Inside this $1.9M 2-bedroom Annex condo with black marble finishes and sprawling terrace

Price: $1,899,000
Neighbourhood: The Annex
X-factor: The biggest selling point for this second-story condo with two bedrooms and bathrooms on 280 Howland Ave. is the $250,000-worth of upgrades, according to realtor Daniel Shafro.
The main room includes a kitchen with a black, Calacatta marble island and black splash and a living room with stone panelling and a built-in gas fireplace. The room also has access to the 305-square-foot, south-facing terrace — another selling point, according to Shafro, who says the building has more north-facing terraces — that has a gas barbecue, glass fire pit and separate dining and sitting areas.
The two bedrooms are on opposite sides of the unit, and there is a third room with a built in black, Calacatta marble desk that Shafro says is great for working from home.
Both bathrooms, one of which is an ensuite, have heated floors.
And the Bianca building, where the condo is located, has itself many amenities including a gym, rooftop patio with a pool and underground parking, Shafro says.
Interest would likely come from couples between the ages of 35 and 45, according to Shafro.
“There’s not a ton of condominiums in the Annex. The neighbourhood is known for Victorian-style row houses and detached homes. So it’s always interesting to have a different type of housing property, because, you know, younger people, they could not afford a detached home to well over $2-million in that area,” he says.
He adds that the condo’s layout makes it ideal for people who want to entertain, emphasizing that the terrace and kitchen have ample space for guests.
But, Shafro notes that a lot of interested people who have stopped in to see the space have been a bit older and are looking to downsize from their current homes.
“They just want an option that’s not as big, more affordable,” he says. “They want to have some money saved up for their for retirement and to travel and whatnot.”
The condo building is located in the Annex along Dupont Street, which Shafro says is another selling point for the unit.
“You’ve got lots of nice restaurants, shops and art galleries. We’ve got cafes right downstairs,” he said.
The building is also within walking distance of Dupont Station on the Line 1 Yonge-University subway, and Casa Loma and other parks. Yorkville, Summerhill and Rosedale are not too far away either, he points out.
And, while Dupont Street is not “a terribly busy street,” Shafro says density in the area is increasing, which could contribute to noise levels.
“Some people don’t want to live on the second floor off Dupont,” he said. “Although it’s still only one lane of moving vehicles each way, with a lane for parked cars, it is getting busier.”
The Star has previously reported on Toronto’s struggling condo market, with sales plunging to a 27-year low in the first half of 2024 and prices expected to drop as early as the end of the year.
According to the most recent monthly report from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), the average selling price for a condo in Toronto in August was $681,835, down from $724,549 in TRREB’s August 2023 report.
Shafro recognizes that people’s finances and what they are looking for in a unit varies, and says that’s why there’s flexibility on the sticker price.
“Whenever you’re listing a property, you have to understand that even in a good market, you’re not necessarily going to get the asking (price) for it.”