According to popular opinion, Alexander Muir was inspired to write his wildly popular Canadian poem “Maple Leaf Forever” in 1867 when a leaf fell from a Leslieville maple tree and came to rest on his clothes. There may be no hard proof of this, but the story lives on in the hearts of many Leslievillers.
I bought my first house in the eastern frontiers of Leslieville about 20 years ago. I would tell people I moved to Leslieville, and they had no idea what I was talking about. “Leslie Who?” they’d ask.
Back then, Leslieville’s main street was mostly addicts and the down-on-their-luck unhoused who would hang out at “Teddy’s Bar and Grill”. That’s all changed now.
The Character
Leslieville has become the underdog neighbourhood that transformed seemingly over night. I think the only location I have seen change faster was Ossington between Dundas and Queen.
It seems the transformation has been so swift, especially along the commercial strip on Queen East that most of the beat-up storefronts have become headquarters for some of the coolest restaurant and cafes in the city.
And because there’s a lot of new and relatively independent businesses moving in, it has become a destination location. People will now travel to Leslieville to eat, hang out, be seen, and walk their dogs and babies. At night, especially on a warm day, there’s a pleasant buzz along Queen East.
Unlike Queen East, Gerrard has not exploded with great shops to the same extent, though this is changing quickly as well with the gourmet sandwich shops and the obligatory independent coffee shop.
Leslieville Real Estate
Because of all this speedy renovation on the commercial strip along Queen Street and the houses near it, the prices of homes have gone up accordingly. Once a poor man’s Riverdale, Leslieville is now an entity on to itself.
Housing stock consists of Victorians, Ontario cottages, row houses, and some midrise and small boutique condos.
There’s not a lot of deals left here, but if you don’t mind paying for living in one of Toronto’s well-crafted neighbourhoods, then is well worth your consideration.
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