TORONTO LIVING Casa Loma Neighbourhood

Prestigious and historic, this mid-town neighbourhood gets its name from the Gothic Revival mansion that towers above its quiet, residential streets.

Casa Loma

Neighbourhood

BY LESLEY KENNY PHOTOGRAPHY BY LESLEY KENNY

Between St. Clair Avenue West to the north, the national railway tracks to the south, Bathurst Street on the west and Spadina Avenue to the east, this quiet, elegant neighbourhood is home to a castle and a walkable ravine.

Prestigious and historic, this mid-town neighbourhood gets its name from the Gothic Revival mansion that towers above its quiet, residential streets. Many of the majestic homes in Casa Loma neighbourhood are Georgian, Tudor, Edwardian, and English Cottage design. Wealthy residents were first drawn to the area in the early 1900s when Canadian financier Sir Henry Pellat built his 65,000 square foot, 98-room Casa Loma (“house on the hill”). When Pellat – who helped bring hydro-electricity to Toronto – could no longer afford the steep tax hike imposed after the depression, he and wife Mary left their private castle; it was taken over by the City of Toronto in 1924. Casa Loma and its gardens became a draw for residents who wanted to build their own generous homes in this leafy perch.

Some of the front lawns in Casa Loma neighbourhood are among the most expansive in the city. Winding streets, cul-de-sacs and old maple and oak trees give this prestigious neighbourhood a cozy feel. Shared green spaces are plentiful here. Wells Hill Park, in the northwest corner, offers shady spots and picnic tables, a playground and splash pad for kids, ping-pong tables and plenty of room to throw a frisbee. Nordheimer Ravine winds along the eastern side of the neighbourhood with its creek, walkable paths and impressive stand of old oaks, ending at Roycroft Park. Some of the homes in the neighbourhood back onto the ravine.

Between Casa Loma and the adjacent Spadina Museum, with its acres of scenic orchard and gardens, 110 wide stone-and-concrete steps, popular with walkers and runners, zig-zag up what was once the shoreline of the ancient Lake Iroquois (renamed Lake Ontario). The incredible view from the steps’ landings takes in the CN Tower and Toronto skyline, suggesting both its accessibility and the neighbourhood’s exclusive stature. >>

Casa Loma neighbourhood shares Sir Winston Churchill Park with South Hill neighbourhood, to the east. The St. Clair reservoir, originally built in 1930, runs under this large park where 10 community tennis courts are floodlit for nighttime use. At the bottom of the park, a recently refurbished off-leash dog area is popular among local and visiting furry friends.

Shopping, restaurants and other amenities line the north and west sides of this neighbourhood; walkable or a short drive. Within the neighbourhood, the highly-rated BlueBlood Steakhouse inside Casa Loma is a favourite with locals. Nearby fine dining opportunities include Scaramouche and Bistro Nord, and, a walk away, St. Clair Avenue West offers a variety of casual, multiethnic restaurants and boutique shops. Just north of St. Clair, Forest Hill Village, known for its good restaurants, outdoor patios and coffee shops, is a pleasant 15-minute walk through the ravine. Just west of the neighbourhood, along St. Clair, the Artscape Wychwood Barns hosts an outdoor Saturday farmers’ market. Wychwood Library will reopen in 2021 after extensive renovations and expansion. The new brick and glass building marks the entry into this quiet residential pocket, just south of the corner at Bathurst and St. Clair.

The Tarragon Theatre mounts national and international plays in one of the city’s most intimate venues. Baldwin Steps, at the edge of Spadina Park, zig-zag up the ancient shoreline of Lake Iroquois, with a view of the city skyline.

Baldwin Steps, at the edge of Spadina Park, zig-zag up the ancient shoreline of Lake Iroquois, with a view of the city skyline. Winding streets, cul-de-sacs and mature trees give this prestigious neighbourhood a cozy feel.

Nearby schools include St. Michael’s College for boys, and Bishop Strachan, Canada’s oldest private school for girls. Along Bathurst Street, Hillcrest Community School provides a daycare centre, indoor pool and gym – and is dangerously close to Toronto’s iconic Dutch Dreams and Booyah ice cream parlours. George Brown College has

Many of the majestic homes in this neighbourhood are Georgian, Tudor, Edwardian and English Cottage. a campus at the south end of the neighbourhood, near the Tarragon Theatre, one of the city’s most intimate venues, mounting classic and contemporary, national and international plays.

The Casa Loma neighbourhood is well served by TTC streetcars and buses along Bathurst and St. Clair, and buses along Spadina. As well, the St. Clair West subway station serves as a nexus for east-west and north-south travel throughout the city.

Just 20 minutes from highway 401 to the north and Toronto’s financial and entertainment districts to the south, the historic Casa Loma neighbourhood is a residential haven tucked into a hill, where families enjoy a park-like setting and proximity to urban amenities.