The Wrenways, Edgar Woods Rd: 1975 Family Townhouses in North York

The Wrenways is the kind of North York townhouse complex families have been buying into for 50 years: three bedrooms, a garage, a finished lower level and a quiet internal street. It is one of the more affordable ways to get that much space in this part of the city. At this age, though, you are buying the corporation’s finances as much as the house. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A 1975 complex built for families

YCC-227 dates from 1975, the period when North York built townhouse complexes like this one across the land between the Don Valley and Steeles. They were designed as a step between an apartment and a detached house, and they still do that job: you get your own front door, stairs, a basement and parking, at a lower price than a house on the surrounding streets.

The streets carry the name: Jenny Wrenway and Carol Wrenway run through the complex, with Edgar Woods Road along part of it. Inside, the layout is a private road network with clusters of townhouses, which keeps through traffic out and gives children somewhere to ride a bike.

Sources label the area differently. Condos.ca places it in Hillcrest Village, the neighbourhood between Leslie Street, Steeles Avenue, Victoria Park Avenue and Finch Avenue, while some listing sites use Don Valley Village or Bayview Village. The homes and the corporation are the same either way.

The homes: three bedrooms, garage and a lower level

Condos.ca lists the homes as two storeys. Recent listing descriptions describe a typical layout of living, dining and kitchen on the main floor, three bedrooms upstairs and a finished lower level that works as a family room, office or occasional fourth bedroom. Some homes have a built-in garage plus a driveway, giving two parking spots.

That is a lot of usable space for a family, and it is the reason this complex sells. It also means a lot of house to maintain. Homes here range from original condition to fully renovated, so value varies more from one unit to the next than it does in a condo apartment building.

Before you buy, check the age of the furnace, air conditioner and water heater, the electrical panel, the windows, and any sign of past water in the lower level. Find out from the declaration which of those are your responsibility and which are the corporation’s, and what approvals renovations need.

Fifty years old: the reserve fund is everything

A 1975 townhouse complex has typically been through at least one full cycle of roofs, windows and paving, and may be into its second. The most important document you will read is the reserve fund study: what has been replaced, what is coming due in the next ten years, and whether the reserve can pay for it without a special assessment.

Listings also mention an outdoor pool, a party room and a playground. If the pool is still operating, it is a real draw in summer and also a real cost: pools need regular equipment replacement and eventually a full rebuild. Look for it specifically in the reserve fund study and the budget.

TSE Management is listed as manager. Ask how long it has served the corporation, and read two years of board minutes for any discussion of major projects, fee increases or changes to the amenities.

Daily life in this corner of North York

This is a car-friendly, residential part of the city. Highway 404 is close, and Seneca College, shopping and groceries are a short drive away. The Don Valley and its ravines run nearby, and Hillcrest Village has plenty of parks; the panel on this page lists the closest ones with walking times.

Daily errands mostly happen by car or bus, and the TTC routes and the nearest stations are shown in the panel. In return you get a quiet internal street, mature trees and a community where many neighbours have lived for years. For families who drive, that is a sensible trade.

Pricing: space for the money, but price the work

No homes were for sale here when I prepared this review, and condos.ca does not publish a building average per square foot. Three-bedroom condo townhouses in this part of North York typically sell well below detached houses on nearby streets, which is the whole appeal.

Because condition varies so much, compare a home here with recent sales in the same complex, adjusted for renovation, garage and lower-level finish. Then add the full monthly cost: the condo fee plus your own utilities and property tax. Condos.ca does not list what the fee includes, so confirm whether water or cable are covered before you compare fees with another complex.

For the recent sold figures here and in nearby townhouse complexes, request a building sold report and I will send them to you.

Building specifications

Amenities at The Wrenways

Listing descriptions mention an outdoor pool, a party room, a playground and ample visitor parking. For families, the pool and playground are a genuine reason to choose this complex, but confirm they are operating and budgeted for before you count on them.

Jatin’s honest take on The Wrenways

The Wrenways — frequently asked questions

Looking at the Junction, Corso Italia, Hillcrest Village and west-central Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.