Introduction
Once an entirely separate municipality, the former 19th century village of Newtonbrook is now located in the area around Yonge Street between Finch and Steeles, extending between the east and west branches of the Don River. The city further subdivides the area on its official map, designating the area from Bathurst to Yonge as Newtonbrook West, and from Yonge to Bayview as Newtonbrook East.
Lifestyle
Newtonbrook is definitely a family neighbourhood, and one that values its various cultural heritages highly. Business owners are far more friendly and welcoming to outsiders than one might expect from an enclave that’s home to so many very specific ethnicities, and locals tout the area’s diversity as one of its best features. Off the main drag everyone I spoke to had nothing but high praise for the neighbourhood’s schools and other public institutions. While many of Newtonbrook’s residents are new to Toronto, most say they plan to stay, and hope their families will call the place home for generations to come.
The Vibe
If you were to drop an unsuspecting suburbanite on the strip of Yonge Street south of the Centrepoint mall, it might take them quite some time to figure out exactly where in the world they were. Strip mall signs are a United Nations of foreign alphabets, and the only real indication that you’re still in North America is the stretch of shiny car dealerships that dominate the east side of Yonge Street as you near Steeles. It’s a busy, friendly place with the feel of an international bazaar.
Meet the Neighbours
This area holds great appeal to new Canadians from all points east – Chinese is the dominant first language in the area, with Korean, Russian, and Farsi catching up quickly. Toronto’s “Russiatown” has long been established along Bathurst up to Steeles. It’s a multi-generational community; on weekdays, a stroll through the Centerpoint Mall might lead you to believe it’s almost entirely comprised of retirees, but after school and on weekends the area comes alive with children and their parents strolling the streets.
In the Area
Newtonbrook is a food shopper’s paradise, especially if you’re seeking hard-to-find ingredients from faraway corners of the world. There’s an abundance of stores jumbled into strip malls, and for more recognizable retail the Centerpoint Mall at Yonge and Steeles offers up The Bay, Target, No Frills, and a host of other chain stores. There are eleven elementary schools. At the secondary level, students attend Newtonbrook or Northview Heights; Catholic students attend St. Joseph’s Morrow Park. Shouldice and North York General Hospitals are nearby, and the new Edithvale Community Centre was designed with the input of more than 50 local groups.
27.3 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
A lot can be managed on foot in Newtonbrook, but non-residential blocks are long, so biking is a popular option here – although many cyclists seem to prefer the sidewalk due to a lack of bike lanes (and maniacal drivers). There’s easy access to the 401 for car commuters, and the TTC operates several buses, including the 42 Cummer, 11 Bayview, 53/60 Steeles, 39 Finch East, and several routes (from milk runs to express) up and down Bathurst.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
Newtonbrook is not what you’d call a picturesque neighbourhood. While many little pockets of side streets feature old growth trees and well-maintained homes, much of the development of the area occurred in the functional 60s. The flat-topped buildings and strip malls that typify the main streets aren’t aging particularly well. Apart from the stretch along Bayview, Newtonbrook also suffers from a relative lack of green space in comparison to surrounding neighbourhoods. But there are still pretty parks to be found, and the area’s convenient location makes it easy to retreat to the ravines just a few big blocks away.
Dollars & Sense
One might expect an area that houses many new Canadians to be a bit of a bargain, but Newtonbrook’s homes sell for slightly above the Toronto average, probably due to its proximity to the Yonge subway line and the excellent reputation of local schools. Retail and dining aren’t particularly high end expenditures here, and one gets the sense that haggling is a practice that would be welcome in many of the local businesses.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Zaffron
As unlikely as it sounds, Zaffron has built a solid reputation on its twin offerings (and occasional fusion) of Italian and Iranian cuisines. Certainly the only restaurant in Toronto to feature both authentic wood oven pizza and Fesenjoon, “a unique traditional stew with pomegranate juice, walnut & chicken”, Zaffron’s website cheekily touts the establishment as “the answer to the age-old question: Italian or Persian?”
more infoKiva’s Restaurant and Bakery
Consistently voted Toronto’s favourite, Kiva’s has been serving up proper hand-rolled and kettle boiled bagels – as well as sandwiches, soups and salads – at the corner of Steeles and Bathurst since 1979. The large dining room is augmented by an 80-seat patio in warmer months, and Kiva’s also caters!
more infoCummer Park Community Centre
Featuring an arena, tennis couts, swimming pool, and one of the city’s only skate parks, Cummer Park Community Centre offers a range of programs geared at everyone from the very young to the very old. In addition to athletic activities such as yoga, Pilates and Latin dance, locals can partake in drawing and painting classes, a teen/youth drop-in club, and summer camps.
more infoTov Li
This kosher restaurant specializes in healthy (and frequently vegetarian) Mediterranean foods, but also branches out on Saturday nights, offering a creative array of fresh post-Sabbath Sushi on Saturdays! Closed Fridays at 2:30 until 45 minutes after Shabbat.
more infoCenterpoint Mall
The usual retail suspects are the big draw at Centerpoint Mall, formerly known as the ye olden Towne and Countrye Square. Given a more modern makeover within the last 15 years, it’s still not a dazzler as malls go, but it’s the only game in this part of town for indoor shopping and has a few higher-end stores.
more info