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