Real Estate Guide › West

Princess - Rosethorn

Average 2007 sale price:: $1,537,500
Property crime:: high
Crime against people:: low
Neighbourhood map:: See map

A little slice of mid-century suburbia, Princess–Rosethorn is three neighbourhoods in one. Islington Heights lies just north of the Islington golf course and centres on Rosethorn Junior School and its adjoining park. The small community of Thorncrest Village huddles around its own community centre and streets such as Pheasant Lane and The Wynd, just north of Rathburn. Princess Anne Manor, north of Twyford and Aylesbury, is the quintessential 1950s suburb, with ranch-style bungalows stretching out for kilometres.

HOUSING STOCK: There are some 1960s-style homes with pitched roofs and carports in the northwest (especially on Tromley), and there are monster homes everywhere, particularly in Islington Heights, where new builds fetch $1.3 million to $1.6 million—more if you back on to the golf course. Thorncrest Village is a place unto itself, a private community that indulges in architectural fancy, from Italian villa to Florida bungalow. But the dominant mode, especially in Princess Anne Manor, is single-level homes spread out across shallow yet generous lots (80 to 100 feet of frontage). Most probably won’t last long; they’re worth a lot more renovated or topped off.

BARGAIN ZONES: Those priced out of Princess Anne Manor cross over Kipling to Princess Gardens on the west side, where the housing is similar, but the lots are smaller. Otherwise, we’re talking big bucks—especially in Thorncrest Village, where houses go for $2 million plus.

THE VERDICT: The signature ranch-style homes, with their 1950s vibe and Frank Lloyd Wright lines, are the best thing about the neighbourhood. There’s little shopping, so people drive to Lloyd Manor Place (with its 24/7 Dominion) in the north, or out of the neighbourhood entirely, to Humbertown, Sherway Gardens and Bloor West Village. But if you’re a fan of post-war design and prefer to keep a lot of space between yourself and your neighbours, this is the place to be.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Ristorante Pinocchio Moneyed regulars dine on classic Italian at this neighbourhood favourite. 4800 Dundas St. W., 416-231-6701.

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Commuting

Gardiner and 427:: 4.9 km
401 and 400:: 6.7 km
King and Bay:: 12.7 km
Subways:: Islington Station 1.9 km; Kipling Station 2.1 km; Royal York Station 2.4 km