Published 19 October 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Building at a glance · St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands
What's Your Home Worth Right Now?
Get a free AI-powered price range for your property in under 90 seconds, based on recent GTA comparable sales. No name or address required.
Get My Free Estimate →Backstage on the Esplanade in one look.
1 The Esplanade, Toronto
Built
2017
Storeys
36
Suites
284
Corporation
TSCC-2588
Walk Score
99
Free · about 45 seconds · no obligation
What is your unit at Backstage on the Esplanade worth today?
Floor, exposure, parking and this building’s own recent sales move the number. Your estimate appears instantly, and a written CMA from me is one tap after.
- Uses this building’s own recent sales
- Adjusts for floor, view and parking
- Your number appears instantly
How you get around
Scores from Walk Score®
Walk Score
Walker's Paradise
Transit Score
Rider's Paradise
Bike Score
Biker's Paradise
Transit, nearest first
- 121Esplanade-RiverTTC busSteps away
- 114Queens Quay EastTTC busSteps away
- 202Cherry BeachTTC busSteps away
- 509Union Station509 Harbourfront / 510 Spadina streetcar0.2 km
- 1Union stationLine 1 Yonge–University0.3 km
- GOUnion Station GOBarrie / Kitchener / Lakeshore East / Lakeshore West / Milton / Richmond Hill / Stouffville lines0.4 km
- UPUnion stationUP Express · Pearson to Union0.4 km
TTC is renewing streetcar track at Long Branch Loop through late 2026; some Lake Shore streetcar trips run as buses.
Distances are straight-line from the building.
How far is everything?
From the front door, in kilometres.
Schools for this address
Public schools from the TDSB school locator, checked 18 October 2026. Boundaries change: confirm with the board before you buy.
ElementaryJK–8
Market Lane Junior and Senior Public School
246 The Esplanade, Toronto
1.0 km · ~16 min walk
Zoned for this address
High schoolGr 9–12
Jarvis Collegiate Institute
495 Jarvis St, Toronto
2.3 km
Zoned for this address
Catholic elementary
St Michael Catholic Elementary School - Bldg 1
0.6 km · ~9 min walk
Nearest, confirm zoning
Catholic elementary
St Paul Catholic Elementary School
1.6 km · ~25 min walk
Nearest, confirm zoning
Catholic secondary
St Joseph's College School
2.3 km
Nearest, confirm zoning
French-language · Viamonde (public)
Ecole Elementaire Gabrielle Roy
1.2 km · ~19 min walk
Nearest, confirm zoning
Catholic (TCDSB) and French-language schools shown are the nearest to the building, not confirmed zoning. Check the TCDSB school locator, Viamonde or MonAvenir.
By the numbers
What units at Backstage on the Esplanade actually trade for
| Unit type | Sold | Median price | Leased | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bed | 5 | $495,000 | 27 | $2,550/mo |
| 2 bed | 1 | too few | 13 | $3,500/mo |
Table covers the last 24 months. TRREB MLS® System aggregates; a median is shown only with 3 or more deals, and sizes come from listing ranges. Not an appraisal: get an estimate for your unit.
Living here
Renters, Airbnb and elevators at Backstage on the Esplanade
Do mostly owners or renters live here?
Renter-heavy building. Of 109 deals here in the last 24 months, 96 were leases and 13 were sales. A high lease share usually means more investor owners, more move-ins and a deeper pool of rental comparables.
Can you Airbnb a unit at Backstage on the Esplanade?
No active City registrations here right now. In Toronto you can only host in your principal residence, a whole unit for at most 180 nights a year, with a $390 yearly registration and 6% accommodation tax. You cannot buy here to run it as a full-time Airbnb. Check the condo’s rules in the status certificate before you count on it.
How reliable are the elevators?
Ontario requires residential buildings to report any elevator outage lasting 48 hours or more, and this address has none on record. Elevators still need modernizing every 25 to 30 years, so check the reserve fund study for the date.
Sources: TRREB MLS® System lease and sale counts; City of Toronto short-term rental registrations (Open Data, 18 Oct 2026); TSSA Residential Elevator Availability portal.
Before you buy here
Five things the listing will not tell you about Backstage on the Esplanade
- Reserve fund health. Ask for the latest reserve fund study and its date. A thin fund in an older building usually means fee jumps or a special assessment.
