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

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

The 950-square-foot unit comes with two bedrooms, an old brick bar, a courtyard and a rooftop garden accessed by a spiral staircase

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.

The history

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.

Don't let the modest facade fool you.

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

That's an electric fireplace in the living area.

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

The bar is currently set up as an office.

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.

The exposed ceilings and skylight add some industrial charm.

This is the main bedroom.

The main bedroom, with exposed ductwork.

And the secondary bedroom, right next door.

RThe second bedroom gets plenty of sunlight.

The bathroom doubles as a laundry room.

The washroom doubles as the 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.

Note the spiral staircase.

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

The courtyard is kooky and eclectic.

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

You can also enter the unit from Boston Avenue.

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

The second loft.


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