Niagara

Your Typical Neighbour

Likely a young professional or couple who bond with other pet parents a couple of times a day at the well-used dog park. Potentially a business-savvy dog walker who wants to live close to their market! Young professionals that may work in Liberty Village or the heart of King West but may want a slightly more residential hood.

What We Love

Lots of positive changes showing themselves along King Street west of Bathurst. Newer dining and café offerings have recently opened to much fanfare, and it’s likely that more are on the way with increased demand.

What We Don’t Love

Now that we can’t lean on the smell of swine here anymore, we’d have to say that some of the townhome and condo designs in the neighbourhood are just plain boring. Plus, by the time the 504 King Streetcar gets here during rush hour it’s already slammed.

The Real Estate Scoop

The early 2000’s marked a change in this neighbourhood where focus was placed on the creation of residential opportunity over the expansion of business. There is a long history of residential use for the area, when the growth of local industry in the 1850’s demanded housing for workers holding the local jobs. Though the nature of the work has changed, the very local expansion of condo offerings is a result of more or less the same demand.

Crowded commercial space in nearby Liberty Village to the west and Wellington St. have led to a spillover, if you will, of short commute-loving professionals who appreciate the strong sense of community that exists here. There are some unique homes on the side streets of this neighbourhood, and some gorgeous condo and loft spaces that have been built both as conversions (Massey Harris Lofts, Gotham Lofts) – and the area is still growing. For instance the stretch on Tecumseth just south of Wellington that used to be Quality Meat Packers and Toronto Abattoirs will soon be the site of a new condo and mixed use development.

Condo units make up the majority of the rotating inventory in this area, and they come in a broad range of sizes and price range. From time to time some spectacular units overlooking the park show themselves, and they offer some roomy floor plans and a luxurious feel at a fraction of the price of an equivalent luxury building further toward the core. If you’re insistent on snagging a rarely offered home in this neighbourhood, be ready to pounce when one shows itself.

Schools

There are a small handful. That is to say there are a couple, but not a few. Solid reputations go along with what IS there.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Niagara Street Junior Public School

SECONDARY SCHOOLS

St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary School

Transit

King, Queen and Bathurst Streets are served well by multiple (albeit often crowded) streetcars.