Lombard Court, 82 Lombard St: A 1988 Boutique Building of About 15 Suites

Lombard Court is one of the smallest condominiums downtown, and one of the least known. It dates from 1988, holds about 15 suites on a quiet stretch of Lombard Street, and its upper floors include large multi-level penthouses with rooftop terraces. It almost never comes up for sale, which is both the appeal and the challenge. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A building most people walk past

Lombard Court sits on the north side of Lombard Street, next to the former 1907 city building at No. 86 and a short walk from the Old Fire Hall of 1886. In a 2013 walk along the street for The Globe and Mail, architecture writer Dave LeBlanc told readers to look up at No. 82, because its top looks like a hammerhead shark. Once you have seen it, you will not unsee it.

That unusual top is the clue to what makes the building interesting. The upper floors hold large multi-level penthouse suites with double-height windows and private rooftop terraces. One listing article described a penthouse here of about 2,700 square feet over three levels, with concrete ceilings, a home gym and a dumbwaiter. Another article about the same type of suite called it two levels with angled ceilings, so the descriptions do not fully agree.

The records are also unclear on height. condos.ca lists two storeys, but suite numbering and the penthouse descriptions suggest a building of roughly nine levels. Treat the condominium plan as the authority.

What 15 suites means in practice

A building this small is closer to a large townhouse complex than to a condo tower. There are few neighbours, most owners know each other, and decisions are made by a small board drawn from a small pool. That can be a pleasure when everyone agrees and difficult when they do not.

Money works differently too. Every cost, from a roof to a new boiler to a garage repair, is split about 15 ways. A repair that would cost each owner a few hundred dollars in a 500-suite tower can cost each owner thousands here. That is why the reserve fund study is the most important document you will read before buying.

Suites appear to be large. The one current listing is a two-bedroom, and the penthouses run to a few thousand square feet. There are no studios or micro-units for investors, which helps keep the building owner-occupied. condos.ca lists no amenities, so do not expect a gym or concierge.

Multi-level suites need their own kind of inspection. Stairs take up floor area, upper bedrooms that overlook the room below trade privacy for light, and moving furniture up an internal stair can be a real constraint. Rooftop terraces need a sound membrane and drainage, and in many buildings the owner with exclusive use shares responsibility for the surface. Read the declaration to see who pays for what, and walk the suite as if you already live in it.

Fees in a very small building

I cannot give you a meaningful fee range, because only one suite was listed at the time of writing and its fee alone is not a fair guide. What I can say is that in buildings of this size and age, monthly fees on large suites are often high in dollar terms, because there are few owners to share fixed costs such as insurance, management and building services.

condos.ca does not list fee inclusions for Lombard Court. Ask for them in the status certificate, along with the budget, so you can see what share goes to the reserve fund and what goes to utilities. A high fee that funds a healthy reserve is better than a low fee that leaves the corporation exposed.

Lombard Street, between Church and Jarvis

This is the quieter half of Lombard. Absolute Lofts is across the street, Saint James Square and The Indigo are close by, and Spire marks the Church Street end. St. James Park and the cathedral are a short walk south, St. Lawrence Market beyond them.

The street has changed a great deal since 1988. The parking lots at Church and Lombard that the Globe noted in 2013 have been filling with towers, including The Saint, completed in 2025. More change is likely, so check what is proposed nearby before you buy for the view. The automatic panel on this page covers transit, schools and walkability.

Pricing at Lombard Court

condos.ca does not publish an average price per square foot for Lombard Court, and with about 15 suites, sales are rare. Its neighbours give a frame: Absolute Lofts at 77 Lombard averages about $808 per square foot, Saint James Square at 95 Lombard about $619 and The Indigo at 50 Lombard about $622.

Because every suite here is large and different, price per square foot is a blunt tool. A multi-level penthouse with a rooftop terrace and a mid-floor two-bedroom are not comparable, and the building may go years between sales of similar suites. I price suites here against older boutique buildings across St. Lawrence and King East with similar sizes and outdoor space.

At the time of writing, one suite was for sale and none were listed for rent. For aggregate sold figures, see my building sold report, and ask me for a private evaluation if you own here.

Building specifications

Jatin’s honest take on Lombard Court Condos

Lombard Court Condos — frequently asked questions

Looking at St. Lawrence, the Financial District and Downtown Yonge more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.