High Park North, Toronto real estate

Living in High Park North

High Park North is the neighbourhood just above High Park in Toronto's west end. It runs from Bloor Street West north to Annette Street, and from Runnymede Road east to the rail corridor that carries GO and UP Express trains. Keele Street runs through the middle, and the section east of Keele is sometimes called the West Bend.

The land was once part of the Keele family's farm and racetrack. In the 1880s it was subdivided for housing to serve the growing Town of Toronto Junction just to the north. High Park Avenue and Evelyn Crescent drew some of the Junction's wealthier families, and many of their large homes still stand. Most of the remaining houses went up after the First World War, once Bloor Street was levelled and widened. After the Bloor-Danforth subway opened in the 1960s, many houses north of the park were replaced by apartment towers, which led residents to form associations that remain active in local planning.

The result is a neighbourhood with two distinct personalities: quiet streets of older brick houses in the north and west, and a dense cluster of mid-century rental towers and newer condos near the park and the subway. Both share one of the biggest advantages in the city: High Park at the bottom of the street.

Getting around

• Subway: Line 2 Bloor-Danforth runs along Bloor with three nearby stations, High Park, Keele and Dundas West.
• GO and UP Express: Bloor GO station, next to Dundas West station, connects to the UP Express (Union Station and Pearson Airport) and the Kitchener GO line.
• Streetcars and buses: the 505 Dundas and 506 Carlton streetcars serve the Dundas West area, and TTC buses run north on Keele and other routes from the subway.
• Driving: Bloor Street is the main east-west route. The Gardiner Expressway and Queensway are a short drive south.
• Cycling and walking: daily errands along Bloor are easy on foot, and the West Toronto Railpath is close by for cycling toward the Junction and Dundas West.

Parks and things to do

• High Park: Toronto's largest public park, with Grenadier Pond, hiking trails, rare oak savannah, the High Park Zoo, a playground, an outdoor pool, sports fields and Colborne Lodge. The cherry trees near Grenadier Pond draw big crowds each spring.
• Summer theatre: outdoor Shakespeare performances in High Park's amphitheatre are a long-standing summer tradition.
• Bloor Street West: shops, cafés and grocery stores along the stretch facing the park, with Bloor West Village a short walk west of Runnymede.
• Junction and Roncesvalles: both are a short walk or ride away for more restaurants and shopping.
• Library: the Runnymede branch of the Toronto Public Library sits in a heritage building at Bloor and Glendonwynne.

Homes you'll find here

The older housing is mostly Victorian, Edwardian and Tudor-style detached and semi-detached homes, typically two or three storeys in brick, many with original stained glass, wood trim and fireplaces. Lots are generally modest, with some larger properties on the historic streets near High Park Avenue. The area between Bloor and Glenlake Avenue, especially along High Park Avenue, Quebec Avenue and Gothic Avenue, is almost entirely mid-century rental towers and condos, with newer condos close to the park and the subway. Condo buyers here can often get park views and subway access in the same building.

Who it suits

• Commuters who want subway, GO and UP Express access within walking distance.
• Park and nature lovers who want trails, dog-walking and green space a few minutes from home.
• Condo buyers and downsizers looking for a building near the subway with no car needed.
• Families who want a detached or semi-detached home with character near a major park.

Good to know before you buy

• Rail noise: homes near the eastern edge back onto a busy rail corridor used by GO, UP Express and freight trains. Visit at different times of day to judge noise.
• Older buildings: many of the towers date from the 1960s and 70s. Condo buyers should review the status certificate, reserve fund study and any planned major repairs.
• Heritage character: many older houses have original features, and some properties are on the City's heritage register. Check before planning major exterior changes.
• Park events: busy weekends, cherry blossom season and summer events bring extra traffic and parking demand near the park.
• School catchments: confirm boundaries for the specific address with the Toronto District School Board or Toronto Catholic District School Board.

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

Neighbourhood guide by Mehran Salehian, Sales Representative.