Item: The Esplanade
Rating: 5
Author: Kenan Yousef

The Esplanade

Call it Postmodern, call it Beaux-Arts, we call it a V-shaped building that bears a striking resemblance to New York&rsquo;s &mdash; or even Toronto&rsquo;s &mdash;flatiron building. And just like these other more infamous, triangular edifices, the fa&ccedil;ade at 25 The Esplanade has a historic, elegant appeal, making this building an ideal for anyone who's interested in <a href="https://strata.ca/toronto/condos-for-sale">Toronto condos for sale</a> but is tired of glass towers.It shouldn&rsquo;t be surprising, then, to learn that the building was constructed in 1989. Although this may not qualify for heritage status anytime soon, it does provide the building with a hardy, high-quality vibe that is so hard to come by in the quick-built glass towers of the 21st century.Perhaps practice does actually make perfect: the building management and security have a reputation as some of the best in the city, and this might have something to do with the building having been around for a few decades now.Moreover, residents pay reasonable <a href="https://strata.ca/blog/condo-fees-why-do-we-need-to-pay-them">maintenance fees</a> &ndash; especially for a building with so many great amenities. Those who choose to call this building home are generously rewarded with the use of a hot tub and sauna, a gym on uppermost story with views of the city below, a party room, a rooftop terrace, a concierge and onsite security guard, and a shared patio on 6th floor.

Yonge-Esplanade Enterprises Limited

/developers/yonge-esplanade-enterprises-limited

Crossbridge Condominium Services Ltd.

/property-management/crossbridge-condominium-services-ltd

Located in the <a href="https://strata.ca/toronto/downtown/st-lawrence">St. Lawrence Market</a> neighborhood, residents living at 25 The Esplanade have no shortage where entertainment, shopping, and dining out are concerned. As well, the central locale means numerous Toronto hotspots are within close reach.For one, the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts is literally across the street. For those willing to walk two blocks, the Hockey Hall of Fame is the next closest thing, while venturing out a little further will land residents at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the Rogers Centre, the Scotiabank Arena, and the CN Tower.Foodies living at 25 The Esplanade are in luck as well. St. Lawrence Market &mdash; a 6-minute walk away &mdash; is a great spot for picking up a quick bite to eat, but it&rsquo;s also much more than just that. A weekly antique and farmer&rsquo;s market can be found here, as well as stalls hawking meats, cheeses, produce, plus bulk, imported, and organic goodies Tuesday through Saturday.Decorating a new home will be no problem at all, thanks to the design and interior d&eacute;cor shops found along King East. Additionally, shopping fanatics will love how close they live to the Eaton Centre. Residents who prefer spending their days outdoors can head down to the lakeshore. Here, Cherry Beach, the Port Lands, Harbourfront, and the Leslie Spit are all waiting to be explored.

The 571 residential units are spread out over 31 storeys. With so many homes to choose from, prospective buyers interested in these <a href="https://strata.ca/toronto/downtown">downtown Toronto condos</a> are likely to find something that suits their fancy.Square footage varies quite considerably at the Esplanade Condos, with affordable units starting at around 350 and more spacious ones reaching to nearly 1,400 square feet. Floor-to-ceiling windows and 10-foot ceiling heights, however, allow even the coziest of units to feel spacious and bright.

Traveling to and from 25 The Esplanade is a breeze, thanks to its <a href="https://strata.ca/toronto/downtown">downtown</a> Toronto Locale. Even drivers are in luck, as heading toward either of the two nearby highways &mdash; the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway &mdash; will allow them to skip some of the downtown congestion. Those heading out by car can also make use of major arterial roads like Yonge, Jarvis and Front.Residents without cars are equally well suited for travel. Even those planning to leave the city are in luck, since the closest subway station, Union Station, also doubles as the city&rsquo;s foremost transportation hubs. After a 5-minute walk, passengers arriving at Union Station can hop onto TTC trains headed north along the Yonge and University-Spadina lines, or catch a VIA rail train, a GO bus or train, or an UP train to Pearson International Airport.Anyone planning to commute via bicycle can easily head down to the Martin Goodman Trail, which follows the shores of Lake Ontario along the entire length of the city. While this is a great way to reach the office, this trail is also an ideal spot for evening or morning joggers, as well as Saturday strollers.Travelers heading out of the city entirely can reach Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in only 20 minutes via public transit, 35 minutes on foot, or 10 minutes by car or taxi. Alternatively, the trip to Pearson will take about 25 minutes by car, yet still less than 40 via public transit.

A well-run building with a great vertical community. A hidden gem in the SLM! 

25 The Esplanade is easily one of the best-managed buildings in the SLM area. Even with its age (completed in 1989), maintenance fees have been reasonable at $0.80/SQFT relative to the area's $0.92/SQFT.

The building's location is central, with Union Station only steps away and the Gardiner nearby. One downside is the brutal traffic during rush hour. 

Things I like: 
- Great management in the building and a very friendly concierge staff
- Fantastic amenities, with the rooftop terrace being the highlight, in my opinion
- Relatively affordable Price/SQFT
- Low maintenance fees for the age of the building
- Good views all around

Things to consider:
- Some of the one-bedroom layouts in the building aren't the best
- None of the units in the building have balconies

Kenan Yousef

/toronto/25-the-esplanade-the-esplanade/reviews

The Esplanade / Reviews