Yorkville is a neighbourhood that has got it all: luxury condominiums, four-star hotels, commercial office towers, a prestigious shopping district, theatres and picturesque Victorian homes. Its boundaries are Avenue Road to the west, Marlborough avenue to the north, Yonge Street to the east and Bloor Street to the south.
The History
My Yorkville neighbourhood guide begins with its history. Yorkville is an old neighbourhood, being first divided in 1830s by two famous Torontonians: Joseph Bloor (a prominent brewer) and Sheriff William Botsford Jarvis (who also founded Rosedale). Yorkville derives its name from the City of Toronto’s original name – York. You can find the initials and trades of Yorkville’s first council members on the tower of the historic Yorkville Fire Hall located at 34 Yorkville Avenue.
Yorkville has undergone several transformations since its inception. Even though it is located in the heart of midtown Toronto, it has always maintained a unique identity. In the 1960s it was a hippie enclave, home to Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot and Margaret Atwood. By the 1980s and 1990s Yorkville had become known as a shopping mecca, home to the Mink Mile – the third most expensive retail space in North America. In 2008, the Mink Mile (a stretch of Bloor Street) was named as the seventh most expensive shopping street in the world by Fortune Magazine.
The Architecture
No Yorkville neighbourhood guide would be complete without a description of its architecture! Yorkville’s homes were mostly built in the latter part of the 1800s. These historic homes are largely in the Victorian style with very decorative features such as gingerbread gables and cast iron fences.
The Lifestyle
When it comes to lifestyle, the Mink Mile is not the only shopping district to enjoy in Yorkville. The Hazelton Lanes shopping centre features over 100 exclusive shops and restaurants.
If you are looking for a place to unwind, look no further than The Village of Yorkville Park. This park, located at 115 Cumberland Street has won numerous design awards for its thematic landscape. It commemorates Yorkville’s history as well as the Canadian landscape. The rock in the centre of the park weighs 650 tonnes, is 1 billion years old and is proudly from the Canadian Shield. In addition to The Village of Yorkville park there is Ramsden Park – a beautiful haven for children with its children’s playground and wading pool. It also houses four tennis courts and an artificial ice rink.
If you are looking to expand your mental palette, consider visiting either the George R. Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, the Royal Ontario Museum or the McLaughlin Planetarium. There is also the Yorkville Public Library, and the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library (the latter being Canada’s largest and most extensive reference library!)
The Commute
When it comes to commuting, Yorkville is ideally located. Wherever you are, you are within walking distance of either the Bloor/Yonge subway station, the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line, and the Bay Station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. For those who commute by car, you are approximately five minutes away from the Don Valley Parkway.
If you would like to learn more about Yorkville or see my video tour of the neighbourhood please click here. If you have any specific questions about the neighbourhood, please feel free to reach me here. I would love to help you find your next home in Yorkville. Thank you for taking the time to read my Yorkville neighbourhood guide.
