Toronto condo buildings · Updated September 13, 2026
Sugar Wharf Condos
138 Downes St and 55 Cooper St, Toronto · Also known as Sugar Wharf Condominiums, Sugar Wharf by Menkes
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Sugar Wharf is Menkes' master-planned waterfront community on the former LCBO headquarters site at Queens Quay East, with its first condo towers at 138 Downes Street and 55 Cooper Street now occupied. The lake location and amenities are strong, but it is the lowest-rated completed building in this guide on Google, 2.9 out of 5, and fire alarms are the dominant complaint, raised in 61 reviews.
- Address
- 138 Downes St and 55 Cooper St, Toronto
- Neighbourhood
- Queens Quay East waterfront
- Completed
- First towers occupied from 2023
- Storeys
- 64 to 90 across the master plan
- Towers
- 5 condo towers planned, plus a rental building
- Developer
- Menkes Developments
- Transit
- Union Station is roughly a 15-minute walk; every building is planned to connect to the PATH
About Sugar Wharf Condos
Menkes bought the 4.7-hectare site, home to the LCBO's head office and warehouse, for $260 million in 2016. The full plan calls for five condo towers of 64 to 90 storeys, a mid-rise rental building, and retail space including a grocery store and an LCBO, with every building connected to the PATH. It is projected to house about 8,000 residents.
The first towers are finished and occupied while later phases are still being built, so construction activity is part of daily life here for the next several years.
Resident feedback is consistently critical of building operations rather than the location. Reddit threads from 2023 to 2026 describe frequent fire alarms, high utility bills, leaks handled poorly and slow management responses. Renters should also know that Ontario's rent increase guideline does not apply to units first occupied after November 15, 2018.
Master plan figures are from Wikipedia. We did not find a reliable suite or storey count for the individual completed towers, so none is shown.
Where Sugar Wharf Condos is
Sugar Wharf Condos is at 138 Downes St and 55 Cooper St in Queens Quay East waterfront. Union Station is roughly a 15-minute walk; every building is planned to connect to the PATH.
The labelled marker is this building; the dots are other buildings covered in this guide. Select a marker to open its card.
Looking at other options in the area? See real estate agents serving Downtown Toronto or the best neighbourhoods in Toronto.
Sugar Wharf Condos building amenities
- Fitness centre
- Swimming pool
- Basketball court
- Pilates studio
- Work-from-home spaces
- Concierge
- Paid on-site parking
- Dog friendly
Google Maps listing attributes and the amenities residents name in Google reviews.
Sugar Wharf Condos photos
Sugar Wharf Condos reviews: the Google rating
Google reviews are the largest public sample of resident opinion for most condo buildings. The breakdown matters more than the average: a building with as many one-star as five-star reviews is a very different place from one with a steady spread of fours.
2.9
★★★★★237 Google reviews
- 5 star90
- 4 star23
- 3 star10
- 2 star6
- 1 star108
What reviews mention most
- Fire alarm testing · 61
- Concierge · 22
- Friendly staff · 12
- Gym · 12
- Work from home · 10
- Construction · 6
- Pilates · 5
- Siren · 5
- Lake view · 2
- Pool · 2
Google Maps listing at 138 Downes St, as of September 12, 2026. Topics are the themes Google identifies in reviews, with the number of reviews mentioning each. Read the reviews on Google Maps
What residents praise
- Lake views and the Queens Quay waterfront
- Friendly staff (12 Google review mentions)
- Gym, pilates and work-from-home rooms
What residents complain about
- Fire alarm testing and false alarms (61 Google review mentions)
- High utility costs and deposits, according to Reddit renters
- Leaks and slow management responses
- Ongoing construction on later phases
What people say about Sugar Wharf Condos on Reddit and forums
A summary of the threads that come up when people search for this building. Reddit skews toward people with a problem or a question, so weigh it alongside the Google breakdown above.
The overall picture
Forum opinion on Sugar Wharf is overwhelmingly negative and has been consistent from 2023 to 2026. Almost every thread comes from renters, and they return to the same problems: fire alarms, high utility costs, leaks and slow management. Very few posts defend the building.
Fire alarms
NegativeFrequent and false alarms, including at odd hours, come up in several threads, which matches the 61 Google reviews that mention alarm testing.
Costs
NegativeRenters describe high utility bills and very high deposits, and point out that the units are not covered by Ontario's rent increase guideline.
Management and maintenance
NegativePosters describe leaks handled poorly by both landlords and building management, and a rude or unhelpful concierge.
