Introduction
Deer Park checks on all three boxes of the real estate mantra – Location, Location, Location! Arranging itself in a boot-like formation on the map of mid-town Toronto, it is bounded by the Belt Line trail in the north/northwest side of Yonge Street, Avenue Road and Oriole Parkway in the west, Farnham Avenue extending onto to meet St. Clair Avenue East in the south/south Easterly direction across Yonge Street, finally being enclosed by the Vale of Avoca, Alvin Avenue, Glen Avenue and Yonge Street in the east/north east.
Lifestyle
Although the deer in this park have long been replaced by urban human dwellers, this neighbourhood, indeed was once a grazing meadow for deer. In 1837 the Heath family appropriately named it Deer Park. Since then, it has metamorphosed into a quiet, tree-lined residential area where its eastern arteries spill into the commercially active and bustling life of the Yonge Street corridor. This is the perfect place to enjoy a live-work-play lifestyle.
The Vibe
With night life, restaurants and trendy shops just a walk away from most of the residential avenues, this neighbourhood is a curious blend of the old and the new, the uber rich and the aspiring. Looming skyscrapers like the Imperial Oil building and the Wittington Tower are contrasted comfortably by church facades, sprawling private and public school compounds, parkettes, public art installations, ravines and manicured cemeteries. One also never loses sight of the panoptic CN tower in the offing.
Meet the Neighbours
Home, in the past, to a handful of stalwart artists such as Glenn Gould, Margaret Avison and Joy Fielding, Deer Park presents an eclectic 1:4 ratio of immigrants and non-immigrants with visible minorities hailing from European, Chinese, South Asian, Filipino, Latin American and Korean ethnicities, according to Statistics Canada. Residents are upwardly mobile families or white-collared single young professionals with income averages ranging upwards from $70,000 – $150,000. This area also has a healthy elderly population of 65 years and older.
In the Area
Yonge Street is Deer Park’s entertainment, business and commercial lifeline, and conveniences are right around the corner from where you live. Retail staples like Sobeys and Shoppers Drug Mart around the Yonge and St. Clair hub are coupled with banking conveniences, shopping centres, restaurants, pubs, burger joints, bistros, coffee shops and a public library. Recreational options such as Oriole Park, Rosehill Reservoir Park and David Balfour Park are perfect for joggers and walkers, while area students go to upscale-middleclass schools like Upper Canada School, or the Deer Park Jr. and Sr. Public School.
4.9 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
On a rating of 100, Deer Park has a WalkScore of 88, a TransitScore of 87, and BikeScore of 70 which makes it a commuter’s dream come true. Most area amenities are a five to ten minute walk away so running errands, quite literally, is the best here. St. Clair subway station is located in the heart of Yonge and St. Clair, and TTC streetcars carry commuters along St. Clair Avenue West. TTC buses ply regularly as well. Drives to downtown Toronto are just 15 minutes away, and access to expressways is a paltry 20 minute drive.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
For new professionals, living in Deer Park can be quite a status symbol, comparable to those “living the high life” in downtown Toronto. It offers all the luxuries of suburbia, mixed with a healthy dose of a bustling city life, surrounded by swatches of beautiful lush greens. For those who have lived in the area for over 20 years the changes to the urban landscape are stark and often too noisy. Deer Park presents a dichotomy of resizing elderly folks moving out of large detached homes, while the young’uns are unable to afford the expensive real estate that the elders vacate.
Dollars & Sense
Average home prices at Deer Park commence at $1.5 million, while rents for bachelor suites start at $1,000. Grocery prices range from middle-upscale prices. Affordable dining options range from $5 - $25 per person thanks to the area pubs, burger joints, and Chinese and Indian takeout places. Upscale dining can range upwards of $50 per person. If you’re in the mood for a facial, be ready to shell out at least $50, while the neighbourhood yoga classes are comparable to downtown rates.
Featured Homes for Sale in Deer Park
A hand-picked selection of new home and condos for sale in Deer Park. For those who love the thrill of anticipation of getting into a brand new home or condo.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Scallywags
This sports bar and pub, on St. Clair at Yonge is best known for its year round international sports coverage and nachos, not to mention a great rooftop patio and friendly service.
more infoSchnitzel Hub
Just as the name suggests, this is your fix for European brews, schnitzels, and eastern and central European cuisine. Perfect for families, office goers, and party crowds.
more infoKwan Dim Sum
This sleek dim sum and tea place on Yonge Street serves traditional Chinese dim sum fare, with unexpected twists and variations that you will keep coming back to.
more infoFox and Fiddle
This is Deer Park’s neighbourhood pub, complete with a karaoke bar. Area residents come here for a quick weekday dinner, sports hangout or to spend a chilled out cozy spring morning on the patio.
more infoDelisle Court
Deer Park’s resident shopping mall, Delisle Court offers everything from food, fashion, fine dining, health care, and home furnishings to pet care.
more info