A Blank Canvas With Edwardian Roots In Prime Annex, Steps To Jean Sibelius Square

Something sublime emerges when you pair Edwardian living quarters with a coveted location like The Annex that enhances the overall sophistication of your quality of life. After all, your personal urban experience should be reflected not only in the walls that encircle you, but in the streetscapes and playgrounds of this cherished neighbourhood that wrap your home like a big hug.

If you’re seeking a blank canvas in a Triple AAA location to make your own, this eleven-room residence is a ‘Must-See’!

Welcome to 15 Kendal Avenue!

The Annex: Character, Culture, Connection

When The Annex was subdivided into residential lots by developer Simeon Janes in the 1880s, he advertised this early streetcar suburb to the affluent seeking villas for the rich.  For the well-heeled rich, it has traditionally been home to the well-heeled and the cultural intelligentsia. Today, it’s all about the heterogeneity of this beloved neighbourhood. Its vibrancy draws on the University of Toronto to the south, fashionable Yorkville to the east, and the dynamic retail and café culture along Bloor Street West. This is a place where most anyone feels comfortable and where everyone feels alive, active, and importantly, entertained. It has some of Toronto’s most stately homes, offering visually arresting views. Whereas one might associate “stately” with “stodgy”, the opposite is true in this supportive, inclusive, and super-cool community.

It’s not surprising that this borough emanates this intelligent electricity. Some of Canada’s most notable icons have called The Annex home, including the Eaton and Simpson families in the early 20th century and, in more recent decades, brilliant minds such as poet Dennis Lee, author Margaret Atwood, and environmentalist David Suzuki. Writers bpNichol, Howard, Marian Engel, Austin Clarke, and Matt Cohen have also called it home, to name a few, as well as musicians, thinkers, comedians, politicians, captains of industry, and faculty and students of the University of Toronto.

(In fact, we’re quite certain Trisha Romance, the American-born Canadian painter and illustrator of popular realistic and idyllic subjects, occupied one of the 2-room apartments in this property, as featured in her painting seen above. Romance’s work commonly features domestic settings, family events, and holiday scenes, reminiscent of artists in the American Scene Painting tradition. See one of her paintings below, closely matching one of the rooms in this home!)

Primarily developed between 1880 and 1910, The Annex is renowned for its unique domestic architecture, which combined the whimsical, picturesque massing of the Queen Anne Revival with the heavy, rusticated stonework of Richardsonian Romanesque into a single fashionable flavour. Characterized by red brick, statement turrets, and deep, rounded arches, these status structures of their day often feature Credit Valley sandstone and intricate wooden porches. If you’d like to see some examples of classic Annex domestic architecture, take a stroll along Brunswick Avenue north of Bloor Street for some amazing examples of this unique architectural pedigree. 

All urban neighbourhoods have life cycles, and The Annex is no exception. The area was annexed to Toronto in 1887 just as the city’s horse-drawn streetcars were being electrified. This technology allowed people to live further away from downtown than was previously possible, immediately making it the city’s most elite neighbourhood for a few decades. However, by the 1920s, the extremely affluent began relocating north to newer, more secluded enclaves like Forest Hill and Lawrence Park, where they built a new statement home in the fashion of the day. During the Great Depression and through WWII, the neighbourhood lost its “exclusive” lustre. Many of the original mansions were too large and expensive for single-family use, and were subsequently divided into student housing and multi-unit Mary Tyler Moore apartments. The area became a hub for university students, faculty, and new immigrants, including significant Hungarian, Italian, and Ukrainian populations. It developed a reputation as a vibrant, intellectual, and slightly gritty “college quarter”. In the 1960s, the proposed Spadina Expressway threatened to demolish the heart of the neighbourhood. Residents, including famed urbanist Jane Jacobs, successfully fought to stop the project, which preserved the area’s historic character and solidified its identity as a grassroots community. Over the last few decades, a major trend of re-gentrification has occurred. Many of the erstwhile rooming houses have been bought and meticulously restored back into luxury single-family residences or transformed into multi-generational dwellings

This neighbourhood is not limited to amazing architecture. The Annex sits surrounded by amenities designed to entice, engage and enhance urban lifestyle. Whether to amuse and challenge the palate, you’re a short stroll to some of the best in gastronomic delight, including some of our faves like family-run Bar Mercurio for top-shelf Italian, and Alo for seasonal flavours prepared with classic French techniques. Nobody does Mediterranean like Bar Reyna, and Blanco Cantina for tacos & margs!

