Inherent elegance
Rosedale; 61 Cluny Dr. (Yonge street and roxborough Drive); asking price: $4.695 million; Taxes: $23,177 (2015); Bedrooms: 9; Bathrooms: 5; Mls# C3316918
this grand residence, built in 1905, is on the market for the first time in 50 years. It has many gracious original features, including a baronial foyer with a staircase that’s ideal for grand entrances, says listing agent Janet Lindsay of Chestnut Park real estate.
Heritage restrictions in rosedale ensure that the character of the area remains, so the home cannot be torn down, but can be renovated and customized, she says. “The best feature is that one does not need to add on to it as there is 5,600 square feet above grade — and almost 8,000 square feet if you include the lower level. The rooms are super spacious and the ceilings are extra high, which is what buyers want today. It’s an amazing project for the right buyer.”
Although in a secluded, low-traffic location, the property is conveniently close to the rosedale subway station, yonge Street and downtown. “It’s a short walk to york racquets and Toronto Lawn Tennis clubs, as well as top schools,” she says. “It is very much the kind of home that one would find in (London’s) Kensington or just off the bois de boulogne (in Paris) that is residential but right in the heart of the city.”
The owners raised seven children here, she says. It’s also been the location of many a political event, and notable figures have enjoyed visiting it.
The house has beamed ceilings, elegant principal rooms on a dramatic scale and with amazing light. The foyer, with a fireside seating area, holds great potential.
It is rare to find a 71-footwide lot in this location. Tall cedars provide privacy for the property, which is 128 feet deep. A double garage and a driveway with room for four to six cars are other bonuses.
So far, the range of potential buyers has been broad, from couples who want space for children returning from school, those who want space for visiting grandchildren, and empty nesters.