- Special assessments and big repairs. Check the status certificate for planned levies and for balcony, garage, window or elevator work.
- Insurance deductible. Find the corporation’s deductible for water damage. If it is higher than your own policy covers, raise your coverage before closing.
- Fee trend. Compare this year’s budget with last year’s. Rises of 2–5% a year are typical; bigger jumps need an explanation.
- Lawsuits and rules. Look for legal claims against the corporation, and for rules on pets, short-term rentals and leasing.
Send me the status certificate and I will flag anything that matters before your conditional period runs out.
Get my status certificate reviewedWatch this building
Know the moment a unit at Backstage on the Esplanade lists or sells.
Portals tell you a listing exists. I tell you whether it is priced right for this building, which stack it is in, and what the last comparable unit actually went for.
- New listings for sale or rent here
- What units sold for, with my read on it
- No account, no spam, stop with one reply
Building alerts
Takes about twenty seconds.
Eat, drink and shop nearby
Within about a 10-minute walk.
Restaurant
Cafe Nicole
0.2 km · ~3 min walk
Coffee
Tim Hortons
0.2 km · ~3 min walk
Restaurant
Biff's Bistro
0.2 km · ~3 min walk
Restaurant
Cafe Landwer
0.2 km · ~3 min walk
Restaurant
Ceci Bar
0.2 km · ~3 min walk
Restaurant
The Joneses Restaurant & Bar
0.2 km · ~3 min walk
Places from OpenStreetMap. Check hours before you go.
Parks nearby
- Berczy Park
- 50 Queens Quay East Park
- Toronto Sculpture Garden
Nearest grocery
No Frills
0.3 km · ~5 min walk
Prices: TRREB MLS® System aggregate medians for 1 The Esplanade, last 12 months (updated 18 October 2026), compiled by Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage; deemed reliable, not guaranteed. Schools: TDSB school locator; Catholic and French schools: nearest by distance. Transit and scores: Walk Score® and TTC/GO station locations. Nearby places: OpenStreetMap. Distances are straight-line estimates.
Backstage on the Esplanade is the building I show people who want to live at the foot of Yonge Street in something under ten years old with a pool. It sits right behind the city’s big Front Street theatres, which is where the name comes from. The catch is the monthly fee, which runs well above what most buyers expect for a building this young, and you need to understand why before you fall for the location. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.
Quick answer
Backstage on the Esplanade is a 36-storey, 284-suite condominium at 1 The Esplanade, on the southeast corner of Yonge Street and The Esplanade in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood of downtown Toronto. It was developed by Cityzen Development Group, Fernbrook Homes and Castlepoint Numa, designed by Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects, and completed in 2017. The condominium corporation is TSCC-2588, registered on 11 April 2017, and condos.ca lists Crossbridge Condominium Services as the manager. Condos.ca lists the fee as covering common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance and water.
Backstage on the Esplanade at a glance
A slim tower on a curving corner
The site is an awkward one. The Esplanade bends as it meets Yonge, and the building’s limestone-faced podium follows that curving property line rather than squaring it off. UrbanToronto’s coverage at handover noted the podium, two retail spaces just east of Yonge, and light porcelain panels on the east and west faces meant to tie the pale base to the darker tower above.
The design team is a strong one for a building of this size. Page + Steele / IBI Group did the architecture, Studio Munge (formerly Munge Leung) did the interiors and amenity floors, and Claude Cormier + Associés, the firm behind Sugar Beach and the Berczy Park fountain, did the public landscaping.
The developers are a known trio: Cityzen and Fernbrook also built Pier 27 on the waterfront, and Castlepoint Numa is a long-time downtown land developer. Condos.ca leaves the developer field blank, so if you are comparing builder track records, use the UrbanToronto credits, not the listing portal.
The amenity floors and the rooftop pool
The amenities are concentrated on the fifth, sixth and seventh floors, which is unusual. You get fitness and yoga space with steam rooms, a party room and a private cinema, and on top of the podium there is a pool of roughly 70 feet with a garden around it. For a 284-suite building, that is a big package.
Condos.ca also lists concierge, guest suites, a media room, a rec room, a rooftop deck and a sauna, plus Beanfield fibre in the building. That last one matters if you work from home in a tower where every suite is competing for the same lines.
