West Queen West Real Estate | Victorian Value
Explore 54 Beaconsfield, an 1886 Victorian semi in West Queen West. Discover its welcoming porch, original character, generous rooms and potential among Queen West homes for sale in Toronto.
7 min read
Queen West: 54 Beaconsfield Ave - $1.7M - 5 BR - 3 WR - 25 x 122 ft. lot - SOLD
Grand Victorian Beauty in Prime Downtown Location! This magnificent 2 1/2 storey house showcases soaring ceilings, original mouldings, stained-glass inserts, fireplaces and original staircase. Set on an impressive 25 x 122 ft lot, it offers exceptional space and endless possibilities for indoor living, with parking for three cars in tandem off the private lane on the north side. And there is the possibility to build a two-storey laneway house with a garage at the rear, while today the backyard is a gardener's dream. Unbeatable downtown location, steps from Queen Street West and Dundas West shops, TTC, the Drake Hotel, Ossington's vibrant restaurant scene and Trinity Bellwoods Park. At the front, a welcoming full-width porch overlooks a lovely landscaped garden and quiet Beaconsfield Avenue. At the back, a heated sunroom offers a peaceful retreat with views of the lush green garden. Lovingly occupied and meticulously maintained by the same owner since 1985, this 140-year-old home is ready to welcome its next chapter. Ideal for a large family, it also offers exciting possibilities to create a legal duplex or a multi-generational living arrangement, or become an investment property with the addition of a laneway house. More photos in Virtual Tour!
Nick's Notes:
Maybe I romanticize the Queen West neighbourhood too much. In fact, I know I do. And I know exactly why. It's not just the character buildings, the mix of cultures and social classes, the great retail or Trinity Bellwoods Park, it's my memories of being twenty-something and hanging out in the area.
One of our hangouts was the patio at The Beaconsfield, at the corner of Queen. If I'm being honest, it was more my roommates' hangout spot, and I would tag along. And when I say hangout spot, I mean where they would meet a friend in the dank basement washroom to buy...whatever. Not particularly memorable, if not for the fact that Broken Social Scene was getting big around that time and would also hang out there.
That was over 20 years ago, but I remember seeing the drummer on numerous occasions at The Beaconsfield. We later ran into each other at a Girl Talk concert, where we recognized each other and finally introduced ourselves. I suspect the fact that we both had heads of curly hair helped us stand out, although Toronto before the condo boom was also a much smaller world. I'm fairly certain some members of the band still live in the west end, or at least have an affinity for it. I noticed Emily Haines gave the Dundas West Animal Hospital a shout-out during their Toronto show this summer. I'm sure some of you reading this know far better than I do.
Walking down this stretch today, now coined as West Queen West, the area is a shadow of its former self. Not quite to the degree of Ossington Avenue, but close. Regardless, I'm always intrigued by opportunities in the coolest neighbourhood in Toronto, and 54 Beaconsfield caught my eye right away.
The first thing I appreciated about the house was the front porch. It's unusually large, with handsome columns and a skylight. A lovely place to sit and watch life go by. It's a much nicer porch than you typically find in this price range, and a good introduction to what's inside. You certainly don't walk up to this house thinking it's overpriced. If anything, quite the opposite.
Built in 1886, this large Victorian semi has been owned by the same person since 1985. It feels like a house that has been comfortably lived in for many years, rather than one that has been renovated to sell. There is plenty of original character, including high ceilings, ornate mouldings, stained glass, fireplaces and tall baseboards, but much of the interior has the look and feel of a 1990s renovation.
The living and dining rooms are generously proportioned, with hardwood floors that appear to have been replaced at some point. They're not perfectly level, but nothing particularly concerning for a house of this age. Overall, the main floor is in decent condition, although there are signs of wear and upkeep that has been put off over the years.
Moving toward the back of the house, you arrive at a charming country-style kitchen with wood cabinetry and knotty pine floors. It won't be everyone's taste, but I quite liked the character of it. More importantly, it's perfectly functional, and I don't see why someone couldn't move in and use it until they're ready to renovate.
This is also where the house starts to get particularly interesting.
The property sits on an unusually wide lot with a private driveway along the north side. As you move toward the rear, where the driveway ends, the house widens considerably. This creates enough space for a separate family room beside the kitchen, something you don't typically find in these narrower Victorian semis. Behind the kitchen is another addition, a small heated sunroom with a skylight and walkout to the backyard.
