Toronto's Smallest House
October 18, 2007 10:12 AM Subscribe
Looking to buy a house in Toronto? Why not buy Toronto's smallest house (about 300 square feet), built in a former driveway. via.
"Plus 2 Car Parking"? Where?
posted by Armitage Shanks at 10:19 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by Armitage Shanks at 10:19 AM on October 18, 2007
$179K for 300 sq ft? How much is that in $US? Oh wait, never mind.
posted by klarck at 10:21 AM on October 18, 2007 [5 favorites]
posted by klarck at 10:21 AM on October 18, 2007 [5 favorites]
This is what $180,000 buys you in Toronto? I'd rather buy one of these and just live in it.
posted by patr1ck at 10:21 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by patr1ck at 10:21 AM on October 18, 2007
A coworker of mine has a house only slightly larger - about the same but with a second floor - in Nahant, MA.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 10:22 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 10:22 AM on October 18, 2007
I have to question the need for two satellite dishes.
posted by tadellin at 10:24 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by tadellin at 10:24 AM on October 18, 2007
"Plus 2 Car Parking"? Where?
In back. That area of the city has a lot of laneways with rear garages.
posted by kowalski at 10:27 AM on October 18, 2007
In back. That area of the city has a lot of laneways with rear garages.
posted by kowalski at 10:27 AM on October 18, 2007
I would totally live there. I love tiny houses.
posted by arcticwoman at 10:30 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by arcticwoman at 10:30 AM on October 18, 2007
I think the fact that it comes with Elfs is totally worth the cost.
posted by tastybrains at 10:32 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by tastybrains at 10:32 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
Also, 100 Amp service. In case you fill it with table saws or something.
posted by GuyZero at 10:33 AM on October 18, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by GuyZero at 10:33 AM on October 18, 2007 [3 favorites]
I adore it. It's like Number 12 Grimmauld Place.
posted by padraigin at 10:38 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by padraigin at 10:38 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
The Unabomber's house was much less expensive than that. More acreage too. What a rip off.
posted by psmealey at 10:47 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by psmealey at 10:47 AM on October 18, 2007
Looks like a dream home for Bubbles.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:49 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:49 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
I find it telling that, although they say it has a "reno'd bath" there are no pictures of it and it does not show up among the oficially listed rooms.
Perhaps that means the reno consisted of suctioning out the pit under the potted plant?
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:54 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
Perhaps that means the reno consisted of suctioning out the pit under the potted plant?
posted by CynicalKnight at 10:54 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
I would buy that home, get Warwick Davis to stay in it for an evening, and then, as a joke, have Stephen Merchant peer in at him through the window.
That's the sort of wasteful behavior I would engage in if I were a billionaire.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:55 AM on October 18, 2007 [4 favorites]
That's the sort of wasteful behavior I would engage in if I were a billionaire.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:55 AM on October 18, 2007 [4 favorites]
On the one hand, I can't believe this place is up to code with the Murphy bed going all the way to the wall like that.
On the other hand, bowling every night, baby!
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 10:56 AM on October 18, 2007
On the other hand, bowling every night, baby!
posted by Terminal Verbosity at 10:56 AM on October 18, 2007
tastybrains writes "I think the fact that it comes with Elfs is totally worth the cost."
Rather, "Elf's," which I think means that it used to be owned by an elf, or maybe even someone named Elf. Which makes sense either way.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:00 AM on October 18, 2007
Rather, "Elf's," which I think means that it used to be owned by an elf, or maybe even someone named Elf. Which makes sense either way.
