The Prewar Rowhouse can be found in many of the downtown neighbourhoods of Toronto. Its characteristic roof geometry is typically a gable roof with one or more dormers in the Victorian style. The interior layout is organized around a straight-run staircase aligned with the front entrance, with living areas on the ground floor and several bedrooms on the second floor. Some of the Prewar Rowhouses were also built with large attics as additional living space that have since been renovated to function as a full third floor. The basements of the Prewar Rowhouse are likely to be too short for a legal basement suite, and require underpinning to increase the ceiling height.



The high lot coverage and density (floor space index) of the existing house make it challenging to propose an addition or extension. The age of these buildings also makes it challenging to retrofit and upgrade them to adhere with modern standards and building code.