Bordered on the west by Macdonell St and Dufferin on the East, running north from the water to Queen street, Parkdale has a total population larger than most small Ontario towns. It is a vibrant neighbourhood with a strong community that is impossible to define. Parkdale is composed of extremes, which can in part be explained by its history. In the early 20th century, wealthy families were drawn to this area because of its proximity to the lake. During that period large and beautiful Victorian homes were built. When the city of Toronto built the Gardiner expressway  in 1955, it demolished the southern portion of the neighbourhood and drastically affected the land value of the homes it didn’t destroy.  Because of this change, many large apartment buildings were developed in the 1960’s and Parkdale became a predominantly low-income neighbourhood.

Today, Parkdale is still composed of the large Victorian homes and the huge apartment towers. These contrasts gives parkdale a unique flavour that locals defend fiercely. Many of the Victorian homes that were converted into rooming houses in the 1950’s and 1960’s have been converted back to single family homes. The portion of Queen street between Dufferin and Sorauren is brimming with boutique clothing stores, award winning restaurants and independently run coffee shops. You don’t see a lot of tourists in Parkdale, but those of us who are lucky enough to live here know it’s one of the best neighbourhoods in the world city.

 

Community Highlights (our totally biased, non-scientific opinions)

Best Restaurant: Duggan’s Brewery. Delicious beer brewed in the basement. Upstairs they serve exceptional food in their cavernous bar. Casual enough for sweatpants, interesting enough for a first date. Quintessentially Parkdale. Try the Jerk Fried Chicken platter with a parkdale bomber brew.

Best Park: Maysark Park, nestled between the Parkdale Community Center and the Parkdale Public Library this large park features a playground, splashpad and community garden. Sit on a bench and meet your neighbours.

Best Cafe: Capital Espresso. Grab a cappuccino and rub shoulders with all the graphic designers in the area. Macbook Pro optional.

Best Grocery store: The West-End Food Co-op. Effectively delivers on their promise to bring local food closer to home. Ethically sourced, organic food is available to residents seven days a week.

Best Activity: Parkdale Fea. Every second Sunday of the month local artisans and merchants get sell their wares.

Want to know more? Kim Kehoe has been specializing in Parkdale real estate for thirty years. Her team knows a thing or two about the area. Get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.