Classic Character On Keystone Avenue Near Danforth And Woodbine
offered at $789,000Have you ever felt a unique pride of homeownership where you’re connected to your residence in a meaningful way? What about when that pride spills beyond the physical property, to include a coveted neighbourhood that fuses a convenient location with an engaged urban lifestyle? It’s great to own your own slice of the city, but it’s even more rewarding when that slice is connected to a community that will enrich your everyday life. On Keystone Avenue in a family-centric Danforth & Woodbine neighbourhood pocket, this elegant detached 2-storey 4-bed home – bursting with character and vintage details – will do just that!
If you’re looking for a neighbourhood that’s as colourful as the autumn leaves, then look no further! Revered as a desirable Danforth neighbourhood for its collection of character dwellings nestled under canopies of mature trees, this in-demand east-side location is a destination of choice for the high-styled, but down-to-earth buyer. For those seeking a calibre home at a fair price, this stellar offering will do more than draw you in – it will give you reason to stay!
Welcome to 48 Keystone Avenue!
Situated just south of The Danforth and east of Woodbine on Keystone Avenue, this home’s location provides access to numerous nearby amenities, giving lucky residents options for food, drink, and public transportation – TTC subway access is only minutes away at the Woodbine Station or the Main Street GO Station! Unique boutiques and specialty food retailers are meshed in with some conveniently located box stores like Toronto East Home Hardware, Sobeys, and Shopper’s Drug Mart, meaning that you don’t have to go far to get what you need in a pinch! In fact, while the rear of the property abuts a Petro-Canada gas station – which some landscaping and fencing would help screen like the neighbours have done – it became a surprisingly valuable asset to this family who found it highly convenient when needing everyday essentials like milk, snacks and filling up the gas tank before hitting the road. Along with these larger businesses, the area is dotted with numerous family-run entrepreneurs, lending personal appeal to the community commerce! We personally enjoy Hollandaise Diner, Wag on the Danforth, The Twelfth Fret, and John’s Hobbies – all nearby Mom & Pop shops that make up the fabric of this community.
The owners of 48 Keystone have a personal heart-warming history with this neighbourhood, having been the purveyors of ‘Kaneko Cigar’ at 2231 Danforth Avenue – just around the corner from 48 Keystone. This local convenience store – open from 1955 to 1986 – was open 365 days per year, often from 6am until midnight. Run solely by the family, there were never any other employees to assist; which meant long hours that cultivated a deep connection to the community. The Kanekos lived with their 3 children, an uncle, and a boarder in the apartment above the store, before purchasing 48 Keystone Avenue in 1969. Over three decades “Sam & Dusty” forged a special bond with the neighbourhood they served; they took pride in knowing all their customers – including the children – by name and made each of them feel important, even if you were just stopping in for a pack of gum. That’s the kind of precious, friendly atmosphere this community continues to preserve and cultivate.
This Danforth Neighbourhood is ideal for young families, because of the abundance of activities right at the doorstep (welcome news to any parent that has had to field the dreaded “I’m bored” on a Saturday afternoon). Monarch Park (a 5-hectare park near Danforth and Coxwell Avenues) has an outdoor pool with a two-storey waterslide, expansive grounds including a children’s playground. East Lynn Park – just west of Woodbine Avenue also has outdoor skating, a wading pool, ample green space including a sloped hill perfect for winter tobogganing, as well as an organic outdoor Farmer’s market during growing season. And nearby Stephenson Park – just steps away – is perfect for playdates or quiet morning outings with coffee clutched in parental hands. Be assured, this is a pocket of Toronto that is primed for raising a family. When the kids aren’t busy playing road hockey or hopscotch, they’ll be advantage of conveniently close and reputable schools like Gledhill Junior, Earl Beatty Junior and Senior, Monarch Park Collegiate and Danforth Collegiate Technical Institute.
