Condos for Rent in Leslieville | South Riverdale, Toronto, ON

Crossing the Don River into Toronto’s east end always feels like a breath of fresh air: the buildings are generally shorter, and residents seem to be rushing around much less. In fact, East Chinatown even feels calmer than its western counterpart at Dundas and Spadina.

Those who choose Toronto condos for rent in Leslieville and South Riverdale also benefit from being situated right outside the confines of downtown Toronto. Residents can live east of the river and work to the west, or they can spend days off exploring all that downtown has to offer before retiring to their unruffled neighbourhood.

Leslieville and South Riverdale reach from Gerrard all the way down to Lake Shore Boulevard East. The Don Valley Parkway makes up the area’s westernmost boundary, and Greenwood marks the end of the neighbourhood to the east. And while the area is quite cohesive in terms of history, demographics, and architecture, it’s worth noting that Leslieville sits to the south of the Canadian National Railway line, with South Riverdale situated just north of Leslieville.

Leslieville condos for rent are just as trendy as those in South Riverdale, as both are surrounded by some of the coolest cultural venues in the city. The Opera House on Queen East, for example, has hosted acts like Nirvana and the Tragically Hip. Built in 1909, this theatre was once a place for residents to gather to watch vaudeville performances. And while the Broadview Hotel may not be as iconic, the building that houses this boutique hotel certainly outdates the Opera House. Originally constructed in the 1890s, new life was finally breathed into this former strip club when it was repurposed in 2017.

When it comes time to run errands, Leslieville residents can often be found at the Gerrard Square Shopping Centre. Between the mall’s Food Basics, Home Depot, Walmart, and Winners, this place is truly a one-stop-shop. Clearly, South Riverdale and Leslieville have come a long way since the days when they were exclusively occupied by factory workers. Deindustrialization occurred later in this area than in the downtown core, and as a result the neighbourhood as it’s known today has only been around since the 21st century.

South Riverdale and Leslieville condos for rent aren’t too tricky to find, thanks to the 27 condos spread throughout the neighbourhood. Those who can’t quite figure out where to start might opt to look to one of the neighbourhood’s most trusted developers: Streetcar Developments.

Streetcar’s mandate is to bring innovative homes to culturally rich neighbourhoods like South Riverdale and Leslieville. One example of their hard work is The Carlaw at 345 Carlaw, which consists of 320 soft lofts as well as 21 townhomes. The building also happens to be shared with Crow’s Theatre, a local, award-winning theatre company.

Soft lofts, which are abundant in the area, take inspiration from the industrial buildings nearby. Some of these former warehouses and factories have even been transformed into hard lofts since the neighbourhood’s deindustrialization — great news for anyone in search of wooden beams and extremely high ceilings. Those interested in authentic conversions might want to focus their attention on Carlaw Street, between Dundas and Queen. This block alone is home to the Garment Factory Lofts, The Printing Factory, and the Wrigley Lofts.

Leslieville condos for rent are not only situated in one of the hippest neighbourhoods in town, but they’re also well situated for residents who plan to travel throughout the city on the regular. Even those without cars can reach the city centre in no time by hopping onto a streetcar heading west along Queen, Dundas, or Gerrard.

Another great alternative for those who rely on public transit to get around is the the Bloor-Danforth line, which can be reached by traveling north on the Broadview streetcar or taking a bus along Carlaw. Once at Pape, Chester, or Broadview Station, passengers can hop on a westbound train in order to reach the Annex, Koreatown, Bloordale, or even the Bloor West Village.

Last but not least, drivers living in Leslieville and South Riverdale are in luck, thanks to their close proximity to both the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. Using the former, drivers can head north toward the 401 and into the suburbs, while the latter provides access to Toronto’s west end and the 427. Using a combination of these highways, a trip all the way over to Pearson International Airport can even take as little as 22 minutes.

The Locals: Trendsetters.

Code of Conduct: Leslieville and South Riverdale residents get the best of both worlds: they can enjoy the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto before returning to their tranquil neighbourhoods for a good night’s sleep.

What You’ll Find: Peace and Quiet.

What You Won’t Find: Skyscrapers galore.

The Homes: For the most part, the condos here are a far cry from your typical glass-clad tower.

Sealing the Deal: The cool factor.