Real Estate Guide › Central

Lansing - Westgate

Average 2008 sale price:

$459,001

Property crime:

very high

Crime against people:

average

Neighbourhood map:

See map

Green space commands much of the real estate here, with York Cemetery marking Lansing-Westgate’s northern boundary, and Earl Bales Park and the Don Valley Golf Course slicing through its middle section. The area south of the park is a somewhat isolated pocket of well-maintained one-and-a-half- and two-storey stone, stucco or brick homes, connected to the north via a foot path. Just watch out for plastic-wrapped turd bombs: the trail is popular with professional dog walkers (who apparently don’t clean up after their canine clients). The historic Lansing community, where the Sheppard family settled in 1798, has seen an influx of families in more recent years, many of them moving into new monster homes and townhouses.

HOUSING STOCK: Most homes are the result of two building booms: the post-war era to 1960, and the condos and rebuilds that have gone up since 2001. Central streets feature a mixture of original and new homes (there are many styles to choose from) with high-rise condos lining Yonge north of Sheppard.

BARGAIN ZONES: Prices drop as you move farther from Yonge and the subway, especially in Lansing. For example, a house on Delhi Avenue recently went for a reasonable $549,000. In Westgate, there are older homes near Wilson that offer good value.

THE VERDICT: Proximity to the 401 is one of the area’s main selling points, but the noise can be a drawback. Young families (more than a third of residents are between their mid 20s and 40s) are flocking to the relatively affordable streets on either side of Sheppard, where the houses have wide lots and are close to the shopping and restaurants on Yonge Street.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Earl Bales Park Hiking and biking trails, an outdoor amphitheatre and bunny ski hill make this 145-acre park a popular year-round destination for families and active young professionals. 4169 Bathurst St., Ski and Snowboard Centre: 416-395-7874.
Toronto Centre for the Arts As home to live theatre and the Toronto Philharmonia, the TCA brings plenty of downtown culture to the residents of this upper-uptown ’hood. 5040 Yonge St., 416-733-9388.