Moving to Rosedale – In Collaboration With Storwell

Rosedale is an affluent neighbourhood in central Toronto that is known for its extravagant houses and beautiful foliage, giving the neighbourhood a picturesque quality. Rosedale homes are some of the largest and most luxurious in the city. Although the neighbourhood is a short drive away from Downtown Toronto, the extensive ravine system and quiet residential streets make Rosedale feel completely removed from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Where is Rosedale?

Rosedale is located between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue with the Canadian Pacific Railway acting as the northern border and Bloor Street East acting as the southern border. Rosedale is often split into South Rosedale and North Rosedale with the Park Drive Ravine acting as the dividing line.

Getting around Rosedale

Rosedale has excellent access to a plethora of transportation options. Motorists are just minutes away from the Don Valley Parkway, which can take you south towards the downtown core or north towards North York and Markham. There are several subway stations that are situated on the periphery of Rosedale and are within walking distance from the neighbourhood. Summerhill and Rosedale subway stations connect to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line, while the Sherbourne and Castle Frank subway stations connect to the Bloor-Danforth subway line. There are also numerous TTC bus routes that service the Rosedale neighbourhood and funnel into the Rosedale station bus terminal.

The rich history of Rosedale

South Rosedale was initially settled by Sheriff William Botsford Jarvis and his wife Mary in the mid-1820s. Mary Jarvis named the area “Rosedale” as a tribute to the wild roses that grew on the hillside along the Jarvis estate. The Jarvis family sold their Rosedale homestead in 1864, which led to the subdivision and development of South Rosedale.

The area north of the Park Drive Ravine, known as North Rosedale, started to be developed around 1909 when a bridge was built over the ravine connecting the south and north parts of the neighbourhood. Prior to its residential development, North Rosedale was the original home of St. Andrews College and was the host of the Canadian Football League’s first Grey Cup game in 1909.

In 1931, the South Rosedale Ratepayers’ Association was formed, the oldest association of its kind in Toronto. The group was primarily concerned with preserving Rosedale’s Garden suburb characteristics and grand old houses. Thanks to the group’s efforts, South Rosedale was granted heritage conservation district status in 2003. North Rosedale followed suit and, received its heritage conservation district designation in 2005.

The types of homes in Rosedale

Rosedale is built among three converging ravines, which provide the area with an abundance of parkland and greenery. The heavily wooded surroundings, narrow meandering streets, and a large number of cul de sacs all lead to low levels of vehicular traffic in the neighbourhood, making Rosedale one of the quietest and most peaceful areas in the city.

Rosedale’s residential area is comprised almost exclusively of single-family semi-detached and detached houses. Many of these homes are at least 100 years old and include a few farmhouses that are closer to 200 years old. Rosedale’s Victorian, Georgian, Tudor, and Edwardian-style mansions were built between 1860 and 1940. Many Rosedale homes are listed on the Toronto Historical Board’s Inventory of Heritage Properties. There are also a few condominium complexes in South Rosedale along Rosedale Valley Road and Bloor Avenue East that provide alternative housing options in the neighbourhood.

Parks and recreation in Rosedale

One of the main benefits of living in Rosedale is being surrounded by so much natural beauty, something you would not expect to be so close to a major metropolitan centre. On the east side of the neighbourhood along Bayview Avenue is Don Valley Brick Works Park. Once a former quarry, Don Valley Brick Works Park is now considered a model for urban ecosystem planning given its extensive landscape restoration and re-naturalization. The park features a network of beautiful nature trails situated along Mud Creek. Don Valley Brick Works Park transitions into the heavily wooded Chorley Park as you move westward. The Beltline Trail starts north of Rosedale and works its way through Chorley Park eventually branching off into Park Drive Reservation Trail.

Rosedale Park is located on Scholfield Avenue in the centre of North Rosedale. The park has 3 soccer fields, a baseball diamond, a cricket pitch, a children’s playground, a water pad, and 6 well-maintained tennis courts. If you go to the east side of Rosedale to Price Street, you will find the historic Toronto Lawn Tennis Club. For almost 150 years, the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club has operated in Rosedale serving as the premier tennis club in Canada. The club features 14 Har-Tru outdoor tennis courts, with an additional four Plexi-Cushion Prestige indoor hard courts. During the winter months, five clay courts are fully covered with tennis bubbles for all-season play. Along with its world-class tennis facilities, the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club also has a 22-metre five-lane pool, a fitness studio, and several indoor squash courts.

