Do not be confused by its name – the Cricket Club is actually a highly sought neighbourhood in Toronto. Known for its beautifully manicured lawns and bounty of amenities, this is the perfect neighbourhood for families. But that is not all! Let me show you more with my Toronto Cricket Club neighbourhood guide.
History
Our first stop on the Toronto Cricket Club neighbourhood guide tour is to recount the neighbourhood’s history. Originally settled by Andrew McGlashan, a Scotsman who operated a tannery on the southwest corner of Yonge and York Mills Road, this neighbourhood was primarily a quiet one throughout the 1800s. In the late 1800s, the neighbourhood changed hands a couple of times until it was purchased by William George Gooderham, the same famous owner of the Gooderham and Worts distillery.
Gooderham brought the neighbourhood into fame and glamour. Where the York Mills Gardens apartments are now located, on the Yonge Street hillside, Gooderham discovered a spring of fresh water that he wanted to capitalize on. He set up Mineral Springs Ltd. and sold this water all over the world until the 1920s. He also formed the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club for which the neighbourhood derives its name.
Architecture
The majority of the homes built in this neighbourhood were built in the 20s, 30s and 40s. They range in style: from bungalows with 2-3 bedrooms to Tudor, Georgian and even cottage-style homes. Each home in this neighbourhood has a private drive and 30-50 feet frontages.
Lifestyle
If you are looking for some of the best shopping in the city, the Cricket Club is the neighbourhood to be in! You will find designer clothing stores, home décor and furniture stores, antique shops, art shops, gourmet coffee, bakeries, gift shops, beauty salons and spas, supermarkets, and fine dining restaurants all along Yonge Street and Avenue Road.
There is also a proposed redevelopment of Yonge-Eglinton which demonstrates how much the city and the neighbourhood care about sustainability as well as creating new homes and jobs for the area. Dubbed one of the best neighbourhoods for potential new development by the City of Toronto, this neighbourhood is constantly growing while emulating the best that life has to offer.
Recreation
Located at 141 Wilson Avenue, the neighbourhood’s namesake, the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club is a large part of the appeal to the area. The Cricket Club is also one of Toronto’s premier private clubs with facilities such as skating, squash, tennis, curling, cricket, lawn bowling, croquet, aerobics and swimming.
Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the public Don Valley Golf Course which is gorgeously set over the Don River Valley.
If you are looking for a great place to take your kids, the Armour Heights Community Centre offers a children’s After-Four program as well as a Tiny Tots program. There is also a public library in the community centre.
Transportation
If you live in the Cricket Club you are well served by public transit. There are bus services along Avenue and Yonge that connect to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. You can also easily walk to either the Lawrence or York Mills subway stations.
If you prefer to drive, it is a fair 20-minute jaunt to Toronto’s entertainment and business districts. You are a five-minute drive from a 400 series highway, and only 30 minutes away from Pearson Airport.
As you can see in this Toronto Cricket Club neighbourhood guide, there truly is something for everyone in this neighbourhood.
If you would like to learn more about the Cricket Club to see if it could be the right place for the next chapter in your life, please feel free to message me.