Located a block south of Danforth Avenue one house east of Patricia Drive is 48 Keystone Avenue. This detached residence – built in 1922 – is fronted by a sun-dappled lawn and surrounded by mature trees. Well-loved and well-maintained, the front steps connect to a large enclosed porch running the full width of the home. As it stands, it’s ideal both for watching the world pass by and serving as a secure space for your everyday needs – strollers, kids’ gear, and additional storage. I envision sitting out on an autumn evening watching children skateboard by, or calling out friendly greetings to the dog-walkers and cyclists who are both neighbours and friends!
The home’s main entrance boasts beautiful original character that have been lovingly preserved over the years, like the vintage front door with side lights. These details unfold throughout, including the front hall’s panelled stairs, wood banisters, and stained glass windows. The front hall also provides convenient storage in the form of a front closet – perfect for tucking away jackets and boots – and offers sightlines into the main floor’s principal rooms.
The formal living room is both bright and warm, bathed in light from a large front window that offers views of the front yard and beyond. The classic charm of this residence is found in florals depicted in stained glass, which flank the elegant mantle and wood-burning fireplace (which requires a chimney liner). High wood baseboards match the Edwardian lintels and frames of the original windows and doorways, while the original hardwood floors gleam in the natural light. Running throughout most of the home, these details are increasingly rare to find in Toronto’s original housing stock.
I adore the double French doors that lead into the formal dining room. Here, the rich patina of this house blooms through stained glass, wainscoting, and plate rails. How fortunate for those who love this Arts & Crafts time period to find these architectural embellishments so well-preserved over time! A panelled door connects to a kitchen that is ‘functional-for-now’, but ready for your own personal style. It’s not unusual in houses with this configuration to see the partition wall between the dining room and kitchen opened up to connect the two spaces with a peninsula breakfast bar. Sometimes buyers will also cut down the dining room window to install french doors to a deck, bringing the outdoors in. These are the kind of upgrades that allow a Buyer to customize a dwelling to their own taste and function, while simultaneoulsy elevating the value of the property. Whether you add French doors from the dining room, or replace the existing kitchen door to the garden with a glass door, there’s great opportunity to incorporate indoor/outdoor living which is well-suited to gathering friends and family – especially during barbecue season!
An original staircase leads from the front hall to the second level. Upstairs you’ll find four good-sized bedrooms and an upgraded family bath. Each bedroom retains the original hardwood with the exception of one of the north bedrooms which has linoleum tile and cabinets containing a sink. At present, it’s perfect for an art studio or craft room, or even a nursery with the cabinetry being a great baby-changing station! With one exception, all the bedrooms are outfitted with closets, and each boast expansive windows that usher in sunlight. This level is completed by a linen closet, with the updated (Spring 2014) 4-piece family bath having recessed lighting.
The lower level of this charming residence – which has a separate side entrance – currently contains the laundry/utiltity space, a large storage room with the furnace, and a 4-piece bath. With a little love and creativity this lower level offers the potential to expand the home’s living space, or being retrofitted into a nanny suite or supplemental income!
Situated on generous 25 by 100 foot city lot, this home is spacious, sun-dappled, and steeped in character – all of which are excellent qualities desirable to property buyers. Lovingly cherished, this detached residence is habitable yet ready for you and yours to put your personal stamp on it. The Classic Home Inspection pre-sale report – available by request by email – discloses the roof, eavestroughs and flashings are mid-life, the high-efficiency furnace is 6 years old, the property has no active water penetration and is structurally sound, but there is knob & tube and aluminum wiring present.
Does living well within your walls and in your neighbourhood figure high on your wish-list? This bespoke home – which is perfect as-is but with tremendous potential for renovation – may be the ideal domicile for you!
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Have Questions? Want to learn more, or book a private viewing? Contact Steve@urbaneer.com!
Are you familiar with this community and other nearby ‘hoods? Check out our Danforth Neighbourhood Page – which includes flavour videos, the city census data on the areas, plus several past blogs on area amenities – or peruse any of our other Neighbourhood Pages! We love Toronto’s diversity!