| King West Village is one of the most dynamic | | | | not only in its historical roots. It offers a vast array of |
| neighbourhoods in Toronto. It's a community full of | | | | modern conveniences of great shops, independent |
| townhouses, eclectic shops, fashionable restaurants | | | | galleries, restaurants and clubs. King West has also |
| and artist studios minutes from downtown Toronto by | | | | parks, carwashes, fitness centers, health food shops |
| the TTC. In the past few years, King West has | | | | and yoga classes, just as you would expect from any |
| undergone a spectacular transformation that now | | | | modern, higher class neighbourhood. Have a morning |
| epitomizes urban living in the city. | | | | coffee at a cafe and then hop the streetcar for a |
| It wasn't always like that. Todays King West Village | | | | five-minute ride to Bay Street or the subway station. |
| was once a huge industrial area with factories such as | | | | Or drive to the Gardiner Expressway - it's less than |
| Macgregor Socks. The memories of those times are | | | | five minutes away. |
| still present in the form of street signs - many streets | | | | Despite all these attractive features, what really |
| bear names such as Massey and Battery road after | | | | makes King West is the genuine sense of community |
| the manufacturing plants. This is, however, all gone | | | | you can experience here - residents say that they |
| today - now you can see new spectacular lofts and | | | | actually know their neighbours, and see the same |
| condominiums served by retail and big box stores such | | | | people jogging down the street, shopping and having |
| as Dominion, offering nearby cafes, art galleries, trendy | | | | espresso. It's this ambience of community that |
| bars and restaurants, and parks that provide places to | | | | pervades King West and allows the people here to be |
| walk, bicycle, rollerblade, and entertain friends. | | | | at home with urban living. |
| King West Village is bordered roughly by Spadina, | | | | The location provides residents very easy access to |
| Front, Adelaide and Bathurst. It has become suddenly | | | | Toronto's business and financial districts - minutes by |
| very alive - you can see properties being constructed, | | | | car or streetcar, while the frequent Bathurst streetcar |
| demolished, renovated and renewed all the time. | | | | connects to the Bloor Line in minutes. Famous |
| Developers are grabbing every available lot in the King | | | | destinations such as the Skydome, Exhibition Place, |
| West area, driving out long-time fixtures and pushing | | | | Harbourfront, Fort York and the Toronto Islands are |
| up values. Six recent land sales in the will see 1000 | | | | also all very accessible. |
| new condominium units constructed, with some of | | | | King Street itself offers shops, professional services |
| them being very luxurious indeed. | | | | and restaurants that serve the area's day-to-day |
| Another contributing factor to the appeal of the | | | | needs. In terms of local recreation, Stanley Park is a |
| neighbourhood is its rich history: you can see old | | | | favourite neighbourhood meeting place, offering |
| factory buildings and warehouses along King & | | | | baseball diamonds, tennis courts, an outdoor pool, and |
| Wellington streets, the famous Wheat Sheaf Tavern | | | | a soccer field. The community centre located on its |
| which has been a Bathurst & King fixture for more | | | | grounds is used for residents' meetings, |
| than 150 years, and Victoria Memorial Park, which is | | | | community-based programs and social functions. |
| actually a cemetery for some of the dead of the war | | | | With close proximity to another uber-trendy |
| of 1812. It is currently going through a more than $1 | | | | neighbourhood, Queen Street West, King West Village |
| million restoration. The majority of these historical | | | | offers few bargains; however one advantage to |
| buildings in King West Village are protected, and | | | | those wishing to purchase in this rapidly emerging area |
| hopefully this fact will help to keep the neighourhood | | | | is that properties are fairly large by downtown |
| just as pedestrian-friendly as it's considered now. | | | | standards, offering big underground garages and |
| The reason for this unique flavour of King West lies | | | | elevations up to 20 stories. |