On Saturday, while whizzing up Toronto’s posh Avenue Road, I happened to notice several old-style apartment houses with rather grand facades. South of St. Clair Avenue, the buildings run along Avenue Road and Clarendon and St. Edmund Avenues. I’ve always fantasized about coming home to a building that’s as well-dressed outside as it is inside.
At No. 1 Clarendon (top pic and above) is one of the most ornate apartment entryways I’ve ever seen. The arched doorway features an elaborate cut stone surround and detailed ironwork; elsewhere the arches have Moorish peaks, above left. On the Avenue Road side, several cantilevered bays are supported by angel corbels gazing down on the sidewalk.
There’s nothing neo- about the full-on Gothic pile across the road at No. 2 Clarendon, which feels like it belongs in Oxford or Cambridge . . .
Can you imagine living in a building like this? God, how I’d love to get inside one of the suites to see how the space and light play. A block further south are the St. Edmund Apartments with their playful art deco bird motifs and ziggurat columns.
Deco owls grace the keystones around the corner at the Mayfair Mansions (No. 394 – 398 Avenue Road), below. The buildings themselves feel a little down-at-heel but the details have held up pretty well.
Terracotta musicians play silently for passersby on busy Avenue Road.
Each of the buildings featured here had vacancy signs out front so I made a few calls to see what the apartments are going for. I was surprised to discover that although they’re in a prime location, the rents aren’t much higher than comparable suites elsewhere in the city — in the $1,100 – $1,300 range for a one-bedroom. And apartments of this vintage are typically a good size with thick walls and floors. If moving wasn’t such hell, I might consider it.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I too have a fantasy about living in a building like that. Very Paris/New York yet right here in our Toronto!
Now how could we get you inside one of them? Think, think, think…