Urban Village: King West
For the ultimate urban dwelling experience, King West Village is the place to be. It’s the up and coming vibrant neighbourhood populated with funky shops, trendy restaurants and the all-important artist studios offering real urban credibility. Over time, the area has transformed itself from a manufacturing wasteland to become the destination for Torontonians who want to live to a more bohemian beat.
Victorian and Georgian-style townhomes and spectacular lofts and condominiums provide the backdrop to the energetic buzz on the street. Nestled between a few crucial outlets like a 24-hour Dominion and Casa Life Furniture are art galleries, eclectic shops and cozy cafes. The generous parkland in the area provides the perfect place to walk, cycle and rollerblade and even swim and play tennis or soccer.
The area, loosely bordered by Spadina, Front, Adelaide and Bathurst Sts., is abuzz with construction and renovations, a sure sign that this is one neighbourhood that is being built from the ground up to suit the tastes of the people who choose to make it home.
But let’s not forget the neighbourhood’s storied history. A $1 million restoration of historic buildings will ensure that King West Village will never be accused of being too “manufactured”. Old factory buildings and warehouses along King and Wellington Sts., the infamous Wheat Sheaf Tavern – part of the landscape of Bathurst and King Sts. for well over a century – and Victoria Memorial Park are all getting facelifts while preserving their authenticity.
Residents are typically a young, hip crowd who want to live in a real neighbourhood but stay close to the action of downtown. For nightlife, the Drake Hotel and the Gladstone and other hot spots are located on Queen St. just north of Liberty Village. Health food stores, yoga studios and fitness centres also cater to this crowd. The lively, pedestrian-friendly feel invites people out of doors, creating a true sense of community in which smiles, nods and conversations abound on the street.
If you must tear yourself away from your new neighbourhood, the options are endless. The streetcar provides a connection to the Bloor line and the business and financial districts in minutes. By car, you’ll be able to hop on the Gardiner Expressway before you even touch your morning coffee.
King West Village is expanding by the day, offering infinite opportunities for residential ownership, whether your tastes run from high-rise loft or condo living to a townhouse lifestyle.
