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Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

This unit comes with two storeys, a designer kitchen and a view of the park

By Andrea Yu| Photography by Nanne Springer, Avryll McNair and Lanescape
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Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals
The history

In October 2020, George Emerson bought two side-by-side semis on Gerrard East, just south of the Danforth GO station. They were both three-unit homes with big backyards facing a laneway that overlooked Norwood Park. Emerson’s vision was clear: build two parkside laneway suitesinspired by London’s famous mewsto rent out.

The build

When he contacted his neighbours about his venture, one of them, Jon Braun, was also jazzed about creating a suite of his own. He had a detached house next door: the perfect site for a third unit.

The two enlisted Lanescape as architects alongside interior designer Carolina Murialdo and builder Maxwell Contracting. Emerson’s units would be roughly 1,500 square feet, each with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms; Braun’s would be slightly smaller: 1,100 square feet with two bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms.

Construction began in June 2022 and was completed this past fall. One of Emerson’s homes has already been rented out for $5,495 a month.

Related: Laneway Suite of the Week—A two-storey, two-bedroom modern bunker in the Beaches

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The tour

This three-bedroom unit faces Norwood Park. Its foyer comes with a coat closet and a space-saving pocket door leading to the laundry room.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Here’s that laundry room as well as the staircase leading to the second floor.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

All three bedrooms are on the main floor. The first one, just next to the foyer, is currently set up as an office. Its horizontal windows have been placed higher up for privacy. The wide-plank flooring is heated and can be found throughout.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Down the hall is the main bedroom, equipped with a wide sliding-door closet.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

An opposite angle offers a peek into the ensuite bathroom.

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Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Here’s that ensuite. It has penny-tile flooring and a glass walk-in shower with a ceiling-mounted rainfall head.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Now the third bedroom, with a sliding-door exit to the courtyard leading to the main house.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

This view highlights the wall of mirrors that conceals the closet.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

There’s also a second, shared bathroom on the main floor. Note the large-panel porcelain tiles.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Upstairs is the open-concept kitchen, living and dining space.

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Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

The dining area’s balcony overlooks the courtyard.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

The living area, meanwhile, faces the park.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

At last, the kitchen: a three-seat island, plenty of storage, a new fridge and a gas cooktop.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

The counters are Caesarstone.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Those stairs lead to the roof.

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Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

There’s also a powder room on the second floor. It comes with herringbone-tiled walls and funky flooring.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Finally, a look at the exterior facing the courtyard, fashioned with red-brick detailing, composite-wood accents and matte-black metal cladding.

Laneway Suite of the Week: How two neighbours at Main and Gerrard built a row of new rentals

Are you living the laneway life? Send your story to realestate@torontolife.com

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Andrea Yu is a freelance journalist based in Toronto. She reports on a wide variety of topics including business, real estate, culture, design, health, food, drink and travel. Aside from Toronto Life, her writing has appeared in the Globe and Mail, Chatelaine and Cottage Life.

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