Office Space: $3.25 million for two semi-detached homes revamped into one stately office building
ADDRESS: 49-51 Gloucester Street
NEIGHBOURHOOD: Church-Yonge Corridor
AGENT: Matthew Johnson, Colliers International
PRICE: $3,250,000
THE PLACE: Think of this as an incognito office: residential on the outside, but all business on the inside. The building dates back to the 1880s, and was converted into office space in the 1970s. The first two floors have eight rooms each (plus kitchens and bathrooms), while the third floor has six, plus a rooftop patio with a south-facing view of the neighbourhood.
THE STORY: Originally built as two semi-detached homes—and used that way for nearly a hundred years—the owner had to figure out how to bring together the two halves to create a unified whole. During the revamp, workers installed arched openings in the brick wall that originally separated the semis, and added in an atrium with skylights to brighten up both sides.
THE IDEAL TENANT: We think the gravitas of a solid, century-old building would fit a no-nonsense, numbers-based business—the current occupant is a chartered accountancy, and boutique investment firms have already shown interest in the space.
THE DETAILS:
• $3,250,000
• 6,500 square feet
• $45,887.89 in commercial property taxes (2011)
• 270-square feet of terrace space
• 11-foot high ceilings
• 6 parking spaces
• 3 floors
• 2 former semi-detached homes
• 1 rooftop patio
127821 The 270-square-foot deck faces south, providing views over the neighbourhood 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_29.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_29/ mar12hotwgloucester_29 0 0
The 270-square-foot deck faces south, providing views over the neighbourhood
127819 No stalls here 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_27.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_27/ mar12hotwgloucester_27 0 0
No stalls here
127818 The second of the two kitchens has a dishwasher and a mini-microwave 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_26-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_26.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_26.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_26/ mar12hotwgloucester_26 0 0
The second of the two kitchens has a dishwasher and a mini-microwave
127817 One of the building’s two kitchens 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_25-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_25.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_25.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_25/ mar12hotwgloucester_25 0 0
One of the building’s two kitchens
127816 Side-by-side workstations and a mountain of paperwork 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_24.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_24/ mar12hotwgloucester_24 0 0
Side-by-side workstations and a mountain of paperwork
127812 The boardroom is unadorned—to keep minds on the task at hand? 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_20.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_20/ mar12hotwgloucester_20 0 0
The boardroom is unadorned—to keep minds on the task at hand?
127811 A massive office with room for a comfortable couch for a mid-afternoon break 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_19.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_19/ mar12hotwgloucester_19 0 0
A massive office with room for a comfortable couch for a mid-afternoon break
127809 Several desks (and a pretty ancient-looking computer) occupy a larger work area 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_17.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_17/ mar12hotwgloucester_17 0 0
Several desks (and a pretty ancient-looking computer) occupy a larger work area
127807 A second office. Pot lighting in the ceiling is decidedly modern, in contrast to the building’s nineteenth-century bones 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_16.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_16/ mar12hotwgloucester_16 0 0
A second office. Pot lighting in the ceiling is decidedly modern, in contrast to the building’s nineteenth-century bones
127806 One of the private offices contains bay windows and a bricked-up fireplace 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_15.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_15/ mar12hotwgloucester_15 0 0
One of the private offices contains bay windows and a bricked-up fireplace
127805 The arches yield some unique-looking workstations 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_14.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_14/ mar12hotwgloucester_14 0 0
The arches yield some unique-looking workstations
127802 The building could be easily divided into three separate, full-floor units 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_10.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_10/ mar12hotwgloucester_10 0 0
The building could be easily divided into three separate, full-floor units
127800 The exposed brick throughout the space is all original 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_8.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_8/ mar12hotwgloucester_8 0 0
The exposed brick throughout the space is all original
127799 The wall sconces blend in, ceding centre stage to the architecture 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_7.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_7/ mar12hotwgloucester_7 0 0
The wall sconces blend in, ceding centre stage to the architecture
127798 The arches were put in in the 1970s to link the two halves of the building 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_6.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_6/ mar12hotwgloucester_6 0 0
The arches were put in in the 1970s to link the two halves of the building
127797 There is room for at least six vehicles to park behind the building 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_5.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_5/ mar12hotwgloucester_5 0 0
There is room for at least six vehicles to park behind the building
127795 The double doorways are left over from the building’s previous life as two semi-detached homes 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_3.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_3/ mar12hotwgloucester_3 0 0
The double doorways are left over from the building’s previous life as two semi-detached homes
127793 The slate tiles, bricks and beams all date back to the nineteenth century, but the roof is new 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_1-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_1.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_1.jpg 624 417 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_1/ mar12hotwgloucester_1 0 0
The slate tiles, bricks and beams all date back to the nineteenth century, but the roof is new
127823 The building, built in the 1880s, has retained its heritage grandeur 49-51 Gloucester Street https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/mar12HOTWGloucester_intro.jpg 656 438 [] https://torontolife.com/real-estate/office-space-49-51-gloucester-street/slide/mar12hotwgloucester_intro/ mar12hotwgloucester_intro 0 0
The building, built in the 1880s, has retained its heritage grandeur