Rental of the Week: $4,900 for a former bicycle repair shop in Leslieville with a beer tap

Neighbourhood: Leslieville
Price: $4,900 a month Size: 950 square feet Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 Parking spot: 1 Real estate agent: Erin Carlson, Urban Dwell

The place 

A fully furnished two-bedroom, one-bathroom hard loft in Leslieville just off Carlaw. The place has exposed rafters and ductwork and an open-concept layout. It’s a short walk from the shops and restaurants on both Gerrard and Queen as well as a quick drive from the DVP, Lake Shore Boulevard and Kingston Road. And it has easy access to several TTC bus routes and streetcar lines.

This home lives within a former commercial building that was, among many things, a bicycle repair shop and a carpenter’s studio. The current owner purchased the space for $666,000 in 2013 and converted it into two hard lofts. Tenants can request access to the second unit—an 850-square-foot one-bedroom available for $5,500 a month—for storage and workspace if it isn’t occupied.

Related: $5,400 for a Little Italy Victorian with a rooftop terrace peering above the trees

The tour 

Don’t be fooled by the unassuming façade: the interior is something else.

Here’s the open-concept space, which features original exposed brick, an electric fireplace and a polished concrete bar.

That bar is currently being used as a built-in desk.

The kitchen is equipped with a three-seat island, a huge fridge, a gas cooktop and a backsplash with Spanish tiles. Note the exposed ceilings, ductwork and skylight.

This is the main bedroom.

And the secondary bedroom, right next door.

The bathroom doubles as a laundry room.

Now for the real fun. This private courtyard out back showcases salvaged items from the owner’s previous properties and renovations. That wrought-iron spiral staircase leads up to a small rooftop garden.

Everything here is kooky and eclectic. And, yes, that’s a beer tap next to the shed.

Residents can also enter the home via a second entrance on Boston Avenue.

Finally, a peek into the second loft, which is also currently vacant.

Have a home that’s about to hit the market? Send your property to realestate@torontolife.com.