Willowdale Real Estate

Location & boundaries

In North York, running from Finch Avenue in the north to Highway 401 in the south, between Bathurst Street and Bayview Avenue. York Mills lies to the south and Bayview Village to the east.

History

Formed from the historic postal villages of Newtonbrook, Lansing and Willowdale (settled from the late 1700s and named for its willow trees), the area was part of North York before amalgamating into Toronto in 1998. The 1851 Gibson House survives as a museum.

Lifestyle

A dense, diverse urban community — with large Chinese, Korean and Iranian populations — combining a high-rise core along Yonge with quieter residential streets.

Housing & property types

A mix dominated by high-rise apartment and condominium towers near Yonge, plus single-detached houses (including many large 1990s-era rebuilds) on surrounding streets.

Shopping & dining

Yonge Street is the main commercial spine, with the North York Centre core, Mel Lastman Square and the Empress Walk retail-and-cinema complex; a stretch of Yonge is also known as a Korean business area.

Parks & recreation

Local parks include Edithvale and other neighbourhood parks, and Mel Lastman Square hosts public events year-round.

Schools

Toronto District School Board secondary schools include Earl Haig Secondary School, with the Toronto Catholic District School Board's Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts also in the area.

Getting around

Finch, North York Centre and Sheppard–Yonge stations on Line 1 (Yonge–University) and Bayview station on Line 4 (Sheppard) serve the neighbourhood, along with GO and York Region Transit buses.

Attractions & landmarks

Landmarks include the Gibson House Museum, the Toronto Centre for the Arts and Mel Lastman Square.

Community facilities

The North York Central Library, the civic square and the nearby North York General Hospital serve residents.

Who it may suit

May suit those wanting condo living or family homes in a diverse, transit-rich urban centre.

Nearby neighbourhoods