Clairlea/Oakridge

Recently, my next door neighbour decided to take up golf. We both currently live in East York, but the closet municiple course to us is at Dentonia Park, located in the neighbourhood of Oakridge. This 18 hole golf course is situated on the east side of Victoria Park Avenue, and just north of Danforth Avenue. It is right next to Victoria Park Subway station. My neighbour enjoys going there, and finds the par 3 course challenging, and above-all, fun! As the Oakridge neighbourhood is a small, but important one, I have decided, for this article, to combine it with it's adjacent neighbouhood, Clairlea. These two intimate neighbourhoods may not encompass as large an area as, say, East York (to the West), but offers extensive parkland, interesting and affordable homes with large lots, and several schools for a growing family. As well, new townhome projects and condominiums, are currently being intergrated into the neighbouhood. And, let's not forget all the great shopping! Clients of mine that have bought into the area say it does indeed feel like home, and they love their new properties. Those clients that have had to sell were saddened to leave.

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Boundaries

Clairlea/Oakridge boundaries roughly are: Danforth Avenue (actually the rail line) to the south; Eglinton Avenue to the north; Warden Avenue to the east and finally Victoria Park Avenue to the west.

 History

Clairlea: Formally a part of the village known as Moffat's Corners; this area is oddly remembered by historians for the Strangeford Post Office, which opened in 1863, four years before Confederation! At that time we were not even a unified country yet. This post office was located at the corners of St. Clair Avenue and Victoria Park Avenue, and closed it's doors for the last time around 1873. The area of the time was an extremely rural one, and oddly enough, in the building expansion of the 1940's and 1950's, was one of the first areas to be developed exclusively as a suburb to Toronto. At that time its flat farm fields were ploughed under to make way for detached bungalows, 1 1/2, and 2 story homes on large lots. The Clairlea area itself takes its name from the public school (see below) which opened to elementary students back in 1951. View map.

Oakridge:  This neighbourhood, just south of Clairlea, had its focal point, not around a post office as in Clairlea, but rather one of a public school of the same name. Oakridge elementary school was erected in 1913, but after 54 years of proud service was demolished in 1967 (Confederation year) and replaced by a school for the current times on Byng Road. What made this area grow was the introduction of the Bloor/Danforth subway line which was eventually extended to Kennedy Station. Warden Avenue and Victoria Park Avenue stations, fall within the boundary of the Clairlea Oakridge neighbourhood. These stations were opened in 1968 to much fanfare. View map.

What's Making The News?

Clairlea/Oakridge is a place with many interesting stories and some very special people. All the news on this varied neighbourhood and beyond can be found in The Scarborough Mirror newspaper. It, like many of the Metroland newspapers, is delivered by volunteers, and is jammed packed with up-to-date news stories, opinions and local goings on. And, best of all, it's free.

Price Ranges For Properties In Clairlea/Oakridge

These combined neighbourhoods were built up quite a bit in the 1940's and 1950's. Houses at that time included bungalows, 1 1/2, and 2 stories on large lots. But, the neighbourhood has gone through a bit of a resurgence of late with a lot of new development. For example, at St. Clair Avenue and Warden Avenue is the 'Warden Woods Ravine' subdivision, which offers newer townhomes, and spacious family detached and semis. I have walked the area many times and it is quite a well done development. As well, all along Warden Avenue (especially on the west side) from Danforth Road up towards Eglinton Avenue, are several very new developments. All of these are priced well, near great parks, and within walking distance of Warden subway station. Affordability is front and centre in these neighbourhoods, making any home an attractive purchase for any first-time buyer.

Detached                                       $165,000 - $750,000

Semi-Detached                              $240,000 - $500,000

Condominiums                              $165,000 - $410,000

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Recognize This House?

This home is very unique to the Clairlea/Oakridge neighbourhood, and I have driven or walked past it many times, scratching my head, and wondering about it's history. (as I'm sure many others have as well) From an architectual standpoint, it's certainly one of a kind, and really quite beautiful to look at when the sun strikes the building. Next time you're travelling through the neighbourhood, look for it, and let me know your thoughts. It's properties like this that not only make the Clairlea/Oakridge area unique, but the city of Toronto as well. Afterall, we are an extremely multicultural city indeed!

Schools

In a massive comparison of school system from around the globe, Canada ranked highest amongst the world's leaders in educational performance. Some 470,000 fifteen year old students from 65 countries, were tested in reading, science, and math, and Canadian students achieved top-ten results in all categories, according to the Organization For Economic Co-operation And Development.

