Alexandria Place

Built in 1911 as the Rossmore Apartments, these six large three-storey townhouses were condo converted in 1985, when their basement levels were given daylight by excavating stairwells with patios along the front of the building. The result is attractive and full of character, with steps from the sidewalk down to the lower levels and steps up to each suite's front door.

The large spaces and location with sidewalk access long ago made these townhouses more valuable as offices than as homes, so today none of them are lived in, but are owned by businesses such as insurance agents, lawyers, and investment advisors. The zoning allows both residential and business use.

Including the basement the smallest of these condo properties offers 2,781 square feet and the largest, at the north end, has 3,259 square feet. The third floor of each townhouse extends only half way to the building's back wall, leaving space for a nice little west-facing roof-top deck for each, although the south-most unit has enclosed this space as a sun room. Most of the suites also have skylights or "light pipes" into the upper level. Some if not all units still have an original wood-burning fireplace, and some have two, plus all have two or more bathrooms.

Around back and accessed off Fourteenth Avenue are 40 parking stalls, two thirds in tandem sets on a lot that was paved, curbed and guttered in 2006. Exterior windows and doors are Alexandria Place are common property for maintenance and eventual replacement. I have the Condo Plan on file.