Introduction
Home to roughly a dozen or so parks and schools, The Peanut is part of a suburban Toronto neighbourhood, also known as Don Valley Village. An aerial view of this swath of property reveals the namesake which is quite literally a legume-shaped piece of land, upon which stands The Peanut Plaza, between the north and south bound lanes of Don Mills Road, resting north of Sheppard Avenue East, east of Leslie Street, south of Finch Avenue East, and west of the 404 highway.
Lifestyle
Streets surrounding The Peanut are lined with tall and bulky residential rental buildings which are home to a melting pot of low-middle income immigrants and “newcomers to Canada”. Most of the neighbourhood was developed between the 1960’s and 70’s, before which it was primarily farmland and stables, a symbol of which is the miss-able horse head landmark near Don Mills subway station. The red brick Zion School House located on Finch Avenue East harkens back to the days of the 1800’s, when this land was first settled.
The Vibe
With the Don Mills artery running right around and through it, The Peanut is a lively neighbourhood, which sees a fair degree of pedestrian traffic on account of the high density of apartment complexes, schools, parks and shopping malls within a tight area. The general feel of the area is vibrant and colourful, replete with young teenagers playing in parks and attending schools, new immigrant families exploring the local digs, busy shoppers, and aspiring young professionals.
Meet the Neighbours
According to a 2011 social study conducted by the city of Toronto, more than 50 per cent of population in this neighbourhood falls within the working age category of 25 – 64 years, followed by seniors who are 65+ years. There is a visible high concentration of first generation Arabic, Iranian, Chinese, South Asian, Caribbean, Korean and Filipino communities, hailing from average household incomes that range between $20,000 - $60,000.
In the Area
In addition to the local favourite, The Peanut Plaza – a 100,000 sq. ft. strip mall, one of the other major draws is the Fairview Mall shopping complex. Other area amenities include The Oriole Community Resource Centre, The Cummer Park Fitness Centre, The Fairview Public Library, Sunny Supermarket which houses some of the most authentic Chinese food you can find in Toronto, The North York General Hospital, and several area parks and schools for resident kids.
20.2 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Residents of the Peanut are very well connected through bus routes on Sheppard Avenue East, Steeles, Finch and Don Mills. The Don Mills subway station carries commuters to downtown locales, while TTC buses on route 25 run all along the north and south ends of Don Mills. Motorists fair very well too, with quick access onto the 401 and 404 ramps. This neighbourhood has a high WalkScore making it extremely pedestrian friendly.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
The Peanut is a new immigrant’s window to the rest of Toronto. It is a community that is grounded, hard-working, tolerant and accepting of all cultures and ethnic minorities. At any given time, the streets are abuzz with at least 3-4 different languages, which highlights the welcoming nature of this area. It is a mini city within a city, which is self-contained and self-sufficient. The only downside to living here could be instances of assault related crimes on some of the poorly lit streets, especially along Shaughnessy Boulevard.
Dollars & Sense
In general, grocery prices are pretty affordable in this area. Restaurant dining for two can be comfortably rounded off within $40, while other ethnic and halal options could be even cheaper. On account of its proximity to public transport and the expressways, rents for one bedroom apartments go for $1,150, while three bedroom townhouses are available to rent for $1,500. Ownership condos and townhouses along Fairview Mall Drive and Parkway Forest Drive start at $200,000.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
The Peanut Plaza
This local favourite features a variety of retailers and convenience stores, along with a McDonalds, Dollarama, Beer Store and IDA Drug Mart. This is a hub for residents within a 5 km. radius.
more infoFairview Mall
One of Toronto’s many large shopping malls, Fairview comes complete with restaurants, movie theatres and over 175 retail shops.
more infoTone Tai Supermarket
This spacious Asian supermarket is single-handedly responsible for increasing the foot traffic in this neighbourhood, and has an enviable stock of fresh produce and seafood.
Sunny Supermarket
This Asian supermarket lies in the northern periphery of The Peanut and is another local hotspot for Asian groceries, authentic and affordable Chinese cuisine.
more infoFairview Public Library
This branch of the Toronto Public Library is expansive, newly renovated, and comes with a theatre for movie goers.
more info