posted by krinklyfig at 11:00 AM on October 18, 2007
just being a "little" pedantic
posted by psmealey at 11:02 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
Actually there's an even smaller house in Toronto.. (as mentioned in this episode of Quirks & Quarks: Green Buildings)
posted by Space Coyote at 11:05 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Space Coyote at 11:05 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
Not as small, but Grand Designs in the UK featured a house that was built in an alley and had serious height restrictions: Peckham Glass House
posted by smackfu at 11:14 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by smackfu at 11:14 AM on October 18, 2007
When you're in your little room
And you're working on something good
But if it is really good
You're gonna need a bigger room
And when you're in the bigger room
You might not know what to do
You might have to think of
How you got started
Sittin' in your little room
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:27 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
And you're working on something good
But if it is really good
You're gonna need a bigger room
And when you're in the bigger room
You might not know what to do
You might have to think of
How you got started
Sittin' in your little room
posted by Parasite Unseen at 11:27 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
"Elf's"Elves
just being a "little" pedantic
Oh, see, I thought Elfs was the Canadian spelling of elves. Goes to show how much I know.
posted by tastybrains at 11:33 AM on October 18, 2007
just being a "little" pedantic
Oh, see, I thought Elfs was the Canadian spelling of elves. Goes to show how much I know.
posted by tastybrains at 11:33 AM on October 18, 2007
I still don't get what an Elf is in this context (and I speak Canadian). Is it short for something? Electronic Lawn Furniture? Excitable Live-in Furrier?
posted by Turtles all the way down at 11:41 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by Turtles all the way down at 11:41 AM on October 18, 2007
Toronto? Ha!
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO TORONTO
by THE VESTIBULES
it is essential that you understand that this is sung in a French Canadian accent
I don't want to go to Toronto
I don't want to go
All of the blocks are square
None of the streets are twisted
None of the streets are paved with bricks
There's too many elevators in Toronto
Not enough stairs in Toronto
Not enough stairs
All of the food in Toronto is made of edible oil products
They don't have bagels in Toronto
They have doughnuts
Doughnuts made of edible oil
I don't like doughnuts
They don't have bagels
I don't want to go to Toronto
People don't have faces in Toronto
They have cigarette ads instead
They listen to your phone calls
There's a tower in Toronto that controls people's minds
It's illegal to possess brightly coloured balloons in Toronto
Illegal to own brightly coloured balloons
All of the children in Toronto must wear suits
Even the girls
Three piece suits
The buildings in Toronto have no windows
I don't want to go
Everyone lives in sub-terranean caverns
Filled with doughnuts made of edible oil
I don't want to go
Nobody goes to the bathroom in Toronto
They have a special operation
They have it removed surgically
There's a tax on all wicker goods in Toronto
There's huge buildings with no windows
And streets with no curves
And inside you find little girls in suits
Running around with black balloons
And munching on edible oil products
The kids don't have names
They have numbers which are assigned to them at birth
They're called three hundred and eighty seven point seven
Four hundred and twelve point nine
And they all have cigarette ads instead of faces
I don't want to go to Toronto
I don't want to go
I have plenty of wicker goods
I don't want a tax on my wicker goods
I like going to the bathroom
I don't want to go the hospital
I don't want to go to Toronto
I don't want to go
Do I have to go to Toronto?
Do I?
Do I have to go?
posted by koeselitz at 11:43 AM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]
by THE VESTIBULES
it is essential that you understand that this is sung in a French Canadian accent
I don't want to go to Toronto
I don't want to go
All of the blocks are square
None of the streets are twisted
None of the streets are paved with bricks
There's too many elevators in Toronto
Not enough stairs in Toronto
Not enough stairs
All of the food in Toronto is made of edible oil products
They don't have bagels in Toronto
They have doughnuts
Doughnuts made of edible oil
I don't like doughnuts
They don't have bagels
I don't want to go to Toronto
People don't have faces in Toronto
They have cigarette ads instead
They listen to your phone calls
There's a tower in Toronto that controls people's minds
It's illegal to possess brightly coloured balloons in Toronto
Illegal to own brightly coloured balloons
All of the children in Toronto must wear suits
Even the girls
Three piece suits
The buildings in Toronto have no windows
I don't want to go
Everyone lives in sub-terranean caverns
Filled with doughnuts made of edible oil
I don't want to go
Nobody goes to the bathroom in Toronto
They have a special operation
They have it removed surgically
There's a tax on all wicker goods in Toronto
There's huge buildings with no windows
And streets with no curves
And inside you find little girls in suits
Running around with black balloons
And munching on edible oil products
The kids don't have names
They have numbers which are assigned to them at birth
They're called three hundred and eighty seven point seven
Four hundred and twelve point nine
And they all have cigarette ads instead of faces
I don't want to go to Toronto
I don't want to go
I have plenty of wicker goods
I don't want a tax on my wicker goods
I like going to the bathroom
I don't want to go the hospital
I don't want to go to Toronto
I don't want to go
Do I have to go to Toronto?
