Two Roxborough East, 2 Roxborough St E: A 35-Suite Rosedale Boutique

Two Roxborough East is the kind of building Rosedale downsizers ask me about by name. It has 35 suites over seven storeys on a quiet street just off Yonge, a concierge, and suites big enough to hold the furniture from a house. It is also one of the more expensive buildings per square foot in this part of midtown, so the question is whether the details justify that. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A quiet Rosedale street, one block from Yonge

Roxborough Street East is a short, tree-lined residential street running east from Yonge into Rosedale. Two Roxborough East sits at the Yonge end, so you get the calm of a Rosedale street with the shops and restaurants of Summerhill a minute’s walk away. That combination is why this building commands the prices it does.

The building is a seven-storey concrete structure with brick facing, low enough to keep the scale of the street rather than tower over it. With only 35 suites, it has the feel of a private residence more than a condominium, and the concierge at the front desk is part of that.

At the same Yonge corner is Hill and Dale Residences, a newer luxury building at 1 Roxborough Street East and 1027 Yonge Street, and The Roxborough is further east at 66 Roxborough Street East. If you are shopping this street, you will likely see all three. Two Roxborough East is the older of the two at the Yonge corner, which affects both its price and what you need to check.

House-sized suites

Recorded suite sizes run from about 799 square feet to roughly 2,544 square feet. The building is weighted toward large suites: recent listings have included corner two-bedroom-plus-den plans of about 1,700 square feet with two bathrooms, high ceilings, fireplaces, custom millwork and hardwood floors.

These are suites designed for people moving out of a house. They have separate dining rooms, dens that work as studies, and room for real furniture. Some listings mention tree-lined and skyline views from large windows. Expect a wide range of condition, since many owners have renovated at least once in 25 years.

At least one listing came with two underground parking spaces and a storage locker. That matters for downsizers who still keep two cars, but confirm the parking for each suite, because it will not be the same across the building.

Small, large-suite buildings like this one trade rarely, and when they do, the buyers are often neighbours from the surrounding streets. If you want in, set up a building alert and be ready to move. If you are selling, presentation matters, because your buyer is likely comparing your suite with a house as much as with other condos.

What the fee actually covers

This is where the sources disagree. The building profile lists only common elements, building insurance and water as included in the fee. A recent listing also listed heat and parking, while describing the suite as having electric forced-air heating, which usually means heating is on the suite’s own meter.

Do not guess. Ask for the status certificate, the budget and the seller’s utility bills, and work out the real monthly cost of heat, hydro and parking for the suite you are looking at. In a building where the fee covers so little, those bills can be a large part of what you spend each month. In a 2,000-square-foot suite, heating and cooling alone can add up quickly.

The amenity package is generous for 35 suites: a concierge and security, guest suites, an exercise room, a party room, a meeting room, lockers and visitor parking. The building profile lists pets as permitted, while one listing notes pet restrictions, so check the rules for the specific limits.

Living near Yonge and Summerhill

Day to day, this is one of the easiest parts of midtown to live in without driving. The Summerhill shops and restaurants are steps away, the large LCBO at Scrivener Square is nearby, and the residential streets of Rosedale, with Chorley Park and the ravine trails beyond, begin at your door.

Yonge Street through Summerhill has seen new luxury low-rise and mid-rise buildings in recent years, including Hill and Dale at the same corner. Check active development applications nearby on the City of Toronto map. The data panel on this page covers transit, schools, Walk Score and nearby food and parks.

Premium pricing for a quiet address

The building averages about $1,222 per square foot, which puts it near the top of the market for this part of midtown. You are paying for the street, the small size, the concierge and large suites, not for a new building. For comparison, the older Rosedale Ravine Residences on Bloor East averages about $604 per square foot with a far more inclusive fee.

With 35 suites and no suites for sale at the time of writing, I cannot quote a fair range of asking prices or fees. When one comes up, price it against the building average and recent sales here and on Roxborough, then adjust for condition, parking and view.

Because the fee may not cover heat or parking, compare the total monthly cost, not just the fee, when you weigh this building against an all-inclusive one. My building sold report shows what has actually closed here.

Building specifications

Amenities at Two Roxborough East

For a 35-suite building, this is a full-service package: someone at the desk, guest suites for family and a gym in the building. It gives you what you would miss most from a house without the overhead of a large amenity floor.

Jatin’s honest take on Two Roxborough East

Two Roxborough East — frequently asked questions

Looking at Yorkville, the Annex and Midtown more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.