Living Hip, Just A Hop From Trinity Bellwoods Park
offered at $1,249,000Something truly sublime emerges when you marry the understated elegance of century-old character with layers of fresh modern upgrades. Welcome to this dynamic domestic setting that both enriches and elevates your highest purpose and greatest good, while enhancing your overall daily connection to Toronto’s urban fabric. After all, your sense of self should be reflected not only in the walls that wrap and hug you – but in the local streetscapes that guide you home.
If you’ve been seeking a turn-key classic contemporary residence with a lot of panache in a sensational downtown location, then look no further! This distinguished semi-detached 2.5 storey Edwardian – dating from 1909 – offers character, convenience, and plenty of pizzazz in one of the city’s most coveted creative neighbourhoods! Featuring some pretty spectacular refreshments and renovations – and oodles of style – this is a must-see property!
Welcome to 255 Crawford Street, steps to beloved Trinity-Bellwoods Park!
A Coveted Creative Community In The Centre Of It All
It’s hard to believe you can live life large at the centre of the city and still be home in the comfort of a village. But it’s precisely what makes downtown Toronto special. When you embrace this City of Neighbourhoods – an urban patchwork of places stitched together by cultures over the passage of time – you can tap into the vibrant personalities and technicolour synergies afforded a cosmopolitan life. And in the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood, it starts with the heartbeat of this ‘centre of it all’ location – a beloved picturesque park catering to sport, culture and community – surrounded by the necessary and not so necessary conveniences. Like homey coffee shops, mom and pop retailers, pet pamperers, and boutique bars! When anything and everything is just beyond your front door, it’s no wonder making a personal investment in a neighbourhood like this will reward you with an engaging quality of life and a wise financial return.
Uber-popular Trinity Bellwoods Park is the amenity that keeps on giving with all the relaxing and recreational opportunities it offers! And having this expansive green space a stone’s throw from your front door – like this dwelling offers – is an urbanite’s all seasons dream! As we’ve collectively navigated the pandemic, finding refuge in the city’s parks has become essential for the sake of our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Whether you’re taking a daily stroll, savouring a picnic, making snow angels (hello, outdoor skating!), or frolicking with your furry friends at the off-leash dog zone, Trinity Bellwoods Park has so much love to give and receive from one of the City’s friendliest neighbourhood of community-minded residents.
Trinity-Bellwoods continues to be regarded as one of the best ‘hoods in the city; in a Toronto Life publication, this ‘artsy hub’ was hailed as having some of our best restaurants and cafes in the city, while also ranking in the top 10 percent for Shopping and Employment! On our meanderings, we often stop by the Tampered Press or Pilot Coffee Roasters for a cuppa to go. When we’re not in the mood to cook, the wine bar, Bar Vendetta, renowned for its muffuletta sandwiches during the lunch hour, and savoury delicious pasta during the evening is at the top of the road. Craving late-night comfort food? The classic 24-hour diner – The Lakeview – is only a hop skip and a jump away. Is takeout on your radar? We love getting pizza from Sud Forno. Up for a patio? The iconic Drake Hotel‘s outdoor space should be your next destination of choice! Gotta bowwow? You’ll love having the Dog Bowl for Fido’s supplies right down the street.
Nourishing your soul and your stomach around here is quick and effortless – with purveyors of every kind nearby. Check out the neighbourhood Portuguese butcher Nosso Talho, the plant-based protein market YamChop, or sweet treat destination Bang Bang Ice Cream for cool desserts. Wander up Crawford Street for your sundries at Shoppers Drug Mart and hit the Metro for your mix. Head east on College Street when you need the LCBO to wet your whistle, bring your bags and be green at the Unboxed Market, Toronto’s first zero-waste grocery, and eat your greens from the weekly Farmer’s Market at Trinity Bellwoods Park. So. Many. Options!
Another must-have amenity is proximity to public transit, and this property has it in spades, ensuring this house will rank at the top of any urban dweller’s Must Have list! With Crawford as your home base, you can whisk east or west on the Dundas West 505 streetcar or the College Street 306 & 506 streetcars lickety-split. How amazing would it be when your day or night means instant accessibility via two of the City’s main arteries? There are multiple bus routes too, including there-in-a-flash transit routes on Ossington & Bathurst Streets that will connect you to the Bloor Subway Line, and from there all points North, South, East & West!
Whether your household requires them or not, living close to good public education is an essential anchor for future value. 255 Crawford Street is well-situated for several reputable schools, including JK through to Grade 6 at Charles G Fraser Public School, and JK through Grade 8 at Alexander Muir/Gladstone Junior and Senior Public School or Pope Francis Catholic School. Looking for a high school for your tween? Harbord Collegiate is walkable without being weary, and everyone knows it’s where all the cool kids hang out. Have different needs? There’s an alternative school, adult learning programs, and quality childcare – a big bonus – right here in the neighbourhood.
