Moving to Toronto, please advise good place to stay and avoid.

[kin0kin]

Me and my wife will be permanently moving to Toronto by the end of July. We have been staying in Halifax, NS for about 6-7 years now. We've stayed in various places before, from the suburbs to the busiest street in Halifax (10 mins to downtown). I have done an extensive research of the places to avoid in Toronto, and just to name a few:

Jane & Finch, Parkdale, Entertainment District (pretty much anything from Queen St W down south, and all the way to parliament st.), Lawrence and Jane, Cabbage Town, Thorncliffe park, O'connor-Woodbine-St Claire, Flemingdon Park, from Sheppard-Victoria-Steeles... the golf area, and etc.

Now, are there any particularly safe/quiet area in TO that I should look into? I have shortlisted some apartments above Highpark, and some along Yonge St, Bloor-Yonge, Bayview Village, and Broadview Ave.

Also, here's a google map that I've created about TO and areas to avoid, please take a look and let me know if there's any mistake, or anything that I may have missed. Thanks

(You may have to check the boxes of all the streets and areas on the left, do them slowly or they may not load properly)
http://maps.google.ca/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=104770269567106928500.00045111304a84c9d09cc&ll=43.710323,-79.40094&spn=0.183148,0.300751&z=12

[13sundin]

jane + finch is the best place to be.

[kin0kin]

jane + finch is the best place to be.

I'll make sure to move over there :rolleyes:

[bobby5]

I have shortlisted some apartments above Highpark, and some along Yonge St, Bloor-Yonge, Bayview Village, and Broadview Ave.


Anywhere which has property prices starting from 500k, would be safe enough for you :cheesygri

[sprung]

Police website has crime stats/division here. (http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/statistics/crime_indicators.php)

[Goldilocks]

Just like everything, a lot would depend on your lifestyle. How old you are? Do you have kids? Do you like to bike, drive or take transit? Shopping? Sports fanatic? Ethnic or religious affiliations? Where will you be working, (in order to minimize commuting, traffic is a killer)? What do you like to do in your spare time? Costco or a local market type of person?

All neighbourhoods have their por's and cons.
I like Mt. Pleasant or Bayview between Eglinton and St. Clair. Tons of nice little shops and restaurants.

The Beaches neighbourhood is a great place to live, close to everything and lots of places to run and hang out. A great sense of community.

High Park area like you mentioned, is very nice.

You also mention Bayview Village area, while it's a nice neighbourhood, there's not much else going on there and kind of boring in my opinion, (I live nearby).

Good luck with your search.

[jb22]

I was living in a condo near the CNE grounds, around Bathurst and Lake Shore area. I really liked the area. I was able to walk to work downtown in about 20 - 25 minutes. I worked around Queen and John so was very close to shops, restaurants, the lake. I really enjoyed the area. When I get back to Toronto next year I will plan on trying to find another place in that area if I can. Although depending on how many new condos have been built while I'm away, and more so how bad the traffic is may change my mind.

[DeltasInTheSky]

Rosedale?

[mjl_toronto]

As goldilocks already mentioned, we need to know a lot more before we can recommend any place to live in Toronto (easier to tell you where to avoid but you seem to have already figured that out).

To add to his questions, are you looking to rent/buy house/townhome/apartment/condo? What's your budget like?

You can start here to find a home in Toronto http://www.housingmaps.com/

[joeym]

Bayview between Eglinton and St. Clair. Tons of nice little shops and restaurants.



this is a good place.

[mlc2000]

The Kingsway is nice, as is Bloor West Village.

[kin0kin]

Hi Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. We do not have kids, but we do have a four legged son :lol: We are looking to rent an apartment for the next 2 years before scouting out for a house to buy. I'm looking at around $1300-$1500 for a 1 bedroom. But the rental budget is flexible depending on the location and neighborhood. We'd be mostly taking public transit to work, no bike, car atm, but planning to get a car next year.

As far as some personal information and lifestyle is concerned, I enjoy being in a quiet building, preferably with seniors or people who don't blast loud music or party a lot. Therefore I'd really like to stay away from buildings around the universities and schools. I'm more so of a tech person than a social fanatic - no pubs, no clubbing, no smoking, nothing. I have no idea where will I be working yet as I'd be looking for a job after I moved. I'm a sobeys/no frills person, costco in the GTA is too far away and I may cancel my membership soon. I know it is really hard to tell which area would be best for me considering that I don't know where in TO that I'd be working yet but generally, I'd put having a nice and quiet place to stay over commuting time. Thanks again!

Kingsdale area = above and around Bayview area?
Rosedale = Mt Pleasant area/Rosedale Park?
St Claire-Eglinton = Particularly which part is nice as the area is huge?