Someone might choose to combine the kitchen and family room to create a much larger space, perhaps with an island. It would involve structural work, but there's plenty of room to work with, and the existing kitchen is functional enough that you could take your time figuring out what to do.
The backyard is another pleasant surprise. With no garage occupying the rear of the lot, you get a generous, private garden with a brick patio and mature landscaping. It's quite overgrown in places, but you can imagine how lovely it would have been when everything was more carefully tended. I actually like the somewhat wild aesthetic, and I don't think it would take a complete redesign to bring it back.
Importantly, there is also a rear laneway, and both neighbouring properties have garages. With three parking spaces already available in the private driveway, there's no immediate need to sacrifice any backyard space for parking, although that may be an option down the road. There is a laneway suite report that estimates city approval for a 1463 sq.ft laneway home.
Upstairs, the additional width at the rear of the house pays off again. Rather than having one bedroom overlooking the backyard, there are two good-sized bedrooms side by side, along with a separate hallway and bathroom. This makes the second floor considerably more functional than you might expect from a Victorian of this era.
The front primary bedroom is a lovely large space with a bay window looking onto the trees of Beaconsfield Avenue, a fireplace and built-in shelving. However, the most unusual part of the house is what they've done with the room that would traditionally sit between the front and rear bedrooms.
Rather than keeping it as a bedroom, they've converted it into a combination walk-through closet, dressing room and five-piece ensuite. It's an interesting arrangement, but also rather awkward, particularly the placement of the shower. I'm not entirely sure what they were thinking when they designed it, although I can appreciate the desire for a large ensuite and dressing room. I suspect this is one of the first things a new owner would want to rethink. The fixtures and finishes are dated, and the space could benefit from a complete redesign.
The third floor is reached by a rather steep staircase, where you'll find two more bedrooms and a narrow bathroom squeezed between them. The floors are older, with noticeable movement underfoot, and there is some deteriorating plaster and peeling paint. It's usable, but this level needs more attention.
A nice feature is the walkout from the rear third-floor bedroom onto the large flat roof of the widened portion of the house. There is no terrace in place, but the neighbour has built one, and I can see the appeal of creating a generous west-facing rooftop terrace overlooking the neighbourhood. Something worth investigating, as it would be a fantastic addition. It seems that on every floor, this house offers another opportunity.
Heading down to the basement, I was pleasantly surprised by the headroom. I'm about six feet tall and could walk around comfortably, with much of the ceiling appearing to be around 6'5" to 6'8". The basement is unfinished, with a combination of older brick and rubble stone foundation walls. There wasn't the musty smell you sometimes encounter in houses of this age, although the seller's inspection does note minor moisture penetration at one rear corner.
The inspection report was generally reassuring. No structural defects were observed in the foundation, the roofs are in good condition, and the electrical and plumbing systems have largely been updated, including a 200-amp electrical service. Most of the windows have also been replaced with double-pane vinyl.
That's not to say there aren't expenses coming. The boiler and hot water heater both require replacement due to their age, the chimney needs repairs, and there is some localized brickwork and plaster to address. The exterior walls are largely uninsulated, and the attic could use additional insulation. There is also an older ductless air-conditioning system on the second floor. Nothing particularly surprising for a house that's been around for 140 years, but certainly things to account for.
What I find particularly interesting about the basement is the possibility of creating a separate entrance from the private driveway. The neighbouring semi has already done exactly this, excavating an entrance where the driveway ends and the house widens. It's a much more discreet arrangement than having stairs dug into the front garden, and could be particularly attractive to someone considering a basement apartment. Of course, the feasibility would need to be confirmed, but the potential is there.
What I particularly like about 54 Beaconsfield is that so many of its best features are things you can't easily change or recreate. The unusually wide layout, generous rooms, large front porch, private driveway, rear laneway and substantial backyard are all meaningful advantages.
At $1.7M, it's not an inexpensive project once you start accounting for renovations. But for someone who appreciates the character of an old Victorian and wants the flexibility to improve it over time, there's quite a lot to work with here.
And perhaps I am living in the past and what the neighbourhood use to be, but it's still pretty great and I think this is exactly the type of property you want to score in today's market.
Listed by Monica Merinat, Royal LePage Terrequity Realty
