Condos for Rent in Islington | City Centre West, Toronto, ON

It isn’t exactly common knowledge that Toronto has not one, but five Central Business Districts. It only makes sense, then, that one of these would be situated within Islington and City Centre West, a bustling neighbourhood in the heart of Etobicoke.

The neighbourhood itself is massive, reaching all the way from the 427 to Islington, and from the Gardiner Expressway to Rathburn Road. And while this enormous area is now completely developed, most of the commercial and residential buildings that exist in the neighbourhood haven’t been around all that long.

Islington and City Centre West only began to feel decidedly urban in the second part of the 20th century. Slow going at first, a development boom occurred in the late 1960s, when officials decided the Borough of Etobicoke should resemble a metropolitan downtown neighbourhood. Thankfully for these planners, this plan coincided with the extension of the Bloor-Danforth line, which, by 1968, would carry passengers as far west as Islington Station.

Those interested in the earlier history of the neighbourhood can simply walk along Dundas Street, from Kipling to Islington (or the other way around), where murals showcase past residents and historic moments. Many of the pieces that make up the Islington Mosaic Heritage Mural Project showcase the work of John Kuna, a local artist who paints using an incredible amount of detail.

Last but not least, Islington condos for rent are also surrounded by shopping centres that make life all the more convenient for residents living in the neighbourhood. Whether a condo has recently been moved into, or it’s simply in need of a makeover, it’s useful having IKEA so close at hand. And come Christmastime, residents can get all their shopping done in one place: the massive Sherway Gardens mall.

Some areas of Etobicoke feel particularly suburban, but that’s not the case in this neighbourhood. Instead, most residents live in Islington and City Centre West, of which there are almost 50. Most of the multi-residential buildings in the neighbourhood happen to be situated within close reach of Dundas and Bloor West, while a handful can be found farther south, near the Queensway.

Prospective buyers hoping to live in Islington condos for rent with subway access can look no further than the Network Lofts, the Westwood Condos, the Kingswood on Bloor Condos, and the Islington Terrace Condos, all of which are a short walk away from Islington Station. Those more concerned with shaving off time on their trips to IKEA, on the other hand, will want to check out buildings like the IQ Condos and the Park Towers Condominiums at IQ.

Last but not least, we don’t blame residents who are interested in Islington condos for rent that offer access to Sherway Gardens. This group has their pick between four creatively named buildings: One Sherway I, One Sherway II, One Sherway Three, and One Sherway Four.

Islington and City Centre West have been ahead of the curve in terms of transportation for decades now: residents have been using the subway to reach downtown Toronto since the 1960s. Using the Bloor-Danforth line, residents can reach downtown destinations like Union Station in approximately 40 minutes. And now thanks to the UP Express, travellers who are in a rush can shave 10 minutes off of their journeys.

Drivers living in Islington condos for rent, on the other hand, will love cruising along streets that are nowhere near as congested as those in the downtown core. Plus, a couple of major highways are close at hand, such as the Gardiner Expressway and the 427. The former is ideal for anyone headed toward downtown neighbourhoods like the Financial District or the Entertainment District, while the latter will help drivers reach Pearson International Airport in no time.

The Locals: They want to feel like they’re living in downtown Toronto, without actually living in downtown Toronto.

Code of Conduct: Filling one’s condo with IKEA furniture and nothing else isn’t only acceptable, it’s efficiency at its finest.

What You’ll Find: A Central Business District.

What You Won’t Find: The same extent of density as the downtown core.

The Homes: Condos, and little else.

Sealing the Deal: Costco hot dogs and IKEA meatballs.