Waterfront Communities C1, Toronto real estate

Living in Waterfront Communities

Waterfront Communities is the downtown condo district stretching along Lake Ontario south of Front Street, taking in CityPlace, the Fort York neighbourhood, Harbourfront along Queens Quay and South Core just south of Union Station. It sits between roughly Bathurst Street in the west and Yonge Street in the east, with the Gardiner Expressway and the rail corridor running through it.

Much of this land was once railway yards, lumber and shipping docks, and industrial waterfront, much of it created by landfill in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its oldest landmark, Fort York, dates from 1793 and was the site of the 1813 Battle of York. Redevelopment began with Harbourfront in the 1970s and 1980s, CityPlace rose on the former railway lands from the early 2000s, and South Core grew around the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) in the 2010s.

The result is a very dense residential area made up almost entirely of high-rise condominiums, with some rental towers, townhouses at the base of buildings and a handful of older low-rise blocks. It is a lively, urban place where the CN Tower, the lake and the downtown core are all within walking distance.

Getting around

Union Station, at the eastern end, is the city's main transit hub: Line 1 Yonge-University, all GO Transit rail lines, the UP Express to Pearson Airport and VIA Rail intercity trains. Underground PATH walkways link South Core and Union to the Financial District.

Streetcars serve the rest of the area: the 509 Harbourfront and 510 Spadina run along Queens Quay from Union, and the 511 Bathurst reaches the western end. Drivers have quick access to the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard, though traffic can be heavy, especially during events. Many residents walk or cycle to work downtown, and the Martin Goodman Trail and Queens Quay bike lanes run along the water. The Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport are also close by.

Parks and things to do

• Harbourfront Centre hosts year-round arts, music and cultural programming, plus seasonal outdoor events.
• The Toronto Music Garden, HTO Park and the boardwalk along Queens Quay offer lakeside green space.
• Canoe Landing Park in CityPlace has sports fields and play areas, alongside a community centre and schools.
• Fort York National Historic Site and The Bentway, a public space beneath the Gardiner, host events, skating in winter and exhibits.
• The CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, Rogers Centre and Scotiabank Arena are all in or beside the neighbourhood.
• Ferries from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal take you to the Toronto Islands for beaches and picnics.

Homes you'll find here

Condominium apartments make up the vast majority of homes: towers from the 1980s and 1990s along Queens Quay, many 2000s-era buildings in CityPlace and Fort York, and newer towers in South Core. Suites range from studios and one-bedrooms to larger family units and penthouses, with some two-storey townhouses at the base of buildings. Many buildings offer gyms, pools, concierge service and party rooms, which affects monthly fees.

Freehold houses are rare. Parking and lockers are often sold separately, and many units come without parking.

Who it suits

• Downtown workers, who can walk to the Financial District.
• Car-free households, with Union Station, streetcars and the PATH nearby.
• Investors, given strong rental demand from people working and studying downtown.
• Sports and event fans, steps from the arenas, stadium and festivals.
• Lake lovers, with waterfront trails, parks and island ferries close at hand.

Good to know before you buy

• Read the condo documents. Review the status certificate, reserve fund study, any special assessments, and how monthly fees have changed over time. Older towers may face bigger repair bills.
• Short-term rentals are restricted. Toronto only allows short-term rentals in your principal residence, and many condo corporations ban them outright.
• Expect noise in some locations. Units near the Gardiner, the rail corridor, the airport flight path or event venues can be noisy; visit at different times and check window quality.
• Views can change. Development continues around the waterfront, so a lake or city view today could be blocked later; check nearby development applications.
• Elevators and amenities. In large buildings, ask about elevator count and reliability, move-in rules and amenity booking policies.

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

Neighbourhood guide by Mehran Salehian, Sales Representative.