King West Village is a dynamic community of townhouses, eclectic shops, fashionable restaurants and artist studios minutes from downtown Toronto by the TTC. In recent years, King West has undergone a fantastic transformation that now epitomizes urban living in the city. What makes it one of the hottest areas in Toronto to live and work in?
King West Street Sign
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Where there were once huge industrial operations and factories like Macgregor Socks, now sit modern Victorian-style townhomes. Where streets named Massey and Battery Road evoke the manufacturing plants that built the city, now rise spectacular lofts and condominiums served by retail and big box stores such as Dominion, offering nearby cafés, art galleries, trendy bars and restaurants, and parks that provide places to walk, bicycle, rollerblade, and entertain friends.
The area roughly bordered by Spadina, Front, Adelaide and Bathurst is suddenly alive with construction and demolition, renovations and renewals. Developers are grabbing every available lot in the King West area, driving out long-time fixtures and pushing up values. Six recent land sales in the will see 1000 new condominium units, some of them very deluxe indeed, constructed.
King West Village Condos
Contributing to the appeal of the neighbourhood is its rich history: the old factory buildings and warehouses along King & Wellington streets, the famous Wheat Sheaf Tavern which has been a Bathurst & King fixture for more than 150 years, and Victoria Memorial Park, which is actually a cemetery for some of the dead of the war of 1812 and is currently undergoing a $1 million restoration. While King West Village has already lost some of its unique mixed use appeal due to all the changes, the majority of the historical King West buildings are protected, and it is hoped this preservation will prevent the loss of its lively, pedestrian-friendly feel.
The flavour of King West is found not only in its historical roots, but in the modern conveniences of great shops, independent galleries, restaurants and clubs. King West is also parks, carwashes, fitness centers, health food shops and yoga classes. The Scadding Court Community Centre offers great recreational programming, and the local parks include:
-Trinity Bellwoods
-Coronation Park
-Marilyn Bell Park
Have a morning coffee and then hop the streetcar for a five-minute ride to Bay Street or the subway station. Or drive to the Gardiner Expressway – it's less than five minutes away.
King West Village Liberty Street
But what really makes King West is the genuine sense of community – residents say that they actually know their neighbours, and see the same people jogging down the street, shopping and having espresso. It's this ambience of community that pervades King West and allows the people here to be at home with urban living.
The location provides residents very easy access to Toronto's business and financial districts – minutes by car or streetcar, while the frequent Bathurst streetcar connects to the Bloor Line in minutes. Famous destinations such as the Skydome, Exhibition Place, Harbourfront, Fort York and the Toronto Islands are also all very accessible. Though King West/Liberty Village has a mostly adult vibe, its local public schools include:
-Givins-Shaw Jr. & Sr. School
-Niagara Street Jr. School
-Alexander Muir and Gladstone School
-Hillcrest Jr. P.S.
-Parkdale C.I.
-West Toronto C.I.
-A selection of alternative secondary schools
The Sanderson Branch of the Toronto Pulic Library, at 327 Bathurst St., and the Parkdale Branch at 1303 Queen St. West are convenient to students living in the area.
King West Village Townhouses
King Street itself offers shops, professional services and restaurants that serve the area's day-to-day needs. In terms of local recreation, Stanley Park is a favourite neighbourhood meeting place, offering baseball diamonds, tennis courts, an outdoor pool, and a soccer field. The community centre located on its grounds is used for residents' meetings, community-based programs and social functions.
With close proximity to another uber-trendy neighbourhood, Queen Street West, King West Village offers few bargains; however one advantage to those wishing to purchase in this rapidly emerging area is that properties are fairly large by downtown standards, offering big underground garages and elevations up to 20 storeys.
Map of King West Village - Click for Larger Version
I first read about the rave reviews of INIGO in Toronto Life Magazine and thought I’d check it out for myself. Along with revitalizing an address that was infamous for bike thievery, this new Queen West eatery is definitely worth checking out. Inigo offers reasonably-priced roasted chickens (grain-fed and free-range), as well as “other species” (as listed on their menu). Everything is separately-priced, allowing you to create your own meal. We had the peruvian chicken on brown rice with a quinoa salad and a refreshing fennel and orange salad that I was still thinking about the next day.