Real Estate Guide › West

Downsview - Roding

Average 2008 sale price:

$318,188

Property crime:

very high

Crime against people:

very high

Neighbourhood map:

See map

Rolling hills, spacious lots and single-family homes, built between World War II and the 1970s, lend the streets a nice suburban feel. Many homes back on to a greenbelt and parkland. Yorkdale and North York Sheridan Mall offer prime shopping. Downsview Park—the site of SARSstock and Pope John Paul II’s 2002 visit—dominates the region. But the transformation of the land into the country’s first manufactured urban park has been slow. Bruce Mau’s Tree City design was approved in 2000, but his 30,000 trees were only planted in 2007.

HOUSING STOCK: Condo towers are sprouting up in anticipation of the park’s metamorphosis. A lot of the original homes remain—split-levels from the ’50s and ’60s.

BARGAIN ZONES: The new condo developments along Sheppard are cheaper than comparable downtown dwellings, but not as inexpensive as they should be, given their size.

THE VERDICT: This area has been booming since the decommissioning of the military base in 1996. Original homes are being levelled in favour of larger domiciles, but the area’s shops, green space and restaurants outshine any unimaginative architecture.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Canadian Air and Space Museum Aviation lovers can tour the original 1929 de Havilland factory, and peruse exhibits celebrating the infamous Avro Arrow and anti-submarine aircraft. Downsview Park, 65 Carl Hall Rd., 416-638-6078.
The Hangar A massive indoor sports complex, The Hangar hosts plenty of camps for children throughout the summer, and draws recreation enthusiasts all year round to its volleyball courts and soccer fields. Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall Rd., 416-638-8478.
La Pasiva The only Canadian outpost of this Uruguay diner chain, La Pasiva serves huge steak sandwiches. 896 Wilson Ave., 416-636-6555.

Today in Toronto: February 9, 2010

• Hub 14: The postage stamp measurements of the Hub 14 space will ensure close encounters with the performers taking part in the new series Under a Paper Moon
• More things to do tonight
• Something to do this weekend

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