Homes for Sale in The Beaches, Toronto, ON

As many readers may already be aware, there’s quite a bit of contention as to whether the neighbourhood south of Kingston Road, between Coxwell and Victoria Park, is called ‘The Beach’ or ‘The Beaches.’ Both names have historically been used, and a neighbourhood vote in 2006 showed just how divided opinions are on the matter: 58 percent of voters preferred ‘The Beach.’ From a governmental perspective, though, the riding is known as Beaches - East York, so we’ll stick to the plural version of the name from here on out.

Name controversy aside, there’s actually a tight knit community of residents living in The Beaches. Upon entering the lakeside neighbourhood, visitors immediately feel the change of pace: The Beaches is wholesome, family-oriented, and relatively crime free.

Two local newspapers, the Beach-Riverdale Mirror and the Beach Metro Community News, inform residents of recent happenings and upcoming events. And while residents from all areas of the city gather in this neighbourhood at the annual Beaches Jazz Festival, locals need not worry about parking or leaving the house early to get a good spot at a show.

The Beaches also happens to be an affluent area, whose average income is higher than the city’s average; it’s for this reason, that The Beaches condos generally command high price tags, and are more popular with established buyers than those who are trying to purchase Toronto condos for sale for the first time.

Businesses are predominantly situated along Queen East, and for the most part, they’re independent and locally run. The ice cream at Ed’s Real Scoop is a must-try for anyone spending a day at the beach, and a staple for residents living in the area. Also, on Queen is the Fox Theatre, a single-screen cinema that’s been operating since 1914.

Although it’s situated beside a lake, rather than an ocean, there’s a distinctively coastal vibe in The Beaches neighbourhood. The waterfront is made up of four separate beaches — or rather four separate names for different sections of the same beach. When asked whether locals prefer Woodbine Beach, Kew Beach, Balmy Beach, or Scarborough Beach, there’s no real consensus, and certainly no wrong answer.

These beaches were once separated, only to be joined in the 1930s when the beach was also artificially extended, and the boardwalk installed. While the area used to be home to a number of amusement parks, current-day residents will have to settle for an Olympic-sized pool with views of the lake and a couple of sizeable parks: Beaches Park and Ashbridges Bay Park.

The Beaches is home to lots of protected heritage buildings that were constructed as early as 1901. The neighbourhood’s residential streets are lined with pastel-coloured, cottage-style homes, and semi-detached and large detached Victorian and Edwardian houses; Queen East is where most of The Beaches condos can be found, providing condo owners with the most convenient location in the neighbourhood.

The majority of condos on Queen East are low-rise properties, with homes situated above ground-level storefronts. There are approximately 35 condos in the neighbourhood, which are exclusively low and mid-rise buildings. And in case that doesn’t seem like enough variety, the Beaches is also home to a couple of soft lofts, such as the Waterworks Lofts and the Green House Lofts.

The Beaches condos may be situated in east end Toronto just outside of the downtown core; however, its residents can access any area of the city, even without a car. Streetcars travel along Queen and Kingston Road, while buses carry passengers up and down Woodbine and Coxwell.

Lake Shore Boulevard East is ideal for those attempting to reach the Beaches (or those leaving the neighbourhood), however just past Coxwell this street curves to the north and turns into Woodbine Avenue. Drivers traveling around the immediate area, on the other hand, can use arterial roads like Queen, Kingston.

The Locals: Relatively richer than the average Torontonian.

Code of Conduct: Residents prefer local shops to large, brand name chains.

What You’ll Find: Sand, water, more sand, and plenty of ice cream to go with it.

What You Won’t Find: High rises.

The Homes: Adorable, cottage-like, and sometimes featuring a pastel paint job.

Sealing the Deal: The laid back attitude that comes along with living lakeside.