For dogs and their owners, ample green space is an important consideration when hunting for a home. All of these spots are near big parks with off-leash areas and other amenities for four-legged friends.
SUNNYBROOK: 20 Burkebrook Pl., Unit 225. #MID (pictured above)
Last sold price: $393,000 (2010)
The draw: Maintenance fees are reasonable for this 803-square-foot one-bedroom in a building with an indoor pool and gas barbecue hookups on the balconies. Nearby, hilly, trail-laden Sunnybrook Park has an off-leash area that includes a doggy water fountain.
The catch: The condo is rather drab, with lots of dull, beige tiles and budget-conscious countertops in the kitchen and bathroom.
TRINITY BELLWOODS: 915 King St. W., Unit 109. #KGW
Last sold price: $312,000 (2011)
The draw: Designed by Old City Hall architect E.J. Lennox, the heritage-designated Massey Harris Lofts have 11-foot ceilings, exposed brick, and tons of post-and-beam charm. It’s a three-minute walk from South Stanley Park and close to Trinity Bellwoods.
The catch: The space is under 400 square feet, and the 50-square-foot den is currently a walk-in closet. Really, this is a bachelorette pad, and only a tiny dog could possibly share it with a human companion.
HUMEWOOD: 201 Atlas Ave. #SCW
Last sold price: $2 (1981). Sometimes a house is sold to a loved one (rather than passed down after a death), in order to avoid probate fees.
The draw: This detached bungalow has two bedrooms and sits on a 103-foot-long lot. There’s lots of parking—a front pad as well as a driveway and garage. It’s close to the Wychwood Barns and Cedarvale Park as well as the souped-up dog run at Sir Winston Churchill Park, overlooking Nordheimer Ravine.
The catch: The furnace and roof are just three years old, but the décor is from linoleum’s bygone heyday. Nothing is pretty, and the backyard is paved over.
BEACH: 8 Norway Ave. #BCH
Last sold price: $275,000 (2003).
The draw: This cute, two-bedroom semi has hardwood floors, a modern paint job, and white, feminine accents throughout. The backyard is nicely landscaped and the basement is finished. It’s a quick jaunt to the off-leash area at Kew Gardens.
The catch: It’s just 13 feet wide, making the main washroom rather squished. Still, it’s likely that a house like this in the Beach will attract over-asking offers, even without a parking spot.
