5 San Romanoway: 231 Big Suites Near Line 6 at Jane and Finch

5 San Romanoway is one of the cheapest ways to own a full-sized condo suite in Toronto, and it now sits a short trip from the new Line 6 Finch West. This 1977 high-rise has 231 suites over 18 storeys, with heat and parking in the fee. Whether it is a good buy depends far more on the corporation’s paperwork than on the asking price. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A 1977 tower built for families, not investors

The first thing buyers notice here is suite size. The reported range runs from about 889 to 1,100 square feet, which is the footprint of a small house rather than a modern one-bedroom. Buildings from the late 1970s were designed for families who were going to live in them, and it shows in the room sizes, the storage and the proportion of two- and three-bedroom plans.

I would not take that size range as gospel, though. Several one-bedroom listings in the building right now are described in the 700 to 799 and 800 to 899 square foot bands, which sit below the reported minimum. Both cannot be fully right. Ask for the floor plan, or measure, before you rely on a price per square foot.

The building is a high-rise of its era: concrete, balconies, a parking garage and a fairly plain amenity list. You are paying for space and for ownership, not for a lobby makeover or a rooftop lounge.

What the fee covers, and why it is not as high as it looks

Fees on current listings run from roughly $640 to $725 a month, and the active-listing average works out to about $0.81 per square foot. That includes common elements, heat, building insurance, parking and water. For a 1977 high-rise with bundled heat, that is a moderate number.

Hydro is not on the published inclusion list, so assume it is on you until the status certificate says otherwise. Cable and internet are also separate. Air conditioning is not listed either, so ask whether suites rely on through-wall or window units and what the rules are for installing them.

The fee is only half the story in a building this age. At close to 50 years old, 5 San Romanoway has already gone through, or is going through, the big-ticket cycles: roofing, windows, balcony repairs, elevator modernization, garage membrane and boilers. What matters is whether those were paid for from the reserve fund or by special assessment, and what is left to do.

Jane and Finch is changing, and Line 6 is the reason

The biggest change to daily life here is Line 6 Finch West, which opened on 7 December 2025 and runs along Finch Avenue West with a station at Jane and Finch. Before the LRT, getting from this corner to the subway meant a long bus ride. Now there is a rapid-transit option along Finch connecting to Line 1 at Finch West Station.

The City of Toronto has also been working on the Jane and Finch Initiative, a secondary plan and a 2024 to 2034 community development plan written in response to the LRT. The plan sets out how growth should happen around the station, and it includes the proposed redevelopment of the Jane and Finch Mall. If that goes ahead, expect years of construction nearby, followed by more shops and housing.

For owners, that is a real but slow-moving story. New development and new transit tend to lift older buildings over time, but I would not buy here on the assumption that the plan will change values next year. Buy because the suite and the numbers work today.

Living in a 231-suite building from the 1970s

At 231 suites, this is a mid-sized corporation by Toronto standards. That is large enough to spread major repairs over many owners, and small enough that a handful of engaged owners can still shape how the board makes decisions.

The amenity list is practical: a tennis court, a party room, a meeting room, a security system, a parking garage and visitor parking. There is no pool listed, which keeps operating costs down. The listing data also mentions a pet restriction, without details, so read the declaration and rules before you assume your dog is welcome.

Dove Square Management also manages Bristol House at 10 Tobermory Drive, a 1977 building a short walk away. If you are shopping this pocket, it is worth comparing the two side by side, because they are similar in age and size but quite different in what the fee covers.

Pricing: low entry, but price the paperwork

The reported building average is about $413 per square foot. That is a fraction of what newer Toronto condos trade for, and near the bottom of what I see for owned high-rise suites anywhere in the city. Part of that is location, and part of it is age: buyers discount buildings that are approaching their 50th year.

There are five units for sale at the time of writing, with asking prices ranging from about $300,000 to $449,000. That is a meaningful amount of choice for a building this size, and it gives you something to negotiate against. It also means you should not rush.

Low prices make the monthly maths attractive, especially with heat and parking bundled. But a cheap suite in an underfunded building is not cheap. I price these buildings by reading the reserve fund study first, then the asking price. If you want sold comparables for the building, ask for my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at 5 San Romano

This is a functional amenity package rather than a lifestyle one. A tennis court and a party room are useful extras, and the absence of a pool keeps one of the most expensive line items out of the budget.

Jatin’s honest take on 5 San Romano

5 San Romano — frequently asked questions

Looking at Downsview, Weston, York University Heights, Rexdale and northwest Toronto more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.