This building is another case of the myth being much more interesting than the truth. The prevailing story is that the lofts at 142 Spadina Road were converted from an old convent. I wish that were true… but it is not. It is the old Ansonia Apartments, built in 1912.

The Tudor-esque 1912 exterior of the old Ansonia Apartments building

Not sure where the convent rumour came from, but there is nothing out there – anywhere – to support that. It was a luxury apartment building, 2-1/2 storeys tall (lower level is partly below grade), with 4 large 2-bedroom / 2-bathroom apartments per floor. Each unit is 1,050 square feet and all appear to be the same general layout.

Unfortunately, while spacious, the units are rather plain

With its past as an apartment building, it is not unusual to find that the units do not have their own ensuite laundry. Nor do they have central air, as they are all still heated by radiators. Parking is rental only, with fewer spots than units.

Fire escape as patio at the Ansonia Lofts

There is not a lot of information available regarding the old Ansonia building. There is a tenuous connection to a building in New York City of the same name, it seems that it was named after it. In 1904, when the NYC Ansonia was built, it was said to be the largest apartment building the world. An odd name to share with the Toronto Ansonia, as it is not very big at all.

Lots of original wood and character in the lobby of the Ansonia Lofts

Its status as a luxury building can be attested to by the frequency of its appearance in old Toronto blue blood directories. This is where the hoi-polloi of the city would publish their names and addresses and the days and times on which they would receive visitors (calling cards in hand, one would imagine). Florence Peters in 1913, J.R. O’Connel in 1914, through to Mary Sinclair in 1928 – all called 142 Spadina Road home.

Spadina Road, look north from Bernard, in 1949. The Ansonia Apartments would be about the 10th building up on the left.

The building was converted from rental to condo use in the early 1990s, with the first units appearing on MLS in 1991. Annesleywood Properties Limited was the developer. They did a lovely job, retaining much of the old world charm in the hallways and common areas.

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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 every article, some are reproduced here for people who
are interested in Toronto real estate. He does not work for any builders.
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