85 Emmett Avenue

Built in 1974, Emmett House is a 25 Storey high-rise, containing 275 spacious units in the Mount Dennis neighbourhood. The exterior of this condo building is traditional to say the least — brown brick, with white concrete and a classic rectangular frame. If you dismissed this building upon a glance, that’s understandable, but looks can be deceiving, and there’s a lot of untapped potential within these units.

Beyond the dated exterior, this building is remarkably well kept and certainly holds its own. Along with your spacious suite, you have access to relaxing amenities; an outdoor pool, sauna, on site green space with picnic tables, security guard, and parking garage. And for animal lovers, this building has pet friendly policies, perfect for Fido, Spot, or Patches — adorable pet names are optional.

Emmet House is the least expensive building in the York Crosstown area, and when you weigh York condo prices against those in downtown Toronto, you can only conclude that this is one of the most affordable buildings in the GTA. These condos are ideal for first time home buyers, young professionals, or families who are on a tight budget.

If HGTV reno shows are your bread and butter, then this is your chance to experience a renovation first hand — and the thrill of a return on investment. Many units in this building have seen upgrades over the years, but there are units which could politely be described as dated.

That bit of information might scare some buyers off, but what if we told you that 1 bedroom + den units have sold for less than $300k in recent years? Still not convinced? Well, the smallest units in this building start at 969 square feet and go up to 1188, and even 3 bedroom + den units in this building have sold for less than $400k; with the constant rise of real estate prices, you could earn a substantial return on investment in the future. Of course, that same rise in prices will lead to these Toronto condos for sale increasing in price before long, so if you're keen on this building, now's the time to buy.

All units are spacious with apartment style layouts, private balconies, large bedrooms, and ample storage. Most units have hardwood or parquet floors, and updated kitchens. But as mentioned before, some units are in need of updating.

Mount Dennis is a quiet neighbourhood, with an abundance of green spaces and a reasonable selection of restaurants, retail stores, and service based businesses.

Residents of 85 Emmett Ave have dining options within walking distance — on Weston Road you’ll encounter chains and locally owned restaurants; there are fast food locations like KFC and Subway, eateries for international dishes such as K&A Carribean Cuisine & Bar and Asian Food — which might win the award for most on the nose name. Additionally, there’s Supercoffee and Tim Hortons on Jane Street.

Retail stores in the area tend to be specialized — there are auto part shops, variety stores, and clothing boutiques for unique finds. For a more diverse shopping experience, residents can travel north to North York Sheridan Mall for big box stores and fashion outlets.

Entertainment options aren’t likely to blow anyone’s mind — there are pubs in the area like Irish Rose Pub and Beiramar Sports Bar & Restaurant, but entrainment is definitely geared towards family activities and recreation; Eglinton Flats is a massive green space, with soccer fields, playgrounds, and walking trails. Weston Lions Park also provides sports fields, a swimming pool, and is the site of the Humber River Recreational Trail.

85 Emmett Ave has a ton of potential, but one drawback of this building is that it isn’t particularly walkable — 61 Walk Score — and most residents will need a vehicle or public transit to get things done.

For those who rely on public transit, there are several bus routes which service the area and a stop right outside your lobby doors on Emmett Ave. If you need to travel outside of the area, then Weston Station is just north of the neighbourhood for GO Transit.

Drivers have a commuter friendly location — a quick trip north on Jane street will have you on the 400 in minutes, making it a breeze to connect to major highways.