15 BASEBALL PLACE CONDO | RIVERSIDE SQUARE CONDOS

For a lot of buyers and renters, whether a building genuinely welcomes pets is a dealbreaker question, not an afterthought. Here's what to actually confirm before you move into Riverside Square with a dog or cat.

Why Condo Pet Policies Aren't One-Size-Fits-All

Under Ontario's Condominium Act, condo corporations can establish reasonable rules around pets — including restrictions on number, size, weight, or breed — provided those rules are properly documented in the corporation's governing declaration and by-laws. This means pet policies genuinely vary building to building, even within the same broader community like Riverside Square's five addresses.

What to Actually Confirm Before You Commit

• Number of pets permitted per unit. Most condo corporations cap this, commonly at one or two pets.

• Size or weight restrictions, particularly relevant for larger dog breeds.

• Any breed-specific restrictions, which some corporations do include in their rules.

• Designated pet relief areas or building-specific etiquette rules, including elevator and common-area policies for pet owners.

• Whether the specific policy differs across 15, 25, 30, 45 Baseball Place, or 665 Queen Street E — don't assume a policy you read about one building automatically applies community-wide.

Why This Matters More for Renters Specifically

If you're renting rather than buying, remember that a landlord's own lease terms can add an additional layer of restriction on top of the condo corporation's rules — even if the building broadly permits pets, an individual landlord can still choose not to allow them in their specific unit's lease. When applying to rent at Riverside Square, confirm the specific unit's pet policy directly with the landlord or property manager, not just the building's general reputation.

What to Do If You're Not Sure a Building Allows Pets

Ask directly and get it in writing before you commit — whether you're buying or signing a lease. Verbal assurances from a listing agent aren't a substitute for confirming the actual condo declaration and by-laws, or the specific lease terms if you're renting.

What This Means for Landlords Renting Out a Unit Here

If you own a unit at Riverside Square and are deciding whether to permit pets in your lease, consider that pet-friendly units often draw a larger applicant pool in a building and neighbourhood known for its walkability and green space access nearby — a genuine competitive advantage if you're trying to minimize vacancy time, provided you factor in appropriate protections like a higher security consideration where permitted under Ontario law.

The Bottom Line

Riverside Square's community-wide reputation as walkable and livable doesn't guarantee a uniform pet policy across all five buildings — confirm the specific rules for your building and unit before you commit, whether you're buying or renting.

Have a pet and looking for a unit at Riverside Square that welcomes them? Reach out to our team and we can point you toward current pet-friendly availability.

Of the five buildings that make up Riverside Square, 665 Queen Street E stands apart in one clear way: it's the only one built around heritage character rather than a purpose-built modern tower. Here's a closer look at what that actually means for buyers.

What Makes 665 Queen Different

Located at the gateway to the Riverside Square community, 665 Queen St E is part of the Streetcar Developments vision for transforming Queen East into a live-work-play corridor — blending contemporary architecture and open layouts with the neighbourhood's existing character, rather than replacing it outright. Modern glass façades and integrated ground-floor retail sit alongside a streetscape that still reads as genuinely Riverside, not a transplanted downtown tower.

The Location Advantage

Sitting right where South Riverdale meets Leslieville, 665 Queen puts residents within easy reach of both neighbourhoods' retail and dining strips, plus fast access to the downtown core. It's a meaningfully different day-to-day feel than the Baseball Place towers set slightly further into the neighbourhood — more directly embedded in Queen Street East's retail energy.

Who 665 Queen Tends to Suit Best

• Buyers who want neighbourhood character over a purpose-built amenity tower. If part of Riverside Square's appeal is the East End's identity rather than a generic amenity package, this building leans further into that character than the newer Baseball Place towers.

• Renters and buyers prioritizing walkability to Queen East's retail strip. The building's position puts daily errands and dining options within an easy walk in a way that's slightly more immediate than the Baseball Place addresses.

• Investors targeting tenants drawn specifically to Leslieville's identity. The building's positioning at the Leslieville gateway can be a genuine draw for tenants who specifically want that neighbourhood association.

