Unionville, Markham real estate

Living in Unionville

Unionville is one of Markham's best-known communities, a historic village surrounded by mature suburban neighbourhoods. Its boundaries are informal. Most people mean the area around Main Street Unionville, from Highway 7 north toward 16th Avenue and beyond, between roughly Warden Avenue and McCowan Road, with Kennedy Road running through the middle. Nearby areas such as South Unionville and Angus Glen are often grouped with it.

The village was settled in the 1790s by families who came with William Berczy. It takes its name from Union Mills, a 19th-century grist mill. For more than a century it was a small rural village in Markham Township. In the 1960s, residents fought off a plan to widen Main Street into a four-lane road, and that effort gave birth to the annual Unionville Festival. The historic core is now the Unionville Heritage Conservation District, and Main Street has been used as a film and TV set, most famously as Stars Hollow in the first season of Gilmore Girls.

Around the village, most homes date from the 1970s onward: detached homes on quiet crescents, executive homes on larger lots, townhouses, and a growing number of condos toward Highway 7 and Downtown Markham.

Getting around

• Unionville GO station, near Kennedy Road and Highway 7, is on the Stouffville line to Union Station.
• Viva bus rapid transit runs on Highway 7, with dedicated lanes through Markham Centre, connecting west to Richmond Hill Centre, with transfers onward to Vaughan.
• The Yonge North subway extension, now under construction, will eventually bring Line 1 to Richmond Hill Centre on Highway 7, a short Viva or car ride away.
• Highways 404 and 407 are minutes away. The 407 is a toll highway.
• Main Street and the trails around it are pleasant on foot, but most of the surrounding suburbs are car-oriented.

Parks and things to do

• Main Street Unionville has heritage storefronts, cafés, restaurants, galleries and a summer bandstand concert series.
• Toogood Pond Park, the old mill pond just north of the village, has a popular walking loop with views across the water.
• The Varley Art Gallery, at the north end of Main Street, is named for Group of Seven painter F.H. Varley, who lived in Unionville.
• The restored Stiver Mill beside the GO station hosts community events and a seasonal farmers' market.
• Rouge River trails and Bruce Creek ravines run through the area.
• Downtown Markham, just south, has shopping, dining, the Markham Pan Am Centre and York University's Markham campus.
• Annual events include the Unionville Festival, Markham's jazz festival and an old-fashioned Christmas celebration on Main Street.

Homes you'll find here

• Century homes: These line Main Street and nearby side streets. They are within the heritage district, so renovations and additions go through heritage review.
• 1970s–1990s detached homes: These sit on generous, mature lots, and many have been renovated or rebuilt.
• Executive homes: Larger homes on bigger lots, some backing onto ravines or golf course lands.
• Townhomes and newer condos: These are concentrated toward Highway 7 and Markham Centre, which is planned for much more density.
• Redevelopment areas: Plans for the former golf course lands and the Highway 7 corridor will bring new housing over time.

Who it suits

• Families: There are established neighbourhoods, many parks and schools, and well-known community programs.
• Buyers who love character: Few places in the GTA offer a 19th-century village main street within walking distance of home.
• Professionals working in Markham: Markham Centre and the 404/407 tech and office corridor are close by.
• Downsizers: Condos near Main Street and Highway 7 let you stay in the area with less upkeep.

Good to know before you buy

• Heritage rules: Properties in the Unionville Heritage Conservation District need City of Markham heritage approval for most exterior changes, additions and demolitions. Even window and siding choices can be regulated.
• School catchments: Some local schools are in high demand and may have boundaries or caps. Check the York Region District School Board or York Catholic District School Board for the exact address rather than relying on a listing.
• Ravine and floodplain lots: Homes near the Rouge River, Bruce Creek or Toogood Pond may fall under Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) rules for building and grading.
• Weekend traffic: Main Street is a destination, so expect visitors and limited parking during festivals and summer weekends.
• Changes along Highway 7: Intensification around Markham Centre means more towers and construction over the coming years. Check the city's plans for anything near a property you're considering.

Thinking about buying or selling in Unionville? Talk to Mehran for a free, no-pressure conversation.

Neighbourhood guide by Mehran Salehian, Sales Representative.