The Annex

by Jul 15, 2022Neighbourhood

The Annex is an affluent and trendy neighbourhood in the heart of Toronto. Border the University of Toronto to the south, the area is a popular place for student sororities & fraternities and for members of the universities faculty which reside in the area. Originally, a community of the township of York, the area was annex into the city of Toronto in 1887, this was after Yorkville, the neighbouring community to the east, joined the Toronto in 1883. Settlement in the Annex began at the turn of the 18th century and by the end of the 19th century it was area was inhabited by some of the cities elite, including the Eaton family (Eaton’s department store). Many people who have established fame have called the Annex home, over the years, among them are Margaret Atwood & David Suzuki, to name but a few.

 


Character

With over 500 buildings in the area protected by the Toronto Historical Board, much of the charm of the neighbourhood comes from the many well preserved, Victoria & Edwardian style homes which were built near the turn of the 19th century. ‘Annex Style Homes’ considered uniquely a Toronto style of house, originated in this area. This style of home can be deciphered by the large rounded Romaneque arches and Queen Anne style decorative turrets, often times these homes are made of brick with some sandstone. Before becoming protected monuments by the city, a few of the buildings were replaced with mid-rise apartment style buildings, built in the International design of the 1920’s to the 1940’s. Residents, are predominately English speaking and well educated, with plenty of student tenants in the city for the school season. 


Major Parks 

Jean Sibelius Square 

St. Albans Square 

Paul Martel Park 

Joseph Burr Tyrell Park 

Taddle Creek Park

Matt Cohen Park 

Huron Street Playground 

Bloor- Bedford Parkette 

Gwendolyn Macewen Parkette

Mirvish Parkette  

Boswell Parkette 

Good Eats

Annex Food Hall 

Madison Avenue Pub 

Famoso Neapolitan Pizza 

Country Style Hungarian

Chadwick’s Craft Kitchen & Bar 

Trattoria Nervosa

Sassafraz 

Blu Ristorante 

Osteria Giulia 

Morton’s Steakhouse 

Sotto Sotto 

More Good Eats 

Utsav (Indian) 

Ghazale (Lebanese) 

Trattoria Fieramosca

El Furniture Warehouse 

Fresh Restaurant 

Roti Cusine of India 

Kibo Sushi House 

Pho 88 

Mimi Chinese 

Mi Taco Taqueria 

Playa Cabana 


Location

Boundaries of the community have become a bit blurred over the years, with Korea Town (aka Seaton Village) to the west, were once incorporated in the city lines, but has now become a separate community with it’s own unique character. The popular Yorkville,  & Summerhill areas lay to the east, while Harbord Village & the University of Toronto border the south. The North is separated from the neighbourhood of South Hill by the popular tourist site of Casa Loma, in Tarragon Village. 

Transit & Getting Around

The Annex is well served by public transit, including four Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway stations: Spadina, St. George, Dupont and Bathurst. Spadina and St. George stations act as interchange stations, allowing passengers both north-west subway travel as well as east-west. Streetcar services run south from Bathurst and Spadina stations. Bus service operates on Avenue Road, Spadina Road, Dupont Street, Davenport Street, and northward on Bathurst Street.


Demographics & Socio-Economic

According to the 2021 census that was just completed the population of the community is just over 32,000 people. 

The average household income is $224,482 well over the cities average of $120,000. 

Home ownership rates of 22%, while 78% of properties are listed as rented.  

Dominant languages spoken are English by over 60% of people, followed by Mandarin, French & Spanish. 

Community: refers to the property’s Forward Sortation Area (FSA), the first 3 digits of the property’s postal code.

SOURCE: GEOWAREHOUSE


Public Schools  

ES Toronto Ouest 

Collège français secondaire

É Élém Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau

É Élém Gabrielle-Roy 

Essex Junior and Senior Public School 

Harbord Collegiate Institute 

Palmerston Avenue Junior Public School 

Jesse Ketchum Junior and Senior Public School 

Huron Street Junior Public School

Catholic Schools

ÉÉC du Sacré-Coeur-Toronto 

St. Bruno – St. Raymond Catholic School 

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School 

ÉSC Saint-Frère-André 

Holy Rosary Catholic School

Private Schools

City High School 

Blyth Academy Global High School 

Royal St George’s College 

Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School (UofT) 

Taddle Creek Montessori School

Alternative School

Monsignor Fraser College Alternative and Adult Secondary School