The Lowdown on Rockcliffe-Smythe

Your Typical Neighbour

There are few neighbourhoods in the city that are more diversely Canadian than Rockliffe-Smythe. Here you'll find an almost equal blend of immigrant and non-immigrant working-class families from Europe and Latin America. Even as the area slowly gentrifies, it still attracts people drawn by its more traditional appeal and values in addition to its more accessible home prices.

What We

It's the perfect neighbourhood for those that love both the city and the outdoors with 'too many to mention' parks and ravine walking, running and biking trails all through the Black Creek area. And for the golfer, Rockliffe-Smythe is home to the Lambton Golf and Country Club which curls around the Humber River. Jane Street and Scarlett Road make great north/south arteries providing easy access to the 401. And when the Eglinton Crosstown LRT opens it will connect the community to the city's transit system, making it more accessible.

 

What We Don't

The neighbourhood was famously once a gravel pit, and parts of it still retain some of that industrial look and feel. It's not uncommon for residential streets to have mixed-use industrial properties around the corner. Lot sizes are also small and, in some cases, a bit oddly shaped. Many of the original homes have DIY additions, and not all were done with permits and/or to code.

Property Statistics in Rockcliffe-Smythe

All Properties - Statistics

Q4 2023

$814,935.00

Average Price

72

New Listings

31

Properties Sold

26

Average Days on Market

96%

% of Asking Price

Detached Houses - Statistics

Q4 2023

$844,000

Average Price

39

New Listings

22

Properties Sold

28

Average Days on Market

96%

% of Asking Price

semi-detached - Statistics

Q4 2023

$820,000.00

Average Price

13

New Listings

5

Properties Sold

29

Average Days on Market

98%

% of Asking Price

Condos - Statistics

Q4 2023

$648,000.00

Average Price

18

New Listings

4

Properties Sold

8

Average Days on Market

99%

% of Asking Price

Source: TREB Statistics

Many of Smythe’s brick bungalows still line the curvy streets along with some two-story homes, many with gabled roofs. Many of the original homes have been renovated. Some of the renovations and additions are very well done. Some are not. For every bungalow with a thoughtfully-designed and well-built addition on the back, there is a do-it-yourself reno with rooms and hallways added in willy-nilly fashion. There are some newly-built homes here too; however, there are fewer infill homes here than you see in other neighbourhoods. 

This is starter-home territory where the average two-bed, two-bath bungalow sells for quite a bit less than the city average. Prices range from bargain tear-down homes to newly-built detached homes for well into the million++ category.

Who are the people in your neighbourhood? It's an almost equal mix of immigrant (46%) and non-immigrant (56%) working-class families, most of whom own rather than rent. That said, the neighbourhood is starting to gentrify as young singles, couples and families look for a more affordable entry to the housing market than nearby Bloor West or Junction.

When the Eglinton Crosstown LRT opens, likely in 2023, it will connect the community to the city's transit system, making it more accessible--and likely driving up property values. 

 

Area:

Population: 22,246

Demographics

Kids: 16%

Youth: 12%

Seniors: 16%

Visible Minority: 46%

Average Family Income: $70,340

Education

Lower Education: 36%

Higher Education: 41%

Home Ownership

Owned Homes: 57%

Tenanted Homes: 43%

The main bus routes include route 35 along Jane to the Jane subway station, routes 71 and 79 Scarlett along Runnymede, and route 89 that runs along Weston to the Keele subway station. For commuters, Keele street has easy access to Lakeshore and the Gardiner.

About Rockcliffe-Smythe

Welcome to Toronto’s Rockliffe-Smythe neighbourhood.

Rockliffe-Smythe used to be one of the best kept real estate secrets in the city. Now, it increasingly attracts media coverage touting its attributes and affordability. What’s not to love about a neighbourhood with all that green space? Access to the outdoors in Rockliffe-Smythe will have the joggers, cyclists, golfers, walkers, skateboarders, hikers in other ‘hoods green with envy. 

The area borders on The Stockyards, which means quick and easy access to a combination of restaurants and stores. While Rockliffe-Smythe won’t make the top ten fine dining destination lists, its diversity makes it a mecca for authentic ethnic eats. Head to Martin’s Churroesquiera for Portuguese grill or north to Royal Noodle for some delicious Vietnamese spring rolls.

And for the architectural buff who also likes to read, the Jane/Dundas Library is one of the most modern in the city. Outside is a mix of glass box design and inside is one of the city’s most family-friendly children’s collections.

The area schools are a bit of a mixed bag with some scoring well and some not as well. As the neighbourhood gentrifies, scores will likely improve.

For Toronto Maple Leafs fans, there’s some quirky hockey cred in the neighbourhood. The Smythe in Rockliffe-Smythe references Leaf great, Conn Smythe, who once owned the storied gravel pit and built many of the post-war homes for soldiers returning from WWII. 

 

 


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