The early marketing promised a direct connection to the PATH. I have not been able to confirm from a current source that the link was built as advertised, so ask the listing agent or management before you count on walking to the financial district underground in January.
Thinking about buying or selling here?
I work this area every week and I will give you a straight answer, including when the answer is to wait. No pressure, and no drip campaign you cannot get out of.
Call or text 833-330-1925 Send me a message
Jatin Dua, Broker of Record — RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract with another brokerage.
Suites, views and the rail corridor
Suites run from about 531 to 1,040 sq ft, which tells you who this building was designed for: one-bedrooms, one-plus-dens and compact two-bedrooms. There is very little here for a family that needs three bedrooms. Current listings are mostly in the 500 to 700 sq ft range, with a few two-bedroom and two-plus-den plans in the 800s and 900s.
Orientation makes a real difference. The south side of The Esplanade backs onto the rail corridor that runs into Union Station, so south-facing suites trade lake views for train and highway noise below. North-facing suites look up Yonge and across the theatre district. Ask which way the suite faces, then stand on the balcony for ten minutes before you make an offer.
The street life is the selling point. You are steps from Meridian Hall, the St. Lawrence Centre, Berczy Park and the restaurant row along The Esplanade and Front Street, with St. Lawrence Market a short walk east. Next door, L Tower is the obvious comparison if you want the same corner in a taller building.
How it compares with the older Esplanade stock
Most of The Esplanade was built out in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the St. Lawrence neighbourhood plan, with co-ops, rentals and mid-rise condos. Backstage is one of the few buildings on the strip that is less than ten years old, and that is most of its appeal: newer windows, newer mechanical systems and a modern amenity floor.
The older condos a few blocks east usually offer more space per dollar and, in many cases, fees that include more. What they do not offer is a 2017 building at Yonge Street. If you are torn, price the same budget in both and compare the monthly cost, not just the purchase price.
Two retail spaces sit at the base just east of Yonge. Ground-floor tenants change over time, so check what is open now if you are counting on a coffee shop or grocery in the building.
One more thing on supply: with only 284 suites, the number of listings at any given time is small, and a few one-plus-dens can make the numbers look busier than they are. Look at the sold data before you assume there is plenty of choice.
The price per foot looks low. The fee per foot does not.
Condos.ca puts the building average at about $773 per square foot, which is modest for a 2017 tower at Yonge and The Esplanade. The reason shows up on the fee line: across current listings the fee works out to about $1.36 per square foot, and listed fees range from roughly $667 to $1,401 a month. That is much higher than most towers of this age downtown.
Part of that is the inclusions. Heat, air conditioning and water are in the fee here, which is not the case in many newer buildings, and a pool, steam rooms and a staffed lobby all cost money in a building with only 284 suites to share them. Even so, a buyer paying close to $900 a month for a one-plus-den will feel it, and the high fee is very likely part of why the price per foot sits where it does.
On asking prices, the current one-bedroom listings sit just under $450,000, one-plus-dens run from about $490,000 to $585,000, and two-bedroom and two-plus-den plans ask between about $680,000 and $725,000. The data panel beside this review shows what has actually sold and leased.
Building specifications
| Building name | Backstage on the Esplanade |
| Address | 1 The Esplanade, Toronto |
| Developer | Cityzen Development Group, Fernbrook Homes and Castlepoint Numa |
| Architect | Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects |
| Interior design | Studio Munge (formerly Munge Leung) |
| Landscape | Claude Cormier + Associés |
| Storeys | 36 |
| Total suites | 284 |
| Condo corporation | TSCC-2588 |
| Registered | 11 April 2017 |
| Property management | Crossbridge Condominium Services (per condos.ca) |
| Suite sizes | Approximately 531 to 1,040 sq ft |
| Maintenance fees | About $1.36 per sq ft across current listings |
| Fees include | Common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance and water |
Amenities at Backstage on the Esplanade
This is a full resort-style package in a mid-sized tower, which is great to use and expensive to run. If you will swim and use the steam rooms, the fee buys you something real; if you never will, you are subsidising neighbours who do.
Jatin’s honest take on Backstage on the Esplanade
Who this building suits
Downtown workers, theatre people and single buyers or couples who want a young building at the foot of Yonge with a pool, and who value walking to the market, the theatres and the financial district more than square footage. It also suits investors targeting tenants who work in the core, as long as the rent covers that fee.
