Villages of Downsview, Springside Way: Townhouses Beside a Changing Park

Villages of Downsview is a 42-home townhouse complex from 2000, on a private street called Springside Way. On its own it is an ordinary, well-sized townhouse corporation. What makes it worth a closer look is where it sits: near the former Downsview airport lands, which the City and the landowners are planning to turn into one of Toronto’s largest new communities. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Two sizes of home, one private street

Condos.ca lists homes from about 1,349 to 1,830 square feet. That is a meaningful spread: the smaller plans suit a couple or a small family, and the larger ones are a genuine family home. Confirm the size and layout of each home, because the price per square foot can differ between them.

The complex is numbered 1 to 46 but condos.ca counts 42 units. Numbering often skips in townhouse complexes, but confirm the total in the declaration, because it decides how costs are shared.

The developer is recorded under the project’s own name rather than a builder brand, which is common for single-project companies. As with any complex from a builder you cannot research, the corporation’s own records are what you rely on.

Larger plans in a complex like this often include a finished basement or a third level, while smaller ones may not. Ask the seller exactly which space is included in the listed square footage, because some listings count a finished basement and others do not, and that changes the price per square foot you are paying.

Parking, garages and what you maintain

The amenity list includes a parking garage and visitor parking, but parking is not listed in the fee. In a townhouse complex, that usually means each home has its own garage that comes with the unit. Confirm the arrangement and the number of spaces for the specific home.

Ask what the corporation maintains and what the owner maintains: roofs, windows, doors, decks, fences and driveways can fall either way, depending on the declaration. That split changes the real cost of owning here more than the fee does.

Also ask how Springside Way itself is maintained. A private street is a shared asset the corporation owns: paving, lighting, drainage and snow clearing are all paid from your fee and reserve fund. Ask when it was last resurfaced and what the reserve fund study allows for the next round.

Management and governance

Manor Crest Management Ltd is the property manager on record. Ask how long they have managed the complex and whether the board has changed managers recently, because frequent changes can signal friction worth understanding.

In a 42-home corporation, each owner carries a little more than two per cent of every shared cost. That is enough people to fund routine work comfortably, but a large project still lands meaningfully on each home if the reserve fund is short. Read the reserve fund study with the budget, and look for a steady contribution plan rather than one that relies on big increases later.

Your lawyer’s status certificate review should also confirm the insurance coverage and deductible, because in a townhouse complex the owner’s own policy has to cover the gap.

Downsview’s next chapter

The bigger story is next door. Bombardier announced in 2018 that it would leave the Downsview airport and aerospace campus in 2024, and the City launched its Update Downsview study in fall 2021 to plan a new community on those lands. The landowners are the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, through Northcrest Developments, and Canada Lands Company, through Parc Downsview Park.

For an owner at Springside Way, that means decades of change nearby: new streets, parks, homes and jobs, along with construction. If you plan to stay a long time, the new community could add amenities you would otherwise drive to. If you plan to sell soon, the change is less certain to help you.

The panel on this page shows the transit, shops and parks near the complex.

What a 2000 townhouse complex needs now

At 26 years old, this complex should be in its first major replacement cycle for roofs, windows and paving. Read the reserve fund study and the minutes to see what has been done and what is ahead.

Inside the home, check the furnace, air conditioner and water heater, and ask whether the water heater is rented. If the home has a finished basement, ask for permits and look for signs of past water.

Look at the condition of exterior items the owner may be responsible for, such as decks, fences and garage doors. Ask whether any have been replaced, and by whom, so you know whether the corporation or the seller paid, and what you would inherit.

Fees and pricing context

The fee covers common elements, building insurance and water. Heat and hydro are not listed, so budget for them. Including water is useful in a townhouse complex, because it is a cost families notice.

There were no active listings when I checked, and condos.ca had no average price per square foot. Use my building sold report for recent aggregates, and compare with other Downsview condominium townhouses and with the newer townhouses being built in Downsview Park, adjusting for age and size.

In a 42-home complex, sales come up a few times a year at most, so a well-priced home tends not to wait long, and a poorly priced one sits. Price on recent sales, not hopes.

When you compare with the newer townhouses going up in Downsview Park, remember what you are trading. A new home brings modern finishes and a warranty; a 2000 complex brings an established corporation with a track record, records you can read and, often, a lower price per square foot. Both can be the right choice, depending on your budget and timeline.

Building specifications

Amenities at Villages of Downsview

The amenities are practical: parking, visitor spaces and basic security. With no shared facilities to run, the fee is about the buildings, the street and the insurance, which suits a 42-home complex.

Jatin’s honest take on Villages of Downsview

Villages of Downsview — frequently asked questions

Looking at Downsview, Weston, York University Heights, Rexdale and northwest Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.