How It Compares to the Baseball Place Towers

Where 15, 25, 30, and 45 Baseball Place each offer a variation on purpose-built modern tower living, 665 Queen's heritage-integrated design is a genuinely different product within the same broader community. Neither is objectively better — it comes down to whether you're drawn to Riverside Square for its modern amenity package or for its integration with the East End's existing character.

What to Check Before Buying or Renting Here

• Confirm current unit mix and availability directly — heritage-integrated buildings sometimes have a different range of layouts than purpose-built towers, given the constraints of working with existing structure.

• Ask about retail tenant mix at street level, since that's a bigger part of this building's identity than it is for the other four addresses in the community.

• Review the Status Certificate carefully, as with any condo purchase — heritage-integrated buildings can carry different maintenance considerations than a fully new-build tower.

The Bottom Line

665 Queen Street E offers a genuinely distinct option within the Riverside Square community — heritage character and Queen East integration rather than a standard modern tower. For the right buyer, that distinction is exactly the draw.

Want current availability and pricing at 665 Queen Street E? Reach out to our team for building-specific details.

Every Riverside Square buyer eventually asks the same question: is the maintenance fee actually worth it, or is it just a monthly cost eating into affordability? Here's a straightforward breakdown of what those fees are paying for.

What Riverside Square's Fees Typically Cover

Across the Riverside Square buildings, condo maintenance fees generally fund:

• Building amenities — the rooftop infinity pool, fitness centre, party room, and guest suites that define the complex's "resort-style" positioning in South Riverdale.

• 24-hour concierge service — parcel collection and round-the-clock security, which directly affects both day-to-day convenience and how comfortable the building feels to live in.

• Common area maintenance — cleaning, repairs, and upkeep of hallways, lobbies, and shared spaces.

• Building insurance — coverage for the structure and common elements (separate from your own unit contents insurance, which you still need).

• Reserve fund contributions — money set aside for major future repairs (roof, elevators, mechanical systems) so the building doesn't need to levy a surprise special assessment.

• Utilities for common areas, and in some buildings, a portion of in-suite utilities depending on the specific building's fee structure.

Why Fees Can Differ Across the Five Buildings

Even within the same Riverside Square identity, maintenance fees vary building to building based on:

• Age of the building — 45 Baseball Place, as the newest phase, may carry different fee dynamics than 15 Baseball Place, the original building in the complex.

• Amenity load — buildings with more extensive shared amenities generally carry proportionally higher fees to fund and maintain them.

• Reserve fund health — a well-funded reserve keeps monthly fees more stable over time; an underfunded one risks a special assessment down the road, which costs owners far more than a slightly higher monthly fee would have.

How to Actually Evaluate Whether a Fee Is "Worth It"

The right question isn't "is this fee high or low" in isolation — it's whether the fee is proportionate to what you're getting and whether the reserve fund is healthy enough to avoid surprises.

1. Review the Status Certificate before you buy. This document reveals the building's reserve fund balance, any pending special assessments, and the corporation's financial health — non-negotiable due diligence on any condo purchase, Riverside Square included.

2. Compare fee-per-square-foot, not just the raw monthly number. A larger unit with a higher raw fee may actually cost less per square foot than a smaller unit in a fee-heavy building.

3. Factor amenity usage into your personal math. If you'll genuinely use the pool, gym, and party room regularly, the fee is effectively replacing a gym membership and social hosting costs you'd otherwise pay separately.

4. Ask about recent fee increases and why. A steady, modest annual increase tied to inflation is normal and healthy. A sudden large jump can signal the reserve fund was underfunded and is now catching up.

What This Means When Comparing to Renting

If you're weighing ownership against renting at Riverside Square, remember that a landlord's rent already has to cover their own maintenance fee plus their mortgage and profit margin — so the fee itself isn't "extra" cost unique to ownership, it's baked into every housing option in the building one way or another.

The Bottom Line

Riverside Square's maintenance fees fund a genuinely amenity-rich living experience — but "worth it" depends on your actual usage patterns and the specific building's reserve fund health, not the fee number in isolation. Always request and review the Status Certificate before finalizing any purchase.

Want the current maintenance fee and Status Certificate details for a specific Riverside Square unit you're considering? Contact our team for a building-specific breakdown.