Toronto condo buildings · Updated September 13, 2026
The Residences of 488 University Avenue
488 University Ave, Toronto · Also known as 488 University Avenue, 488 University Condos
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The Residences of 488 University Avenue is a 55-storey, 453-suite condo at University and Dundas, completed in 2017 by Amexon Development. It was built by redeveloping an existing 1968 office building rather than demolishing it, and it has direct indoor access to St. Patrick subway station. It rates 4.0 out of 5 from 215 Google reviews, led by praise for the concierge, staff and gym.
- Address
- 488 University Ave, Toronto
- Neighbourhood
- Grange Park
- Completed
- 2017
- Storeys
- 55
- Suites
- 453
- Towers
- 1
- Developer
- Amexon Development
- Transit
- Direct indoor access to St. Patrick station (Line 1)
About 488 University
488 University is one of Toronto's more unusual towers. Amexon redeveloped Global House, an 18-storey office building that opened in 1968, adding the residential tower rather than clearing the site.
The amenities are its calling card. Listings describe a fitness centre with Technogym equipment and a Pilates studio, indoor and outdoor pools, a party room and a rooftop patio, and Google reviewers mention the gym in 19 reviews and the concierge in 42.
The trade-offs come with the premium positioning. A 2026 Reddit thread lists the common complaints as valet parking, food deliveries not being allowed up to units, guests paying to use the gym, and concierge friction, and another commenter reports leaks and poor customer service.
Storeys, suites and completion year are from Strata. The Global House history is from UrbanToronto.
Where 488 University is
488 University is at 488 University Ave in Grange Park. Direct indoor access to St. Patrick station (Line 1).
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488 University building amenities
- Fitness centre with Technogym equipment
- Pilates studio
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- Party room
- Rooftop patio
- 24-hour security and concierge
- Valet parking
- Direct St. Patrick station access
Brokerage building profiles (Downtown Realty, Big Guide to Condos), a Strata resident review, a Reddit thread and Google Maps listing attributes.
488 University photos
488 University reviews: the Google rating
Google reviews are the largest public sample of resident opinion for most condo buildings. The breakdown matters more than the average: a building with as many one-star as five-star reviews is a very different place from one with a steady spread of fours.
4.0
★★★★★215 Google reviews
- 5 star152
- 4 star10
- 3 star3
- 2 star7
- 1 star43
What reviews mention most
- Concierge · 42
- Helpful staff · 37
- Gym · 19
- Convenient location · 8
- Kind staff · 6
- Subway access · 5
- Modern building · 5
- Luxury condos · 4
- Clean common areas · 2
Google Maps listing, as of July 3, 2026. Topics are the themes Google identifies in reviews, with the number of reviews mentioning each. Read the reviews on Google Maps
What residents praise
- Concierge and helpful staff (79 Google review mentions combined)
- The gym and amenities
- Indoor access to St. Patrick station
What residents complain about
- Valet parking and delivery rules
- Guest fees for the gym
- Leaks and customer service, per a Reddit commenter
- Awkward one-bedroom layouts and nearby construction, per an older thread
What people say about 488 University on Reddit and forums
A summary of the threads that come up when people search for this building. Reddit skews toward people with a problem or a question, so weigh it alongside the Google breakdown above.
The overall picture
Forum opinion on 488 University is mixed. Residents consistently praise the gym, amenities and indoor subway access, but the premium-service model comes with rules people dislike, and one commenter alleges frequent leaks and poor customer service.
Amenities and subway access
PositiveA Strata resident calls the gym and amenities among the best in Toronto and the indoor route to St. Patrick station incredibly convenient.
Building rules
NegativeA 2026 thread lists valet parking, deliveries not allowed up to units and a $40 fee for guests to use the gym as common complaints.
Leaks and service
NegativeA 2025 commenter tells people to avoid the building, alleging leaks, high prices and poor customer care.
Layouts
MixedAn older renter thread calls the building nice overall but the one-bedroom layouts awkward and cramped.
The threads behind this summary
- 488 University that bad? First home buyer, single man.
r/TorontoRenting · Aug 2026 · 10+ comments
Mixed“Common complaints are - valet parking - food delivery can't go up to the unit - friends need to pay $40 to use the gym - concierge and ...”