What I’d want you to check
Start with the fee. Ask for the current budget and the reserve fund study, and find out what is driving the cost per square foot and whether increases are planned. Confirm the PATH connection works the way you expect. Check which way the suite faces and how loud the rail corridor is from that side. Condos.ca does not list parking as included, so confirm whether the suite has a spot or locker and what it costs.
The value question
The value question is all about the fee. At around $773 per square foot you are buying a 2017 tower on one of the best corners in the city for less per foot than many older buildings nearby, but you are paying for it every month. If you plan to live here and use the amenities, the trade can work. If you are buying to rent it out, run the numbers with the real fee before anything else.
Free building report: Backstage on the Esplanade
Send me your email and I’ll put together a current report on Backstage on the Esplanade — real sold comparables, what’s listed right now, and what the maintenance fees actually cover.
- Every sale in the building over the last 12 months
- Current active listings and asking prices
- Maintenance fee breakdown and what’s included
- My read on which exposures and floors hold value
Tell me what you are planning
Three quick answers so I come back with something useful, usually the same day.
Thinking about buying or selling here?
I work this area every week and I will give you a straight answer, including when the answer is to wait. No pressure, and no drip campaign you cannot get out of.
Call or text 833-330-1925 Send me a message
Jatin Dua, Broker of Record — RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract with another brokerage.
Backstage on the Esplanade — frequently asked questions
Who developed Backstage on the Esplanade?
UrbanToronto credits Cityzen Development Group, Fernbrook Homes and Castlepoint Numa as the developers, with architecture by Page + Steele / IBI Group Architects.
Does Backstage on the Esplanade have a pool?
Yes. UrbanToronto reported a pool of about 70 feet with a garden on top of the podium, along with fitness, yoga and steam rooms on the amenity floors.
When was 1 The Esplanade built?
First residents moved in late in 2016, and the condominium corporation, TSCC-2588, was registered on 11 April 2017.
How many storeys and suites does Backstage have?
It is a 36-storey tower with 284 suites.
What do the maintenance fees include at Backstage?
Condos.ca lists common elements, heat, air conditioning, building insurance and water. Hydro and parking are not listed, so confirm those for any suite you are considering.
Why are fees at Backstage on the Esplanade high?
Across current listings the fee works out to about $1.36 per square foot, which is high for a building this age. Heat, cooling and water are included and the amenities are extensive for 284 suites; ask for the budget and reserve fund study to see the full picture.
Is Backstage connected to the PATH?
The original marketing promised a direct PATH connection. I could not confirm its current status from a reliable source, so verify it with management before you rely on it.
What size are the suites at 1 The Esplanade?
Suites range from about 531 to 1,040 sq ft, mostly one-bedrooms, one-plus-dens and compact two-bedrooms.
Who designed the interiors and landscaping?
Studio Munge (formerly Munge Leung) designed the interiors and amenity spaces, and Claude Cormier + Associés did the landscaping.
How does Backstage compare with L Tower next door?
L Tower is much taller and has larger suites at the top; Backstage is a smaller, slimmer building with a rooftop pool. Compare fees per square foot and inclusions carefully between the two.
How much do condos at Backstage on the Esplanade sell for?
Over the last 12 months the median resale at Backstage on the Esplanade was $497,500, across 6 sales. The typical unit sold in 63 days at about 96% of the asking price. That works out to roughly $752 per square foot.
How much is rent at Backstage on the Esplanade?
The median lease at Backstage on the Esplanade over the last 12 months was $2,700/mo, from 40 leases. Units typically leased in 10 days.
What does each unit type cost at Backstage on the Esplanade?
Over the last 24 months: One-bedrooms sold for a median $495,000 and rented for $2,550/mo; Two-bedrooms rented for $3,500/mo. Each median uses three or more deals.
Are prices at Backstage on the Esplanade up or down since 2022?
Down about 37%. The median sold price per square foot was $1,203 in 2022 and $752 over the last 12 months. Pricing off 2022 comparables is the most common mistake sellers make here.
What rental yield does Backstage on the Esplanade offer an investor?
At a median price of $497,500 and a median rent of $2,700 a month, the gross yield is about 6.5%, before maintenance fees, property tax, insurance and mortgage interest. Net cash flow depends on the fee and your down payment, so run the numbers for the exact unit.