It would be great if someone state down the all four cross roads so that I could check out that area. :)

[rfdrfd]

I'd say anything on the Yonge Subway line sounds like your best fit. I'd rent something at a newer condo/apartment.

This way, they have better rules/guidelines against loud music, etc. Usually that comes from your neighbours behind your walls, not really across the street.

Also, find a place that is not on Yonge Street, but East or West of it. Because Yonge st. will be louder (police/ambulance/fire sirens all night).

It depends on whether you want to be downtown or uptown. If uptown, stay away from Sheppard & Yonge. Unless you don't mind driving in that really, really busy gridlock intersection. This problem even made the newspapers. I say Finch/Yonge is a good bet.

Downtown, tons of nice condos being built or already is. Websites are a plenty.

[CoffeeAddict]

I'm not sure if you're used to downtown toronto places but you'll probably be looking at the bare min 1 + den condos/apts. A one bedroom will probably be in the 500-600 sq ft range which will be far too small for you, a sig other, and a dog (or cat?).

Your budget will allow for a 2 bedroom place not in the core. You MAY have to look at something off the subway line though depending on neighborhood.

The better option may be to look at craigslist or MLS for house rentals. I've seen entire houses for rent on MLS and craigslist in the $1500 range as long as you don't mind commuting a bit.

It also sounds like you're a bit of a suburbanite as opposed to an urban dweller. For bang for buck I would recommend the area around scarborough town centre. Good area, low crime, cheap apartments and homes, lots of parks close by, scarborough town center mall close by, real canadian superstore and walmart close by, access to public transit, and it's only 45 mins away by RT/subway to the heart of downtown.

[CoffeeAddict]

here's an example of a place to rent in scarborough close to scarborough town centre. it would be about a 50 min commute to downtown from this house give or take

MLS listing
http://www.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx?vd=&SearchURL=%3fMode%3d0%26Page%3d1%26vs%3dResidentia l%26ret%3d300%26sts%3d0-0%26beds%3d0-0%26baths%3d0-0%26aid%3d3355%26MapURL%3d%3fAreaID%3d6368%26tte%3 d1%26tt%3d1%2c2%26mp%3d0-0-0%26mrt%3d0-1600-4%26trt%3d3%26of%3d1%26ps%3d10%26o%3dA&Mode=0&PropertyID=6921870

google map location
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=9+BELLECHASSE+ST,+toronto,+on&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=43.664131,77.519531&ie=UTF8&z=16

[kin0kin]

Just checked Rosedale and the apartments are over 2k a month :-0

I'm leaning towards highrise as most of them have concrete walls between one apartment from another (and dry wall within units) and I've found that it significantly suppresses the noises coming from next door. I really dislike staying in any buildings less than 6-7 floors as most of them are built completely with wood, besides the columns. Thump from people walking above me drives me crazy.

Also, I am trying to avoid the whole Scarb, I'm planning to stay within TO for the first 1-2 years, and perhaps move to Richmond Hill when I have a car. I guess I fall somewhere at the boarderline of being a surbabian-urbanian :o I am moving over from Halifax because I just can't stand how dead the city is (sorry for those living in HFX, it just IS).

Thanks for the advise against staying on Yonge Street, would 1-2 blocks away be good enough? I used to stay around a dead end street here and it is extremely quiet, except for those kids playing around the open area. I've also used to stay in Winnipeg, right ON Portage Ave and I hear Sirens at least 3-4 times a day :mad:

[Hot Ice]

assume you already know the size of Toronto or GTA, since no car, you'd want to be close to the subway line for easy communte. Depends on where you work it may take up to 2 hours commute by transit so I don't think I'd bother with neighbourhood safety. You don't have kids, which means that staying anywhere in a nice Condo will be sufficient for your safety. Some condos even offer security services and since you're renting, it's free (included with rent).
rule of thumb for transit: 1/2 hour give or take if you have to take a bus to the subway. Average 1.5 min per station on the subway.
so if your route closer or is on the subway, you can reduce travel time significantly.

[western]

I'm not sure if you're used to downtown toronto places but you'll probably be looking at the bare min 1 + den condos/apts. A one bedroom will probably be in the 500-600 sq ft range which will be far too small for you, a sig other, and a dog (or cat?).

Your budget will allow for a 2 bedroom place not in the core. You MAY have to look at something off the subway line though depending on neighborhood.

The better option may be to look at craigslist or MLS for house rentals. I've seen entire houses for rent on MLS and craigslist in the $1500 range as long as you don't mind commuting a bit.

