Homes for Sale in Liberty Village, Toronto, ON

What’s in a name? The answer for many Toronto neighbourhoods often involves quite a bit of history, and Liberty Village is no exception. Separated from the rest of the city by railways in the 1850’s, correctional institutions were the initial development of choice, rather than residential spaces. Appropriately, Liberty Street was named for the place where prisoners first walked free after being released from these prisons.

Today, the name Liberty Village has just as much — if not more — significance for the area. Freedom, autonomy, and self-rule are synonymous with the term liberty and emblematic of the neighbourhood itself. Perhaps due to its recent redevelopment by way of a carefully created master plan, Liberty Village possesses a hyper-local feel. For one, community members have assembled to produce Village Living, a Liberty Village-specific lifestyle magazine.

Residents also seem to be especially proficient in problem-solving: when a local TTC route popular with commuters became too congested during rush hour, neighbours crowd-funded their own bus service from Liberty Village to Union station. Although municipal regulations on public transportation eventually lead to the service’s demise, the statement resulted in additional TTC buses being provided along King Street during peak times.

This spirit of collaboration and self-governance allows the neighbourhood lives up to its classification as a ‘village.’ The locals of Liberty Village may in fact owe their inventive problem-solving skills to a common thread: the creative industries. Liberty Village is a hotbed for art and design studios, media and marketing agencies, and tech start-ups, and the plethora of stylish Liberty Village condos have further attracted such industries. Factory owners took advantage of the transportation infrastructure following the closure of prisons in Liberty Village, and today these creative-minded businesses now take up residence in former industrial spaces that have been converted into Toronto lofts.

Although many factories were eventually demolished in the late 1900’s, some were restored and currently serve as commercial, residential, and mixed-use properties. The Toronto Carpet Factory Building and the former factory space known as Liberty Market now function as the headquarters for some of the city’s most innovative media, design, and technology companies.

Liberty Village’s growth has been both prompt and intense since the early 2000’s, and its demographics have been transforming too. Originally attractive to younger artists and professionals, the number of families who are interested in Liberty Village condos has been on the rise in recent years. In the 21st century many Toronto families have learned to sacrifice legroom in exchange for location, and this spot suits all sorts of needs — Lake Ontario is 20 minutes away on foot and the downtown core just a quick streetcar away.

Dining and nightlife are abundant in the area — younger crowds flock to neighbourhood pubs; The Craft Brasserie & Grille and 3 Brewers Liberty are popular standouts. A vibrant selection of cozy eateries and international flavours awaits on Liberty St, Atlantic Ave, and Jefferson Ave, and there’s seemingly no end to what’s new in the area.

When residents tire of their neighbourhood, they have trend setting dining next door in King West — upscale French fare at Lavelle, French Asian fusion at Lee, Italian at Gusto 101, and cozy hangouts for late night snack attacks like Locals Only. Nightlife is uncompromisingly diverse, with pubs, bar halls, nightclubs, and even rec room themed bars like SPiN Toronto.

As expected in an evolving city like Toronto, gentrification and the ensuing prices are likely to draw even more of these established types in the near future.

Liberty Village might not boast the staggering assortment of hard lofts that are found in King West, but anyone seeking an authentic conversion would be wise to check this neighbourhood out; The Toy Factory Lofts, once home to the Irwin Toy factory, combines original brick walls, steel beams and wooden posts with modern amenities.

Nearby, the Liberty Market Lofts cater to artists and creators by providing a gallery and workshop for residents to use, as well as a number of contemporary glass towers and even a handful of townhouses. For families who are willing to sacrifice the space that comes with a single-family home in favour of urban convenience; Liberty Village Townhomes split the difference in terms of square feet, while providing residents with an excellent location in the neighbourhood.

Prospective buyers who aren’t set on the idea of a loft, will find a variety of Liberty Village condos in different styles and at multiple price points; nestled at 59 East Liberty Street, Liberty Towers Condos houses 286 suites and offers an impressive array of amenities — and one of the lowest prices per square foot in the neighbourhood. Vibe at Liberty Village offers a similar living experience, but with more desirable finishes, resulting in higher prices.

Liberty Village condos tend to be clustered near King Street, maximizing convenience for condo owners, especially those who rely on TTC service.

The vast majority of Liberty Village condos come with 90+ Walk Scores; perfect for young professionals and families who prefer to leave a light carbon footprint. Well located businesses both in the neighbourhood and outside of it, make it a breeze to run errands on foot, as even grocery runs can be accomplished without a vehicle or public transit.

The transportation infrastructure throughout Liberty Village caters to drivers and non-drivers alike. The King streetcar and Dufferin bus are ideal for the latter group, especially when they want to head out of the immediate area. The Ossington bus also connects residents of Liberty Village with neighbouring areas like Little Portugal and Corso Italia.

The most useful piece of infrastructure for drivers, on the other hand, has to be the Gardiner Expressway. This fast-paced highway allows cars to zip east and west across the southern edge of the city and offers connections onto the Don Valley Parkway and the 427.

The Locals: Creative professionals, artists, and sophisticated metropolitan families.

Code of Conduct: In this urban village, residents create and collaborate on the regular.

What You’ll Find: Brainstorming sessions, rock-climbing, and shopping sprees, all taking place in converted warehouses.

What You Won’t Find: A wide selection of green space.

The Homes: Redeveloped industrial structures interwoven with modern creations of glass and steel.

Sealing the Deal: The wildly contagious creative spirit.