Five buildings, one name
This is the one place on the Quay where "which building" isn't a simple question. Harbour Square is five towers built in stages as part of an $85-million waterfront redevelopment that broke ground in the 1960s. It delivered its first towers, the Westin Harbour Castle hotel, and Harbour Square Park through the early-to-mid 1970s under the Campeau Corporation. The complex now houses well over 500 condo suites between York Street and the foot of Bay Street, right beside the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal.
If a listing just says Harbour Square, the first question I ask is which tower. The answer changes the age of the building, the suite sizes on offer, and what to expect in the status certificate.
The newest towers: 77 & 99 Harbour Square
Known together as One York Quay, these are the most recently built and most commonly transacted towers in the complex. They run roughly 39 to 40 storeys, completed around 1990, with somewhere in the neighbourhood of 800 suites between them. Distinctive blue-and-green window trim makes them easy to pick out from the water. Suite sizes swing dramatically here. Bachelor units start around 357 square feet, running up past 2,600 square feet for the largest two-bedroom-plus-den layouts. So a Harbour Square unit can mean very different budgets depending on which one you're looking at.
Suite mix
Across 77 and 99 specifically, you'll find bachelor, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and two-bedroom-plus-den layouts, with the best lake views generally on the higher floors and south-facing exposures. The older three towers in the complex tend to run smaller on average and carry different fee structures. That's another reason to confirm exactly which building a listing refers to before comparing it to anything else on this site.
Fees & what to verify
Because this is a multi-tower complex with buildings from different decades, fee structures and reserve fund health can vary a lot from tower to tower. Don't assume one building's numbers apply to its neighbour. On top of the standard status certificate checklist, ask specifically which shared complex-wide amenities, like the pool and shuttle service, are cost-shared across all five towers versus billed only to certain buildings.
Amenities & location
- Complex-wide amenities across the five towers include an indoor saltwater pool, squash courts, a fitness room, a licensed private lounge, and room service
- A shuttle bus service to the Financial District, a genuine perk for Bay Street commuters
- 77 and 99 Harbour Square (One York Quay) add their own pool, hot tub, gym, and a landscaped terrace with BBQs, plus the private Harbour Club Restaurant
- Directly connected to the Westin Harbour Castle by glass walkway, and steps from the PATH system, Union Station, and the Toronto Island ferry terminal
- Harbour Square Park sits right at the complex's doorstep along the water
Who it suits
Buyers who want the most amenity-dense option on the Quay and don't mind a larger, more hotel-adjacent building. This is about as close as condo living gets to resort living downtown. It's also a strong fit for anyone commuting to the Financial District given the shuttle service and PATH access. Just come in knowing you're choosing a specific tower within a complex, not a single building. I'll help you sort out which one actually fits before you fall for a listing photo.