Westside Story, 51 Halton St: 54 Condo Townhomes by Dundas and Ossington

Westside Story is one of the smallest condo communities I cover in Trinity-Bellwoods: 54 townhomes on a side street near Dundas and Ossington, finished in 2005. It suits buyers who want a ground-oriented home in one of the west end’s best food neighbourhoods without the upkeep of a house. The catch is that almost nothing comes up for sale. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A small townhome enclave on a side street

Westside Story is a private group of condo townhomes rather than a building. Condos.ca records it as a two-storey low-rise with 54 homes split across two addresses, 51 and 55 Halton Street. That makes it one of the smallest condominium corporations in the area.

Norstar Group developed it, and the corporation was registered in June 2005. That timing puts it among the first wave of new condo housing around Dundas and Ossington, before the strip became the restaurant destination it is today.

The scale is the point. With 54 homes, you will know your neighbours, and the board is made up of people you see every week. I could not find a published architect or detailed design history, so I have not described the design beyond what the listings show.

Mid-sized homes with a narrow size range

Condos.ca records homes from about 751 to 1,182 square feet. There are no tiny studios and no oversized penthouses. That range points to mid-sized plans, roughly one-bedroom-plus-den to two-bedroom territory, which is a sweet spot for couples and small households; confirm the bedroom count on the plan of any home you view.

The narrow range makes comparison easier. With few plan types and similar sizes, the sold figures in the data panel are more meaningful here than in a building with a wide spread of suites.

Because the community is a low-rise townhome format, check whether the home you are looking at is on one level or two, how many stairs you climb from the street, and where the parking is relative to your door. Those details vary between units even in a small community.

Ask, too, whether the home has private outdoor space, such as a patio or terrace, and whether it is exclusive-use common element. I could not confirm outdoor space for every home, and it makes a real difference to value.

What the fee covers, and what it does not

Condos.ca lists the fee as covering common elements, air conditioning, building insurance, parking and water. Heat is not on that list, which is an unusual combination. Confirm how heating works and who pays for it, and ask the seller for a year of gas and hydro bills.

There were no homes listed for sale or rent when I checked, so I cannot quote a current range of fees. In a community of 54 homes, fixed costs such as insurance, management and garage maintenance are shared by fewer owners, so expect fees per square foot to sit higher than in a large tower.

Parking is included in the fee, and an underground garage is listed among the amenities, which is valuable in a neighbourhood where street parking is tight. Confirm that the home you want has a parking unit and locker in the status certificate.

Dundas and Ossington, day to day

This is one of the best places in the city to eat out. The Ossington strip and Dundas West are lined with restaurants, bars and cafés, Trinity Bellwoods Park is a few minutes’ walk away, and Queen West is reachable on foot. The transit details are in the data panel on this page.

Halton Street itself is a residential side street, so the homes are quieter than the main strips. The trade-off is that the restaurants that make the area attractive also bring late-night foot traffic on weekends. Visit on a Friday or Saturday night before you buy.

Halton Street has real history. At 28 Halton, on the north side of the street at the head of Givins Street, stands a three-storey house from about 1892 designed by Francis R. Heakes, later Chief Architect of Ontario, for the cattle dealer William Levack. It replaced the homestead of Colonel James Givins, and in 2024 City staff recommended designating it under the Ontario Heritage Act. It is the landmark of the street, and a reminder that this is a settled residential pocket in what the City calls Trinity-Bellwoods’ Little Portugal, not a new-build district.

The surrounding streets are mostly older houses that trade at freehold prices well above a condo townhome. A home here is one of the few ways to live in this pocket at a lower price point, which is a big part of why owners hold on.

What Westside Story costs

Condos.ca puts the community average at about $955 per square foot. That is high for a 2005 townhome community and reflects the location: Dundas and Ossington is one of the most sought-after pockets in the west end, and condo supply here is limited.

No homes were listed for sale or rent at the time of writing. In a community of 54 homes, listings are infrequent, and when one appears, it can attract interest from buyers who have been waiting. The seller of a well-kept home will know that too, so plan your offer accordingly.

Because there are no current listings, the sold aggregates in the data panel are the best benchmark. If you want to buy here, set up an alert and have your financing ready, because you may only get a few chances a year.

Building specifications

Amenities at Westside Story

For a community of 54 homes, the amenity list is surprisingly complete: a party room, a meeting room, an underground garage and visitor parking, with barbecues permitted. There is no gym, but the neighbourhood has plenty of studios within walking distance.

Jatin’s honest take on Westside Story

Westside Story — 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.