A dynamic area, Yonge–Eglinton is turning
into a second, more affluent downtown

Real Estate Guide › Central

Yonge - Eglinton

Average 2008 sale price:

$799,152

Property crime:

average

Crime against people:

very low

Neighbourhood map:

See map

With a mall, two cinemas and dozens of shops and restaurants, this bustling intersection is like a lighter version of Yonge and Dundas, minus the 905ers and tourists. More common are harried nannies pushing designer-clad tots in Bugaboos. The area is especially lively at lunchtime, when the office towers and three local high schools disgorge their hungry hordes (Starbucks and What a Bagel on Yonge Street are popular destinations). The vibrant retail core combined with quiet side streets make it a sought-after address, and highly reputable schools such as Allenby and the soon-to-be-rebuilt North Toronto Collegiate have filled the area with affluent families. Young and eligible 20-somethings snap up new condos, which are sprouting at an exponential rate—on Duplex Avenue alone, two proposals are in for 20- and 25-storey towers. Beyond shopping and eating, North Toronto Memorial Community Centre offers tennis, soccer, swimming and skating on a dog-friendly park that stretches from Eglinton to Roselawn.

HOUSING STOCK: In the North Toronto end, maple-shaded streets feature a mishmash of sizes and architectural styles. Down in Chaplin Estates, stately Tudor and Georgian homes fetch $1.5 million, but rarely see the market.

BARGAIN ZONES: Condos start in the mid $200,000s. North of Eglinton, the occasional three-bedroom, semi-detached fixer-upper can be had for around $500,000.

THE VERDICT: Young professional parents are drawn by the coveted school district and short subway ride to and from work. The broad range of houses allows homeowners to move up without leaving the ’hood.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Film Fest DVD Rentals This meticulously organized indie store has depth in foreign films and classics. 405 Duplex Ave., 416-322-3555.
Grazie Ristorante The menu hasn’t changed since the ’90s, but their pizza and pasta still packs ’em in. 2373 Yonge St., 416-488-0822.
Sporting Life Bikes & Boards A mecca for North Toronto cyclists and extreme sport enthusiasts. 2454 Yonge St., 416-485-4440.
Yonge-Eglinton AppleTree Market This organic farmers’ market runs every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. 200 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-629-3983.