Living at Universal City, Pickering: 2027 Buyer and Renter Guide

By Jatin Dua · Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty · Updated 2 November 2026 · 9 min read — Universal City in Pickering: tower facts, suite sizes, fees, Pickering prices and rents, the next phases, and how to buy or rent there in 2027.

This guide is for buyers, investors and renters looking at Universal City, the multi-tower condo community beside Pickering GO station. You will get the verified tower facts, suite sizes, fees, what Pickering condos sell and rent for, what is still being built, and how I would approach buying or renting there in 2027.

Where is Universal City in Pickering and what is nearby?

Universal City sits south of Highway 401 around Bayly Street, Celebration Drive and Sandy Beach Road. UrbanToronto places the first tower on the north side of Bayly Street west of Sandy Beach Road, and the second on the south side of Celebration Drive, west of Sandy Beach Road. A building-data website puts the community in Pickering’s Bay Ridges neighbourhood.

The big draw is the train. Pickering GO station is at 1322 Bayly Street, and UrbanToronto describes Universal City as taking shape in the immediate vicinity of the station. A building-data website lists a Farm Boy about a six-minute walk away and bus stops on Bayly Street. Frenchman’s Bay and the waterfront are south of the community; my guide to Frenchman’s Bay homes and condos covers that side of town.

Who built Universal City and when were the towers finished?

Chestnut Hill Developments is the builder, with Kirkor Architects Planners as designer. UrbanToronto reports that the master plan has seven residential towers. The first phase, launched in 2019, was three towers of 17, 28 and 31 storeys with about 928 units combined. Site work began in mid-2020, and residents started moving into the 17-storey first tower in early 2023.

Chestnut Hill’s own site now lists Universal City Towers 1, 2 and 3 as completed and sold out. A building-data website shows the second tower’s corporation registered on 21 February 2024. UrbanToronto noted in 2023 that the 28-storey second tower had become the tallest building in Durham Region, a title the 31-storey third tower was set to take.

Source: building-data website pages; UrbanToronto (storeys and the 928-unit phase one total). The Tower 3 unit count is 928 minus Towers 1 and 2, so confirm it in the declaration.

What suite types and sizes are at Universal City?

Most suites in the first two towers are one-bedrooms, one-bedroom-plus-dens and two-bedrooms. The listings a building-data website showed in November 2026 were mostly 500 to 699 sq ft, with a few two-bedroom-plus-den suites around 900 to 999 sq ft. Some smaller suites were listed without parking, so check whether a space is included before you compare prices.

These are compact suites built for commuters, first-time buyers and investors. If you need three bedrooms or more than 1,200 sq ft, the first three towers will feel tight.

What amenities does Universal City have?

When the project was being marketed in 2021, insauga reported a planned amenity list that included a 24-hour concierge, a lounge, a billiard room, a party room with a kitchen and bar, a boardroom, a pet spa, a landscaped outdoor pool with a sun deck, a yoga room, a fitness room and a guest suite. The plan also called for about 860 square metres of ground-floor retail, a public piazza and a public park.

That list describes the plan, not every tower. Ask the property manager which amenities your tower has, which are shared across towers, and how shared costs are split between corporations.

How much are maintenance fees at Universal City condos?

Fees here are moderate for a newer GTA building. In November 2026 listings on a building-data website, Tower 2 suites of 500 to 699 sq ft showed fees of about $409 to $517 a month. Tower 1 listings ran from about $416 to $675 for 500 to 699 sq ft, and about $868 for a 900 to 999 sq ft suite.

These corporations are young, so their first reserve fund studies and owner-set budgets are still settling. Ask for the status certificate and compare this year’s budget with last year’s. My post on why condo fees increase explains what to look for.

What do Pickering condos sell and rent for in 2026?

These are city-wide figures for all Pickering condo apartments, not Universal City prices. Newer towers near the GO often sell and lease differently from older buildings, so use these as a backdrop and check recent sales in the tower you like.

Source: TRREB MLS data via REALM, January–October 2026 vs the same period of 2025 (City of Pickering); TRREB Market Watch, October 2026; TRREB Rental Market Report, Q2 2026 (average lease rates). The Q3 2026 rental report was not posted when I checked on 10 November 2026.

Pickering condo prices fell faster than most GTA cities this year, and sales dropped sharply. At the same time, 205 condo apartments leased in a single quarter, which tells you many owners here are landlords. For an owner, that means resale competition is lower than the price drop suggests. For an investor, it means plenty of rental competition. My Pickering and Ajax housing market 2027 outlook has the wider picture.

How do you commute from Universal City to Toronto?

Pickering GO station, at 1322 Bayly Street, is on the Lakeshore East line to Union Station, and GO’s station page lists a pedestrian bridge among its features. For many Universal City residents, the station is the main reason to live here. Check GO’s current timetable for train frequency at your hours, since service levels change.

Drivers have Highway 401 right next to the community. Durham Region Transit buses run along Bayly Street for local trips.

What is still being built at Universal City?

Universal City is only partly built. Chestnut Hill lists The Grand as under construction and Universal City East as a new release. UrbanToronto reported in 2023 that the later phases include a 37-storey tower branded The Grand, a 27-storey companion tower, and two more towers planned at 46 and 54 storeys.

For residents, that means years of nearby construction, changing views and more neighbours. For buyers of new suites, Ontario’s enhanced new housing rebate can cover the 8% provincial part of the HST, up to $80,000, on a new home up to $1 million if the agreement with the builder is signed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027 and it will be your primary residence. Assignment buyers only qualify if both the original and the assignment agreements fall in that window. My assignment sales guide explains how those deals work.

What are the pros and cons of living at Universal City?

Pros

• Right by Pickering GO. Few Durham condos are this close to a GO station.
• Newer buildings. All three finished towers date from 2023 onward.
• Moderate fees. Many smaller suites were listed under $520 a month.
• Prices are down. Pickering’s condo median fell 13.6% this year.

Cons

• Ongoing construction. More towers are planned for years to come.
• Highway and rail next door. Ask about noise on the side facing Highway 401 and the tracks.
• Small suites. Few options above 1,000 sq ft.
• Lots of rental units. Landlords compete for tenants, and owners live alongside a large renter base.

Who is Universal City best for, and should you buy or rent there in 2027?

Universal City suits daily GO commuters, first-time buyers who want a new suite under the GTA average, and renters who want a short walk to the train. It is a weaker fit for families who need space, and for downsizers who want quiet.

All three finished towers were first occupied after 15 November 2018, so their units are exempt from Ontario’s rent increase guideline (1.9% for 2027). Landlords still need 12 months between increases and 90 days’ written notice. For buyers, the Bank of Canada raised its rate to 2.50% on 28 October 2026 and prime is 4.70%. Compare the cost of renting with owning before you choose.

What to do next

1. Walk from the tower you like to Pickering GO at rush hour, and check the timetable.
2. Compare recent sales in that tower with the Pickering median above.
3. Get the status certificate and budget, and ask which amenities your tower shares.
4. If buying new from the builder, have a lawyer confirm your rebate eligibility before 31 March 2027.
5. Read my top 5 condos to buy in Pickering and Ajax to compare other options.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Communities — Chestnut Hill Developments
• Occupancy underway at Universal City in Pickering, work continues on later phases — UrbanToronto
• Universal City Condos, 1480 Bayly St — a building-data website
• Universal City Two, 1455 Celebration Dr — a building-data website
• Universal City development to add pizzazz (and a piazza) to Pickering’s city centre — insauga
• Pickering GO station — GO Transit
• Market Watch, October 2026 — TRREB
• Rental Market Report, Q2 2026 — TRREB

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