Condos for Rent in The Village, Toronto, ON

Let’s get one thing straight: if you don’t enjoy parades, it’s best not to look for Toronto condos for rent in the Village. This neighbourhood has much more to offer than just the annual pride celebration, however the atmosphere changes entirely in the month of June, in anticipation of the Pride Parade.

The Village — also known as the Church-Wellesley Village or the Gay Village — has been a safe haven for Toronto’s LGBTQ community for decades. Besides a generally accepting attitude, many of the businesses in the neighbourhood also happen to be owned and operated by LGBTQ individuals.

Many of these businesses are relatively new to Church Street, having moved here from Yonge in recent years. It was only after 1981’s notorious bathhouse raids that bars and other commercial businesses made their way over to Church. Since then, a strong and unified LGBTQ population has made quite the mark on the Village. While the main drag is situated in Church, the neighbourhood is comprised of the streets between Yonge and Jarvis, and stretches as far north as Isabella Street and south down to Gerrard East.

The Village condos for rent are surrounded by entertainment venues galore. Residents have their choice between plays at the Buddies in Bad Times theatre, independent and foreign films at the Carlton Cinema, and a night out at any of the bustling bars along Church Street. Even amateur historians can learn a thing or two by visiting the Canadian Lesbian and Gay Archives, home to the largest independent collection of LGBTQ-related material in the world. The building that houses the archive is impressive in its own right: the Italianate-style home is a heritage building that’s been around since 1860.

A trip to the Glad Day Bookshop can also be equal parts entertaining and informative. Part LGBTQ-focused bookstore, part bar, and part café, this venue hosts weekend dance parties as well as drag brunches. Glad Day was established back in 1970, but only moved to Church Street in 2016 following a change in ownership, and today, it feels like more of a community hub than anything else.

Strolling along the quiet side streets in the Village quickly reveals an abundance of 19th century single-family homes. Luckily for those interested in condos for rent in the Village, there’s also a large number of multi-residential buildings in the neighbourhood.

Renters in search of high rises and sweeping views of the city can look to the major roads, where some of the neighbourhood’s tallest buildings are situated. That said, individuals hoping to score a similar unit on a quiet street also have the chance to do so. 86 Gloucester, for example, is a longstanding building set away from the hustle and bustle of Church Street. With 106 units throughout, there’s plenty of opportunity for a unit to appear on the market from time to time.

Radio City Condos is a great option for those who want both tranquility and history in a home. Once home to the headquarters of CBC Radio, Context development converted the building into hard lofts back in 2005. During the process, Context also added townhouses to the complex, creating condos for rent in the village that feel more like houses than apartments.

And then there are renters who won’t settle for living more than a short walk away from the TTC — and we don’t blame this group. Thankfully a number of condos in the Village are situated within close reach of College Station: the front doors of The Ellington are just 24 metres from the entrance to the station, and The Met Condos and Encore Condos are just a few steps farther than that.

The village is extremely central, and as a result its residents have no problem traversing the city. Not only can renters living in the neighbourhood simply walk to major attractions throughout the downtown core, but they also have access to some pretty convenient public transportation infrastructure.

Yonge and Wellesley subway stations, both of which are situated on the Yonge line, are ideal starting points for those heading north or south. As for east-west travel, travelers have their pick between the 94 bus that moves along Wellesley and the College streetcar.

Drivers who are new to downtown traffic may have to learn to leave the house a little earlier than they think they need to, but there are also some great tricks for avoiding traffic jams. Jarvis is an especially efficient route for drivers heading north or south, as the middle lane changes directions depending on the time of day. A quick ride down Jarvis will also land drivers at the Gardiner Expressway, and from there cars can zoom across the southern edge of the city with ease.

The Locals: Tolerant, compassionate, and cohesive.

Code of Conduct: It might be wise to hibernate during the month of May, in order to prepare for the upcoming Pride festivities.

What You’ll Find: The highest concentration of LGBTQ-oriented businesses and services in the city.

What You Won’t Find: Ignorance being tolerated.

The Homes: Victorian single-family homes and contemporary high rises on the same blocks.

Sealing the Deal: The ability to score front row seats at the Pride Parade.