Dundas and Parliament

DONE DEALS TORONTO

Published in Friday's Globe and Mail on Friday, February 19th, 2010.

248 Ontario Street
248 Ontario Street, Cabbagetown
  • 248 ONTARIO STREET, Toronto
  • ASKING PRICE: $499,000
  • SELLING PRICE: $565,565
  • PREVIOUS SELLING PRICE: 385,000 (2003)
  • TAXES: $$3,684 (2009)
  • LOT SIZE: 18 by 96 feet
  • DAYS ON THE MARKET: six
  • LISTING AGENT: Julie Kinnear, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.

To the delight of potential buyers, this 1,718-square-foot residence in Cabbagetown offers the charm of a heritage home, yet the conveniences of an urban dwelling, agent Julie Kinnear says.

"It had a lot going for it," she says. "It's a little bit quirky."

About 116 years ago, this detached, two-storey structure was built with full sound barriers and separate foundations from adjacent properties. In the 1980s, a major renovation eliminated some drawbacks typically found in old Victorian homes.

For instance, the interior is flooded with sun from skylights, walkouts and large windows, such as the one along the staircase to the 589-square-foot basement.

Sliding glass doors brings natural light into the recreation room and office in the lower level, which was dug deeper by about three feet. "I think the basement was one of the big highlights because a lot of Victorians don't have any basements at all," the agent says.

The main floor is fairly open with a combined living/dining area with a wood-burning fireplace and hardwood floors below 10½-foot ceilings.

The kitchen was outfitted with a rare powder room, painted hardwood floors and appliances including a gas stove, plus a walkout to the interlocking patio and an oversized garage off the rear lane.

The second floor houses laundry facilities, an updated bathroom and three bedrooms. One is brightly lit with a skylight and sliding balcony doors.

Changes within the past decade include an upgraded furnace, central air and central vacuum systems, as well as some new windows, roofing and insulation.

"It's definitely a user-friendly house," Ms. Kinnear says.

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