Many of Leaside’s residential sections were
built in the ’30s, when wainscotting and
leaded windows were the height of fashion

Real Estate Guide › Central

Leaside - Bennington

Average 2008 sale price:

$742,512

Property crime:

average

Crime against people:

very low

Neighbourhood map:

See map

The commercial strip of Bayview from Millwood to Manor is reason enough to move here. With a comfortable mix of chains and indies, this up-market (but not too pricey) bit of high street is the heart of Leaside–Bennington, and all of eastern uptown, for that matter. It’s a relatively new development: Leaside residents numbered just 43 in 1913; in 1929, there were still fewer than 500. Nonetheless, the neighbourhood once had its own train station and an airfield (used for wartime pilot training). Munitions factories, the Durant Motor Company, and Canada Wire and Cable all came and went over the years, mostly between the wars, and each built houses for its workers and executives. Leaside High School (Margaret Atwood’s alma mater) is generally considered one of the better schools in the city.

HOUSING STOCK: Expect a wide range of sizes and styles, from bungalows to mansions. In the ’30s, wainscotting and leaded windows were the height of fashion, and many houses still retain those features.

BARGAIN ZONES: Airdrie and Rumsey roads north of Millwood feature semis, as do parts of Sutherland Drive; Nesbitt Drive (right by the tracks) offers a mix of styles and some more affordable homes.

THE VERDICT: This is one of the best full-service neighbourhoods in the city—thanks in large part to the amenities on the Bayview strip and the nearby scenic Don Valley—with enough housing options to suit a wide range of budgets. It’s the sort of place that makes residents wonder why anyone would ever want to live elsewhere.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Hollywood Gelato Though lineups might deter newbies, the natural ingredients that go into this gelato draw aficionados from far and wide. 1640 Bayview Ave., 416-544-9829.
McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon A good-time place complete with casual staff, cheap, moderately tasty food and a patio perfectly positioned for enjoying summer days on the strip. 1544 Bayview Ave., 416-932-0655.
Pâtisserie la Cigogne This small but exquisite shop is a francophilic oasis of butter, cream and flakiness. 1626 Bayview, 416-487-1234.
Sleuth of Baker Street It’s all detective fiction, all thrillers, all the time in this quirky shop. 1600 Bayview Ave., 416-483-3111.