Do I?
Do I have to go?
posted by koeselitz at 11:43 AM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites]
I still don't get what an Elf is in this context (and I speak Canadian). Is it short for something? Electronic Lawn Furniture? Excitable Live-in Furrier?
I don't think it's an abbreviation. I think they are the small little men who live in the cupboard who come out at night and bake you cookies. But only if you buy the house.
posted by tastybrains at 11:47 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
I don't think it's an abbreviation. I think they are the small little men who live in the cupboard who come out at night and bake you cookies. But only if you buy the house.
posted by tastybrains at 11:47 AM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite]
and, turtles, the idea is that small houses come with small people
posted by koeselitz at 11:47 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by koeselitz at 11:47 AM on October 18, 2007
Existing Light Fixtures -- in other words, the owners aren't taking that chandelier you loved when they leave.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:53 AM on October 18, 2007
posted by jacquilynne at 11:53 AM on October 18, 2007
I've seen this place but just assumed it was part of one of the adjoining properties. Crazy.
Other crazy Toronto houses include this greek-styled temple on Shaw St., just around the corner from where I practise sometimes.
posted by stinkycheese at 12:01 PM on October 18, 2007
Other crazy Toronto houses include this greek-styled temple on Shaw St., just around the corner from where I practise sometimes.
posted by stinkycheese at 12:01 PM on October 18, 2007
Elves is the standard plural but elfs has been used:
1700 DRYDEN Wife Bath's T. 3 The King of elfs.. Gamboll'd on heaths.
(That's the OED citation; in the original publication it was apparently "The king of eelfs, and little fairy queen, Gambol’d on heaths, and danc’d on ev’ry green.")
posted by languagehat at 12:16 PM on October 18, 2007
1700 DRYDEN Wife Bath's T. 3 The King of elfs.. Gamboll'd on heaths.
(That's the OED citation; in the original publication it was apparently "The king of eelfs, and little fairy queen, Gambol’d on heaths, and danc’d on ev’ry green.")
posted by languagehat at 12:16 PM on October 18, 2007
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO TORONTO
by THE VESTIBULES
I have 3 MP's worth of that somewhere. It is indeed comedy gold.
posted by GuyZero at 12:24 PM on October 18, 2007
If I got that house I’d have a huge basement, maybe a sub basement too. Carry in all sorts of bulky heavy stuff, grand piano, big screen t.v., weird out the neighbors. And I’d build a tiny garage smaller than the length of my car, with a massively downward sloping floor into a large underground space with one of those revolving turntables for the car and I’d drive in and out of it at 70 mph. And I’d store all kinds of large equipment in it like an industrial snow blower and a riding mower. And I’d scream at kids to get off of my tiny lawn. You can’t 1/2 ass these things.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:37 PM on October 18, 2007 [18 favorites]
posted by Smedleyman at 12:37 PM on October 18, 2007 [18 favorites]
Not much room to swing your arms when you play your Nintendo Wii. But I love the hardwood floors!
posted by cazoo at 1:10 PM on October 18, 2007
posted by cazoo at 1:10 PM on October 18, 2007
Smedleyman, I think I love you.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:55 PM on October 18, 2007
posted by jacquilynne at 1:55 PM on October 18, 2007
Even though this house is a silly little thing, damn but if you don't get a lot of house for your money in Canada. Six bedrooms on Vancouver Island for $300,000? Here, you'd be lucky to get a slum for that sort of money. And I live in a *cheap* part of the UK.
