Introduction to Parkdale Neighbourhood

One of the most in-demand neighbourhoods in Toronto, Parkdale is among the city’s most accessible and welcoming communities. This west-end area is located south of vibrant Roncesvalles and just west of the manicured Liberty Village. It also directly borders a section of Lake Ontario, providing access to a shoreline that contains a beautiful stretch of green space and fantastic lakefront views.

The pro-local mentality of the area’s residents keeps its eclectic mix of restaurants, bars, cafes, art galleries, and boutiques flourishing. It also contributes to the authentic feel and culture that helps put Parkdale in such high demand.

Here’s a closer look at one of our favourite Toronto neighbourhoods: Parkdale.

The Neighbours

Established in the late 19th century, Parkdale began life as one of Toronto’s wealthiest and most desirable suburbs. Today, this tight-knit community is diverse and predominantly working class.

The area’s accessible rents (for both housing and studio spaces) have encouraged large groups of musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs to live and work here. For those reasons, Parkdale has a notably youthful demographic, with young couples and families seeking to create a sense of community near like-minded creatives.

Parkdale is also the site of Toronto’s unofficial “Little Tibet,” which is home to one of the largest populations of people of Tibetan origin outside of Nepal and India. Needless to say, some of the best authentic Tibetan food can be found right here in Parkdale.

Amenities

Due to Parkdale’s diverse and artistic population, the area is full of quirky pubs, restaurants, and cafes. If you’re looking for retail therapy, check out the local vintage thrift shops and independent boutiques, many of which can be found on Queen Street.

Parkdale’s shop-local mentality means you don’t have to go far to find everything you need. Not only that, but you’ll never run out of things to do thanks to the area’s vibrant amenities.

Locals enjoy the numerous parkettes and mature trees scattered around Parkdale’s residential areas, as well as the green spaces and public parks by the waterfront.

Parkdale is also conveniently located just a short walking distance from BMO Field, where a number of Toronto’s professional sports teams play their home games. Here you’ll also find Exhibition Place, the host grounds of Toronto’s famous annual fair—The Canadian National Exhibition.

The neighbourhood is also home to several community centres, along with The Parkdale Public Library, The Boulevard Club (a high-end private recreational club), and The Argonaut Rowing Club.

Getting Around

Retail-oriented Queen Street runs through Parkdale, which means pedestrians are generally in the majority when it comes to street traffic.

Public transit is another very popular mode of transportation. The reliable Queen and King Streets run streetcar services for east-west travel, while frequent north-south bus routes provide quick access to the Bloor-Danforth subway line and beyond.

For motorists, easy access to major highways such as the Queensway, Gardiner Expressway, and Lake Shore Boulevard all pass through the south side of Parkdale.

The Homes

Parkdale was originally designed in the late 1800s as a wealthy suburb for Toronto’s upper class. Its stately collection of grand, predominantly Victorian homes reflect that history.

Many of the area’s larger estates have been sectioned off into semi-detached homes, duplexes, and triplexes—though some are still individually-owned.

There is also a wide range of affordable high-rise apartment buildings in the area, which make Parkdale an accessible neighbourhood for many lower-income residents. However, if you’re looking to buy property in the area, standalone or semi-detached homes are your best bet (as most of the high-rise residential buildings are exclusively rentals).

If you’re sold on the Parkdale way of life and are ready to start looking at homes, visit our featured listings page to find your perfect property.