About Leaside
Welcome to Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood!
Leaside is located northeast of downtown Toronto, stretching eastward from the intersection of Eglinton Avenue East and Bayview Avenue. The area obtained its name from the Lea family, who settled in the region earlier in the nineteenth century.
Originally developed as farmland, Leaside was incorporated as a town in 1913 and later amalgamated with the township of East York, forming a borough, aptly known as East York. In 1998, Leaside became a part of the city of Toronto.
Whisperings once touted Leaside as ‘Toronto’s new Rosedale’, and as the city has evolved, this has in some ways come to be true. Once considered a more middle-class neighbourhood, the area now hosts predominantly upper-class families who can buy into the area’s big-ticket real estate and accompanying lifestyle.
Well-manicured lawns, homes with plenty of curb appeal, pride of ownership, quiet tree-lined residential streets, green space/ravines/trails, a family-oriented vibe, and neighbourliness, are rampant in this part of T.O. With its picturesque scenery and excellent walkability, Leasiders are nestled into a village-like atmosphere where people know you by name, families carpool to skating competitions, kids play house league hockey together, and people actually wave and say ‘hello’ on their way into their homes.
This fusion of urban and suburban qualities make Leaside a beautiful neighbourhood to raise a family, settle down or just escape the noise and hustle of everyday downtown city life. Families who live in Leaside benefit from close proximity to many excellent schools and transit.
The many shire-like qualities of Leaside can be attributed to its thoughtful urban layout – residential blocks are quiet and bordered by a periphery of major roadways that draw street traffic to the outside of the residential area, rather than inside. This provides a calm escape from heavier car-laden traffic filled streets of the city.
Local hot spots in Leaside include: McSorley’s, the Leaside Pub, The Old Yorke, Pilot Coffee Roasters, Patisserie la Cigogne, and Leaside Yoga.
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