If you’ve lived in Toronto for years, you know how hard it is to imagine finding a home anywhere else in the country. TO’s the absolute heart of Canadian business and high powered economics, dynamic arts and cultural production, fine dining and nightlife, and exciting exhibitions, festivals, fairs, and concerts. As the world’s most multicultural metropolis (and North America’s fourth largest city), Toronto is also one of the safest, promising a home, career, and supportive community for just about anyone. And despite some cold winters and some lagging public transit solutions, it’s still one of the best places to invest in real estate, launch a career, go to school, or put down roots in the province.
One thing to understand about Toronto is that it’s a city made up of unique and diverse neighbourhoods, with each offering a different slice of the cultural, artistic, linguistic, and economic pie of the megacity. Some neighbourhoods are better known than others — Vogue recently called West Queen West one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world; Kensington Market is an ever-popular source of arts and bohemian culture; and Church and Wellesley remains as a bastion of LGBTQ-friendly commerce. You see the same articles run about Leslieville, Roncesvalles, The Annex, and other famous boroughs. But a few other ’hoods are certainly heating up and catching more attention — and as a renter, you always want to be ahead of the curve to find that timely mix of low rental costs and amazing cultural moments.
In 2015 and beyond, we’ll be posting about up and coming Toronto communities; for today’s post, we’ll cover The Junction and Dovercourt Village.
The Junction. Many people still have the wrong idea about The Junction, but these are definitely holdovers from a previous era. With an end to prohibition in 2000, lower rent, re-claimed warehouse and industrial space, and an ever expanding tide of boutiques, cafes, restaurants, antique and furniture shops, and other niche storefronts (think craft stores, art supply outlets, dog daycares, indie beer halls, grilled cheese diners, and more), The Junction is a demonstration of gentrification-in-action. It also means that it’s attracting more and more young, upwardly mobile, or artistically minded renters. With some calling it the next West Queen West, you won’t find a more rapidly changing, safe, and relatively inexpensive neighbourhood in the city. Many residents find the ’hood to be a quiet escape away from the constant noise and traffic of downtown; if you move there, you’ll find High Park and the Humber River each about twenty minutes from your home. But with Runnymede, High Park, Keele, and Dundas West subway stops (and St. Clair streetcars) also within easy walking distance, you never feel too far removed from the hustle and bustle. Once a totally separate city (called ‘West Toronto Junction’), it’s now a popular Toronto hotspot for activism, retail, and affordable living, and definitely a place you’ll love to call home.
Dovercourt Village. This is a small area of the city wedged between other, more traditionally popular destinations, such as Bloorcourt, Christie Pitts/Little Korea, and Dufferin Grove. With luminous Dupont on its north border and bumping Bloor West as its south, residents have access to such a wide array of restaurants, bars, shops, and transit lines that it’s becoming increasingly popular for both students and young professional renters. Some amazing apartments (with backyards and balconies!) can be found throughout the area at prices much lower than in nearby neighbourhoods, making Dovercourt even more of an exciting destination. And with a Bellwoods Brewpub, Dark Horse Espresso bar, and more incoming attractions associated with the very-hip Artisan Factory Building on Geary Avenue, the community will soon to be known for much more than inexpensive rentals, peaceful streets, and the happy heartbeat of Dovercourt Park.
As Toronto continues to expand, evolve, and stay the coolest, most ambitious city in Canada, you’ll want all the best amenities, cultural attractions, job opportunities, and transit links close to home, but without having to spend a fortune. By using our user-friendly database, you’ll be able to browse through listings with clear descriptions and pictures, walk-scores, video tours, 3D floor plans, and a number of other features to really show off each property. You can define the space parameters, price, and area of town for each search. Each new apartment uploaded to our website is shared all over the web, and can be easily shared to help you get a second opinion or bookmark a spot for later viewing. It’s simply the best way to rent apartments in Toronto, from The Junction to Dovercourt Village and beyond!
Stay tuned for more information about other popular Toronto neighbourhoods and for how you can get the most out of our premier service.
