THE ARCHITECTURE AND SETTING
Thornwood II at 25 Scrivener Square was completed in 2004, developed by Cresford Developments with architecture by Young + Wright Architects and interior design by Brian Gluckstein. The building is the south tower of the Thornwood complex, which comprises two buildings -- Thornwood I at 20 Scrivener and Thornwood II at 25 Scrivener -- flanking the small residential square from which they take their name.
The building's facade of blue-tinted glass with extensive private balconies and terraces is contemporary in character and complementary to its sister building across the square. The exterior concrete detailing was chosen to reference the heritage architecture along the adjacent streets rather than to contrast with it -- a contextual decision that has aged well, making the building feel embedded in its neighbourhood rather than imposed upon it.
Scrivener Square itself is the building's most important architectural feature, in the sense that the square gives the building a public outdoor setting that high-rise towers on urban thoroughfares do not have. The two Thornwood buildings face each other across a residential open space that functions as both address and shared garden for their residents -- a spatial configuration that has no equivalent in the Yorkville condo market and few equivalents anywhere in the city.
THE RESIDENCES
Thornwood II contains 135 suites across 13 storeys, with floor plans ranging from 570 square feet for the smallest one-bedroom to 4,000 square feet for the building's penthouse configurations. The floor plates are generous throughout the stack, reflecting 2004-era construction standards that prioritised suite proportions over unit density.
Brian Gluckstein's interior design language is present throughout the building -- the same vocabulary of material quality and spatial clarity that his work at 133 Hazelton, The Florian, and 10 Prince Arthur delivers. The suites in the best renovated condition at Thornwood II carry ceiling heights of 11.5 feet in the principal rooms, gas fireplaces, custom millwork, hardwood floors, and ensuite bathrooms specified at the standard Gluckstein's involvement requires.
Suite interiors vary significantly across the building's 22-year history, with some units in their original 2004 condition and others having been renovated substantially. The buyer who is willing to take a suite requiring renovation typically finds the combination of floor plate, ceiling height, and Gluckstein-designed bones produces a result that is impossible to replicate in newer construction at the same price. The square footage and proportions are the appeal; the finish is a variable.
THE AMENITIES
Thornwood II residents have access to their own building's full amenity program and also share some facilities with residents of Thornwood I at 20 Scrivener -- an arrangement that gives residents of 135 suites access to an amenity pool appropriate to a larger building at a maintenance cost appropriate to a mid-sized one. The fitness centre, party room with showcase kitchen, billiards room, games room, and hotel-quality guest suites are among the most consistently praised amenities of any building in the Summerhill-Rosedale market.
The outdoor terrace with BBQ facilities extends the building's social spaces into the summer months. The landscaped inner courtyard at the base of the Thornwood complex provides a private outdoor environment that residents access without leaving the building's grounds. Valet parking and 24-hour concierge service operate at the standard of the building's resident profile: predominantly owner-occupied, long-term, and exacting about building management quality.
The proximity to Summerhill and Rosedale subway stations -- both within a short walk -- and to the Yonge Street corridor's restaurants and specialty food merchants means that the building's location adds a daily-use quality that complements its residential comfort.
PARKING AND VALET
Valet parking is provided at Thornwood II, operated through the building's concierge team. Underground parking with guest spaces is available. The building's Scrivener Square position means that the parking experience is quiet and residential rather than the street-level congestion that buildings on major arterials contend with.
PETS
Pet policies at Thornwood II are governed by the condominium corporation's current rules. Buyers with animals should confirm the specific rules through the status certificate before purchasing. Nissan Michael can facilitate that review.
THE LOCATION
Scrivener Square is a residential precinct tucked between Yonge Street to the west, Price Street to the north, and the parkland boundary to the east -- a location that is within five minutes' walk of Yonge Street's full commercial corridor while maintaining the character of a private residential enclave. Summerhill subway station is a short walk north. Rosedale station is a short walk south.
The Summerhill Yonge Street corridor -- home to the Five Thieves gourmet food merchants, Boxcar Social, Terroni, and the North Toronto Station LCBO -- is one of the most well-regarded urban neighbourhood strips in the city, a stretch of independent retailers and restaurants that serves a local resident population of the demographic that Thornwood attracts. The LCBO in the heritage North Toronto Station building is a five-minute walk, and David A. Balfour Park, whose ravine trails connect to the full Rosedale Valley system, is accessible within ten minutes.
THE MARKET
Thornwood II has sustained strong resale values over its 22-year history, with average pricing reflecting the building's combination of address, suite size, and Gluckstein interior credentials. The building's high owner-occupancy rate -- a characteristic of long-term Scrivener Square residents who chose this address deliberately and have not encountered a compelling reason to leave -- means that available inventory is limited and demand from informed buyers is consistent.
For the buyer who has concluded that the Yorkville boutique market is priced beyond their requirements, and that the Bloor-Yonge intersection is more commercially active than their daily life calls for, Thornwood II at Scrivener Square represents one of the most considered alternatives in the midtown luxury market. It is a building with an established track record, a known and respected interior design standard, and an address that delivers a quality of neighbourhood life that newer buildings in more prominent locations cannot replicate.
Looking to buy or sell at Thornwood II? Contact Nissan Michael or Grace Chan -- for current availability, renovation context, and expert representation at this Summerhill address.
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