What Makes Downtown Toronto Great?
Downtown Toronto is the main central business district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, made up of Canada’s largest concentration of skyscrapers and businesses with the third most skyscrapers in North America over 200 metres in height, only behind Manhattan, New York City and the Chicago Loop. For renters, owners or investors condos are the most accessible option available to enter the real estate market.
Property and Home Types
Condo towers and more condo towers are being erected in Toronto, than any other city in all of North America, and of course mainly in Downtown. Studios, and 1-bedroom units being smaller are the most affordable and make up the bulk of units sold. COVID-19 put a damper on the demand for these smaller units and people moved out of Toronto, and fewer international students and immigrants came to Toronto. But, it’s still an in demand location. Larger 2-bedrooms are also relatively easy to find, with 3-bedroom units being the most rare and expensive units. Several projects are in construction planned for completion in the mid-2020s, or recently completed. King Blue Condos (115-125 Blue Jays Way), The Britt (955 Bay St), Design Haus (181 Huron), LakeFront (17 Bathurst) and many, many others in the last couple of years have new residents. The Well Condos, Sugar Wharf Condos and other new towers have work crews diligently working their way up floor by floor.
Neighbourhood Specialties
Some neighbourhoods that are popular for students, landlords and investors:
- The Annex
- Cabbagetown
- Chinatown
- Church and Wellesley
- CityPlace
- Distillery District
- East Bayfront
- Entertainment District
- Fashion District
- Financial District
- Garden District
- Regent Park
Schools Nearby
Downtown Toronto is home to three public universities and one college:
- OCAD University
- Ryerson University
- University of Toronto
- George Brown College
OCAD University is Canada’s largest and oldest post secondary institution for art and design. Ryerson University is a research university, located near downtown Yonge Street. The University of Toronto is a collegiate research university, established in 1827, and is the oldest university in Ontario.
Shopping, Dining and Entertainment
Downtown Toronto is home to the CF Toronto Eaton Centre, a large, multilevel enclosed shopping mall and office complex that spans several blocks and houses 330 stores, including flagship department stores of The Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
You’ll also find the best restaurants in town, where chefs come to leave their mark. Richmond Station, DaiLo, Momofuku The Beyond Kensington Market Toronto Food Tour (not a restaurant I know), Alo are just a few to checkout among many others to experience.
The CN Tower, Eaton Centre, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Ripley’s Aquarium, St Lawrence Market Farmer’s Market, Waterfront (includes the Martin Goodman Trail), Sports Teams (Raptors, Leafs, Blue Jays)…Round out the many entertainment options and activities to do.
Transportation
The metro system, PATH, bus and tram are all available downtown. Infrastructure has been built over the years to support all the people living and working here.
Future Outlook
Although COVID-19 has slowed things down for a year or so, people are still going to immigrate and study here when restrictions lift. Condo projects are still being built, and many investors are already bargain hunting for properties at lower than average prices.
If you want to learn more about this area, to invest or live here just email your questions to info@haushunt.com or send a message here and we’ll see how we can work together!
Trivia Time: You made it to the end! Here’s a little known trivia fact: Did you know that Keanu Reeves when he was younger went to the Etobicoke School of the Arts?