An Elevated Elegant Edwardian For The Best Version Of Your Self
Although some Torontonians love the ornate embellishments of Victorian architecture, I prefer the less adorned Edwardian stylings of the early 20th century. These solid brick shelters of domesticity married functional simplicity with all the modern comforts – including electrification – that were the hallmarks of the age of industry & commerce. With the birth of the streetcar suburbs, residential avenues became broad, city lots became bigger, while the bespoke 3-storey dwellings catering to an emerging prosperous population were designed to engage passersby. Construction standards, building materials, and a commitment to good taste remain emblems of the Edwardian era, while their enduring durability and stately presence ensure they’re as coveted by Buyers today as they were in yesteryears.
255 Crawford Street – an elegant Edwardian constructed in 1909 and situated three doors from Trinity Bellwoods Park – is a superb offering. Blending a marriage of modern conveniences with character vintage details, the pedigree of this bejeweled residence has been gently honoured while contemporary flourishes make a style statement. Surrounded by lush landscaping under a canopy of mature trees, we adore the black-painted brickwork, the ‘pop of pink’ front door, and the deep-covered porch! Well-maintained and welcoming, the interior space plan has mostly been preserved, while the major building components, fixtures, and fittings have been upgraded to provide turn-key living.
The foyer – stylishly splashed with a vibrant wallcovering – serves as the transitional space between inside and out, and a chamber to contain the seasonal shifts in temperature and airflow. Just beyond, a second door welcomes you into the front hall where the stairwell of vintage details blends with the infusion of modern charm. We love the carved balustrade of the staircase, the organic curve on the stair treads, and the enchanting trim and window frame details.
The front room – offering respite with the Globe & Mail each morning and revelry consuming cocktail libations most nights – showcases the original beauty with its calibre wood floors and coved plaster ceiling. Framed by an original mantle, a liquid fuel fireplace with stunning tin facing infuses a touch of glamour, while energy-efficient windows frame a pretty view of the historic streetscape with Trinity Bellwoods Park beyond! The dining room – well-proportioned, well-preserved, and embodying all the spirit of goodness graceness – features plaster walls, a period medallion, and vintage carved wood trim that celebrates the past, while a modern decor of whimsy and wonder infuses a contemporary dimension. I love this combination, where the history of comfort mixes with the visual zeitgeist of here and now.
Do you love to cook as I do? The artful recipe of this stylish kitchen is sure to satiate your visual tastes and culinary hunger. Brimming with panache, but with an eye to efficiency, the owner opted for open shelving over closed contained cabinets, while a walk-in pantry serves up all your storage needs, and a selection of quality workhorse appliances like the SMEG fridge and Bosch cookers can do double duty serving a crowd. A custom island crafted by Commute Design doubles the counter space, while expansive glazing floods the room with natural light and connects to an expansive 15 by 15-foot deck nestled in a lushly landscaped yard. Shall we fire up the barbie and dine al fresco, tonight?
Ascending to the second floor, the indulgent master sanctuary comprising a collection of rooms spanning the entire floor provides a zone for rest and relaxation. The decadent king-sized sleeping zone boasts wood floors, a sun-kissed bay window with a view of Trinity Bellwoods Park, and a spot to recline in front of the gleaming stainless steel Blomus Chimo Wave wall-mounted fireplace. A transformation of the former bedroom next door resulted in a dreamy dressing room, complete with a myriad of storage solutions straight out of a Pretty Woman movie montage! Quick Change Fashion Show anyone? Adjacent the dressing room, a former washroom, and bedroom were combined to create an enchanting period bath with an indulgent soaking tub. I particularly covet the Juliet balcony overlooking the rear garden with a mature tree canopy.
The top-level aerie offers two generous private spaces with wood floors, superb proportions, and the insouciant charm of being ‘tucked under the eaves’, Ideal bedrooms for those with a laughing loving brood, these rooms easily lend themselves to any variety of uses, whether it be a cozy media room or a private contemplative ‘Work From Home’ office. Speaking of which, are you having trouble keeping focus? Slip out to the private sundeck perched over the neighbourhood with its tree-top vista and take a few deep breaths. Be still. You’ve got this baby!
The finished lower level is smartly sectioned into several functional spaces including a sitting room/workout area, a laundry zone, an additional washroom with a walk-in shower, and plenty of storage space. It also offers the opportunity to reaccess the separate entrance, so it offers the value-added potential to utilize this beyond practical to perfect as a nanny or teen suite!
Whether you’re drawn to the pragmatic or the panache, this dynamite dwelling that has undergone a substantial number of upgrades (see features list), offers all the benefits of investing intelligently in a solid property purchase, and all the rewards that accompany harvesting the love you invest when turning a house into a home.
So Are You Going To Love It, Or…. LOVE IT!?
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