Renaissance Plaza, 175 Cumberland St: Big Suites Above Bloor and Avenue

Renaissance Plaza is where I take buyers who want a Bloor and Avenue Road address, a suite of 1,500 sq ft or more, and a price per foot that the new towers across the street cannot touch. The suites sit high above an office complex, which gives them views most buildings this age do not have. It also gives the building a structure you need to understand before you buy. I’m Jatin Dua, RE/MAX Quantum Realty.

Homes on top of an office building

Renaissance Plaza is a mixed-use complex completed in the early 1980s, with an office address at 150 Bloor Street West and the condominium entrance at 175 Cumberland Street. Bramalea and Fidinam developed it, and the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario credits Page + Steele and WZMH Architects with the design.

The homes are on the upper floors. Toronto Life described the first ten floors as commercial, with residences starting on the eleventh, and suite numbers run into the low twenties. Condos.ca lists the building at 15 storeys, which likely counts only the residential levels; sources do not agree, so ask the listing agent how floors are counted.

That stacking is the building’s big advantage. Even the lowest suite sits well above the street, so you get outlooks over the Royal Ontario Museum, the Church of the Redeemer and the Yorkville skyline that a typical 1980s mid-rise cannot offer.

The office floors below are changing

A 2024 discussion on SkyriseCities reported a proposal to convert the lower office floors of Renaissance Plaza to condominiums after a major commercial tenant left. I have not seen a formal application confirmed, so treat it as something to ask about, not a fact.

If it moves ahead, it matters to you. A conversion would bring construction, new neighbours sharing the complex and possibly new cost-sharing arrangements between the residential and commercial parts. Ask the property manager what is known, and read the most recent board minutes for any mention of it.

Whatever happens below, the corner itself is not going anywhere. You are across Avenue Road from the ROM, steps from the Bloor Street shops and a short walk from Queen’s Park and the University of Toronto.

Layouts and what to expect inside

Suites start at about 1,032 sq ft and run to over 4,000 sq ft, so this is a building of large two- and three-bedroom homes rather than compact investor units. Most layouts date from the early 1980s, which means separate rooms, proper dining areas and generous storage rather than open-concept boxes.

Condition varies a great deal. Toronto Life featured a renovated two-bedroom of roughly 1,700 sq ft that its owner had rebuilt with a modern, glassy interior, while other suites are close to original. Price an unrenovated suite with a realistic budget for a kitchen, baths and flooring.

The parking garage is shared with the complex, and Toronto Life noted valet parking. Parking is not in the fee here, so confirm whether a space is deeded or leased with the suite and what it costs each month.

When you view suites, pay attention to which way they face. Some exposures look toward the ROM, the Church of the Redeemer and the Bloor Street towers, others over the low roofs of Yorkville and the Annex, and at this height the difference in light and outlook is significant. Visit at the time of day you would actually be home.

Fees: what you pay for and what you don’t

The fee covers common elements, heat, air conditioning, water and building insurance. Hydro and parking are not listed as included, which is a different arrangement from several smaller Yorkville buildings that bundle both.

With suites this large, the monthly fee is significant in absolute terms even when the per-foot rate is reasonable. When you compare with a newer tower, compare the all-in monthly cost, including hydro and parking, rather than the headline fee.

Because the building shares a structure, a garage and some systems with the office complex, part of what your fee pays for depends on how costs are split with the commercial owner. That split is set out in the corporation’s documents, not in the listing, so ask your lawyer to review it with the status certificate.

It is also worth asking how the pool, sauna and squash court are funded over time. These are amenities a 127-suite building pays for on its own, and the reserve fund study should show when the pool equipment and finishes are due for replacement and how much has been set aside.

Pricing: Bloor and Avenue at a discount

Renaissance Plaza averages about $844 per square foot on condos.ca. Across Avenue Road and along Bloor, newer buildings sit much higher: Exhibit Residences at 200 Bloor West shows about $1,101, Museum House about $1,132, The Prince Arthur about $1,452 and the Four Seasons Private Residences about $1,574. Renaissance Court, the 1983 low-rise across Cumberland, shows about $960.

That is a discount of roughly 25 to 45 percent per foot for an older building with a pool, squash court and concierge. The trade-off is age, finishes that may need work, and a mixed-use structure you have to understand.

There was only one suite for sale at the time of writing, a two-bedroom-plus-den, so there is no meaningful asking range to quote. Supply here is thin; buyers often wait for the right floor and exposure. For recent sales history, ask me for the building sold report.

Building specifications

Amenities at Renaissance Plaza

A pool, sauna and squash court are uncommon in a building of 127 suites, and they mean you can swim or play without a club membership. They also cost money to run and eventually replace, which is why the reserve fund deserves a close read.

Jatin’s honest take on Renaissance Plaza

Renaissance Plaza — 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.