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Walking around the east end
Dec. 1st, 2014 03:36 pmSo we've been living in Riverdale for a month now which has given me a decent chance to wander around both Leslieville and Riverdale. What a difference a couple of blocks makes. Just to the south of us is the gentrifying strip of Queen East (truly the new Queen West). While there's still no shortage of discount pharmacies, ancient diners and even a pawn shop it's changing rapidly. There are trendy restaurants, a place that advertises "juice cleanses", galleries and the sort of butcher and fishmonger where your piece of fish comes with a hand written certificate of authenticity (presumably so you can get a loan to pay for it).
Up here on Gerrard, a few minutes walk away, it's still small Chinese owned businesses plus a No Frills and Gerrard Square which is a mall anchored by a Walmart and a Food Basics and includes an Employment Centre. In between is interesting. The heavily trafficked north-south rotes are still mostly lined with small, rather run down semis but once off these arteries it's a very different story. It's largely renos with a heavy seeding of new, large, three storey plus basement semis. I haven't checked prices but I'm guessing we are in the $700,000 and up territory. It's still quite mixed though, partly because a main rail line goes right through it and there are still industrial buildings and converted industrial near the tracks.
It's not a bad thing. Neighbourhoods change and I'll take gentrification over decay anytime. At least people are still choosing to live in the city rather than fleeing to the 'burbs.
Up here on Gerrard, a few minutes walk away, it's still small Chinese owned businesses plus a No Frills and Gerrard Square which is a mall anchored by a Walmart and a Food Basics and includes an Employment Centre. In between is interesting. The heavily trafficked north-south rotes are still mostly lined with small, rather run down semis but once off these arteries it's a very different story. It's largely renos with a heavy seeding of new, large, three storey plus basement semis. I haven't checked prices but I'm guessing we are in the $700,000 and up territory. It's still quite mixed though, partly because a main rail line goes right through it and there are still industrial buildings and converted industrial near the tracks.
It's not a bad thing. Neighbourhoods change and I'll take gentrification over decay anytime. At least people are still choosing to live in the city rather than fleeing to the 'burbs.
