance lines up with the bottom of Boston Avenue, which is a small detail you notice once someone points it out.

Height depends on who you ask. UrbanToronto’s launch coverage called it a seven-storey boutique building, while condos.ca lists five floors. The stepped form probably explains the difference, but if the floor matters to you for views, check the suite’s actual level on the plan.

Lofts in front, townhomes on Filmic Lane

The mix is the main reason to look here. The building has one- and two-bedroom lofts, plus townhomes. Three townhomes face Dundas, and most of the rest face Filmic Lane behind the building. The plan also extended an existing row of houses to the east with six more homes and a continued backyard grid, so some townhomes feel more like a house on a lane than a condo suite.

Sizes run from about 444 to 1,839 sq ft on condos.ca. Launch coverage described two-level three-bedroom townhomes, while condos.ca’s description mentions townhomes on up to four levels. Treat that as another reason to read the specific floor plan, because stairs are the trade-off in every multi-level unit.

Finishes were good for the price point at launch: 9-foot exposed concrete ceilings, hardwood floors, quartz kitchen counters, porcelain backsplashes, stainless steel appliances and soaker tubs. Concrete ceilings give you the loft look, but they also carry sound, so listen for footsteps above when you view.

Loft or townhome: choosing the right suite

In a building like this, the suite type decides most of your experience. The lofts give you an elevator, a single level and a lower entry price, and they are the easier resale for a first-time buyer. The townhomes give you your own front door, more space and a house-like feel, but you live with stairs and, depending on the plan, less storage than you expect.

Light is the other variable. Suites facing Dundas get the street and the southern sun on the front; suites and townhomes on the Filmic Lane side are quieter but look onto a lane and the backs of neighbouring homes. Neither is wrong. Decide which one you would rather wake up to before you start comparing prices.

Because the building is small, resale buyers often compare it with the converted factories on Carlaw rather than with towers. Those conversions offer higher ceilings and brick, while The Taylor offers newer windows, mechanical systems and building envelope. If you want old-building character, look at the conversions; if you want fewer surprises in the reserve fund, The Taylor is the safer bet.

Dundas and Carlaw, day to day

This corner sits where Leslieville meets South Riverdale. Queen East’s brunch spots and shops are a short walk south, and the Carlaw corridor of converted factories, studios and newer lofts runs north and south of you. Crow’s Theatre next door gives the block an evening life that most residential corners lack.

Dundas East itself is a quieter street than Queen, which is the point for many buyers here. Groceries, cafes and parks are covered in the automatic panel on this page, along with current transit. The bigger change to watch is the Ontario Line, which Metrolinx is building through this part of the east end, with a station planned at Gerrard and Carlaw to the north.

What The Taylor costs to own

Condos.ca puts the building average around $960 per sq ft, which is a premium to many nearby lofts and reflects both the 2016 build and the townhome stock. That figure is an average across a small, mixed building, so a one-bedroom loft and a multi-level townhome will sit on different parts of the curve.

At the time of writing there was only one suite for sale and one for rent, so I cannot give you a fair range of asking prices. That scarcity is normal here. With 96 suites and long-term owners, months can pass without a listing, and you should be ready to move when the right plan appears. Ask the listing agent how long the last few sales took, too; in a building this small, that tells you a lot about demand.

Fees include heat, air conditioning and water as well as common elements and insurance, which is a better inclusion list than many newer buildings. Hydro is extra, and parking is not listed as included, so confirm whether a space and locker come with the suite. For actual sale results, pull my building sold report before you set an offer.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Taylor Lofts

The Taylor was not built to compete on amenities; the gym is the main shared space, which UrbanToronto described as large for a building this size. Fewer amenities usually means less to maintain and replace, which helps keep fees under control over time.

Jatin’s honest take on The Taylor Lofts

The Taylor Lofts — 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.