As we head into a new year and decade I cant help but think back to what the Toronto’s Real Estate Market and the city as a whole looked like 10 years ago compared to today. The transformation has been pretty amazing when looking at the developments we have seen throughout GTA. From condo developments filling in parking lots and multiple commercial buildings in the entertainment & business districts, to Liberty Village becoming one of the cities most sought after areas to live & play to the Distillery Districts transformation to becoming a great destination for tourists and Torontonian’s alike to how Lesliville has matured into one of the more vibrant, family friendly pockets in the city.
This leads me to think about where we will be 10 years from now, which neighbourhoods will change the most, which ones look to benefit the most, appreciate and become great places to live, play & work. Ive taken into consideration transit as well as what developments will be built and are being proposed over the next few years.
Below is a short list of neighbourhoods/area that most likely will be positively affected and why. I have also added some links to the developments happening or being proposed in or around them and outlined the future transit that will help grow them. I will look to do a second part to this and add a few more neighbourhoods in the coming months.
Scarborough (All Neighbourhoods)
In my opinion Scarborough is one of the best value buys in the city currently. Its been ignored for years when it comes to transit and overall development but that has come to an end with the soon to be completed Eglinton LRT to Kennedy, the proposed Sheppard East extension along with many developers stepping up to re-develop strip malls throughout the area. Scarborough is less congested than many parts of the GTA such as Markham, Richmond Hill & Mississauga, it has plenty of detached homes with large lots that easily sell in the $750K – $950K range for family living, plenty of Condos being built, many 2 and 3 bedrooms at $700 – $800 a square foot compared to the $1200+ a square foot newer developments are demanding in Toronto’s Downtown and low course it leads the city in terms of great cultural food offerings.
Here is a list of links with transit proposals as well as some of the development proposals to look out for that will transform Scarborough for the better over the next decade.
Transit Proposal for Smart Track connecting to downtown, Scarborough Extension & Eglinton East LRT
https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/city-administration/city-managers-office/key-initiatives/transit-in-to-transit-expansion/
Agincourt Mall Redevelopment
https://urbantoronto.ca/database/projects/agincourt-mall-redevelopment
Goden Mile Redevelopment
https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2019/08/23-building-neighbourhood-transform-golden-miles-walmart
Scarborough Centre Redevelopment
https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2019/03/two-bold-ambitious-plans-set-transform-scarborough-centre
Mimico/Alderwood/South Etobicoke
This part of the city has changed drastically over the last decade. Gone are the sketchy low rise motels along the Queensway, replaced by gleaming 30-50 story condos with luxury amenities and spectacular views of the lake & city skyline. However there is still plenty of growth coming to this part of the city. Its location close to the Mimico & Long Branch Go Station’s makes transit into the city core easy and it boasts many freehold homes closer to the waterfront under 1 Million along with the dozens of more affordable new construction condos and condo townhomes along in South Etobicoke. The bonus is the proximity to the core via Gardner Express or Lakeshore Blvd & lakefront walkability make it a desirable location.
South Etobicoke Redevelopment
https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2018/01/growth-watch-2018-south-etobicoke
IQ Condos – 981 Units
Grand Park Village Condos – 150 Units
Eau Du Soleil Condos – 1285 Units
https://www.empirecommunities.com/community/eau-du-soleil/
Don Mills
This was Canadas first planned community. First settled in the early 1800’s many of the homes there today were build in the 1950’s & 60’s and consist mostly of wide bungalows and 2 story homes. Prices can range from 1.2 Million and sometimes exceed 2.5 Million for these homes. Obviously this is already a very established neighbourhood with high prices but with the new Eglinton LRT coming by 2021 new development has followed. First the Eglinton LRT, beginning at the corner of Don Mills & Eglinton with the addition of the Don Mills station that will take you to Yonge & Eglinton in less than 10 min, second with the proposal of the Ontario Line. Its proposed to head south at Eglinton & Don Mills, connected to the Don Mills station and will take you through the east end of Toronto with proposed stops at Pape & Danforth, Lesliville and all the way across the city to Exhibition Place/Ontario Place. This transit line more than any (if it is funded as hoped) will transform the city as it will lighten traffic along the DVP south highway and move people into the city much more efficiently.
The third reason I chose this Neighbourhood is because of the Celestica site redevelopment. This site will house 4,974 residential units between low rise, high rise buildings as well as townhomes. This will be one of many that will transform the area over the coming years.
Ontario Line
http://www.metrolinx.com/en/greaterregion/projects/ontario-line.aspx
Don Mills & Eglinton Redevelopment
https://urbantoronto.ca/news/2017/04/big-plans-store-transformation-don-mills-eglinton
Celestica sells 60.5-acre Toronto campus for development
