1000 King Street W & 39 Shank Street

The Massey Square Condos is the perfect compromise in numerous areas: aesthetically, it’s understated yet robust; on the trend forecast, it’s classic yet still desirable 15 years after its construction.

In fact, the condos 1000 King Street West & 39 Shank Street were quite the trendsetters back in the day: the Massey Harris Condos was in Liberty Village before Liberty Village was cool (although technically it’s just outside the confines of the neighbourhood). It wasn’t until late 90s that modern businesses started popping up here, and the Liberty Village Business Improvement Area wasn’t founded until 2001.

Just one year later, in 2002, Plazacorp brought the red brick edifice at 1000 King West and 39 Shank to the neighbourhood. Today, prospective buyers will have to be feisty in order to nab a spot in the Massey Square Condos. Thankfully, though, turnover isn’t obsolete as there are nearly 200 units in the building. There are even a few townhomes that span two storeys each, over on Shank Street.

Standing at a comfortable 8 storeys tall, a major selling point for the Massey Square Condos isn’t its size or stature, but instead the low maintenance fees paid by residents — compared to buildings with similar specs, that is.

And yet still, even with relatively low fees, plenty of amenities occupy the building. Residents have a gym, a meeting room, a party room, visitor parking, and security at their disposal. Plus, there’s retail on ground level, making life at 1000 King West and 39 Shank all the more convenient.

The homes within the Massey Square Condos building range considerably in size, allowing everyone from veteran South Parkdale residents with families to first-time buyers the chance to find Toronto condos for sale that they can afford. In terms of numbers, suites range from approximately 500 to 1,500 square feet, and exposures vary from bachelor units to ones with three bedrooms.

Inside their homes, residents living at 1000 King West and 39 Shank can enjoy basking in the sunlight that pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows. The natural light also happens to illuminate sleek, contemporary features like stainless steel appliances and granite counters in kitchens. And when additional warmth is in order (which might be often thanks to Toronto’s bitterly cold winters), some units even boast gas fireplaces.

Homes might boast balconies or terraces, while some residents will simply prefer spending time in Massey Harris Park, just outside the building.

Technically, the Massey Square Condos are located just outside the boundaries of Liberty Village in the King West neighbourhood. This does not, however, stop residents from enjoying the shops, restaurants, bars, and other businesses found within.

What this locale does, however, is it gives residents the freedom to explore various surrounding neighbourhoods. A Saturday might be spent roaming the cobblestone streets of Liberty Village, while Sunday might call for brunch and gallery hopping along Queen West.

Even shoppers have their options where groceries are concerned. Residents can walk over to the Liberty Village Metro in just 11 minutes, while a FreshCo is located a 15-minute walk away on Northcote Avenue.

Outdoorsy residents of the Massey Square Condos are also well situated. Stanley Park is just 500 metres away, as is Trinity Bellwoods Park. In the former, a baseball diamond, an outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, and an off-leash dog area can be found. Nothing, however, beats letting a furry friend run free in Trinity Bellwoods’ dog bowl. In this park, even those without pets can waste a day away playing baseball, tennis, skating (roller or ice depending on the season), or simply sunbathing.

Living directly on King Street West certainly has its perks, and traveling around the city with ease is one of them. Drivers can use this route to head east or west just as easily as can those using public transit. Streetcars make stops just outside the doors of 1000 King West, at the corner of King and Shaw, from which passengers can be carried toward the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line.

Also handy is the 63 Ossington bus, which also stops at King and Shaw, and transports riders toward Ossington Station on the Bloor-Danforth line. In fact, this bus route continues further north to Eglinton West station after that, perfect for anyone looking to travel uptown.

The Gardiner Expressway can also be reached in minutes. Drivers can use this fast-paced highway to reach the 427 or the Don Valley Parkway, or to exit the city altogether.