Toronto’s Queen Street East neighbourhood is undoubtedly one of the city’s loft hotspots. Leslieville, the neighbourhood east of the Don River in between Gerrard Street and Eastern Avenue, is home to more than a couple of authentic loft conversions. This area used to be an industrial epicenter and now the historic buildings are being turned into sensational open concept homes.

The Garment Factory Lofts, at 233 Carlaw Avenue, was built by Atria Developments and designed by Core Architects. Originally a garment factory, of course, the first 4 storeys of the building were restored and converted into lofts. They feature large warehouse-style windows, 11” ceilings and polished concrete floors.

Above the original structure, there’s a 4-storey extension made from glass, steel and brick. Because of its stepped back design, each of the new lofts has a balcony or a terrace. In total, there is a combination of 150 hard and soft lofts ranging from studios to 2 bedrooms with a den.

Leslieville is a lively and safe community with lots of local cafes, restaurants, boutiques and salons. Local favourites in your immediate area include Mercury Espresso Bar, Lady Marmalade and Joy Bistro. There are also several parks in the area such as Jimmie Simpson Park, just west of 233 Carlaw Avenue.