Build quality and layouts
NegativeThreads call the towers poorly constructed and overpriced, with awkward unit layouts.
The threads behind this summary
- Honest Reviews About 138 Downes St- Sugar Warf Condos
r/TorontoRenting · Feb 2026 · 3 comments
Negative“Read the google reviews for Sugar Wharf, all bad things are sadly true. My boyfriend lived in the building and recently moved out.”
- Sugar Wharf Condo
r/TorontoRenting · Dec 2025 · 10+ comments
Negative“Overall, this building is overpriced, poorly managed, and unresponsive to tenant ...”
- Sugar Wharf Condos
r/TorontoRenting · 2025 · 10+ comments
Negative“Here are the cons: incredibly high utilities, random fire alarms during odd hours of the day, rude / unhelpful concierge, very high deposit”
- Sugar Wharf Condo's
r/TorontoRenting · 2025 · 9 comments
Question“We noticed mixed reviews with mainly complaints about management, fire alarms and ac. It isn't rent controlled, utilities can run up to $ ...”
- Sugar Wharf Condominiums - 138 DOWNES STREET
r/TorontoRenting · 2024 · 20+ comments
Negative“The unit above mine leaked twice, and both the landlord and building management handled it poorly.”
- Is anyone living in Sugar Wharf Condos? If so, do you ...
r/TorontoRenting · 2023 · 20+ comments
Negative“No, I do not recommend moving here. Poorly constructed and managed.”
Summaries are our reading of the linked threads and review pages. Excerpts are quoted verbatim from each thread’s public snippet, including spelling; open the thread for full context. Dates are approximate.
What's near Sugar Wharf Condos: transit, restaurants and parks
Subway stations, bus stops, and the most-reviewed places within about a kilometre of 138 Downes St. Use the filters to show only what you care about, and select a marker for photos, details and walking directions.
Transit stop locations are from TTC schedule data. Place locations come from Google Maps listings and are rounded to about 100 m, so a marker can sit a little off the actual entrance.
Transit near Sugar Wharf Condos
The closest subway station to Sugar Wharf Condos is King Station on Line 1 Yonge-University, about a 10-minute walk (660 m). Bus routes 75, 202, 114, 121 and 65 stop within 500 m.
Subway stations
- 1
King Station
Line 1 Yonge-University
10 min · 660 m - 1
Union Station
Line 1 Yonge-University
11 min · 710 m - 1
Queen Station
Line 1 Yonge-University
16 min · 1030 m
Union Station is also the hub for GO Transit and the UP Express to Pearson Airport.
Bus routes within 500 m
- 75SherbourneNearest stop: Lower Jarvis St at Lake Shore Blvd East2 min · 120 m
- 202Cherry BeachNearest stop: Queens Quay East at Lower Jarvis St West Side3 min · 180 m
- 114Queens Quay EastNearest stop: Queens Quay East at Lower Jarvis St West Side3 min · 180 m
- 121Esplanade-RiverNearest stop: The Esplanade at Church St West Side5 min · 320 m
- 65ParliamentNearest stop: Dockside Dr at Queens Quay East7 min · 450 m
Stations and routes from the TTC's official schedule data (TTC Routes and Schedules (GTFS), Toronto Open Data, published August 27, 2026). Overnight routes are not shown. Walking times are estimates based on straight-line distance. View the dataset
Restaurants, parks and things to do near Sugar Wharf Condos
Restaurants near Sugar Wharf Condos
5 min walkThe Old Spaghetti Factory
Italian restaurant
★★★★★4.4 (14,334)
54 The Esplanade · 330 m
- No free photo available5 min walk
- No free photo available6 min walk
The Keg Steakhouse + Bar - Esplanade
Restaurant
★★★★★4.4 (3,908)
26 The Esplanade · 390 m
- No free photo available12 min walk
- No free photo available12 min walk
- No free photo available14 min walk
Cafés and bakeries near Sugar Wharf Condos
- No free photo available5 min walk
- No free photo available8 min walk
- No free photo available11 min walk
- No free photo available12 min walk
- No free photo available12 min walk
- No free photo available12 min walk
Grocery stores near Sugar Wharf Condos
- No free photo available2 min walk
- No free photo available2 min walk
Loblaws Lower Jarvis Street
Grocery store
★★★★★4.3 (3,527)
10 Lower Jarvis St · 140 m
- No free photo available7 min walk
- No free photo available10 min walk
- No free photo available11 min walk
The Market by Longo's at Brookfield Place
Supermarket
★★★★★4.0 (193)
181 Bay St. · 680 m
- No free photo available12 min walk
Parks and green space near Sugar Wharf Condos
- No free photo available6 min walk
6 min walk
7 min walkPhoto: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
8 min walkPhoto: Randolph Croft, CC BY 2.0
8 min walkPhoto: OldYorkGuy, Public domain
11 min walkPhoto: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
Things to do near Sugar Wharf Condos
6 min walkPhoto: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
7 min walkPhoto: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
- No free photo available9 min walk
10 min walkPhoto: JK Liu, CC BY-SA 4.0
10 min walkThe Cathedral Church of St. James
Anglican church
★★★★★4.7 (1,226)
106 King St E · 610 m
Photo: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
- No free photo available12 min walk
Places and ratings from Google Maps listings, retrieved September 13, 2026. Restaurants and cafés are limited to places rated 4.3 or higher, and every category is filtered to listings with enough reviews to be meaningful. Walking times are estimates based on straight-line distance. Businesses open, close and move, so check before you go.
