Condo residents sweat through heat wave without AC
A 48-storey tower near Dundas and Jarvis has been without air conditioning for a month as temperatures soar into the mid-30s.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents of a condo tower near Jarvis Street and Dundas Street E. have been without air conditioning for about a month, and a major heat wave bearing down on Toronto this week is making it unbearable.
Units on floors two to 30 are enduring temperatures pushing into the 30s. "It's been super hot for the last month — no AC at all," said Alan Avila, who lives on the eighth floor. "They don't tell us anything, they just say they're working on it."
The building is operated by 360 Community Management Ltd. The company has not responded to requests for comment. With temperatures set to soar this week into the mid-30s, residents say they're forced to buy fans and portable air conditioners just to survive.
This is the second time in five years the building has lost cooling during a heat wave. In early June 2021, the system failed for several weeks, with residents reporting temperatures in the high 30s. Current resident Zach Vogler said even walking the halls or using the gym has been difficult. "It's pretty humid and muggy," he said, noting that south-facing residents with floor-to-ceiling windows are especially vulnerable to the heat.
The city's new Indoor Temperatures Standards bylaw requires rental buildings to keep summer temperatures no higher than 26 C, but the rule covers only purpose-built rentals — not condos. City staff are investigating after receiving eight complaints since June 7.
