Have you noticed the amount of cranes and orange construction signs at every street corner? The immense skeletons of towers rising all around? These are the marks of an expanding city. Toronto is quickly running out of available land in the downtown core. The west is filling up and we have not started building on the water – so that leaves the east and north. We have already filled you in on the numerous projects to the east, such as the entire Waterfront redevelopment, the condominiums going up in the beaches, and the expansive Athlete’s Village. It is time we bring your attention to Toronto’s North York district, more specifically, the Downsview area.
If we jumped back to the 1870s and aimed for where the intersection of Keele and Wilson Avenue would eventually be, we would land smack-dab in the middle of someone’s farmland. Eventually, the area to the west was designated for industrial use, and it was not until post-World War II that homes began to pop up. Once homes began to erect, they were built well into the 1960s and then they slowed down for a little while.
Since the mid 1900s, Downsview has expanded greatly. Today, the area is roughly bordered by Sheppard Avenue to the north, Dufferin Street on the eastern front, Wilson Avenue on the south end, and Highway 400 to the west. Dufferin Street became the line where the residential area and the industrial zone was separated.
Since Toronto has been growing exponentially over the past few decades, northern districts have become very popular. Downsview is now an eclectic area, featuring many schools, supermarkets, restaurants, boutiques, and coffee shops. The area has also become very attractive because of its proximity to Highways 400 and 401, and the subway line that runs along the west side. We are very excited to see some of the best developers and builders in the business starting to take advantage of the precious land that still remains in our northern region.
There are many projects in the works, including The Station by Brandy Lane Homes, and Ion Condos by Cityzen Development Group & Fernbrook Homes, both of which are currently in the preconstruction phase, but are pushing forward with exciting plans. There are also many condominiums in the construction phase, such as The Avanti by Torbel Group and Gramercy Park Condominium Residences by Malibu Investments Inc. There is also the master-planned community, Metro Place, by Liberty Development Corporation. They completed the first phase, M2 at Metro Place, and have the second and third phases, titled Parkside Tower and Metropolis, under construction right now!
We are truly blown away by the progress that our city has made in the past few years and we are looking forward to watching it grow. Stay tuned to the Toronto Star’s NewInHomes.com to stay updated on all the major developments in the city and beyond.
