Sitting Pretty, In Seaton Village
offered at $489,000When it comes to buying a home, financial experts consistently agree that the most fundamental criteria for making an intelligent property purchase is to subscribe to the frequently cited ‘location location location’ mantra of real estate. And it’s true! As a realtor with twenty years of experience, I have consistently witnessed an increasing demand for properties having great shopping amenities, quality schools, easy access to public transportation, and indoor/outdoor recreational space. Afterall, the essential barometer of value starts with the land your residence is built on, and where that land is located. Simply put, you can change the house but you can’t change where it is.
The property is located in coveted Seaton Village. Named after Lord Seaton, a former Lieutenant Governor of Canada, this charming neighbourhood of brick attached, semi-detached and detached two and three storey dwellings sits on what was originally the old Crookshank farm. Residential development in the area began around 1888 when Seaton Village was annexed by the Old City of Toronto, and was mostly completed by the 1920s. Bordered by Bloor Street to the south, the train tracks just north of Dupont, Christie Street to the west and Bathurst Street to the east the area is, by the City of Toronto’s definition, situated within the broader ‘The Annex’ neighbourhood. In fact, sometimes it is referred to as the ‘West Annex’.
Having a relaxed pretense-free vibe, this family-friendly neighbourhood is within walking distance to all your daily shopping needs. You’re a short stroll from Loblaws on Dupont and the enormously popular Fiesta Farms on Christie , which offers one of the largest selections of organic and locally produced vegetables, fruits, health food store staples and organic gourmet food. They even sell milk in glass bottles! Plus they have an amazing Garden Centre. On Bloor Street you’ve got the charm of Honest Ed’s and Mirvish Village, a myriad of pubs and cafes, a revue cinema and Koreatown, renown for its amazing fresh food and walnut cakes! And for those on the go, you’re down the street and around the corner from the Christie Subway Station!
For those seeking a great school, Palmerston Public School is one of the most well regarded public schools in the downtown core. Dating from 1889, Palmerston Avenue Public School offers Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6. The annual enrolment is approximately 550 students, with the majority having English as their first language. The school is a dual track school offering both the regular English and French Immersion programs. They also host a gifted program for grades 4 to 6.
Vermont Square Park is near the centre of Seaton Village. The park has a large open area with three bocce courts, which is also available for off-leash dog walking. In the middle west there is a fenced-in playground with a wading pool. To the east is the Bill Bolton indoor hockey rink. On the northern side is the St. Albans Boys and Girls club, with an indoor pool, community center and daycare.
Just west of Manning Avenue is Christie Pits. Named after the Christie Sand Pits, which were situated there until the early 1900s, the park covers 21.9 acres. About half of the park is treed with grassed picnic areas, while the rest accommodates various sports fields. Sports facilities on the site include three baseball diamonds, basketball courts, a soccer/rugby/football field, an ice rink, splash pad and pool. With the sides of the pits highly sloped, they serve as the destination of choice for winter tobogganing. How amazing is that?
This solid brick semi-detached house retains its original charm with many recent upgrades. Featuring vintage architectural details like the gracious front porch, bay windows, and a freshly painted glass door, the interior also boasts character embellishments like the wood spindle staircase, french doors, and the original hardwood floors.
On the first level, what was at one time a main/lower level apartment is now a formal dining room, an open concept living room with coved ceilings and a custom entertainment wall unit, and an upgraded kitchen with white cabinetry, butcher block counters and a curved breakfast bar. A few steps down through the skylit stairwell, one walks out onto the pretty landscaped garden, which is also accessible from the street down the side of the house.
On the second level, formerly a one-bedroom suite, the master bedroom has a custom built-in closet, a bay window dormer with storage/window seat, and new broadloom. The second bedroom was reconfigured into a marvelous skylit study wrapped in shelving, a desk and window seat with storage. In the back bedroom, formerly a kitchen, there is new broadloom and a walkout to a pretty balcony with garden vista. Note, the plumbing lines remain in the wall for future access should one elect to convert this into a laundry room or kitchen. A four-piece washroom with new toilet, mirror and showerhead completes this level.
Having many recent upgrades including a new flat roof, new broadloom, refinished wood flooring, upgraded lighting and electrical, basement drywall, and fresh paint, this character residence is ready to make it your own. Being an estate sale, please note the property is being sold in ‘as-is’ condition.
On the lower level, there’s the laundry area which offers the potential of becoming a kitchen, a three-piece washroom, a spacious hobby room with recently installed drywall and recessed lighting, plus the utility room containing the furnace, hot water tank and electrical panel. For those considering a potential income supplement, this presents the opportunity for a future nanny suite.