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    Homes for Sale in Yorkville, Toronto, ON

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    Buying a home in Yorkville

    Yorkville may be best known for its posh businesses that double as celebrity hangouts, but it wasn’t always this way. The neighbourhood has a long and interesting history that can be traced back to its days as a village, separated from the city of Toronto. Yorkville technically comprised its own village from 1830 - 1883, and starting in 1849 a horse-drawn bus would carry residents of Yorkville into the city of Toronto.

    Drastic change in terms of temperament didn’t reach Yorkville until the 1960s, when the neighbourhood became to Canada what Haight-Ashbury was to America. Besides being popular with Toronto’s countercultural scene, this bohemian hotbed was also the stomping grounds of cultural creators like Neil Young, Margaret Atwood, and Joni Mitchell.

    The development of Bloor Street into what’s now known as the ‘Mink Mile’ began later, only after the construction of the Bloor-Danforth subway line began in the late 1960s. Holt Renfrew and the Bay set up shop here, and other luxury boutiques, restaurants, and galleries quickly followed suit.

    The ‘Mink Mile’ acts as the southern border of the Yorkville neighbourhood, but it’s much more than just a boundary line. In 2008, Fortune named the ‘Mink Mile’ the seventh priciest shopping street in the world, and Yorkville was recognized as North America’s third priciest retail area that same year.

    It’s not only these exclusive boutiques that cause celebrities to gravitate toward Yorkville, but visiting actors, singers, artists, and the likes also often crash at one of Yorkville’s luxury hotels. Between the Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, and Windsor Arms, those with sizeable travel budgets come for the hotels and stay for the shopping, the dining, and the nightlife.

    Shopping in the neighbourhood is a vibrant as it's ever been — residents have some of the world’s foremost fashion brands such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. and more; what makes the Mink Mile so appealing is that these brands are situated next to less exclusive chains like Winners & HomeSense, providing a range of options for shoppers.

    Yorkville fine-dining is among the best in the city and attracts the same celebrity clientele as hotels in the neighbourhood. Whether it’s Italian at Blu Ristorante and Ristorante Sotto Sotto Toronto, Japanese at Kasa Moto, or French at Chabrol — you can expect to encounter one of the best dining experiences in the country. And if you crave seafood in a colourful atmosphere or just really want to meet Drake, there’s Joso's on Davenport. After a meal, residents have swanky pubs like The Pilot where they can enjoy a drink and live jazz.

    Yorkville condos for sale are no less exclusive — it wouldn’t make much sense if the most expensive hotels and retail shops in the city were situated alongside inexpensive housing. Logically, residents who can afford to live in Yorkville can likely afford to shop in Yorkville, and vice versa.

    Nevertheless, Yorkville is still home to a number of public spaces and services that make the neighbourhood feel slightly more accessible. Green spaces are aplenty, including the Rosedale Ravine, Jesse Ketchum Park, and the Village of Yorkville Park. The Toronto Reference Library — which happens to be one of the city’s largest libraries — is also nearby, as is the Royal Ontario Museum.

    Condo Life in Yorkville

    While restaurants and boutiques might be the talk of the neighbourhood, the condo scene here is incredibly robust, with over 50 buildings in the area. Yorkville condos can be found in modern and traditional properties, and amenities, finishes, and floor plans will vary depending on the age and style of the building.

    Yorkville condos definitely lend themselves to more established buyers — contemporary buildings, such as the Four Seasons Private Residences and Pears on the Avenue Condos, are undoubtedly some of the most exclusive in the city. And thanks to its high price point and unquestionable desirability, developers with lofty aspirations tend to set their sights on Yorkville.

    There’s a good amount of diversity in Yorkville in terms of architecture. A number of tree-lined residential streets are home to Victorian single-family homes that date back to the 19th century. Alternatively, long standing condos like the Renaissance Plaza and 15 McMurrich St are good options for buyers who don’t want to break the bank entirely.

    Buyers also have a few compromises in the neighbourhood for anyone who prefers to save some money but wants a modern building — The Maxus was built in 2002 and has 72 units spread over 11 storeys; suite sizes are on par with most modern buildings in the neighbourhood, but the price per square foot is considerably lower.

    Last but certainly not least, Yorkville has seen an upswing of residential development in recent years and there’s a wave of new developments currently under construction, soon to add additional options for Yorkville condos.

    Transportation

    Yorkville condos are great for residents who prefer to run errands on foot — conveniently located grocery stores and service based businesses make it a breeze to accomplish daily tasks without needing public transit or a vehicle.

    Residents of Yorkville have the benefit of living within walking distance of not one but two subway lines; Bay Station runs along the Bloor-Danforth line, while passengers can access both the Bloor-Danforth and Yonge-University-Spadina lines from Bloor-Yonge station. For shorter trips, there are bus routes on Bloor, Bay, Yonge, and Davenport.

    For drivers, the 401 is just a straight shot up Yonge or Avenue Road, while the downtown core can be reached by heading south along either of these two streets. And for those who want to travel north or south with even more speed, drivers can head east along Bloor in order to reach an on ramp for the Don Valley Parkway.

    Yorkville Overview

    The Locals: The wealthy and the uber-wealthy.

    Code of Conduct: Walking into stores just to browse is perfectly acceptable here.

    What You’ll Find: Higher chances of celebrity sightings than any other neighbourhood in the city.

    What You Won’t Find: Dollar stores and discount shops.

    The Homes: Reserved for residents with substantial budgets.

    Sealing the Deal: The glitz and the glam.