The Beach neighbourhood in Toronto - lush and family friendly
A lakeside holiday location for Torontonians in the late 1800s, The Beach is known for its many parks, the boardwalk trail along the lake shore, the treed residential streets sloping down to the Lake Ontario, the many frame houses dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and still standing today, and the busy Queen Street East with its quirky boutiques, cafes and restaurants.
Although many of the homes were originally used as cottages, the majority of residences in the Beaches (or The Beach - there are differences of opinion regarding the area name) were built in the 1920s and 1930s. Some homes have been built in later years, and a number of larger lots were split into smaller parcels. Some of these new houses fit well with the typical Beach style, some seem to be a bit out of place. Among many cottage-style houses you will also find some luxury homes, quite large, and selling well over 2 million.
In 1994 the Greenwood Raceway was moved to Woodbine Racetrack, and its location was subdivided. Half of the former track area became a new Woodbine park, the rest was developed for residential and commercial purposes. That part of the Beaches contains a mix of detached, semi-detached and attached homes, and several condominium buildings.
A small number of loft conversions can be found along Queen Street, among them Waterworks Lofts and Academy Lane Lofts. A delightfully located low rise 19-unit co-ownership building on Glenfern Avenue sits right close to the lake, and south facing suites have lake views. Another lakefront co-ownership building is located on Nursewood Road. Affordable units occasionally come up for sale in a co-op building at 75 Scarborough Road.
The Beaches are home to the annual International Jazz Festival in July. The festival features a variety of styles, with jazz, blues, big band and vocalists, and includes workshops, jam sessions and kids events. Beach volleyball programs are offered during spring, summer and fall in Ashbridges Bay. The boardwalk running from Ashbridges Bay all the way to Victoria Park is great for walking by the lake.
Upper Beaches - an affordable option for buyers on a budget
North of the Beach, between Kingston Road and the railroad, lies a tranquil neighbourhood referred to as Upper Beaches. While much more affordable than prime Beach, it is still a delightful community and is becoming more popular as time passes and house prices in the prime areas increase. A wide variety of house styles, from small 2-bedroom row houses to larger detached homes come in various styles. Wood or vinyl clad frame houses share the area with red brick Victorian and Edwardian residences.
For more information about the neighbourhood or to request MLS listings please contact me via
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