This old Toronto house at 141 Isabella Steet has been on the market for a while, since at least December 2011.  The listing price for this 6 plex is $2,500,000.

Maybe no one has bought it because of the location. It is around the corner from all the new condos that are going up in the Bloor-Church corridor such as the X2 Condos.  Maybe it is just a little too far east.  Perhaps a little too close to St. James Town?

No one is going to buy it and renovate it in a 50 Elm Avenue kind of way (even though it is basically less than a 5 minute walk away).

The lot is a good size for a condo....

Maybe something like Museum House (not sure I love that though, too big?) or...

the 277 Davenport building to be completed in 2016 would be a good option here (too small?).

(render images via buzzbuzzhome.com)

With the 100-whatever-amount-of-condos-that-are-going-up-in-Toronto-versus-NYC....maybe people are hesitant, especially since the location isn't premium.

But perhaps someone could restore the actual house and build around it like the architects at KPMB did with the new home of Canada's National Ballet School?  That would be a nice way of maintaining the old Toronto feel.

Or can that sort of thing only been done once?  I don't think so.

If you were to do this, the red and yellow needs to go, actually the whole front porch needs to go, the neighbouring building needs to go...everything inside this place needs to go.

It's close to the downtown area of Toronto that is only going to get better.  It isn't very close to the new Loblaw's in the Gardens but there is a No Frills down the street!

What do you think is the best option for this house?

And what are the financials to make this a worthwhile buy for a condo developer?  Anyone know?

Because, really, there is no room left for this house in this area in downtown Toronto.  Am I being cynical?

Maybe it could become a school....

Or an office?  Maybe something like Casey House down the street?

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