Real Estate Guide › Central

Mount Pleasant West

Average 2007 sale price:: $832,500
Property crime:: average
Crime against people:: very low

Tucked between charming St. Clair and tony Yonge and Eglinton is Mount Pleasant West, the highest density neighbourhood in the city; more than 90 per cent of the housing is in a forest of multi-storey towers, and more than 80 per cent of the population rents. Twenty storeys seems to be the norm, with the occasional older three- or four-storey apartment block tucked in among them. The older towers are rentals, while the ones put up in the past decade or so tend to be condos, such as Minto Midtown, the high-end tower complex going up on Yonge. There are some houses on the north side of Keewatin, on Soudan east of Redpath, and on Belsize Drive, part of which is divided by Glebe Manor West parkette, making for a lovely wide boulevard. Yonge has its usual commercial mix, though there’s not much of note on either Mount Pleasant or Eglinton (unless you count Spring Rolls and Philthy McNasty’s); luckily, there’s Lawrence Park South (page 31) to the north and St. Clair (page 51) to the south. The area offers opportunities to live in midtown for prices you won’t find again until you’re past the 401. There’s even some history—Montgomery Tavern, now a post office, was on this stretch of Yonge, meaning those 1832 rebels marched right through the neighbourhood before they were routed.

HOUSING STOCK: It’s almost all towers, almost all rentals, with some notable brick semis and detached homes sprinkled throughout the north end and through bits of the centre.

BARGAIN ZONES: With many properties selling in the $600,000 bracket, condos are a less expensive way into the neighbourhood. You can easily find one-bedrooms for about $300,000.

THE VERDICT: If real estate values really are all about location, you’ve got yourself a winner here—you’re close to the same amenities as much pricier neighbourhoods. But if you don’t enjoy seeing towers when you glance out the window, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
The Art Shoppe One of the city’s best furniture stores since 1934, the Art Shoppe offers a variety of design styles. Upscale prices are balanced by biannual sales that bring everything down a notch or two. 2131 Yonge St., 416-487-3211.
The Bow & Arrow This is a classic Toronto pub, and with the Rose & Crown gone, it’s now the only game in the ’hood. 1954 Yonge St., 416-487-2036.
Caribbean Bistro This tiny resto serves Trinidadian food you won’t find anywhere else this side of Piarco Airport. 2439A Yonge St., 416-480-1581.
Spy Tech Got a problem nanny? Got a pretty nanny? Spy Tech’s got gadgets to help you get a little 007 at home. 2028 Yonge St., 416-482-8588.

Nearby Restaurants

Zucca

By early evening, the packed dining room hums with contented locals. Though antipasti barely pass ... (0.24 km away)

C’est Bon Chinese Restaurant

Little sister to the north-of-Eglinton location, C’est Bon serves up Manchurian-, Szechuan- and Taiwanese-style dishes. ... (0.26 km away)

Hannah’s Kitchen

This cafeteria-style spot features homestyle cooking with stick-to-your-ribs specials: chicken ragoût over rice, empanada with ... (0.27 km away)

Fox & Firkin

Cozy, dark and traditional, the original pub in this homegrown chain caters to a younger ... (0.28 km away)

Spring Rolls

Two intimate dining rooms with modern touches welcome diners to this popular locale, which offers ... (0.29 km away)

Mirabelle Gastro Wine Bar

Inspired by British gastro-pubs, upscale Mirabelle is whatever you want it to be—patrons linger over ... (0.29 km away)

Quince

A vibrant, bustling room welcomes the Yonge and Eglinton crowd. The wood-burning oven produces much ... (0.30 km away)

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Commuting

King and Bay:: 6.3 km
401 and 400:: 10.0 km
Gardiner and 427:: 16.0 km
Subways:: Eglinton Station 0.4 km; Davisville Station 0.8 km; St. Clair Station 1.8 km