Do mostly owners or renters live at Backstage on the Esplanade?
Mostly renters. Of the deals here in the last 24 months, 88% were leases and 12% were sales.
Can you Airbnb a unit at Backstage on the Esplanade?
Only in limited cases. Toronto allows short-term rentals only in your principal residence, a whole unit for at most 180 nights a year, with a $390 yearly City registration and 6% accommodation tax. The City’s register shows no active short-term rental registrations at this address. The condo’s declaration and rules can ban short stays outright, so check them in the status certificate.
Has Backstage on the Esplanade had elevator outages?
None on record. Ontario requires residential buildings to report elevator outages of 48 hours or more to TSSA, and this address has no reported outage since July 2022.
What schools is Backstage on the Esplanade zoned for?
For TDSB public schools, the address is zoned for Market Lane Junior and Senior Public School (Elementary, JK–8), Jarvis Collegiate Institute (High school, Gr 9–12). Catholic and French-language schools are listed on this page by distance. Boundaries change, so confirm with the board before you buy.
What is the closest subway or GO station to Backstage on the Esplanade?
The nearest subway is Union station (Line 1 Yonge–University), 0.3 km away; the nearest GO station is Union Station GO on the Barrie / Kitchener / Lakeshore East / Lakeshore West / Milton / Richmond Hill / Stouffville lines, 0.4 km; UP Express runs from Union station, 0.4 km; the 509 Harbourfront / 510 Spadina streetcar stops 0.2 km away; the closest bus is the Esplanade-River (TTC bus). Distances are straight-line from the building.
What is the Walk Score of Backstage on the Esplanade?
Walk Score 99, Transit Score 100 and Bike Score 91. Most daily errands can be done on foot.
What restaurants and shops are near Backstage on the Esplanade?
Within about a 10-minute walk: Cafe Nicole (Restaurant), Tim Hortons (Coffee), Biff's Bistro (Restaurant), Cafe Landwer (Restaurant), Ceci Bar (Restaurant). The closest grocery store is No Frills, 0.3 km away.
Which parks are near Backstage on the Esplanade?
Berczy Park, 50 Queens Quay East Park, Toronto Sculpture Garden are the closest green spaces.
What is my unit at Backstage on the Esplanade worth?
Use the free AI estimator at the top of this page. It uses this building’s own recent sales and adjusts for floor, view and parking, and your number appears instantly. For a written CMA, I will price your exact unit against the latest comparable sales.
How do I find out when a unit at Backstage on the Esplanade lists or sells?
Join the building alerts on this page. I watch this building by hand and will tell you when a unit lists, sells or drops in price, with my read on whether it is priced right.
Looking at St. Lawrence, the Financial District and Downtown Yonge more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.
Condo Valuation
What’s your condo
worth today?
Three quick steps. Condos don’t price like houses — your floor, your view, and whether you own parking move the number more than anything else. This weighs all of them.
Reading recent condo sales…
Estimated market value
—
$0–$0
Most likely $0 · about $0 per square foot
What moved the number
Starting from what comparable units in your area sell for, here’s what your specifics added or subtracted.
Market context
—
—
Two units, same floor plan,
$90,000 apart.
That happens constantly in condos — one has the parking, the right exposure, or a board that keeps the reserve fund healthy. A model can’t see your status certificate. I can.
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto condo broker
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty. I work condo buildings across Toronto and the GTA every week, including St. Lawrence, the Financial District and Downtown Yonge. What buyers and sellers usually need is someone who knows the individual buildings: which exposures get the light, which corporations keep healthy reserve funds, and which units are priced past what they will appraise for.
If you’re buying or selling at Backstage on the Esplanade, I’ll give you the honest version — including when I think you should walk away. Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a free consultation.
More St. Lawrence, the Financial District and Downtown Yonge building guides: One King West Hotel & Residence · 1 Thousand Bay Condos · 1001 Bay · 101 McGill Street Townhouses · 1132 Bay Street Condos · 1166 Bay Street Condos
More resources: GTA condo directory · Building sold report · Book a call
© 2026 Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage. The building data on this page was compiled and verified by Jatin Dua. Reproduction or republication, in whole or in part, requires written permission. To request permission, call 833-330-1925.