Renaissance Court, 164 Cumberland St: 32 Large Suites in Yorkville

Renaissance Court is the building I suggest to Yorkville buyers who want space and privacy more than a lobby with a name. It is a 1983 boutique condominium of about 32 suites on Cumberland Street, and the smallest suite here is larger than most two-bedrooms in the new towers around it. It is also old enough that what you are really buying is the corporation’s maintenance record. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Boutique scale, and a building record to read

Cumberland Street is where Yorkville’s scale changes block by block, from village shops to towers like Renaissance Plaza across the street. Renaissance Court sits in the middle of that, a small building from the early 1980s with around 30 owners.

The sources do not fully agree on its size. Condos.ca lists four storeys and 32 suites, a listing article describes about 30 suites, and recent listings carry suite numbers in the 600s, which would imply more than four floors. I would not treat any of these as final; check the status certificate and the condominium plan.

A corporation this small has advantages and risks. You get a quiet building where you know your neighbours. You also get a small group of owners sharing the cost of every roof, garage and elevator repair, so the reserve fund matters even more than usual.

Every suite is a large suite

The suite range is roughly 1,155 to 1,768 sq ft. There are no studios or compact one-bedrooms here, which is unusual in Yorkville and is the main reason the building suits downsizers.

That also explains how some listings are labelled. A suite marketed as a one-bedroom-plus-den here can be bigger than a two-bedroom in a newer tower. Do not filter by bedroom count when you search this building; filter by square footage and layout.

Listing descriptions mention wood-burning fireplaces in at least some suites, which you will not find in modern towers. Renovation levels vary widely across a 1983 building, from original to fully rebuilt kitchens, so the suite’s condition will drive its price more than the building average.

If you are planning a major renovation, ask the management office early about the corporation’s rules for contractors, working hours, elevator bookings and approval of alterations. In a small building those rules are applied closely, and they shape your timeline.

Rooftop deck, concierge and the Yorkville doorstep

For a building this size, the amenity list is respectable: a rooftop deck, concierge and security, and an underground garage. One listing article describes the concierge as 24-hour. The rooftop is the feature to see in person, because it is the shared outdoor space in a part of the city where most buildings offer none.

Day to day, the location is the reason to be here. You are in Yorkville’s restaurant and shopping streets, a short walk from Bloor, the museums and the Annex. Transit, schools and Walk Score are shown in the data panel on this page.

Expect Yorkville levels of activity and construction around you. Cumberland and the streets near it have seen a steady run of tower projects, and the low-rise buildings that remain will see more change around them.

Renaissance Court against Renaissance Plaza across the street

The natural comparison is Renaissance Plaza at 175 Cumberland, from the same year. Condos.ca lists it as a 15-storey Bramalea tower of 127 suites, with sizes from about 1,032 to 4,106 sq ft and an average near $844 per square foot.

So both buildings are large-suite 1983 condominiums on the same block, and Renaissance Court trades at a premium of more than $100 per square foot on the condos.ca averages. What you are paying for is scale: around 32 suites instead of 127, fewer neighbours, fewer elevator waits and a quieter lobby.

What you give up is the depth of a bigger corporation, which spreads its repair bills over four times as many owners, and the larger tower’s higher-floor views. I would look at both before deciding. Many buyers who think they want the tower end up preferring the smaller building once they have stood in its rooftop and lobby, and some go the other way once they see the fees side by side.

Pricing and the fee question

Condos.ca puts the building average at about $960 per square foot. For Yorkville that is modest; newer towers nearby routinely ask far more per foot. The discount reflects age, the fee level and the fact that many suites need updating.

The fee is where you need to pay attention. It covers water, building insurance and common elements, and heat and hydro are not listed as included. Fees in small older buildings with concierge service tend to be high per square foot, because a small number of owners carry the staffing cost.

Before you write an offer, ask for the last two or three years of the corporation’s budgets as well as the current fee. In a building of about 32 suites, staffing, insurance and any major repair move the fee faster than in a large tower, and you want to see the trend, not just today’s number.

Only one suite was listed when I checked, so I will not quote an asking range. For the recorded resale history, ask me for the building sold report, and compare fee per square foot alongside price per square foot.

Building specifications

Amenities at Renaissance Court Residences

There is no gym or pool, but the staffed concierge and the rooftop deck give a small building more than most of its size. In Yorkville, a shared outdoor space and a secure garage are the practical things that matter. Ask how the rooftop is booked and maintained, since its condition is part of what you are buying.

Jatin’s honest take on Renaissance Court Residences

Renaissance Court Residences — frequently asked questions

Looking at Yorkville, the Annex and Midtown more broadly? Start with my Toronto community guide — the neighbourhoods, what each pocket is like, and how they compare.