Who Sugar Wharf Condos suits, and who should look elsewhere
A good fit for
Buyers and renters who want a brand-new waterfront unit with good amenities, and who are comfortable living beside an active construction site for several more years.
Look elsewhere if you are
Renters who want rent-increase protection, anyone sensitive to alarm noise, and buyers who want a settled building with a track record.
Before you buy in any condo, ask for the status certificate and read the reserve fund study; it shows the corporation’s finances, special assessments and upcoming repairs. Use the condo fee calculator to check monthly costs and the land transfer tax calculator for closing.
Sugar Wharf Condos FAQ
Is Sugar Wharf rent controlled?
Generally no. Ontario exempts residential units first occupied after November 15, 2018 from the annual rent increase guideline, and Sugar Wharf's towers were occupied years after that. Landlords must still give 90 days' written notice and can raise rent no more than once every 12 months, but there is no cap on the amount.
Why does Sugar Wharf have bad reviews?
Most negative reviews are about operations, not location. Fire alarm testing and false alarms come up in 61 Google reviews, and Reddit renters describe high utility bills, leaks and unresponsive management. The building still has 90 five-star Google reviews, which mostly praise staff, views and amenities.
Who is the developer of Sugar Wharf?
Menkes Developments.
Where is Sugar Wharf in Toronto?
On Queens Quay East, across from the Redpath Sugar Refinery, on the former LCBO headquarters site. The condo addresses include 138 Downes Street and 55 Cooper Street.
What subway station is closest to Sugar Wharf Condos?
The closest subway station to Sugar Wharf Condos is King Station on Line 1 Yonge-University, about a 10-minute walk (660 m). Bus routes 75, 202, 114, 121 and 65 stop within 500 m.
What grocery stores are near Sugar Wharf Condos?
The closest well-reviewed grocery stores are Farm Boy at 100 Queens Quay E Unit 200 (2 min walk), Loblaws Lower Jarvis Street at 10 Lower Jarvis St (2 min walk) and Metro at 80 Front St E (7 min walk).
Condo buildings near Sugar Wharf Condos
St. Lawrence · 460 m away
L Tower
Completed 2015 · 58 storeys
No Google rating
South Core · 530 m away
Pinnacle Centre
Completed 2006 to 2011 · 29 to 53 storeys
★★★★★ 3.9 from 196 Google reviews
South Core · 790 m away
Maple Leaf Square Condos
Completed 2010 · 49 storeys
★★★★★ 4.3 from 381 Google reviews
South Core · 920 m away
ICE Condominiums
Completed 2014 and 2015 · 57 and 67 storeys
★★★★★ 3.1 from 462 Google reviews
Next steps for Sugar Wharf Condos
- Tell us the city and we match you with an agent who already works Queens Quay East waterfront.
- Browse agents serving Downtown Toronto.
- Estimate monthly costs with the condo fee calculator and closing with the land transfer tax calculator.
- Still choosing an area? Start with the best neighbourhoods in Toronto.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Sugar Wharf
- condos.ca: Sugar Wharf Condos
- Ontario: residential rent increases
- Google Maps listing (snapshot September 12, 2026)
- TTC Routes and Schedules (GTFS), Toronto Open Data
- 6 Reddit threads and review pages, linked above
Researched September 13, 2026. Ratings and resident opinion change; check the linked sources for the latest before making a decision.