If it wasn't so cold, I might even think about relocating.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:10 PM on October 18, 2007
If it wasn't so cold, I might even think about relocating.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:10 PM on October 18, 2007
I'd totally buy it if it were in a better area. Also, there's a smaller house near Danforth and Coxwell.
posted by dobbs at 3:55 PM on October 18, 2007
posted by dobbs at 3:55 PM on October 18, 2007
If it wasn't so cold, I might even think about relocating.
Peter, Vancouver Island really isn't all that much colder than England. If you lived on the southern end of the island (Victoria area) you're not much north of Seattle. It would cost you more than 300k in Victoria, though.
Still, the west coast of Canada is a temperate rain forest. There's snow on the ground anywhere between perhaps four and twenty days a year.
posted by The God Complex at 4:31 PM on October 18, 2007
That's the size of many apartments in Hell's Kitchen, which might be 25 to 50 sq feet larger. When they're renovated they look very similar. $180,000 seems a good price for Toronto.
posted by nickyskye at 4:35 PM on October 18, 2007
posted by nickyskye at 4:35 PM on October 18, 2007
I would much rather live in that funny house that a comparably priced condo. Probably about the same square footage too. Still, strange there are no photos of the bathroom.
posted by typewriter at 7:36 PM on October 18, 2007
posted by typewriter at 7:36 PM on October 18, 2007
I wonder why they didn't make it two stories, and fill in the space between the two neighboring houses completely?
Also, how did they get approval....
posted by jrochest at 9:03 PM on October 18, 2007
Also, how did they get approval....
posted by jrochest at 9:03 PM on October 18, 2007
Can I post my favorite small house?
It is right across from a large parking garage near downtown Mountain View, CA, so I always see it whenever I go to MV to have lunch.
Mountian View being the home of Google, all its streets are covered by Google's 'Street View' photos, so there's a nice shot here.
I occasionally see the owner going in and out. I've always wanted to know the story of this tiny house in downtown Mountain View.
posted by eye of newt at 10:44 PM on October 18, 2007
It is right across from a large parking garage near downtown Mountain View, CA, so I always see it whenever I go to MV to have lunch.
Mountian View being the home of Google, all its streets are covered by Google's 'Street View' photos, so there's a nice shot here.
I occasionally see the owner going in and out. I've always wanted to know the story of this tiny house in downtown Mountain View.
posted by eye of newt at 10:44 PM on October 18, 2007
Gees--I just found out the MV house is for sale too!
Only $1,780,000!
Of course it includes a much larger retail zoned house up the street and a large lot (see the photos for the back of the tiny house).
The larger house was once home to a famous and extremely expensive French restaurant (if I am thinking of the right house--not too many early 1900 houses in downtown MV)--one of those restaurants that you pay $100 and get a plate of artistic food that wouldn't fill a starving model.
Considering the location, the zoning, and all the land--not a bad price. You even get a really tiny place to live!
posted by eye of newt at 10:59 PM on October 18, 2007
Only $1,780,000!
Of course it includes a much larger retail zoned house up the street and a large lot (see the photos for the back of the tiny house).
The larger house was once home to a famous and extremely expensive French restaurant (if I am thinking of the right house--not too many early 1900 houses in downtown MV)--one of those restaurants that you pay $100 and get a plate of artistic food that wouldn't fill a starving model.
Considering the location, the zoning, and all the land--not a bad price. You even get a really tiny place to live!
posted by eye of newt at 10:59 PM on October 18, 2007
My friends live next to a smaller house. Somebody is living in a 1-car compact-sized garage in their alley and has added all the usually house-style trimmings. It's pretty hilarious.
posted by tehloki at 12:39 AM on October 19, 2007
posted by tehloki at 12:39 AM on October 19, 2007
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posted by tastybrains at 10:18 AM on October 18, 2007