Leaside-Bennington Heights Real Estate Toronto

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Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Municipality	Toronto
Incorporated	January 1, 1924 (Township) January 1, 1967 (Borough)
Changed Region	1953 Metropolitan Toronto from York County
Amalgamated	January 1, 1998 into Toronto
Government
- Mayor	Rob Ford (Toronto Mayor)
- Governing Body	Toronto City Council
- MPs	Jack Layton (NDP) Matthew Kellway (NDP) John Carmichael (CON)
- MPPs	Michael Prue (NDP) Peter Tabuns (NDP) Kathleen Wynne (LIB)
Area
- Total	21.26 km2 (8.2 sq mi)
Population
- Total	112,054
- Density	5,418/km2 (14,032.6/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code span	M4B, M4C, M4E, M4G, M4H

Leaside's growth slowed after World War I, with its primary industry being war industry. The existing houses had all been built for employees of the Leaside Munitions Company by the company. However, at this time Leaside stood on the edge of Toronto and was increasingly an appealing place for investment. Investors from Baltimore bought property that had previously belonged to Robert T. Davies for the construction of a race track. They formed the Thorncliffe Park Racing and Breeding Association Ltd. to operate the track.

The Leaside Viaduct was completed on October 29, 1927 providing easy connection between east Toronto and Leaside. This led to the rapid growth of Leaside at the time, and in the future The impassibility of the Don River valley had previously made it difficult for people employed in Toronto to reside in Leaside. The same month, an underpass on Millwood Road was opened through the valley.

In 1928, the Lincoln Electric Company of Canada Ltd. relocated from Toronto's west end to Leaside. The company originally sold Lincoln motors in Canada, but incorporated in 1930 and began the manufacture of motors in Leaside. At the onset of the Great Depression, the Durant Motor Company ran into financial troubles. The last cars were produced in 1933, and the buildings were occupied by the Canada Wire and Cable company.

At the start of World War II, Lincoln Electric moved their operations to Leaside industrial park, adjacent to the Canada Wire and Cable plant. The new location, constructed in 1940, covered 30 0 square feet (0 m²). On July 16, 1940, Research Enterprises Inc. was incorporated. The company operated only during the war, closing in 1946. It was, however, the largest single employer in Leaside's history, employing over 7500 men and women at its peak. The site manufactured military radio equipment and optical supplies, with a total value of $220 million (CDN) in goods produced during the war.

As part of an Royal Canadian Air Force public relations plan, the town of Leaside officially "adopted" No. 432 Squadron RCAF of No. 6 Group RCAF. Formed and adopted on 1 May, 1943 the squadron took the town's name as its nickname, becoming 432 "Leaside" squadron RCAF. The sponsorship lasted the duration of the war.

In 1945 at the end of World War II the population of Leaside stood at 9800. In 1949, Leaside's population had grown to 14 826.

In 1952 the Lincoln Electric company expanded to a 220 0-square-foot (0 m²) plant, and their site expanded to cover almost 7 acres (28,000 m²). They leased an additional 50 0-square-foot (0 m²) building in Leaside to house their distribution center.

The last horse race at Thorncliffe Park was run on June 23, 1952. Investors from Toronto bought the racetrack that year.

The rapid growth of Thorncliffe in the 1950s necessitated the construction of a second north-south bridge across the Don Valley. In 1955, Leaside's population had grown to 16 779. The Leaside town council approved a second bridge. Construction was completely on September 7, 1960 with the bridge opened by Leslie Frost. The bridge was named the Charles Hiscott Bridge in honour of Leaside's mayor at the time.

Demographics

^{Real Estate in Leaside}

Average 2010 sale price for detached homes in C11: $1,255,000
Property crime:average
Crime against people:very low

The commercial strip of Bayview from Millwood to Manor is reason enough to move here. With a comfortable mix of chains and indies, this up-market (but not too pricey) bit of high street is the heart of Leaside, and all of eastern uptown, for that matter. It’s a relatively new development: Leaside residents numbered just 43 in 1913; in 1929, there were still fewer than 500. Nonetheless, the neighbourhood once had its own train station and an airfield (used for wartime pilot training). Munitions factories, the Durant Motor Company, and Canada Wire and Cable all came and went over the years, mostly between the wars, and each built houses for its workers and executives. Leaside High School (Margaret Atwood’s alma mater) is generally considered one of the better schools in the city. There are also other good private schools such as The Toronto French School, Crescent School and Crestwood School around Leaside.

HOUSING STOCK: Expect a wide range of sizes and styles, from bungalows to luxury homes and mansions. In the ’30s, wainscotting and leaded windows were the height of fashion, and many houses still retain those features.

BARGAIN ZONES: Airdrie and Rumsey roads north of Millwood feature semis, as do parts of Sutherland Drive offers a mix of styles and some more affordable homes.

THE VERDICT: This is one of the best full-service neighbourhoods in the city—thanks in large part to the amenities on the Bayview strip and the nearby scenic Don Valley—with enough housing options to suit a wide range of budgets. It’s the sort of place that makes residents wonder why anyone would ever want to live elsewhere.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:

Hollywood Gelato Though lineups might deter newbies, the natural ingredients that go into this gelato draw aficionados from far and wide. 1640 Bayview Ave., 416-544-9829.
McSorley’s Wonderful Saloon A good-time place complete with casual staff, cheap, moderately tasty food and a patio perfectly positioned for enjoying summer days on the strip. 1544 Bayview Ave., 416-932-0655.
Pâtisserie la Cigogne This small but exquisite shop is a francophilic oasis of butter, cream and flakiness. 1626 Bayview, 416-487-1234.
Sleuth of Baker Street It’s all detective fiction, all thrillers, all the time in this quirky shop. 1600 Bayview Ave., 416-483-3111.

Nearby Restaurants

Nigiri-Ya Sushi to Go
Pedigree pops up in the strangest places sometimes—in this case, in a Leaside strip mall. ... (0.45 km away)

The Olde Yorke Fish & Chips
The tiny, family-run pub provides a homey respite from the noisy Laird industrial strip. Traditional ... (0.79 km away)

Mikado Japanese Restaurant
Tranquility and tradition are paramount at one of Toronto’s oldest sushi houses, where chef Keiichi ... (0.84 km away)

Marvellous Edibles Bistro
Seasonal and organic, the menu changes daily at this Euro-bistro offshoot of the St. Clair ... (0.86 km away)

Kamasutra
While haute Indian rages across the city, this less chi-chi Leaside favourite still holds its ... (1.07 km away)

Big Man’s Gourmet Pizza
Tucked back into an ugly strip plaza, this tiny gourmet pizza house is easy to ... (1.10 km away)

The Bagel House (Café)
This offshoot of the Leaside bakery serves up such classic combos as chopped liver or ... (1.14 km away)

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