If the basis of domestic cities is multi-apartment multi-story buildings, then American and Canadian cities consist mainly of single-family homes on their own plots of land. This is perhaps the most important difference to keep in mind.
Toronto in this regard is a typical example of "one-story America." It has a large business center called downtown, which is built up with office skyscrapers and administrative buildings, but all the rest of the space is mainly occupied by a mass of private residential houses with separate enclaves of industrial zones and business centers. Another feature of Toronto is that it was founded on the shores of Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes. Accordingly, the business part of the city (downtown) formed almost at the shoreline itself, from which the city expanded.
Historically, the development of downtown went north along Yonge Street. The wealthiest part of the city's residents preferred to settle there, in the northern suburbs. Currently, Yonge Street is the central street that divides the city into western and eastern parts. A subway line runs under it, and the main transport arteries are tied to it. For this reason, everything along Yonge Street or close to it is considered the most prestigious and sought-after property.
It is worth noting another feature of North American cities, namely the role of their suburbs. They are as full-fledged a part of the metropolis as the central areas, with all the necessary residential and business infrastructure. This is also facilitated by the fact that suburbs are usually connected to the city center by high-speed highways and a convenient public transport system.
At the same time, the following must be considered: traditionally, both Canadians and Americans prefer to live not in apartments but in their own houses, and mainly in the suburbs, closer to nature. In the suburbs, there is practically no rental housing – it is exclusively the private sector, and mostly wealthy people live there.
FIRST, you need to decide whether to rent housing in rental buildings or condominiums. Undoubtedly, condominiums are much better in quality and location than rental buildings, but the rental cost is at least one and a half to two times higher if comparing apartments of the same size.
As already written above, the overall housing stock of Toronto is formed from private houses and townhouses. Multi-story apartment buildings appeared in Toronto only in the 1960s, when it was necessary to quickly create affordable housing for the increased number of immigrants. Thus, rental buildings appeared, aimed mainly at low-income residents.
The second wave of mass construction of multi-story apartment housing in the city began in the late 1990s, when a condominium boom started in Toronto. This real estate belongs to a completely different class of housing than rental buildings, and accordingly, they are constructed mainly in key points of the city.
If we are talking about rental buildings, it makes sense to rent housing not far from the subway, in the corridor along Yonge Street. In particular, there are quite a few good-quality multi-story apartment buildings in midtown, in the area between St. Claire Ave and Lawrence Ave, as well as in the North York area (uppertown, i.e., the northern part), starting from Sheppard Ave. It is in the northern part of the city (North York) that our compatriots prefer to settle; the so-called "Russian district" is located here.
Another good area for renting in rental buildings is in Etobicoke near High Park, the second largest urban park in North America, second only to the famous Central Park in New York. The enclave of rental buildings stretches along Bloor St. West, under which a subway line runs.
If you are renting in condominiums, you can identify just a few enclaves where high-rises are concentrated.
Construction is most intensive in downtown, especially in its lower (southern) part, in close proximity to the lake and around the business district of Financial District. Currently, complexes in the Entertainment District, around St. Lawrence Market, in the upscale Yorkville area, along the Harbourfront, and along Yonge Street are particularly popular.
Another popular place where a large enclave of condominiums has formed is the area around the intersection of two strategic streets, Yonge St and Eglinton Ave, which is effectively the center of midtown. The popularity of this enclave is also enhanced by its proximity to some of the most expensive areas of Canada, Bridal Path and Forest Hill, where the best private schools in Canada are concentrated.
Finally, another area where a large number of condominiums have been built, and which is also popular among Toronto residents, is North York Centre, which lies along Yonge Street from Sheppard Ave to Finch Ave and slightly beyond. This is the northernmost part of the city, bordering the northern suburbs. To the east of North York Centre, along Bayview Ave, lies another prestigious area with a large enclave of condominiums – Bayview Village.
In general, choosing housing along Yonge Street can be considered a universal recommendation for those who do not have specific requirements regarding the area of residence in Toronto. Although good condominiums are being built throughout the city, the convenience of living along Yonge Street is hard to beat.
For example, another popular area can be recommended – Humber Bay, where condominiums are actively being built. It is located in the southern part of Etobicoke, below High Park, on the shore of Lake Ontario. With all the advantages of this area, which is more like a resort zone stretching along the waterfront, it has one drawback – the distance from the subway, as well as a certain isolation from city life.
All of the listed areas are suitable not only for renting but also for purchasing condominiums.
When it comes to detached houses, they are usually for sale and are rarely rented. Townhouses are a different matter; they fall into the category of rental housing. Given that Toronto consists mostly of detached houses and townhouses, the geography of choosing such housing is much wider than when choosing condominiums.
As with condominiums, good neighborhoods lie along the corridor of Yonge Street, bounded by Bathurst Street on the west and Bayview Avenue on the east. In downtown proper there are no good neighborhoods for private houses; they start where downtown ends. The closest to it is the expensive neighborhood of Rosedale, located northeast of the intersection of Toronto’s two most important streets – Yonge Street and Bloor Street.
A bit above Rosedale, northeast of another landmark intersection – Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue in midtown – is Canada’s most expensive neighborhood, Bridal Path. This is where many famous businessmen and celebrities have homes, including singers Prince, Celine Dion, and Elton John. Further up, closer to the city’s northern borders, are prestigious neighborhoods such as Lawrence Park and Willowdale.
Finally, on the west side of Yonge Street, slightly above Rosedale and slightly below Bridal Path, lies another very prestigious neighborhood – Forrest Hill. In the triangle formed by these three neighborhoods are the best private schools and the most expensive residential property in Canada is concentrated here.
Within the city, one can also recommend specific areas in Etobicoke (along the lake and near High Park), as well as the Annex neighborhood, located next to the upscale Yorkville area, where boutiques of the most expensive brands are concentrated. Also very popular is the Beaches neighborhood in the eastern part of the city, located on the shores of Lake Ontario, but the housing stock there is quite outdated.
Speaking of urban enclaves of expensive homes, it should be noted that except for the Bridal Path area, houses within the city limits stand on relatively small plots of land. At the same time, in the suburbs there is much more land, and when it comes to expensive houses, they often stand on plots of at least half a hectare or more. For this reason, the suburbs are the place where wealthy people settle. And there are also the most prestigious schools and good stores.
The most prestigious and popular are the northern suburbs of Toronto, especially the part that lies along the corridor of Yonge Street. These are primarily the suburbs of Richmond Hill, Aurora, and King City, partly Vaughan and Markham. The popularity of the northern suburbs is due to pristine ecology, picturesque landscapes, a good transportation network, and proximity to the subway; they also house some of Canada’s best private schools, a large number of golf clubs, and places for walks. This is where the wealthiest people have traditionally settled.
Another distant suburb that is very popular among people with money is the suburb of Oakville, located in the western part of the metropolis. More precisely, it is the southern part of this suburb, which stretches in a narrow strip along Lake Ontario. For all the attractiveness of this suburb, thanks to its proximity to the lake and the area of vineyards and fruit orchards of the Niagara Peninsula, it has a significant drawback – distance from Toronto and poor transportation network.
If we are talking about buying a house or townhouse for a moderate price, it makes sense to buy them in neighborhoods located near the aforementioned expensive areas. Such proximity is a guarantee of good infrastructure, good schools, and a higher standard of living.
Naturally, the good neighborhoods are not limited to those listed above, and if the task is to rent or buy a house or condominium, it is better to contact an experienced realtor who can select housing for you in a suitable price range, based on your situation and needs.
Based on materials from «Русский Торонто»