Robert Watson Lofts, 363 Sorauren Ave: A 1907 Candy Factory, Two Ways

Robert Watson Lofts is really two buildings sold under one name. At the front is a red-brick candy factory from 1907 with a heritage easement on it; behind it is a newer wing built in 2007 with cleaner, more practical plans. Buyers who don’t understand that split end up comparing suites that have almost nothing in common. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

A protected factory at the front, a new wing at the back

The original building went up in 1907 for Robert Watson, a Toronto candy manufacturer, and grew through a series of additions into the 1920s. The City describes it as a good early example of industrial design with Edwardian Classical touches: an ell-shaped plan, red brick with stone trim, a three-part west façade with a recessed centre, and a main entrance under a round-arched pediment.

That matters for owners. The property went on the City’s heritage inventory in 2005 and a heritage easement agreement was registered the same year, so the street-facing shell is protected. What you see from Sorauren today is what the building will look like in thirty years, and the board cannot simply reclad or reshape that façade without the City being involved.

In between, the factory had a long second life as rough rental studio space popular with artists who wanted the light and the height. Sky Developments converted it in 2007, kept the façade and the old smokestack, and added new construction both behind and above the original structure. One source also names Rosebud Homes as a partner; I have not confirmed that from a primary source.

Hard loft or soft loft: pick your side first

Suites in the original factory, generally the 363 side, are the hard lofts: exposed brick, some original timber posts and beams, wood-panelled ceilings, original hardwood in places and, in some suites, arched factory windows. Many of these are two-level plans with tall glazing. Ceiling height is usually given as about 12 feet, but in a conversion like this it varies suite to suite, so measure the one you are looking at.

The newer rear wing, generally the 369 side, is the soft loft. Expect polished concrete floors, big windows and more regular, rectangular layouts. One building profile makes the case that these suites have better soundproofing and more usable floor plans, and that some look back at the painted brick walls of the old factory. Brick between the older suites also helps with noise, so ask about the specific party walls of the unit you want.

A few glass penthouses sit on top with private rooftop terraces, and some ground-floor suites have their own patios or small front yards. Several sources warn that the west-facing ground-floor terraces on Sorauren feel quite public. If privacy matters to you, look upstairs or at the courtyard side.

What daily life on Sorauren looks like

Sorauren Park is effectively your backyard: fields, tennis courts, an off-leash area, a farmers’ market and a winter rink. The Roncesvalles strip and Dundas West are a short walk, and this side of Sorauren is quieter and more residential than either. The rail corridor sits to the east, which is part of why the building is so visible and also something to think about if you are a light sleeper on that side.

The bigger change coming is next door. The City plans to build the Wabash Community Recreation Centre at the southeast corner of Sorauren Park, reusing the old Canadian Linseed Oil Mills building, with a pool, gym and a new public square. On the City’s timeline, construction runs from 2026 to about 2030. Expect noise and trucks for a few years, then a major public facility a few minutes on foot, which I expect to support values here.

Two managers named, and a fee question to settle

Sources disagree on who runs the building. Condos.ca lists Icon Property Management, while Dash Property Management hosts a page for Robert Watson Lofts with resident portal links. Confirm the current manager on the status certificate and ask how long they have been in place.

There is a similar conflict on fees. Condos.ca lists heat as included alongside common elements, water and building insurance; Strata.ca says only water is included and that hydro, heat and cooling are on the owner. Get this confirmed in writing, because it changes your real monthly cost.

Pricing: the top of Roncesvalles on a per-foot basis

This is one of the more expensive loft buildings in the west end per square foot. Condos.ca puts the building average at about $1,113 per square foot. Strata.ca ranks it first of 27 Roncesvalles condos on price per foot, with recent averages from roughly $1,070 for two-bedrooms to about $1,180 for one-bedrooms, and notes values have softened by around 8% over the past year.

The per-foot number hides a wide spread. A small soft-loft one-bedroom and a two-storey hard loft with original beams are different products, and the character suites carry a real premium. Strata.ca’s trailing figures show recent one-bedroom trades spanning roughly $640,000 to $880,000 and two-bedrooms from about $900,000 to $1.29 million.

With only one suite for sale and one for lease when I checked, there is no meaningful current asking range to quote. When you compare fees with other buildings, do it on total monthly cost once the heat question is settled. For recorded trades, see my building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at Robert Watson Lofts

The package is modest but useful: a gym that residents rate well, a rooftop deck, a party and meeting room, and a landscaped courtyard where barbecues are allowed. There is no pool or concierge, which keeps the overhead down.

Jatin’s honest take on Robert Watson Lofts

Robert Watson Lofts — frequently asked questions

Looking at Roncesvalles more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.