A large lot in a desirable Beach location
House is close to shops and Martin Goodman Trail
Location: 27 Neville Park Blvd., Victoria Park Ave. and Queen St. E. Asking price: $1,595,000 Size: About 1,800 square feet, plus about 845-square-foot finished basement Lot: 50 by130 feet, no garage, private drive, four parking spaces Taxes: $7,953 (2014) Bedrooms: 3 plus 1 Bathrooms: 4 Located south of Queen St. E., less than a block away from Toronto’s east-end, sandy Lake Ontario shoreline, this two-storey detached home is on a large lot and steps from the Beach’s trendy shops and restaurants. This one-of-a-kind abode even has a claim to fame, as late Canadian singer Haydain Neale of the Junoaward winning band Jacksoul was its previous owner.
“I’ve lived in the home for about five years, but now, being an empty-nester, it’s time to downsize,” says current owner Jodi Thomas. “One of my favourite aspects of living here is to be able to turn down my street and see the lake.”
Unlike the busy west end of the Beach neighbourhood that most Torontonians are familiar with, the east end is very tranquil. The home is immersed in nature, from the many majestic trees dotting the landscape to the ravine-like backyard.
“This pocket of the Beach neighbourhood is very special, as I can easily walk to most amenities, but if, for some reason, I can’t find what I want locally, I can hop on the Queen St. streetcar and get downtown without any trouble. My two dogs love the off-leash dog area along the beach at the end of our street. The neighbourhood has an incredible sense of community while offering all of the advantages of being in the city,” says Thomas.
The home is just a few blocks away from the Martin Goodman Trail and the Boardwalk. It is near a park, schools and not far from the prestigious Toronto Hunt club.
“This is one of the only streets in the city in which there is the lake and beach at one end of the block and the shops and cafés of Queen St. at the other. That, combined with exceptional lot sizes and proximity to downtown, justifies the multimillion dollar price tags we’ve seen on the street recently. In fact, the last home to sell on the street sold for over $4 million,” says listing agent Anna Kemp.
“This home has a unique garden wall that runs along the north side of the property, the entire length of the yard. The wall provides privacy and acts as a great sound barrier from Queen St. Though this home is an ideal family home as is, it’s quite possible the next owner will take advantage of the lot size and expand the home, as so many others on the street have done. Only a small number of such large lots as this one exist in the Beach neighbourhood, especially south of Queen St. It allows for the possibility of building a substantial extension to the existing home.
“In the last five years, this home has undergone a number of renovations, including a stunning designer kitchen and a spa-like upper bathroom,” Kemp says.
A long, flagstone walkway beside a wide, interlocking brick driveway — allowing for parking of up to four cars — leads to this impressive, all-brick home. Private and nestled back from the sidewalk, the property is surrounded by greenery. There is a large garden bed beside the walkway with a towering mature tree, shrubbery on the other side of the driveway, and ivy partially covering the facade.
The entrance door has a large glass insert with a decorative wroughtiron design. It opens to the foyer, featuring a slate floor and a closet.
Adjacent to the foyer is the expansive living room, boasting a fireplace bordered on both sides with built-in cabinetry and small windows above. The living room also features a very large, four-paned bay window, a hardwood floor, a modern hanging light fixture and crown moulding.
Highlights of the dining room include wainscotting, a wide French door, a picture window, a hardwood floor and a chandelier.
The dining room is open to the sophisticated kitchen with a heated ceramic-tile floor, a large centre island/ breakfast bar with cabinetry and a small chandelier-type light above. Other features of note in the designer kitchen are antique-velvet granite countertops, professional-grade stainless-steel appliances, pot lights, ceramic tile backsplash and a builtin, floor-to-ceiling cabinet.
Behind the dining room is a mud room with a hardwood floor, a powder room and sliding-glass-door walkout to a deck.
The warm-toned and elegant master bedroom on the second floor has a hanging light fixture, a hardwood floor, a large closet and a three-piece ensuite with a separate shower stall.
Facing the front, the second bedroom features a double closet, a hardwood floor and two windows. The third bedroom is L-shaped and has built-in shelves, a hardwood floor and two windows.
Completing the top floor is a threepiece, contemporary bathroom with a stand-alone tub and two picture windows.
The lower level is fully finished and offers the potential of a nanny suite. It boasts a separate entrance and heated floors on most of the level.
There is a guest bedroom with pot lights and a double closet. A threepiece, rustic bathroom contains an oversized shower stall with a bench, aglass block window and unique natural stone floor and tile.
The laundry room is large with a ceramic-tile floor, pot lights and a fridge. Fully fenced, the backyard has a large deck with a gazebo and is professionally landscaped. To have a look at this property, contact listing agents Anna Kemp and Brennan Aguanno, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Brokerage, 416-834-4708; aguannokemp.com; 27 NevilleParkBlvd.com.