- The Residences of 488 University Avenue Reviews
Strata.ca
Positive“Fantastic gym and amenities, among the best in Toronto. Direct access to St. Patrick subway without stepping outside is incredibly convenient.”
- Name a worst building in Toronto.
r/TorontoRenting · 2025 · 50+ comments
Negative“AVOID 488 University Avenue under Duka Management at all cost. They leak all the time, overpriced, and customer care SUCKS.”
- Thoughts on 488 University Avenue? Is it a good place to ...
r/TorontoRealEstate · 2025 · 6 comments
Question“I've been looking at units at 488 University Avenue in Toronto and was wondering if anyone here has experience with the building.”
- 488 University Avenue
r/TorontoRenting · 2023 · 10+ comments
Mixed“Overall, this building is nice. My main gripes would be: lots of construction closeby and the 1 bed layouts are a bit awkward/cramped.”
Summaries are our reading of the linked threads and review pages. Excerpts are quoted verbatim from each thread’s public snippet, including spelling; open the thread for full context. Dates are approximate.
What's near 488 University: transit, restaurants and parks
Subway stations, streetcar and bus stops, and the most-reviewed places within about a kilometre of 488 University Ave. Use the filters to show only what you care about, and select a marker for photos, details and walking directions.
Transit stop locations are from TTC schedule data. Place locations come from Google Maps listings and are rounded to about 100 m, so a marker can sit a little off the actual entrance.
Transit near 488 University
The closest subway station to 488 University is St Patrick Station on Line 1 Yonge-University, about a 1-minute walk (60 m). Streetcar routes 505, 506 and 501 and bus routes 13 and 19 stop within 500 m.
Subway stations
- 1
St Patrick Station
Line 1 Yonge-University
1 min · 60 m - 1
Osgoode Station
Line 1 Yonge-University
6 min · 400 m - 1
Queen's Park Station
Line 1 Yonge-University
8 min · 480 m
Streetcar routes within 500 m
- 505DundasNearest stop: Dundas St West at University Ave - St Patrick Station1 min · 40 m
- 506CarltonNearest stop: Bay St at Dundas St West7 min · 420 m
- 501QueenNearest stop: Queen St West at University Ave - Osgoode Station8 min · 500 m
Bus routes within 500 m
- 13Avenue RdNearest stop: Elm St at University Ave East Side3 min · 190 m
- 19BayNearest stop: Bay St at Dundas St West7 min · 420 m
Stations and routes from the TTC's official schedule data (TTC Routes and Schedules (GTFS), Toronto Open Data, published August 27, 2026). Overnight routes are not shown. Walking times are estimates based on straight-line distance. View the dataset
Restaurants, parks and things to do near 488 University
Restaurants near 488 University
- No free photo available4 min walk
Gyubee Japanese Grill (Dundas)
Japanese restaurant
★★★★★4.9 (12,855)
157 Dundas St W · 240 m
- No free photo available6 min walk
9 min walkPhoto: Scott Webb scottwebb, CC0
- No free photo available11 min walk
- No free photo available12 min walk
- No free photo available12 min walk
Cafés and bakeries near 488 University
- No free photo available4 min walk
- No free photo available9 min walk
- No free photo available9 min walk
- No free photo available10 min walk
NEO COFFEE BAR BAY X COLLEGE
Coffee shop
★★★★★4.4 (2,075)
770 Bay St. Unit 3 · 610 m
- No free photo available13 min walk
- No free photo available13 min walk
Grocery stores near 488 University
- No free photo available7 min walk
Lucky Moose Food Mart
Asian grocery store
★★★★★4.1 (1,930)
393 Dundas St W · 420 m
- No free photo available10 min walk
T&T Supermarket Downtown Store
Asian grocery store
★★★★★4.4 (910)
26 Edward St · 610 m
- No free photo available10 min walk
- No free photo available11 min walk
Healthy Planet - Yonge & Dundas
Health food store
★★★★★4.8 (1,554)
322 Yonge St · 680 m
- No free photo available11 min walk
- No free photo available11 min walk
Parks and green space near 488 University
6 min walkPhoto: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
- No free photo available6 min walk
- No free photo available9 min walk
- No free photo available11 min walk
- No free photo available11 min walk
College Park - Barbara Ann Scott Ice Trail
Park
★★★★★4.5 (157)
33 College St · 690 m
- No free photo available12 min walk
Things to do near 488 University
5 min walkPhoto: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
- No free photo available5 min walk
Enigma Escape Room
Escape room center
★★★★★4.8 (1,621)
130 Dundas St W 3rd floor · 340 m
8 min walkPhoto: Hutima, CC BY-SA 4.0
- No free photo available9 min walk
Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club Toronto
Comedy club
★★★★★4.3 (1,527)
224 Richmond St W · 560 m
- No free photo available11 min walk
12 min walkPhoto: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0
Places and ratings from Google Maps listings, retrieved September 13, 2026. Restaurants and cafés are limited to places rated 4.3 or higher, and every category is filtered to listings with enough reviews to be meaningful. Walking times are estimates based on straight-line distance. Businesses open, close and move, so check before you go.
