Final phase of Ancroft Place now available
By on Sep 15, 2010
It has been called the best example of city townhouses ever built in Toronto and for nearly a century its 21 townhomes have been home to Rosedale's well-heeled renters.
On September 15 developer Canlight Realty Corporation released the final suites at Ancroft Place for sale. Previous phases sold out within days, so great is the demand for these charming English-country-style two- and three-storey homes, set on a leafy cul-de-sac on the north bank of the Rosedale Ravine just north of Bloor East off Sherbourne Street.
Over the summer, a number of renovations to the exteriors of the homes have taken place such as new roofs, windows, driveway and paths throughout the community. In addition, a new fully furnished and renovated model suite is now featured at Ancroft that demonstrates the interior renovations that can be done. Purchasers have the option of buying a fully renovated home or purchasing one as is.
Prices range from $1.2 to $1.4 million, terrific value considering Ancroft Place townhomes are more like single family Rosedale mini-mansions than traditional townhouses.
Built in 1927 on Crown land granted to its original owner in 1803, Ancroft Place mirrors its Rosedale neighbors. These townhomes were originally built as rental town homes for the city's elite.
They range in size from 1,900 square feet to 2,800 square feet and offer anywhere from three to six bedrooms. Those finely crafted details much prized in the period are still intact, lovingly preserved over the years. Ancroft Place has had only two owners in 83 years – lawyer and business leader Kenneth Mackenzie who built it and celebrated custom home builder Thomas Kellner, who acquired it in 1972.
Mr. Kellner even chose to make Ancroft Place his home. His 2,600-square-foot mansion in miniature, complete with swimming pool, sits at Number 18 and overlooks the lush ravine just to the south.
All homes have traditional 9-foot ceilings and all the architectural bells and whistles you would expect in the way of moldings, baseboards, oak flooring and lead-framed windows. Each has a new high efficiency heating system to provide hot water to radiators, together with a new air conditioning system; finished basements are an option. There are garages to the rear plus ample outdoor parking.
Principal rooms are large; separate dining rooms were de rigueur as were wood burning fireplaces in the living room. Indeed some homes have a fireplace in the bedroom and others have living rooms large enough to accommodate a baby grand piano with ease.
"The only things that connect them might be a shared wall and, of course the magnificent grounds," says Vernon Shaw, president of Canlight Realty. "There are no amenities like swimming pools, work out rooms, party rooms and such." This means low monthly maintenance fees.
The shops and restaurants of Bloor and Yorkville are just a few minutes' stroll away. Walk east along Bloor and the bridge, you have the delights of the Danforth.
"For many people this will represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: The chance to own a heritage private home in Rosedale for less than the cost of a Yorkville condo," says Mr. Shaw.
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