Historic Toronto rooming house gets a $3M glow up and is now going for $6M

A historic Toronto rooming house with a complicated past just got a multi-million-dollar makeover — and now it's back on the market with a price tag to match.

A building that has quietly witnessed over a century of the city's evolution at 180 Sherbourne St. is now being pitched as a fully renovated, income-generating apartment building asking $5,750,000.

And yes, the glow-up is real.

The main entrance. 

Originally built as an opulent mansion at the turn of the 20th century, the property eventually became a rooming house in one of Toronto's lowest-income postal codes, offering supportive housing to residents who relied on it.

In 2015, it sold for $2.7 million, and soon after, several of its rooms were controversially listed on Airbnb under a single host, raising eyebrows and bigger questions about housing in the city.

The foyer. 

Now, after roughly $3 million in renovations, the building has been transformed yet again.

One of the units with large bay windows. 

Today, it houses 19 fully renovated suites, made up of bachelor and one-bedroom units with unique layouts, some even featuring their own private entrances.

Renovated kitchen in one of the units. 

Inside, the finishes lean firmly modern, with stainless steel appliances, LED ceiling lighting throughout, and a clean, updated aesthetic designed to attract downtown renters.

Rents currently range from about $1,450 to $1,775 per month, which, in today's rental market, is slightly below market rate.

The side of the building. 

The upgrades go beyond just the units themselves. The property includes on-site laundry facilities and five surface parking spaces along Shuter St.

And then there's the location, which has a lot of potential.

A studio apartment. 

The building sits on a prominent corner lot directly across from the future Moss Park Station on the Ontario Line, which, once complete, is expected to dramatically improve connectivity across the city.

A rooftop patio. 

Add in immediate access to the Financial District, nearby universities, and a long list of cultural landmarks, and it's easy to see why this stretch of Sherbourne is being positioned as a long-term growth play.

The main entrance. 

Of course, the setting also comes with layers.

Moss Park and the surrounding area have long been at the centre of conversations about affordability, development, and who gets to live downtown.

Another studio apartment. 

So while the listing leans into phrases like "efficient," "stylish," and "strong rental demand," it doesn't change the fact that there are now fewer affordable housing options in the neighbourhood.

The exterior of 180 Sherbourne St. 

Because in Toronto, a $3 million glow-up doesn't just change a building, it changes who it's for.