Elementary Schools

Clairlea Public School                                                 Fraser Ranking

Oakridge Jr.Public School

Regent Heights Jr. Public School                                 Fraser Ranking

Samuel Hearn Middle School

Warden Avenue Jr. Public School                                Fraser Ranking

Secondary Schools

W. A. Porter Collegiate Institute

Catholic Schools

St. Dunstan Elementary Catholic School

Our Lady of Fatima Elementary Catholic School          Fraser Ranking

Transportation

The Clairlea/Oakridge neighbourhood of Toronto is very well serviced by transit. There are several north/south bus routes such as: Victoria Park, Pharmacy, and Warden, which connect to either the Victoria Park Subway Station or the Warden Subway Station. (Note: Both of these stations opened in 1968 and a friend's father worked on them at the time!)  From either of these locales you can be downtown (Yonge/Bloor) in less than half an hour. The East York community bus also operates out of Victoria Park Subway Station. A friend who lives across the street from me drives one of their buses. As well, at nearby Main street there is the Go Train Station. From here, you can be at Union Station downtown in about twenty minutes. For the car enthusiast there are several routes to get you quicky into the downtown core. They are: along Kingston Road; along Danforth Avenue; along Gerrard (which automatically turns into Carlton Avenue at Parliament Street), or if interested in a little bit of a faster route to Broadview, one can travel along Mortimer Avenue, as there are less stops and traffic lights along this road.

Parks/Golf/Community Centres

The city of Toronto is noted for the number, size and multifunctionality of its greenspaces and parks. It often seems like you could bike ride forever through adjoining and connecting parkland systems. Warden Woods Park, is one of the loveliest parks, nestled nicely in the Clairlea/Oakridge neighbourhood. I have walked the entire distance of this heavily wooded ravine, and have found it to be extremely restful, scenic, and above-all beautiful. It truly is a gem in the greater Toronto area. Access points to the trail are located off of Pharmacy Avenue, or at St. Clair and Warden. Begin at either point and walk the trail to the other. You'll be glad you did.

Other smaller parks include:  Prairie Drive Park; Regents park; Oakridge Park (with excellent splash pads), and Byng Park.

Also, let us not forget my neighbour (mentioned earlier) who takes his lessons, and likes to golf at the city owned, Dentonia Park municiple course. The 18 hole, par 3 course is hilly, but provides great fun, challenges and exercise for many of my East York neighbourhood friends.

As well, there is an abundance of community centres with activities for all ages. They are: Warden Woods Community Centre; Oakridge Park Community Centre, and West Scarborough Neighbourhood Community Centre.

Neighbourhood Restaurants/Shops/Malls

These combined neighbourhoods have an interesting mix of malls, strip plazas and independantly owned retail shops and restaurants. Certainly, the largest indoor mall in the area is 'Eglinton Square'. This more than 80 store mall (including anchor tenants the 'Bay' and food giant 'Metro') opened it's doors in 1954, and was one of the first malls located in Toronto. One of the areas two libraries is located inside near the food court. In its beginings, it was considered a very prestigious mall, so much so, that Queen Elizabeth herself made an official visit in 1959. While there, she also visited the 'Golden Mile' plaza, which is located directly across the street on Eglinton Avenue and Victoria Park. This 'Golden Mile' neighbourhood area, has had a massive resurgence in the past couple of years, and many big box stores (like WalMart) and restaurants (like East Side Marios) have positioned themselves there, drawing business away from the Eglinton Square shopping centre itself. 

There are many cultures and ethinic backgrounds spread throughout the Clairlea/ Oakridge area, and the restaurants that are there cater to everyones palete. It is still an area in transition, and I'm sure more establishments will open up in the coming years ahead.

Best And Fresh Company

Ellas Banquet Hall

Mardi Gras Banquet Hall

Mom N Paps West Indian Food

OG Restaurant

Route 66 (located at Eglinton Square)

Sedaghat Restaurant

Sun Set Hut Caribbean Food

Tabaq Pakistan And Indian Food

Wok With Yu Asian/Chinese Restaurant

So, Ready To Move To Clairlea/Oakridge?

As you've by now discovered, the Clairlea/Oakridge neighbourhood is one of extensive 'greenspace', cuisine for a variety of palettes, and homes that are generally detached, feature large lots, and best of all are affordable. The area has a nice duality: enough newer homes and condominiums being built to keep it vibrant, and plenty of older homes, filled with history. Can one ask for a better combination?

So, ready to move to Clairlea/Oakridge?

Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me with any queries you may have regarding the neighbourhood, or the current supply of homes and condominiums for sale or lease.

I bring you home.

Now, I think I'll travel up to Eglinton Square mall for some shopping and a little bite to eat!