85 The Esplanade
85 The Esplanade is in St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands, in a registered apartment building built in 1997 with 128 units. There are 3 planning proposals within 250 m, including a 17‑storey building (under review). King Station is a 7‑minute walk.
Data as of Nov 9, 2026 · Every item lists its source
- This building scored 93 out of 100 when last evaluated (Jul 21, 2025). That's higher than 51% of evaluated buildings in Toronto.
- A 17-storey building is under review, 236 m away (65 George St and 1 more address).
- Assaults and thefts over $5,000 in St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands were above the Toronto rate in 2025.
- King Station (Line 1) is about a 7-minute walk.
- The nearest elementary school is St Michael Catholic School, 263 m away.
01What’s planned near 85 The Esplanade
3 planning proposals within 250 m (about a 3‑minute walk): three in progress. Some cover several addresses; each proposal is listed once. That's more than at most Toronto addresses (the typical address has 1).
In progress
- 1Site plan61 Front St W · 122 m awaySite plan: City review of the design and layout of a new building
City planners are reviewing it. Residents can comment before a decision is made.
The Project includes:· Construction of two new platforms, with canopies, stairs and elevators; and· A new concourse area below the new platforms that will connect the York, Bay and VIA Concourses, Union Square and the Scotiabank Galleria…File 23 106987 STE 10 SA · submitted Jan 25, 2023 · City record and how to comment - 217-storey building65 George St and 1 more address · 236 m awaySite plan: City review of the design and layout of a new building
City planners are reviewing it. Residents can comment before a decision is made.
Site Plan Approval for a 17-storey, 16-unit building at 65 George Street. The first floor of the existing heritage building will be incorporated into the new building. The 4-storey Part IV designated building at 187 King Street East is to…File 22 137934 STE 13 SA · submitted Apr 25, 2022 · City record and how to commentAll 2 addresses
65 George St · 187 King St E
- 317-storey building65 George St and 1 more address · 236 m awayRezoning: a request to change the Official Plan or zoning so something new can be built
It has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the OMB), which will make the final decision.
Zoning By-law Amendment application for a 17-storey, 16-unit building at 65 George Street. The first floor of the existing heritage building will be incorporated into the new building. The 4-storey Part IV designated building at 187 King…File 17 147290 STE 28 OZ · submitted Apr 21, 2017 · City record and how to commentAll 2 addresses
65 George St · 187 King St E
Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment Applications, City of Toronto. A proposal that covers several addresses is listed once. Decided: development files submitted in the last 4 years; Committee of Adjustment decisions in the last 2 years.
02Safety near 85 The Esplanade
Police recorded 218 major crimes within 500 m of this address from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026. That's more than at 97% of Toronto addresses. The table compares the neighbourhood's rates with Toronto's.
| Major crime | Near this addresswithin 500 m, last 12 months | St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands compared with Torontorate per 100,000 residents, 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 132 near this address | 38% higher1,060 vs 768 per 100,000 | |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 19 near this address | 29% higher78 vs 61 per 100,000 | |
| Robberies | 15 near this address | 23% higher96 vs 79 per 100,000 | |
| Break-ins | 47 near this address | 14% lower164 vs 190 per 100,000 | |
| Car thefts | 5 near this address | 89% lower25 vs 225 per 100,000 | |
Source: Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal, Major Crime Indicators (Oct 2, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026) and Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Reported incidents only; police place each incident at the nearest intersection. Five-year trends for St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands
03Getting around from 85 The Esplanade
The nearest subway station is King Station (Line 1), about a 7‑minute walk (0.4 km). Within a 5‑minute walk there are 15 TTC stops served by the 504 and 503 streetcars and the 121, 75 and 19 buses, with about 3,047 departures on a typical weekday. The nearest GO train station is Union Station GO, 0.7 km away, with 354 train stops on a weekday.
Source: TTC · Line 1 · about 7 min walk
Source: GO Transit · 354 train stops on a weekday
TTC and GO Transit schedules for a typical weekday (Nov 11, 2026). Walking times are estimates.
04Schools and child care near 85 The Esplanade
The closest public and Catholic schools. They may not be the ones assigned to this address; check with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) or Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB).
Elementary schools
Share of Grade 6 students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math.
Secondary schools
Share of students who passed the Grade 10 literacy test on their first try. Toronto: 84%.
The red tick on each bar is the Toronto average. Private schools within 1 km: Keystone International Schools. Source: Ontario Ministry of Education (2026), EQAO results.
Within 500 m (about a 6‑minute walk): two licensed child care centres and one EarlyON centre.
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and ChildCareSafe (Toronto Public Health inspections).
05The building at 85 The Esplanade
There are no building orders, by-law investigations, heritage listing or short-term rental registration on record for 85 The Esplanade. Here is what the City does have.