Looking for something casual and easy? The Crafty Coyote is excellent for classic comfort food and pub fare. If it’s a night for dressing up, we adore the signature cocktails at C Suite, which is technically in Yorkville – but just a 20-minute walk away! And for those delicate ‘morning after’s, you can’t beat the brunch at Insomnia Cafe or Victory Cafe!

Recreationally speaking, the Annex and nearby Bloor Street are treasure troves. Beyond bars and restos, there are boutiques, novelty shops, museums, book stores, karaoke, e-sports, movie theatres – you name it! If you love board games as much as we do, you must visit Snakes and Lattes (near Bloor and Bathurst), where you can play and dine to your heart’s content, using one of the thousands of games they have in their library. 

Speaking of libraries, the Spadina Branch of the Toronto Public Library is less than a seven-minute walk away. When’s the last time you indulged in the guilty pleasure of a Saturday afternoon surrounded by comfy chairs and books? Plus, celebrate culture and beauty at one of the many museums within walking distance, like the Royal Ontario Museum, Gardiner Museum, and Bata Shoe Museum. Or, if you prefer cinema to exhibits, film buffs will enjoy the proximity to the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, where there’s always something unique on the reel!

Friends or family in town? The Annex Hotel is just down Brunswick Avenue at Bloor, giving intimate indie vibes amidst the bright lights of downtown. It’s a perfect jumping-off point for them to explore the City!

The Annex is brimming with opportunity and the effervescence of urban living, while neighbouring so many other awesome ‘hoods! Explore colourful Koreatown to the west, or take a short stroll south to experience the culinary coolness of Little Italy, or on to Kensington Market, which is regarded as Toronto’s most dynamic multicultural fresh food market. Grab a bite at one of the great eateries in Harbord Village to the south, and, of course, the University of Toronto campus is a delight to wander and explore!

How about a great green space – is it a must-have? Beloved Jean Sibelius Square is a 1-acre park just 12 doors north of this offering on Kendal at Wells Avenue.  Just a 2-minute “hang on, there you are!” walk away, it’s a great destination to chit-chat while your puppy socializes or your kids run wild. The park is chock-a-block with fun recreational opportunities including a large faux-rock wall, a big rope climber, a sandbox with a water feature, an open sandy play area with plenty of shared toys, and a convenient washroom. Plus, dog owners love the unfenced area where their charges can play while they catch up on the latest word of mouth. This destination is everything a community park can be. But if you’re looking for bigger – as in baseball diamonds, soccer fields, outdoor pools, and picnic tables – you’re super close to Christie Pits Park – located just west of this property and a 6-minute bike ride away!

When it comes to living an urban life, accessibility is everything. For those who commute by car, heading north on Bathurst will lead you to Allen Road, Highway 401 and beyond! How’s that for zippity do dah? The Annex in Toronto is also exceptionally well-connected by public transit, with a high Transit Score of 96 and home to the Bathurst, Spadina, Dupont, and St. George stations. This property is literally around the corner from Spadina station; it’s only 4 minutes from your front door to standing on the subway platform. Alternatively, you can also catch the Dupont bus just 2 blocks north, or the Bathurst bus just 3 blocks to the west.  How fantastic is that?

