Rosedale
An address in Rosedale is an address with status, which is what makes this area so popular with homebuyers. Some of the wealthiest and most influential people in all of Canada make their homes here in this incongruously green and spacious neighbourhood located mere minutes from downtown Toronto. This irregularly shaped neighbourhood takes its borders from the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks to the north, Bloor Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, and Bayview Avenue to the east. Rosedale Toronto real estate is an excellent choice for wealthy Torontonians who want the luxury of a large home without the inconvenience of a long commute to the suburb cities.
Rosedale was one of the first suburbs of the old City of Toronto, but as the city expanded it gradually became located closer and closet to the city center. The entire neighbourhood was originally the private estate of William Jarvis, one of the leading figures of Upper Canada in the 1820s. Taking its name from the fields of wild roses that once blanketed the area, Rosedale was sold to developers in 1864. Soon afterward came more homes, boarding schools, and a golfing club. This country club model upon which the suburb was constructed still persists to this day.
The word that best describes the feel of this neighbourhood is exclusive. The three ravines the neighbourhood was built upon have been preserved as parkland, effectively cutting Rosedale off from the hustle, bustle, and noise of the city beyond its borders. The winding roads, which were originally Mary Jarvis' favourite horseback riding routes, make the neighbourhood too disjointed to be of any use as a thoroughfare, so traffic is light, limited to local residents. The parkland, the presence of schools, and the lack of traffic make Rosedale an excellent place to raise children.
The homes that have made Rosedale so popular with the wealthy elites of Canadian society are the neighbourhood's calling card. Though ranging in style from Victorian brick to modernist wood and plaster, the houses tend to be very large, two or more storeys sprawling across a private, fenced off slice of the neighbourhood's trademark forested parkland. Large yards can be found here, generally encased within a stone or wrought iron fence that protects the house and grounds from unwonted company. The fences are meant as more of a statement against visitors, however, as the neighbourhood is a very safe one.
The preceding paragraphs describing Rosedale's large lots, mansion sized homes, convenience to downtown, parkland, and popularity among the wealthy has no doubt given you the impression that Rosedale is a very expensive place to live. This impression is entirely correct. Rosedale is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in all of Canada. A standard sized two storey house in this neighbourhood will cost you in excess of $1,000,000, with prices only increasing from there, since there are very few, if any, houses in Rosedale that are less than two stories or that could be considered a "small" house.
