Condo of the Week: $1.2 million to live in Robertson Davies’ old pad in Summerhill
Address: 40 Oaklands Avenue, Unit 303
Neighbourhood: Summerhill
Agent: Kara Reed, Chestnut Park Real Estate Ltd.
Price: $1,225,000
The Place: A three-bedroom home spread across two floors of a feted modernist building.
The History: Macy DuBois, who also earned accolades for his work on the New College at U of T, won the 1983 Governor General’s Medal in Architecture for this condo building. The original owner of unit 303 was writer Robertson Davies, who lived there throughout the 1980s while completing his Cornish Trilogy, including the Booker Prize–nominated What’s Bred in the Bone . The current owner is a designer, who ripped out Davies’ original green linoleum to expose the concrete floors below.
Big Selling Point: Both levels have expansive terraces surrounded by evergreens, making them ideal places for engaging in deep thought.
Possible Deal Breaker: Despite the size of the place, the kitchen is small. The current owner added a modern island, though, which creates a little extra prep space.
By The Numbers:
• $1,225,000
• 1,917 square feet of indoor space
• $1,508 in monthly maintenance fees
• 52 units in the building
• 9.5-foot ceiling height
• 3 bathrooms
• 3 bedrooms
• 2 terraces
• 1 parking spot
• 1 den
• 1 famous prior owner
314851 The building was designed by Macy DuBois, better known for his work on the New College at U of T. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-1-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-1.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-1/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-1 0 0
314852 Robertson Davies had the place covered in green linoleum, but the current owner ripped it all out to expose the concrete floor. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-2-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-2.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-2/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-2 0 0
314853 What, your apartment doesn't have a piano nook? https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-3-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-3.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-3/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-3 0 0
314854 The entire main floor is open-concept. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-4-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-4.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-4/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-4 0 0
314855 The living room has a wall of tall windows. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-5-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-5.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-5/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-5 0 0
314856 The kitchen was recently upgraded with stainless steel appliances and Ceaserstone countertops. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-6-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-6.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-6/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-6 0 0
314857 The open plan leaves plenty of room for a dining area. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-7-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-7.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-7/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-7 0 0
314858 The terrace is socked in by tall evergreens, which creates a private effect. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-8-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-8.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-8/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-8 0 0
314859 Here's the main-floor powder room, where the spare toilet paper runneth over. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-9-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-9.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-9/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-9 0 0
314860 All three bedrooms are on the condo's lower level. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-10-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-10.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-10/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-10 0 0
314861 The master bedroom looks out onto the lower terrace. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-11-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-11.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-11/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-11 0 0
314862 Here's the master bedroom's en suite bathroom. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-12-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-12.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-12/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-12 0 0
314863 A newly installed barnboard door connects the master bedroom and one of the other bedrooms. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-13-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-13.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-13/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-13 0 0
314864 This bedroom has a door to the lower terrace. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-14-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-14.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-14/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-14 0 0
314865 It's a good terrace. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-15-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-15.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-15/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-15 0 0
314866 And here's the third bedroom. https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-16-150x150.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-16.jpg 1200 800 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue/slide/toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-16/ toronto-condo-of-the-week-40-oaklands-avenue-16 0 0
very nice indeed. But I think you have to budget around $50-75K to do something to the kitchen. Gotta! But the layout is nice and a nice spacious space. The 3 bedrooms on the lower level is perfect!
$1500 in condo fees though? What’s going on there ?!
That’s a pretty nice place IMO. damn.
This post originally misspelled the name of the street Robert Davies’ former condo is located on. It’s “Oaklands Avenue,” not “Oakland Avenue.”
design and look doesnt match 1.2 mil price tag