| Next door to... |
| Neighbouring Neighbourhoods next door to this one! |
| Where in Toronto? |
| Richmond to Grosvenor; Bay to areas along Chruch, Bond and Victoria. |
| Belongs to, falls in, or is a part of... |
| • Former municipality Old Toronto |
| • Kyle Rae is the City Councillor |
| • Toronto District School Board |
| • Community Ward |
| • Federal Riding |
| • Toronto Centre |
| • McGill Granby Residents Association |
| • Downtown Yonge |
| Best known for Hard Rock Cafe, Yonge-Dundas Square and the Toronto Eaton Centre |
| • Just for Laughs Comedy Festival |
| • Fashion and Design Festival |
| • Hidden gem of fabulous restaurants along Elm Street |
One Sentence Description
"Any time. One Place."
About this neighbourhood
This lively area in the core of downtown Toronto offers the best shopping in the city, a world of tastes, Broadway-style theatre, historical and architectural gems, concerts and more.
At the heart of the city, Yonge-Dundas Square features twenty-two fountains and provides a calm, quiet space amid the bustling downtown core. It also functions as an event venue for community celebrations, theatrical events and concerts. Head south a few steps to the Hard Rock Café Downtown for down-home American food, seasoned with a healthy dose of rock 'n' roll! Specialty shops ― from great golf gear at Nevada Bob’s to fabulous finds at the First Toronto Jewellery Exchange ― vie for your attention and luggage space. Shop to your heart's content at the Eaton Centre or head a few blocks north to Atrium on Bay.
What's Fun ?
Catch a free event at Yonge-Dundas Square. See a performance at Massey Hall, Elging & Winter Garden Theatre or the Canon Theatre. Visit the Mackenzie House Museum or Old City Hall. Shop at the Toronto Eaton Centre, Atrium on Bay, College Park, Toronto Life Square or the Yonge Street strip.
Hungry?
Elm Street is a great choice of fine dining restaurants. Find quick bites to eat along Yonge Street from Middle Eastern to Asian Fusion. Superior, Hard Rock Cafe, Baton Rouge, City Grill, Spring Rolls, Pickle Barrel, Red Lobster, Savoy, Senator Diner and Mr. Greenjeans are just some of the staples in the area.
History
1793: Lt. Col. John Graves Simcoe names Yonge Street after Sir George Yonge, Secretary at War. Simcoe makes settlers and convicted drunks aid in the problem of clearing the road. 1816: Yonge Street is finally passable and due to the busy, polluting harbour, Toronto is nicknamed “The Big Smoke”.
1869: Timothy Eaton moves to Toronto where he eventually creates the unheard of concept of one-stop shopping at a "department store"; a phenomenon that soon spreads to New York, Chicago, London and Paris.
1904: Toronto’s nickname takes on a tragic significance as a fire destroys more than 100 buildings in the downtown core.
1910-1930: Offices begin to rise as far north as Carlton/College Street.
1913: The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre is built.
1931: Conn Smythe uses creative financing to build hockey arena, Maple Leaf Gardens in only five months.
1939: Yonge Street has a reputation as a party place, with people attracted to the taverns that line the area.
March 30, 1954: Canada’s first subway opens in Toronto, taking riders from Union Station, through the downtown core, to uptown Toronto.
1950s & 1960s: Rapid office development helps protect the downtown core against the economic drain of suburban development.
1979: Toronto’s Eaton Centre opens. The third largest mall in Canada, it quickly becomes one of Toronto’s most popular tourist destination.
March 1995: The Yonge Street Business and Residents Association (YSBRIA) is formed.
June 1995: The Downtown Yonge Street Improvement Plan is developed to encourage property owners to improve their facades. As a community improvement area, it is eligible for funds from the city, which later provides the money in the form of a grant.
February 1998: Toronto’s Yonge Street considers adopting a Business Improvement Area (B.I.A.) model for revitalizing the downtown after seeing the success in such areas as Times Square, New York City.
February 13, 1999: After 67 years at Maple Leaf Gardens, the National Hockey League plays its last game at the oldest, most famous arena in the NHL.
June 26, 2001: The Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area is formed with a goal to make Downtown Yonge safer, cleaner and more inviting.
June 22, 2002: The Downtown Yonge B.I.A. makes history by becoming the first officially recognized tourist district in Toronto, allowing retailers to legally open on statutory holidays.
May 30, 2003: Yonge-Dundas square officially opens as part of the revitalization of Downtown Yonge. It offers the perfect meeting place for celebrations, concerts, receptions, theatrical events and promotions.
Best Buy had it's best North American opening here (store at Bay and Dundas) with the Beyonce concert at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Who are the people in your neighbourhood?
Neighbourhood personalities, for example...
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the nice librarian
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the cool busker
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the friendly crossing guard
and where to meet them.
Housing and Accommodations
What's the housing scene like? How much for how much? Plenty of new condominums are going up or are already up that include the Residences at College Park, The Met and Encore, Aura, The Murano and Burano, Lumiere, City Hall Plaza, Opus and Pantages, Jazz. All of them range in price and size. Eight hotels are found in the area that include the Pantages Suites and Spa; Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Toronto; Days Hotel and Conference Centre; Bond Place Hotel, Delta Chelsea Hotel; Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre; Minto Furnished Suites; Horizon on Bay
Transit
Transportation overview, transit options, bike lanes, official routes, highways, The area is serviced by three streetcar lines - Queen, Dundas and College. The area is served by three subway lines - Queen, Dundas and College. The bus terminal (with Greyhound service) is also here at Edward and Bay.
Major Streets and Intersections
Major thoroughfares through this neighbourhood, if any. Existing ones or those planned for the future. Bay and Yonge Streets are the most populated streets running north/south. Richmond, Queen, Dundas, College/Carlton are the most populated streets running east/west.
Parks and Recreation
There are several public spaces that include Barbara Ann Scott Park (water pond in summer and skating rink in winter); Devonian Lake (water pond in summer and skating rink in winter); Yonge-Dundas Square with 22 fountains; Bell-Trinity Square (behind the Toronto Eaton Centre).
Schools
Ryerson University Western Town College Art Institute of Toronto Association of Colleges of Applied Arts & Technology of Ontario Several language schools
Also see Neighbourhoods for info on other areas of Toronto
