Real Estate Guide › West

Humber Heights - Westmount

Average 2008 sale price:

$382,738

Property crime:

average

Crime against people:

average

Neighbourhood map:

See map

A former farming community, the area was subdivided during the First World War to provide housing for workers at the nearby munitions factories. A rural feel remains throughout, thanks to the wide, curb-less, sometimes sidewalk-free streets and the split-rail fences that border the properties. Houses along the eastern edge of the district back on to the Humber River, adding to the charm. An abundance of porch furniture, tidy garages and meticulous landscaping scream “retiree.” (There’s even an upscale retirement residence on Lawrence Avenue West.) Scarlett Road is on the move, with townhouse developments and clusters of new homes popping up on underused land near the Humber River. The ’hood as a whole doesn’t really take advantage of its riverside location, except near luxurious Westmount Park Road. In this enclave, original ranches and sprawling new homes revel in the winding streets and heavily treed lands that border one of the Humber’s creeks.

HOUSING STOCK: There are ’50s bungalows with attached garages near La Rose Avenue, a mix of side- and backsplits and semis farther north on Chapman Road, and luxury homes near the creek. There’s almost nothing but oversize mansions at the top of the neighbourhood on St. Phillips Road, where many of the lots—which sell for $850,000 to $1.2 million—look out on the peaceful Weston Golf and Country Club.

BARGAIN ZONES: Around La Rose Avenue, a buyer can still get something for $500,000, and some of the condos on Richview Road, north of Eglinton, are not out-of-control expensive. A three-bedroom condo starts at about $330,000.

THE VERDICT: This is a perfectly livable if thoroughly nondescript neighbourhood, without an ounce of trendiness. There’s lots of shopping at Royal York Plaza, several schools, transportation corridors galore (Eglinton West heads straight to the airport) and even a bit of character, courtesy of large Italian and Ukrainian populations.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
La Rose Bakery Great breads, cheeses, cold cuts and hearty made-to-order sandwiches. Try the excellent, traditional veal parmigiana. 140 La Rose Ave., 416-248-9828.

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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