HOME  |  March 20, 2010  |  Blogs: The Dish, The Goods, The Hype and The Informer

My Toronto Life: Sign In  |  Register   |  Contests  |  Subscribe

Toronto Life

advertisement indicator
1960s split-levels with generous lots, <br />
such as 7 Benfrisco Crescent, provide an <br />
affordable option for first-time buyers
1960s split-levels with generous lots,
such as 7 Benfrisco Crescent, provide an
affordable option for first-time buyers

Real Estate GuideEast

Bendale

Average 2008 sale price:
$265,769
Property crime:
high
Crime against people:
very high
Neighbourhood map:
See map

The heart of Scarborough is home to Raymond Moriyama’s Scarborough Civic Centre and the Scarborough Town Centre; it’s also criss-crossed by hydro fields and the seven lanes of Lawrence Avenue. Strip malls big and small serve the enormous number of immigrants in this part of the city. Each mall forms, in effect, its own main street, with independent businesses becoming gathering places for its respective micro-localities. Obviously planned with a light heart, winding streets such as Benleigh, Benadair, Ben Stanton, Ben Nevis, Benfrisco, Benorama and, inevitably, Benhur discourage anything but local traffic.

HOUSING STOCK: Though this is an old part of town, the majority of houses are post-1950. Big residential towers and small brick bungalows are standard, while well-maintained split-level dream homes back onto West Highland Creek.

BARGAIN ZONES: The streets between Barrymore Road and Sancrest Crescent in the Lawrence and Brimley vicinity are filled with tidy, affordable, and update-ready bungalows.

THE VERDICT: Bendale—sometimes called the cradle of Scarborough—deserves credit for giving waves of immigrants room to establish pleasant communities with convenient access to transit and large commercial centres.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Bendale Restaurant A classic, ’50s-style diner, that offers fairly good and inexpensive breakfasts, along with better souvlaki and ribs. 3264 Lawrence Ave. E., 416-438-4949.
Fish Joy The loyal clientele declare this tiny 40-year-old takeout place in Neote’s Plaza to be the best fish and chips joint in the GTA. 1179 Brimley Rd., 416-438-9998.

Commuting
King and Bay:
15.5 km
401 and 400:
21.7 km
Gardiner and 427:
28.4 km
Subways:
Lawrence East Station 1.4 km
Ellesmere Station 2.3 km
Midland Station 2.3 km

Commuting and subway distances measured from neighbourhood centre.

Follow Toronto Life on Twitter, Facebook and via RSS

advertisement indicator
advertisement indicator

TODAY IN TORONTO has moved to our new culture and entertainment blog, The Hype. Look for it every morning here

Special messages from our partners Toronto Life and Yellow Pages Wedding Guide 2010. Click here for Perfect Escapes Click here to view the full Private Schools Directory Click here to view the Home Renovation Guide Click to search careers on Toronto Life. Powered by Career Builder Canada
The Dish blog
The Goods blog
The Hype blog
The Informer blog
Most-read Feature Stories
CityGuides
advertisement indicator Windfall California Closet Today's Menu Egan Ridge