Who 488 University suits, and who should look elsewhere
A good fit for
Hospital and university workers and downtown professionals who want hotel-style service, big amenities and a subway connection without stepping outside.
Look elsewhere if you are
Owners who want to park their own car or have deliveries brought to the door, or anyone wary of paying a premium for service.
Before you buy in any condo, ask for the status certificate and read the reserve fund study; it shows the corporation’s finances, special assessments and upcoming repairs. Use the condo fee calculator to check monthly costs and the land transfer tax calculator for closing.
488 University FAQ
In what year was the 488 University Avenue building built?
The residential tower was completed in 2017. It was created by redeveloping Global House, an 18-storey office building that opened in 1968.
Does 488 University Avenue have subway access?
Yes. Residents have direct indoor access to St. Patrick station on Line 1.
How many units are in 488 University Avenue?
453 suites over 55 storeys, according to Strata.
Is 488 University a good building?
Mostly yes. It rates 4.0 out of 5 from 215 Google reviews, with 152 five-star reviews focused on staff, the gym and location. The recurring complaints are valet parking, delivery restrictions, gym guest fees and some reports of leaks.
What subway station is closest to 488 University?
The closest subway station to 488 University is St Patrick Station on Line 1 Yonge-University, about a 1-minute walk (60 m). Streetcar routes 505, 506 and 501 and bus routes 13 and 19 stop within 500 m.
What grocery stores are near 488 University?
The closest well-reviewed grocery stores are Lucky Moose Food Mart at 393 Dundas St W (7 min walk), T&T Supermarket Downtown Store at 26 Edward St (10 min walk) and H Mart at 338 Yonge St (10 min walk).
Condo buildings near 488 University
College Park · 700 m away
Aura at College Park
Completed 2014 · 79 storeys
★★★★★ 4.1 from 394 Google reviews
Entertainment District · 710 m away
Picasso on Richmond
Completed 2016 · 39 storeys
★★★★★ 3.9 from 53 Google reviews
Downtown Yonge · 830 m away
Massey Tower
Completed 2019 · 60 storeys
★★★★★ 3.1 from 165 Google reviews
Yonge and College · 880 m away
YC Condos
Completed 2019 · 66 storeys
★★★★★ 3.1 from 46 Google reviews
Next steps for 488 University
- Tell us the city and we match you with an agent who already works Grange Park.
- Browse agents serving Downtown Toronto.
- Estimate monthly costs with the condo fee calculator and closing with the land transfer tax calculator.
- Still choosing an area? Start with the best neighbourhoods in Toronto.
Sources
- Strata: The Residences of 488 University Avenue
- UrbanToronto: The Residences of 488 University Avenue
- Downtown Realty: 488 University Ave
- Google Maps listing (snapshot July 3, 2026)
- TTC Routes and Schedules (GTFS), Toronto Open Data
- 5 Reddit threads and review pages, linked above
Researched September 13, 2026. Ratings and resident opinion change; check the linked sources for the latest before making a decision.