Massey Harris Lofts

The building at 915 King Street West is one of the oldest structures still inhabited today. Now, that’s not to say that the Massey Harris Lofts didn’t receive its share of upgrades and updates during the renovation process. However the fact that the building was built not in the last century, but in the one before that, is pretty impressive.

The original construction of 915 King West occurred in 1883, when the Massey Harris Company needed a site for its offices. These agricultural tool manufacturers took up residence in the building throughout Toronto’s booming industrial era, and today the building has been skillfully repurposed.

In 2003, Canderel Residential oversaw the conversion of the Massey Harris office building into 46 hard lofts. With its designation as a heritage building, the structure thankfully couldn’t be demolished. If you recognize Canderel Residential, it's likely because they are the same people who developed Toronto's largest residential tower: Aura at College Park. While this property is nowehere near as large as Aura, the developers did manage to add a couple of storeys to the top of 915 King St W, though, in order to maximize the number of homes they could offer to prospective buyers.

The final product is a 7-storey structure, divided into 46 King West condos: most of these are authentic hard lofts, while a small number of contemporary penthouses are available as well. Even those living in the newer units can appreciate the historical architecture of the façade and common areas at the Massey Harris Lofts. The traditional red brick exterior is sprinkled with stone details over windows and the front entryway that simply cannot be recreated today.

According to the reports on the building’s heritage status, the architectural style is a combination of Queen and Revival and Georgian. Arched windows can be seen throughout, while bay windows line the ground floor. While this building was celebrated for its inventiveness back in the 1800s, today it is coveted for its deep sense of history and antique look.

With the Massey Harris Lofts’ unique style, historical character, and low monthly fees, it’s no wonder residents don’t opt to move out very often. Turnover, therefore, is quite low, but interested buyers are encouraged to keep an eye out for any appearances it might make on the market.