Real Estate Guide › Central

Palmerston-Little Italy

Contains the traditional neighbourhoods of:
Bickford Park, Little Italy, Palmerston

This is among the friendliest and most convenient of the downtown districts. Not only is Palmerston–Little Italy close to Toronto’s business core, but it’s also rich in services and stores of every kind. While many of the neighbourhood’s Italian families have moved to St. Clair Avenue West and then on to Woodbridge, the Italian vibe is still evident here, and the bars, clubs and trattorias of College Street have given the area an enduring coolness quotient. Still, the Italians are not the district’s only influence. The old city neighbourhood of Palmerston looks like an overseas outpost of Victorian England. That’s a fitting description, since Palmerston Boulevard is named for one of Queen Victoria’s prickliest and most reckless statesmen, Lord Palmerston, foreign minister and later prime minister. The Victorian look comes from the globe-shaped street lamps preserved from the early 20th century, which run along Palmerston Boulevard and cast a glow over its spacious, sturdy homes. And because so many want to own a piece of Palmerston, condominium developments are expanding skyward. Bickford Park, which sits at the district’s western end, features gorgeously snaking, tree-lined Grace Street. Bickford Park’s numerous solid early-1900s and post–Second World War houses boast carefully tended gardens and lawns. On the north end, this district stops at the chief topographical feature of the entire neighbourhood: the deep cavity in the ground called Christie Pits (which was used as one of the city’s chief quarries for gravel, sand and clay in the early part of the 20th century, and has been a site for neighbourhood activism going back to the early 1930s). The name is borrowed from Christie Street, named for W. M. Christie, a partner in the original biscuit company.

Nearby Restaurants

Vecchio Frak (Resto-Lounge)

Low lights, earthy tones and an airiness vaguely reminiscent of a hotel lobby surround young ... (0.23 km away)

Il Gatto Nero

The rustic comfort and sharp chic of this smart hideaway keep company the young and ... (0.24 km away)

Flight 55

This chic boîte describes itself as a restaurant-gallery and its food as French fusion bistro. ... (0.24 km away)

Sushi Bon

The menu at this somewhat stark sushi outlet outlines more than 100 dishes. But the ... (0.25 km away)

Sushi D

Low lighting, exposed brick and tasteful decor create a lounge vibe in this attractive space—perfect ... (0.26 km away)

The Standard

An exposed kitchen, featuring a proudly advertised wood-burning pizza oven, and a slightly cramped dining ... (0.27 km away)

Vivoli

Unquestionably fresh ingredients and dutiful care from the kitchen elevate the standard pastas and wood-fired ... (0.28 km away)

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Commuting

King and Bay:: 3.2 km
401 and 400:: 10.4 km
Gardiner and 427:: 11.6 km
Subways:: Christie Station 0.7 km; Ossington Station 0.8 km; Bathurst Station 1.1 km

Commuting and subway distances measured from neighbourhood centre.

Neighbourhood Data

Average 2006 sale price:: $457,000
Property crime:: Very high
Crime against people:: Very high

Real estate sales information provided by Ternet and its suppliers, who are not responsible for its accuracy. Crime based on Toronto Police Services 2006 statistical report.