The Merchandise Lofts

With loft conversions popping up left, right, and centre in the city since the mid 1980s, the Merchandise Lofts is technically amongst some of the oldest Toronto lofts. The former warehouse at 135 Dalhousie Street and 155 Dalhousie Street was, after all, converted before the new millennium. Perhaps that makes the building doubly historical.

Aside from its history, the Merchandise Lofts is also impressive for its size. With just 526 units, some of which span over 2,500 square feet, as far as condos go this one can be classified as colossal. While there certainly aren’t many other industrial-to-residential loft conversions in Toronto of this scale, there aren’t even too many buildings that beat the size of the Merchandise Lofts either: 135-155 Dalhousie Street is over 1 million square feet.

The list of pros goes on. The handiwork that went into the conversion of this building was of the utmost quality, and this isn’t just our opinion. Cresford Developments received several awards for the loft’s design and construction back in 1999.

Funnily enough, these developers might not have foreseen 135-155 Dalhousie being designated a heritage property seven years later. Maybe they had a hunch, but nothing was set in stone when they decided to convert it.

According to its Heritage Toronto plaque, the building was built in phases, beginning in 1916. The Chicago-style, stucco structure was completed in 1950, and was used at the time as the Simpson’s department store warehouse.

Prospective buyers looking for amenities along with their homes will also be satisfied with the lofts. For sporty types, the building boasts an indoor pool, a gym with sauna, and even an indoor half basketball court. For those who just want to relax after a hard day’s work (and we don’t blame them) residents can take in the sunset from the common rooftop terrace. Dog owners needn’t go far, as the building offers a specific dog-walking zone on the roof.

While the building might have been built generations ago, Cresford managed to make some important updates during the conversion process. Energy-efficient windows were put in, and the roof was designated “green.” This way, homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint while living the good life in their authentic hard lofts.

Even though the Merchandise Lofts might already seem too good to be true, it gets even better. The smaller lofts have actually tended to be affordable when compared to other Toronto condos for sale — even for younger buyers. While there’s no saying when and how the market may change, the lofts continue to accommodate its more youthful residents with a fully-functioning, constantly updated Facebook page.