It also sounds like you're a bit of a suburbanite as opposed to an urban dweller. For bang for buck I would recommend the area around scarborough town centre. Good area, low crime, cheap apartments and homes, lots of parks close by, scarborough town center mall close by, real canadian superstore and walmart close by, access to public transit, and it's only 45 mins away by RT/subway to the heart of downtown.
+1
Being in your position in not knowing where you would be working, i would generally target living next to the subway line and going from there. For the fixed budget, the closer you move downtown the smaller the units become.

[dhamilton]

I really to recommend High Park. If your 4 legged son is a dog, you will love it there. It's quiet, easy access to the subway since you don't have a car (are you working downtown? I don't recall if it's been mentioned)

There's also a costco not too far from High Park too :lol:

When I moved from Edmonton I lived in High Park and it was a great experience!

www.highparkvillage.com is a great set of buildings...

[CoffeeAddict]

another thing to consider is that MOST condo rentals do not allow pets
This is because most apt/condos do not allow pets as a policy, and in the buildings that do allow pets, some owners wouldn't want their tenants to have pets.

I can appreciate wanting to be in a condo though but most condos near the subway line are gonna be in busy busy busy areas which sort of goes against living in a quiet area of town.

One neighborhood that you haven't mentioned is anything along queen
Any of those areas starting from corktown on queen east might be okay for you. The streetcar would give you direct access to the downtown core and queen st is just south of the bloor subway line. These hoods are all very liveable and very quiet as well (Except the beaches can get a bit crowded sometimes)

Corktown - queen east around the don valley parkway
Leslieville - queen east around leslie
Beaches - queen st east around woodbine all the way to victoria park

EDIT: high park is awesome too as mentioned above. my cousin lives there and it's a great area

[kin0kin]

I've been recommended for Highpark several times, and I'd definitely take a closer look at the area. One guy from Yahoo Questions said that while high park is a nice area to live in, it's also where child molester lurks :lol:

And yes, my 4 legged son is a Dog. Yeah I am aware that many condos don't allow dogs, in fact I had a hard time looking for a condo/apartment in Richmond Hill that allow pets! Btw, I use www.myhood.com to do most of my apartment hunts.

As far as Queen is concerned, I suppose what I should avoid is from Parliament St to Queen St W. But from Parliament to Queen St E is OK to live in?

I have to say that I really appreciate all the suggestions here, while I have a one month sublet in TO for the month of August-Sept, I can imagine myself spending the whole month visiting apartments.

EDIT: I just noticed that there's a Costco just right beside the Wilson Terminal :D maybe I wont have to cancel my membership after all.

[CoffeeAddict]

this is the area i mean by parliament and queen st east
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Queen+St+E+%26+Parliament+St,+Toronto,+Toronto,+ Ontario,+Canada&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=43.664131,77.519531&ie=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=0,43.655590,-79.364440&z=16

It's just north of the historic distillery district and is pretty much around the corner from a 24 hour sobeys and the st lawrence market. It's a TINY bit industrial looking right at that specific intersection but it's in a fantastic area.

[kin0kin]

I had the whole area marked as avoided since it is close to Moss Park :lol: But I read that South of Queen E, and East of Parliament is good, and all the way to Victoria park ave.

[poohsing]

Yeah, stay away from Scarborough. Yonge & Eglinton/St. Clair is a nice area, but pricey.

It really depends on where you will be working and what industry you're in. Fianancial services downtown. Medical downtown & North York. There are lots of tech companies in the Richmond Hill area. Markham is also a very pleasant neighborhood - and relatively affordable. You can always take the GO train to downtown if you live in Richmond Hill or Markham - 30 minutes - faster and much safer than the TTC.

[fugazi11]

From what you described I would have to recommend High Park as well. Most of the buildings in the area do allow dogs and you are steps to the subway as well as the 400 acre park for your dog. You have shops/restaurants in each direction with Bloor West or Roncy and it fits your price range. I use to own a condo on High Park Ave and really enjoy the location. So much so that we ended up buying a house just east of the park. This is also a quick trip to get to the water. Won't compare to the water you are used to, but might help a bit.

[CoffeeAddict]

just to clarify
Scarborough for the most part is not an unsafe part of the city
And the TTC is about the safest public transit system there can be

The crime rate downtown in the entertainment district for example, is about the same as the area around Scarborough town centre, and the area around say islington station in etobicoke.

Don't let the media fool you into thinking the city is crime ridden.

Toronto as a whole is a great city to live in ... and just to avoid a flame war... i'm NOT saying it's better or worse than anywhere else!!!!

[3weddings]

just to clarify
Scarborough for the most part is not an unsafe part of the city
And the TTC is about the safest public transit system there can be

The crime rate downtown in the entertainment district for example, is about the same as the area around Scarborough town centre, and the area around say islington station in etobicoke.

