New Times Square, 109 Front St E: Lofts by the St. Lawrence Market

New Times Square is for buyers who want the St. Lawrence Market to be their grocery store. It is a 1999 corner mid-rise at Front and Lower Jarvis with a rooftop terrace, a choice of courtyard or street-facing suites, and some two-storey lofts you will not find in the towers going up nearby. The fee covers hydro, heat and parking, which makes the monthly math simpler than it looks. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

One building, two corporations

New Times Square was built by Camrost-Felcorp as a large corner mid-rise of 12 storeys, wrapping Front Street and Lower Jarvis around an inner courtyard. Listing data gives 375 suites for the original corporation, MTCC-1280, registered in December 1999.

There is also a second phase. New Times Square II, MTCC-1385, was completed around 2001 with more than 180 suites over 12 floors, and one management source lists it at the same 109 Front St E address. Sources are not consistent about which suites belong to which phase, so confirm the corporation on the status certificate for the exact suite you are buying.

That matters because each corporation has its own board, budget, reserve fund and fee schedule. Two suites that look identical, one in each phase, can have different fees and a different repair outlook. When I compare suites here, I ask for both sets of documents.

Lofts, courtyards and the suites worth chasing

Most suites are one-bedrooms, one-plus-dens, two-bedrooms and two-plus-dens between about 445 and 1,250 sq ft. Many have hardwood floors, open kitchens with a breakfast bar, ensuite laundry and a balcony, and the windows are generous for a building of this era.

The suites I would look at first are the loft-style units. Building descriptions mention loft-style suites on the 3rd and 5th floors, two-storey plans and penthouse layouts, which give you the volume and the townhouse feel that newer towers rarely offer at this price.

Orientation is the other big decision. Some suites face Front Street and the market; others face the inner courtyard. Courtyard suites are generally quieter but get less light and less view. Street suites get the energy of Front Street, including Saturday market crowds, delivery trucks and evening restaurant traffic. View the suite on a Saturday morning before you decide.

Two-storey lofts come with their own checklist. Stairs inside the suite suit some buyers and rule out others, heating and cooling can be uneven between levels, and the upper level often has less natural light. They also resell to a narrower group of buyers than a standard one-bedroom, so price them with care. For the right person, though, they are the most distinctive suites in the building and the reason I would choose it over a newer tower nearby.

Living across from the St. Lawrence Market

The location is the reason this building sells. The St. Lawrence Market is right across the street, so fresh bread, fish and produce become part of your daily routine rather than a weekend outing. Meridian Hall and the St. Lawrence Centre theatres, the Distillery District and the King and Yonge office core are all within a walk, and the data panel has the transit details.

St. Lawrence is a planned neighbourhood with a strong residential feel, mature streets and parks, and a mix of co-ops, older condos and new towers. It is busier and more commercial right on Front Street than a block south on The Esplanade, which is worth knowing when you compare buildings.

The neighbourhood is also changing. New towers are rising to the east along Front and toward the waterfront, so ask what is planned on the lots around your suite, especially if you are paying for a view.

The market is bigger now, and so is the traffic

The new St. Lawrence Market North building near Front and Jarvis hosted its first Saturday market in April 2025. The old North building came down in 2016, and for close to a decade the farmers’ market ran out of a temporary tent behind the South Market. The new building also holds court and city administration offices.

For owners here, that is mostly good news. A long construction site next door is finished, the market complex is more complete than it has been in years, and the area draws even more visitors. The flip side is weekend crowds, tour groups and delivery traffic on Front and Jarvis, especially early on Saturday mornings.

If you are a light sleeper, a courtyard suite on a middle floor is the safer choice. If you want to watch the market wake up from your balcony, choose a Front Street suite and accept the noise as part of the address. The South Market building stays open six days a week, so the activity is not limited to Saturdays.

Pricing, with hydro and parking in the fee

The building average sits around $781 per square foot. That is below most new towers in St. Lawrence and the waterfront, and in line with other late-1990s buildings near the market.

The fee covers hydro, heat, air conditioning, water and parking, along with building insurance and common elements. That is a stronger inclusion list than most newer buildings, where hydro is metered separately and parking is extra. Add those back before comparing fees.

With only one suite for sale right now, there is no meaningful asking range. I price suites here from recent trades in both phases and in nearby buildings such as Market Square and The Berczy, adjusted for size, floor, loft format and whether the suite faces the street or the courtyard. For sold prices, see the data panel or my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at New Times Square

The amenity package is practical rather than flashy: a gym, a sauna, a party room and a rooftop terrace with barbecues. One source lists a pet grooming room and describes the building as pet friendly; check the declaration for the actual pet rules.

Jatin’s honest take on New Times Square

New Times Square — 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.