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Real Estate Guide › Central

Mount Pleasant West

Average 2008 sale price:

$422,860

Property crime:

average

Crime against people:

very low

Neighbourhood map:

See map

Tucked between charming St. Clair and tony Yonge and Eglinton is Mount Pleasant West, the highest-density neighbourhood in the city; more than 90 per cent of the housing is in a forest of multi-storey towers, and more than 80 per cent of the population rents. Twenty levels seems to be the norm, with the occasional older three- or four-storey apartment block tucked in among them. The older towers are rentals, while the ones put up in the past decade or so tend to be condos, such as Minto Midtown, the high-end tower complex on Yonge. There are some houses on the north side of Keewatin, on Soudan east of Redpath, and on Belsize Drive (part of which is divided by Glebe Manor West parkette, making for a lovely wide boulevard). Yonge has its usual commercial mix, though there’s not much worth mentioning on either Mount Pleasant or Eglinton (unless you count Spring Rolls and Philthy McNasty’s); luckily, there’s Lawrence Park South (page 28) to the north and St. Clair (page 49) to the south. The area offers opportunities to live in midtown for prices you won’t find again until you’re north of the 401. There’s even some history—Montgomery Tavern, now a post office, was on this stretch of Yonge, meaning those 1832 rebels marched right through the neighbourhood before they were routed.

HOUSING STOCK: It’s almost all towers, with many renters. Some notable brick semis and detached homes are sprinkled throughout the north end and some sections of the centre.

BARGAIN ZONES: With many properties selling in the $600,000s, condos are a less expensive way into the neighbourhood. You can easily find one-bedrooms for about $300,000.

THE VERDICT: If real estate values are all about location, you’ve got yourself a winner here—you’re close to the same amenities available in much pricier neighbourhoods. But if you don’t enjoy seeing towers when you glance out the window, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
The Art Shoppe One of the city’s best furniture stores since 1934, the Art Shoppe offers a variety of design styles at upmarket prices. 2131 Yonge St., 416-487-3211.
Caribbean Bistro This tiny spot serves Caribbean food you won’t find anywhere else this side of Piarco Airport. 2439A Yonge St., 416-480-1581
Spytech Got a problem nanny? Got a pretty nanny? Spytech’s got gadgets to get a little 007 at home. 2005 Yonge St., 416-482-8588.
Grano This Italian resto has 30-odd rainbow-hued antipasti that can be delivered to the car like a haute drive-in, minus the roller skates. 2035 Yonge St. 416-440-1986.