Don't let the media fool you into thinking the city is crime ridden.

Toronto as a whole is a great city to live in ... and just to avoid a flame war... i'm NOT saying it's better or worse than anywhere else!!!!

Thank you!!! I keep coming back to the thread wanting to say something, but shake my head and walk away. Toronto as a whole is a great city. Of course it has it's less desirable areas, but within the OPs budget he doesn't have to consider those areas.

[kin0kin]

I understand that not the whole Scarborough is an unsafe city, and I have to say that I am not frowning upon the whole city. But being new to the City (been there a few times for vacation only), I'd definitely want to stay somewhat close to the core, while avoiding the unsafe areas.

I'll take a close look at Highpark, Bayview Village, between Eglinton & St claire around Mt Pleasant rd & Bay View ave, and the beaches. If anybody has any specific recommendation, do fire away! Thanks

[nalababe]

this is a good place.

This is Leaside (on the east) and is a great, great family neighbourhood.

[ketchudj]

Queen Street East/Parliment is decent but Hookers hang out on Shuter and close to Moss Park which is where there are some homeless shelters/public housing. My wife wouldn't go there alone.

Try Queen's Quay area (East of Young Street South of Front).

[kin0kin]

This is Leaside (on the east) and is a great, great family neighbourhood.

Thanks. As per some of the suggestions from prior posts, I have taken note of the area from (Ave Rd on the west, Elington on the North, St Claire on the south, and Laird Dr on the east)

Queen Street East/Parliment is decent but Hookers hang out on Shuter and close to Moss Park which is where there are some homeless shelters/public housing. My wife wouldn't go there alone.

Try Queen's Quay area (East of Young Street South of Front).

Yeah I did read that hookers hang around Jarvis and Parliament. I think I've seen some before when I was in TO last year. I guess the thing about staying on the East is that you'd almost always have to walk pass those two streets.

[3weddings]

Queen's Quay is lovely, but you may encounter problems with your dog, since it's all condos. I owned at 99 Harbour Square and had to hide the cat for vet visits ;)

I spent the day in the Beaches today.....I had forgotten why I loved growing up there so much!! Even the kids are in love now!

[13sundin]

I'll make sure to move over there :rolleyes:

:cheesygri to get honest the best place is to live downtown... but of course not everyone could afford there. but their is always the markham/scarbough area which is pretty nice and develop at a fast rate right now...

[flexwong]

every neighbourhood has its own problems with crime, its just a matter of whether or not it is known and publicized. rich neighbourhoods have problems like car jacking, break ins etc so that does not make it any safer then "poor" neighbourhoods.

toronto is a great city though.

[CharmyPoo]

Like others, I would agree that High Park may be a good location for you. Bloor West Village may be of interst to you too. However, I have always liked the Yonge subway line over the bloor subway line. No real reason but I always felt more comfortable on the Yonge line - the bloor line has more "strange" people sometimes.

You should check out the apartments by Davisville and Rosedale subway stations. They are quiet neighbourhoods yet have everything you need around. Yonge/St Clair has some affordable rental apartments and it is a lively neighbourhood that is not overly rowdy. I went to high school (Forest Hill) in that area and always got off at the St. Clair subway station.

I may also venture into the Yonge/York Mills area - the apartments there may be a little more expensive. Yorkville (Bay & Bloor) is always nice too but again .. might be out of your budget. I feel the Yonge/Eglinton may be too trendy for you.

Another area is the Beaches. Lots of people love it there but I am not sure if there is a whole lot of apartments in that area. You will also need to take the street car.

The Bayview Village area is also nice but I find it a little boring. Other than Bayview Village mall .. there isn't much else there. I find that the area lacks character and personality.

I personally live at Yonge/Sheppard and lived at Yonge/Finch for most of my life. I love the area because it is close by great ethnic foods and several highways. I can get uptown and downtown easily. Yes, traffic can be bad but not enough to turn me away from the area. This area has a large (and increasing) asian population.

[matdwyer]

Queen Street East/Parliment is decent but Hookers hang out on Shuter and close to Moss Park which is where there are some homeless shelters/public housing. My wife wouldn't go there alone.


+1 G/F Walked by moss park one day and saw a girl "servicing" two guys... in broad daylight. A bit ridiculous if you ask me. Anyway, there are some nice buildings in the area, but you can't go out at night. Its also boarding the gay district so there is a lot of pride stuff (its not bad at all, I live with my g/f at church & shuter and everyone is nice enough... although not friendly)

As a whole I just avoid scarbourgh. haha. some of north york as well... If highpark doesn't strike your fancy take a look at the beaches (east of the DVP south of the danforth) as there is some nice stuff there and the queen subway line is good for commute.