Just off Queen West in a Parkdale neighbourhood that walks the line between gritty-dirty and gritty-sexy, you’ll find a loft conversion that does the same. This 2-storey factory conversion, with exposed brick, hardwood floors, high ceilings, wood columns and beams has all the trappings of a sleek reno while maintaining that rough unfinished feel. Walk down the alley beside the lofts and you can see the different phases of construction (there appears to be at least 4 buildings and additions), and the entrances to the artistic businesses in the live-work units on the first floor.

Exterior of the Brock Lofts, the old Eureka Refrigeration building on Brock Avenue

The Brock Lofts is a converted factory that was originally home to the Eureka Refrigeration Company. In 1886, Wilbert Hooey patented a design for a refrigerator that was insulated with air and this building housed his company from 1910 to 1915. Mr. Hooey live at 21 Marion Street at that time, later moving to 174 Dowling Avenue in 1912. The building has also been home to The Canadian Symphonola Talking Machine Company, the National Fruit and Wine Company and a bakery called the Gumpert Company.

An ad for the old Symphonola factory at 31 Brock Avenue

Converted in 2003 by M&M Developments, the building is now home to 24 authentic hard lofts ranging in size from 360 to 1,400 square feet. Lofts in the building come in all sorts of different layouts, some with multiple levels. These are character-rich spaces by any standard – the lofts boast 12 to 18 foot ceilings, massive wood beams, exposed duct work, exposed brick walls. The open concept lofts benefit from natural light provided by large windows plus skylights in the second floor units. A common rooftop deck offers sun and BBQ in the warmer months.

One of the few Brock Lofts with a bedroom mezzanine

The sensation inside the units is that of an artist’s studio or art gallery. Skylights bring light into the second floor units especially brightly, providing ample illumination. A few ground floor units have direct access to the street, making them particularly suitable for a live/work environment. Located just around the corner from the Noble Court Lofts, this is a hotbed of creativity and loft conversions.

All of the Brock Loft units have a plethora of exposed yellow brick

These lofts don’t come up for sale all that often, but the popularity of the neighbourhood has caught up, translating into healthy price tags. The Brock Lofts is on the border between the residential neighbourhood of Brockton Village and Parkdale’s fun and funky West Queen West. The strip of Queen Street West only a block away has transformed in recent years, and today international cuisine, boutiques, cafes and nightlife all contribute to lifestyle in these beautiful, authentic lofts.

Wood ceilings. hardwood floors and brick walls make the Brock Lofts truly authentic

The area showcases a wide array of restaurants, bars and galleries including the Gladstone Hotel and the Drake Hotel. Beware Electric Mud and their addicting BBQ, as they are not even a block away. Wrong Bar will satisfy your wildest weekend nights.

The Gladstone Hotel on Queen Street West

The epitome of recent gentrification, Parkdale has gone from a less-desired neighbourhood to a residential hot spot in the last few years. Businesses have popped up all over, and families and young professionals have scooped up age old homes in the neighbourhood and transformed them into beautiful residences. The Drake and Gladstone had gone through their own metamorphosis and the transformation continued to creep west past Dufferin, under the CN bridge and right smack dab into Parkdale.

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Contact Laurin Jeffrey for more information – 416-388-1960

Laurin Jeffrey is a Toronto real estate agent with Century 21 Regal Realty.
He did not write these articles, he just reproduces them here for people who
are interested in Toronto real estate. He does not work for any builders.
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