Have kids? There are excellent schools in the neighbourhood, including the nearby Huron Street Junior Public School, just a 10-minute walk away, serving JK to Grade 6. Further east is Jesse Ketchum Junior & Senior Public School (JK-8), which is still within walking distance, about 25 minutes away. If you have high schoolers, they can just as easily stroll to the reputable Harbord Collegiate on Harbord at Manning.

Pedestrian-friendly, cyclist-friendly, and boasting public transport aplenty, it’s no wonder that this address in The Annex merits near-perfect scores across the board: a RideScore of 96, a WalkScore of 96 and a BikeScore of 100. (Easy access to bike lanes on Lowther & Bloor!) For convenience and choice, this is a prime spot!

Your Prince Charming Of Bricks & Mortar Awaits

Nestled on a quiet avenue of century homes surrounded by verdant mature trees filled with birdsong, this charming setting for domestic bliss is a pleasing counterpoint to the ‘Bright Lights Big City’ vibes of Bloor Street to the south. This home is located just far enough from the fray that you’ll enjoy instant access to solitude and repose, yet conveniently, you’re just 400 steps to the Spadina subway station and 800 steps to a Metro Grocer, a Shopper’s Drug Mart, or the Miles Nadal JCC.

Constructed in 1900, this gracious semi-detached 3-storey double-brick residence offers over 2,000 square feet above grade. Situated on an impressive 23.08-foot x 128-foot lot, this property shares a mutual drive with its neighbour to the north, and includes a semi-detached single-vehicle carport plus 2 tandem outdoor parking spaces.

Laid with interlocking stone pavers, the arcing front walk draws you through mature plantings to arrive at the substantial, covered porch – wide, deep, freshly painted, and richly accented with natural wood on the ceiling. This is a people-watching porch, perfect for sipping coffee, thumbing through a magazine, and greeting your neighbours as they pass by.

Well-loved and cherished, this sophisticated lady embodies the classic beauty of the Edwardian style. The first floor unfurls in a series of ample entertainment spaces, considerable in scale, with an original fireplace, coved ceilings, a stained glass window, and heavy cast iron radiators holding pride of place throughout the dwelling.  These architectural remnants tell the story of this home’s history,

The Edwardian details continue in the oversized dining room, where aging hardwood floors gleam in the natural light streaming through two large windows. A medallion and ornate chandelier designate where a considerable dining table would go, and where one can gather family – immediate, extended or both (there’s room for all!) – and friends to break bread. Just beyond is a formal kitchen. It may be much cozier than the popular open concept iterations built today, but it is serviceable and has undergone a transformation or two in its past. A connecting sun room features double patio doors that lead out onto the rear deck – the perfect setup for grilling in the summer and dining al fresco!

Ascending to the second level, you’ll find two large bedroom suites, each with its own ensuite bath (one three-piece and one 4-piece). The first boasts an original fireplace and connects to a former porch that runs along the front of the home, offering verdant views of the neighbourhood. The second connects to a bonus space (part of the home’s extension), which is flooded with light from 5 separate windows – how lovely is that? The way to the top floor is lit by a skylight at the top of the stairwell, and opens directly into a family room with multi-faceted sloped ceilings, a built-in bookcase and a 4-piece ensuite bath. Rounding out this level is another bedroom and a connected study, with a double-patio-door walk-out to a sun-soaked roof deck! Here you can watch the sun rise or enjoy cocktails under the stars! Love!

The lower level is currently unfinished and can be accessed by either the main staircase or the side door. Here you’ll find the laundry zone and three separate rooms for storage, a workshop, or whatever you desire! The home has hot water heat and wall-unit air conditioning, and the pre-sale home inspection report is available upon request.

This impressive property represents the pinnacle of the real estate mantra of ‘location, location, location’, supports the convenience and ease of a pedestrian lifestyle, and offers an airy, sun-kissed blank canvas that’s ready to be tailored to suit! Can you imagine having the good fortune of calling this stellar place your Home?

Interested in learning more? How about a private tour? Contact James (james @urbaneer.com) or Steve (steve@urbaneer.com)!