The best restaurants in Rosedale

Most of the best dining options in the Rosedale area are situated along Yonge Street on the Eastern side of the neighbourhood. Located on the corner of Yonge Street and Scrivener Square, the Rosedale Diner is a staple of the Rosedale neighbourhood serving a varied menu of globally inspired dishes, with an expansive beer and wine list. Right next door to the Rosedale Diner is Sorrel, a sophisticated restaurant serving a fresh and exciting French-Mediterranean menu. As you head south to Macpherson Avenue you will find Greenhouse Juice Co. Greenhouse is a small shop with an artsy vibe offering a range of organic juices, nut milk and waters, plus cleanses. Right across the street from Rosedale Station on Crescent Road is the Black Camel. The Black Camel is a popular local sandwich shop that specializes in slow-cooked beef brisket and pulled pork. For authentic Italian food and a breathtaking rooftop patio visit Terroni on Price Street. If you are in the mood for wings, you must visit the Crown and Dragon Pub near Davenport Road, which is said to have the best wings in the city. For dessert head over to Summerhill Avenue on the north side of Rosedale and visit Dolce Bakery to try some of their delicious pastries and gelato.

 

The best schools in Rosedale

Rosedale has some of the best schools in the city including the highest-rated elementary school in the province. The Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board both operate public schools in Rosedale but there are also several private educational institutions in and around the neighbourhood. The main secondary school in Rosedale is Rosedale Heights School of the Arts, which provides a challenging academic program with an emphasis on the performing and visual arts. Rosedale Heights received strong marks on the Fraser Institute’s Annual Report Card for 2020 and was ranked as one of the top 100 secondary schools in Ontario.

The selection of elementary schools in Rosedale is the best in the entire GTA. Whitney Junior Public School is located on Rosedale Heights Drive and is shared between Moore Park and Rosedale. Whitney received extremely high marks from the Fraser Institute and was rated as the very best elementary school in Ontario out of over 3000 other schools. The nearby Rosedale Junior Public School also received outstanding marks and was ranked the 18th best elementary school in the province.

There are also several private schools in Rosedale that offer an alternative to the traditional educational system. Branksome Hall is an independent day and boarding school for girls located on Mount Pleasant Road and Elm Avenue. Branksome Hall has been an educational fixture of Rosedale for over one hundred years and offers a competitive curriculum. It is an International Baccalaureate World School and a university-preparatory school. The York School is located near Farnham Avenue and is a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 private school with a state-of-the-art campus that focuses on globally-minded and experiential learning.

 

Making the move to Rosedale

The amazing parkland, great school system, and fabulous historical houses make Rosedale one of the most sought-after destinations in Toronto. This demand for property has made the Rosedale housing market incredibly competitive. The average age of Rosedale residents tends to be older than most other neighbourhoods in Toronto, so once people move into the neighbourhood they really do not want to leave.

If you are moving into retirement and are looking to sell your house in Rosedale to downsize into a smaller home or condo that is more accommodating to your new lifestyle, now would be the best time to sell and capitalize on the competitive housing market. Even if you are selling your house in a popular neighbourhood like Rosedale, home staging is still important to get rid of clutter and present the best version of your home to potential buyers. If you are making the move to Rosedale, staging your home for sale, or just need to declutter your home, self-storage can be a great solution.

 

Right now, Storwell Self Storage is providing my clients with an exclusive offer on 4 weeks of free self-storage at any of their locations. Storwell has locations in Mississauga, Scarborough, and one location in Etobicoke near Kipling and the Gardiner Expressway, which is just a short drive west of Rosedale. If you need storage for home staging or to help with your next move, call a Storwell Representative or visit a facility in-person to demo a unit.

Storwell Self Storage

300 Evans Ave., Etobicoke, ON M8Z 6C8

Phone: 416-259-5555