Wide Streets, Beautiful Homes, Huge Trees, Easy Access to the City
Rosedale is one of Toronto's oldest residential neighbourhoods (map). Once upon a time Bloor Street was almost the border of Toronto, as later St Clair, then Eglinton, and then Finch Avenue have become the border of what is considered part of Toronto proper. Rosedale was created just north of Bloor as a residential enclave just outside of the city, full of leafy mansions, nearby private schools for the privileged children of its denizens and great parks.
Craighleah Gardens Dog Park in autumn splendor
Astonishingly Rosedale is still mostly like this with beautiful parks, tree-lined streets and many beautiful mansions. Some of the private schools have departed (St Andrew's College is now in Aurora) but Branksome Hall remains and Bishops Strachan School and Upper Canada College are not far away.
Two Hawthorn Gardens in 1926 as a single family home
Hawthorn Gardens, enormous stone mansion now flats
What has changed is that some of the great mansions have been subdivided into apartments, with carriage houses becoming residences, and some green space has become apartment buildings. The establishment must share space with ordinary citizens, which has driven some of them to move to original nouveau riche enclave of Forest Hill or for those who seek absolute privacy and large private gardens, far north to Bridal Path.
Chestnut Road modern mansion
Rosedale still retains substantially more charm than either of those neighbourhoods, as it's just a step out to the markets of Summerhill including Toronto's best wine selection at the old rail station, or down to Bloor and the cafés of Yorkville. One can enjoy a low-carbon and active life in Rosedale, walking, cycling or even riding public transport.
75 Sherbourne Bus zips up Glen Road
History
Rosedale is not as old as one might imagine, looking at the stone castles and medieval mansions built there. From 1824, the 110 acres which is now Rosedale became the private estate of Sheriff William Botsford Jarvis and his wife Mary. The hillsides had many rose bushes in summer so Mrs. Jarvis named her estate Rosedale. In 1864, their estate sold and its subdivision began, first as South Rosedale and then after the Glen Road Bridge was built in 1909 as North Rosedale.
40 Castle Frank Crescent in 1930
40 Castle Frank Crescent 2022
The Rosedale Golf Club was originally where Rosedale Field is now located, from 1895 to 1909. After the bridge was built, the golf club migrated before it move north of Lawrence, along the Don River.
The first Grey Cup was played on Rosedale Field in 1909. There is a wonderful outdoor ice rink in what is now Rosedale Park, which is also home to the Rosedale Tennis Club.
Glen Road bridge, Rosedale 1907
Most of the great homes one sees walking in Rosedale date from the 1860's to the 1930's. Most of the thousand residences in Rosedale are on the Toronto Historical Board's Inventory of Heritage Properties, which retains the integrity and character of Rosedale. There are very few massive modern concrete bunkers.
Majestic Charles Boone House Crescent Road
Neighbours
Neighbours include old money, pop stars, best-selling authors.
Traditional brick home with large sun room painted cheerful yellow
What's more difficult about Rosedale are the prices. In 2022, a prime ravine backing historic house with four bedrooms will be snapped up quickly even at its $15 million to $20 million price tag. A 1200 square foot apartment sells for just under $1 million. Modern condos range from $1.2 million to $17 million. 4000 to 6000 square foot homes sell for $3.5 million to $8 million. The entry point for a free-standing house on a small lot is $4 million.
With so many parks, such extensive ravines and so much green space, lot size matters less than in many neighbourhoods.
What to Love
- Rosedale Park
- Summerhill Market
- Rosedale Tennis Club
- Rosedale Ice Skating Rink
Apparently Rosedale is Canada's wealthiest neighbourhood with an average income of over $250,000. Despite the occasional condo building and apartment, only about 8000 Torontonians are permanent residents of Rosedale.
Pricefield Road Playground ball balance
Dining, Entertainment and Shopping
Rosedale is central enough that its residents enjoy easy access to Summerhill, Yorkville, St Clair Village for dining.
Summerhill LCBO 20 Scrivener Square Condos
There are superb market style groceries and bakeries at Summerhill, next to Toronto's best vintage wines section in the LCBO in the old Summerhill Railway Station.
Summerhill Market, Terroni
There is shopping in Yorkdale as well as at Bloor and Yonge. There's a huge Canadian Tire for automobile, home, garden tools and outdoor gear. Canada's largest library with over 1.6 million books, the Toronto Reference Library is at 789 Yonge Street.
Sorrel and the Rosedale Diner
For gourmets:
- Earth (American -New), 1055 Yonge St, (416) 551-9810
- Petite Thuet (French), 1162 Yonge St, (416) 924-2777
- The Firkin Group of Pubs, 1055 Yonge Street, (416) 644-0370
- Rosedale Diner, 1164 Yonge St, (416) 923-3122
- Taco Villa (Mexican), 218 Yonge St, (416) 636-9162
- Buena Vista, (Mexican), 523 Yonge St, (416) 923-4545
- The Witches Table, (Japanese), 591 Yonge St, (416) 925-3560
- Black Camel, 4 Crescent Rd, (416) 929-7518
Nearby Schools
- Rosedale Jr., 22 South Drive, (416) 393-1330 (Public School)
- Whitney Jr., 119 Rosedale Heights Drive, (416) 393-9380 (Public School)
- Jesse Ketchum Jr. and Sr., 61 Davenport Road, (416) 393-1530 (Public School)
- Rosedale Heights Secondary School , 711 Bloor Street East, (416) 393-1580 (Public High School)
- Jarvis Collegiate Institute, 495 Jarvis Street, (416) 393-0140 (Public High School)
- Branksome Hall, (an exclusive all-girls school) 10 Elm Avenue, (416) 920-9741 (Private School)
- Bishop Strachan School, 298 Lonsdale Road, (416) 483-4325 (Private School)
- Upper Canada College, 200-220 Lonsdale Road, (416) 488-1125 (Private School