Source: Apartment Building Evaluation · evaluated Jul 21, 2025
Source: Apartment Building Evaluation
Source: Residential Fire Inspection Results · last opened Apr 22, 2026
Source: Building Permits · 5 on record
Permit history: 5 projects from 5 permits
- Alter: Boiler/Furnace/AC Replacement · permit issued · issued Jun 29, 2023
Replacement of four boilers (end of service life) to new high efficiency boilers replacement of existing parking exhaust ventilation system with CO detection sysetm. ( The existing exhaust system… · Permit 23 154107 - Fire Alarm · completed Apr 7, 2023
Proposal to replace the existing fire alarm control panel in the existing apartment building. · Permit 22 212740 - Plumbing · completed Jun 8, 2026
Plumbing - Proposal to install a solar domestic hot water system in an existing building. Current use of building Senior Citzens Housing with office and retail. · Permit 10 261183 - Backflow Prevention Devices (Water only) · completed Jun 8, 2026
Install 1 back flow prevention device. · Permit 09 145496 - Interior renovation and heating and cooling · inspection · issued Dec 14, 2004
HVAC - Interior alterations to various portions of building for structural changes. - Interior Alterations · Permit 04 195628
06Around the block
Stays of less than 28 days, like Airbnb. That's about typical for Toronto (the typical address has 2).
Houses that rent individual rooms with shared kitchens or bathrooms. The City licenses them to enforce safety standards.
Marcheleo's Marketplace (restaurant or bar), Hair Tv Studio (salon or personal services), South Street Burger (restaurant or bar), and 20 more.
33 Yonge Street (293 m), Public space at 160 The Esplanade (364 m), 143-177 Lake Shore Boulevard East, 26 Richardson Street and 130-132 Queens Quay East 26 Richardson Street and 130-132 Queens Quay East (423 m), and 2 more.
Adelaide Resource Centre for Women (437 m).
All new business licences in St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands (23)
- Marcheleo's Marketplace · Restaurant or bar · 1 Edgewater Dr · 793 m · licensed Nov 4, 2026
- Hair Tv Studio · Salon or personal services · 145 Front St E · 414 m · licensed Nov 3, 2026
- South Street Burger · Restaurant or bar · 12 Richardson St · 460 m · licensed Nov 3, 2026
- Roywoods Union · Take-out or food shop · 65 Front St W · 629 m · licensed Nov 2, 2026
- Touche · Salon or personal services · 455 Front St E · 1451 m · licensed Oct 30, 2026
- Arvento Pizza · Take-out or food shop · 25 York St · 792 m · licensed Oct 28, 2026
- Nova Supreme Dry Cleaners · Laundromat or dry cleaner · 140 The Esplanade · 258 m · licensed Oct 26, 2026
- The Second City Theatre Company · Entertainment venue · 1 York St · 908 m · licensed Oct 23, 2026
- Le Meridien Toronto Pinnacle Hotel · Entertainment venue · 1 Yonge St · 562 m · licensed Oct 21, 2026
- Billy's Bodega · Restaurant or bar · 55 Mill St · 1132 m · licensed Oct 21, 2026
- Indigo Park · Parking lot · 141 Bay St · 433 m · licensed Oct 19, 2026
- Epic On the Go · Take-out or food shop · 81 Bay St · 536 m · licensed Oct 7, 2026
Source: Short Term Rentals Registration, Multi-Tenant (Rooming) House Licences, Business Licences and Permits (storefront types; owners’ personal names are never shown), POPS, and Daily Shelter Occupancy (Nov 6, 2026). Confidential shelter locations are not published.
07Risks and environment at 85 The Esplanade
Source: TRCA Regulation mapping 2025
Source: Non Regulated Lead Sample · 6 tests, Sep 8, 2017 to Jun 29, 2026
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada · hourly
TRCA mapping is for screening, not site-specific decisions. Lead results are voluntary samples from homes in the postal area, not this address.
08The neighbourhood: St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands
St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands had 31,285 residents in 2021. The median household income was $87,000, about the same as the typical Toronto neighbourhood ($85,000). 60% of households rent (typical neighbourhood: 46%). 39% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 22% of workers commuted by transit and 37% walked or cycled (typical neighbourhood: 26% and 5%). The most common first languages other than English and French are Mandarin (5.7%), Spanish (2.8%) and Cantonese (2.8%). Source: 2021 Census; the next census was taken in 2026.
Rents aren't published for single neighbourhoods. Across central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation), a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental building averaged $2,457 a month in October 2025, up 6% from a year earlier. The Toronto average was $2,055. The vacancy rate was 3.2%. These averages include long-term tenants; new listings usually cost more.
| Average rent, October 2025 | Central Toronto | Change in a year | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,526 | +2% | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,914 | +4% | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,457 | +6% | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $3,195 | 0% | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC, Rental Market Survey (October 2025), purpose-built rental apartments, central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation). CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods. Adapted by My Address in Toronto.
How St Lawrence-East Bayfront-The Islands compares with the rest of Toronto →Archive photos from near this address: myaddressintoronto.com/address/85-the-esplanade#sec-history
