Introduction
Don’t be thrown off by the absence of an apostrophe, you history hogs, for Hoggs Hollow is a 200 year old neighbourhood in one of Toronto’s richest hexagonal geographical pockets on the map. It lies neatly nestled between York Mills in the north, Yonge Street in the west, where Snowdon Avenue meets Ronan Avenue - continuing onto Lawrence Avenue East in the South, and the mighty Bayview Avenue in the east.
Lifestyle
Life in Hoggs Hollow, along the rolling Don Valley River, is exclusively residential and uber luxurious, punctuated with idyllic white picket fences, manicured lawns, hilly avenues, quiet cul-de-sacs, and leafy streets. Walking through this developed suburban enclave within the urban metropolis, you wouldn’t guess that this area was once a farmland full of quick sand patches, bogs and swamps in 1824 when it was first settled by James Hogg, a wealthy whisky distiller and miller.
The Vibe
Far from the Madding Crowd, lined with maple, birch, spruce and willow trees, on weekdays this neighbourhood is characterized by nannies and St. Bernard walkers in the mornings, children bicycling back from area schools in the afternoons, and health conscious residents in the evenings - out for an after work stroll, while weekends are spent lounging in the club house of the resident golfing greens, area tennis clubs, or an invitation-only country club located on the eastern Bayview stretch.
Meet the Neighbours
Hoggs Hollow is where Toronto’s successful lawyers, doctors, CEO’s, city builders, businessmen and politicians call home. Community events include spring luncheons, wine tasting soirees, and valley cleanup efforts. According to Statistics Canada’s 2011 census, the average household incomes here range from $100,000 - $400,000 and upwards, among first, second and third generation affluent settlers from Western and Northern Europe, Iran, China and Korea.
In the Area
Hoggs Hollow recreation spots include lush parkettes like the Jolly Miller Park and the York Mills Valley Park along the Yonge street corridor. Area kids go to schools such as York Mills Collegiate Institute and Crescent School, while retail options, medical offices and shops are located just a hop, skip and jump away at the York Mills Centre, and the Loblaws Superstore.
10.7 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
With three openings of the York Mills subway station located at the intersection of Yonge and York Mills, residents at Hoggs Hollow are mostly, a short walk away from TTC transport. GO transit is also a viable option. TTC bus routes run all along the Yonge, Bayview and Lawrence Avenue East corridors, making accessibility to area amenities very convenient, not to mention the five minute drive to HWY 401, and the 20 minute commute to downtown Toronto.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
If you don’t let the traumatic history of the 1960 Hoggs Hollow tragedy, or the messy construction sites for road and storm water management improvements in the area bother you, you will find Hoggs Hollow to be the perfect place to raise a family, entertain guests, throw luxurious weekend do’s and grow old with your grand kids. If the non-stop buzz of downtown life is what you’ve grown up on, you might think life in Hoggs Hollow is passé.
Dollars & Sense
With average home price tags starting at $3.25 million, you know you have truly “arrived” in the world, when you can boast of an address here. The few townhomes and condos that exist in the Yonge and York Mills corner of Hoggs Hollow are pricey and not conducive for starter incomes. Golf and country club memberships begin at $50,000, with a waiting period of up to 6 months. An evening meal for two at the local tavern easily racks up a bill of $150 and upwards.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Miller Tavern
Known in the past as Jolly Miller, this Georgian style building dates back to the 1860’s when it was used as a rest stop for horses and their riders. Today, its flagship location at Hoggs Hollow is an upscale watering hole for area locals with an itch for “serious steaks”.
more infoRosedale Golf Club
Built in 1893, the golden heart of Hoggs Hollow is this ultra-high end, flushing green, 18-hole private golf course, which is the playground of TV personalities, rich socialites and noted politicians.
more infoGranite Club
This sprawling, prestigious and traditional country and athletics club was originally founded in 1875, as a curling club. It is now known as an exclusive, by invitation only, members club with initiation fees starting at $50,000 and waitlists that need serious string pulling.
more infoLoblaws
This branch of Loblaws, garden centre et al. is probably one of the very few in Toronto, where its parking lot sees the highest concentration of Porsches, Mercedes, BMW’s, Jaguars, and Lexus SUV’s.
more infoYork Mills Centre
This award winning mall houses local area amenities such as retail shops, medical clinics, offices, dining options, YMC Club, and direct access to the York Mills subway.
more info