The Beaches Toronto Real Estate and Homes for Sale

The Beaches - East End

You might be in for a big surprise when you first walk into The Beaches, located east of downtown. Part of the Old City of Toronto, this neighbourhood is one of the most sought-after locations for homeowners. The area is so popular due to being home to four beautiful lakefront beaches. Located right on Lake Ontario, this spot is just perfect for those who are looking for a waterside community. This neighbourhood is bursting with character and has an abundance of vintage shops, quirky cafes, and many specialty stores where you can find the most unusual wares.

•   AgeOld
•   Area Urban
•   AmenitiesEast York TC
•   Commute16 mins DT
•   IncomeUpscale

| THE BEACHES REAL ESTATE - TORONTO

The Beaches Real Estate Overview

Surrounding communities might be of interest as well:

• BIRCHCLIFFE
• DANFORTH
• LESLIEVILLE

To the east of The Beaches lies Victoria Park Avenue. To its south is Lake Ontario. To the north lies Kingston Road and Coxwell Avenue is on the west. With a lakeside resort vibe, The Beaches is the place you want to be if you love shopping too. It is home to Queen Street with all of its fabulous shops and draws both locals and people from across Toronto.

It was the Ashbridge family that settled in this location first when they arrived here in 1793 from Philadelphia. Ashbridge's Bay Park honours these pioneers. At that point, the site was mainly agricultural, and the Ashbridge's and a few other families had their farms here. Later, when the subdivision took place, specific areas were earmarked for parklands, resulting in the fantastic green spaces that this neighbourhood boasts today. Sometime in the 1920s, when the city's boundaries were expanding, The Beaches were subdivided, and residential development was planned here.

There have been many disputes about the name of the neighbourhood, with some preferring The Beaches, thanks to the four beaches located here while others wish to settle with The Beach. The fact remains that the beautiful stretch of sand and beach is the most stunning feature of the neighbourhood, with a close second being the Queen Street strip.

Here, you have Woodbine Beach to the west, Balmy Beach in the east, and in the centre, there are Kew Beach and Scarboro Beach. The area to the north of Kingston Road is known commonly as 'Upper Beaches,' and the space between Woodbine, Queen Street and Kingston Road is called the 'Beach Triangle.'

These parts were forested areas until the early 1900's when the Toronto Harbour Commission took over and then a lot of development took place in the beachfront area. The enlargement of the beach and the addition of a public boardwalk took place at this time.

Who Lives In The Beaches Homes?

This neighbourhood attracts the upper-middle class and wealthy, so your neighbour is likely to be a professional or a well- to- do senior. In the condos and more compactly sized single detached homes, you are likely to find successful young professionals with their families, drawn here by the location's charm as well as the accessibility to downtown.

The Beaches Homes Are Perfect For

If you are looking to invest in a beautifully designed house, surrounded by trees, this is an excellent location for you to start your search. Of course, those who love nature and would like waterfront properties should focus their search in The Beaches too. If you want an easy commute to work, this neighbourhood is well connected to the city's other part by public transit and also is within a quick drive to downtown.

The Beaches Homes Are Not So Perfect For

The Beaches is a bit of a high- end neighbourhood, so the cost of living may be slightly higher here. If you are looking for affordable housing, you may not have many options to pick from. Thanks to the beaches here and the shopping strip, there is always something new to see. If you are looking for a laid- back community that is calm and peaceful, this may not be the best option for your family.

Life And Style, Amenities And Things To Do In The Beaches

Apart from the beaches here, it is Queen Street East that is the other well-known feature of The Beaches neighbourhood. This strip is the place where you will find many specialty stores that make it such a popular attraction for Toronto residents.

The green spaces and waterfront locations in the neighbourhood are the most dramatic feature and the most loved. There is a full-fledged park system running alongside the waterfront. You can see that the shoreline is one long stretch running from R.C Harris Water Treatment Plant right up to Woodbine Beach Park. This sandy stretch is divided into the four beaches of which Woodbine, Balmy and Kew beaches are certified safe for swimming. The boardwalk runs along the shores for the most part and affords an excellent path for walkers and joggers. If cycling is your fitness preference, you have the Martin Goodman Trail bike path right alongside. The beaches are not the only natural features here that attract people. The neighbourhood also sports a ravine at Glen Manor Road that adds to the charm and scenic beauty.

The parks here deserve special mention. Kew Gardens, a historically significant park that has been open to the public since 1879, has a baseball diamond, tennis courts, skating rink and a wading pool. Woodbine Beach Park is where you go if you want to enjoy the waterside views, maybe enjoy a picnic lunch with the family. This location has outdoor fitness equipment too. Ashbridge's Bay Park is a favourite spot for young families with children to spend the day. Excellent for a spot of windsurfing, this park also always has spirited games of beach volleyball going on. At Glen Stewart Park, you can access the ravine and hike over the nature trail.

The Beaches International Jazz Festival is one of the best- known events The Beaches hosts. Held in July every year, this ten-day long festival boasts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Toronto. One of Canada's most happening free jazz festivals, it features several performances held at the six outdoor stage locations.

With more than 15 schools in the neighbourhood and its vicinity, The Beaches makes an excellent location for families with young and high school-age children. There are quite a few schools operated under the auspices of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Apart from this, there are several Catholic schools, as well.

The Beaches Real Estate Market

If you are looking for a home for sale in The Beaches, there is a good variety of styles to choose from. The larger houses, in the Victorian style, Edwardian style and modern designs are located mainly in the side streets, tucked away from the main thoroughfare. The waterfront ones are the premium properties that are at the topmost layer of the market, price-wise.

You will also find low-rise apartment buildings and row-houses here that are more affordable than the detached homes. Cottages built during the 1800s and 1900s have been renovated and still stand here. Most of the other homes date back to the 1920's and 1930's, especially the larger ones.

At the former Greenwood racetrack site, you have newly built heritage-inspired custom homes in various sizes and designs, including detached and semi-detached houses, low rise condos and townhomes.

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