OCTOBER 8, 2024

Dear reader,

My first apartment was a three-bedroom basement bunker on Carlton with a urinal-equipped bathroom and a concrete stoop out front. What it lacked in just about everything, it made up for in location. Adorable Cabbagetown was steps away, and I could take the streetcar to my classes at U of T in minutes. But my favourite neighbourhood spot was always Allan Gardens.

Horticulture has existed within its famous Palm House for more than a century. One of Toronto’s best dog runs—with separate play spaces for big and small pooches—fills the park with cheerful woofs. And in recent years, the site has become home to Indigenous Sacred Fires.

Just down the street is another bit of magic: a jaunty Victorian with gingerbread trim that’s been carved into three sleek units. Its best feature? The beautifully landscaped backyard that echoes Allan Gardens to the north. 

Also in today’s newsletter: a couple trades their $1.5-million Danforth home for a 50-acre forest. Plus, a gated townhouse on Avenue Road overlooking a soccer pitch. Visit torontolife.com or subscribe to our print edition for all of our real estate coverage and more.

—Barry Jordan Chong, city and real estate editor

This 2,200-square-foot restored Victorian in Moss Park has been transformed into a triplex. The home comes with multiple outdoor spaces including a landscaped backyard for a whimsical retreat. Ideal for a multigenerational family, it’s just around the corner from Allan Gardens, with easy access to half a dozen bus and streetcar routes. And motorists are a short drive from both Bayview and the DVP.

Reeling from a concussion, Sarah Saso and her partner, Lonny Doherty, left Toronto pre-pandemic for Grey County, transforming a farm and enchanted forest into what they thought would be their forever home. Then, in 2022, Sarah got an unexpected call.

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom semi  in Summerhill is equipped with an elevator, two underground parking spots, two terraces, landscaping service and a fireplace on the roof. And it’s currently going for $4.4 million.

In the latest issue: dispatches from the front lines of Ontario’s broken health care system. Plus, a sneak preview of Poilievre’s Toronto, a bold next step for Chinese-food king David Schwartz, converted schoolhouses that blend history and style, and more. Still not receiving Toronto Life at home? Subscribe today.

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