Top 10 Favourite Toronto Blocks

So what are your favourites? I'm thinking more in terms of aesthetic of the block, or urban design, or how it the architecture relates to to the street.


I'll start with my list. I'm probably missing some here, but off the top of my head (in no particular order):

-Bright St between King and Queen Streets

-McGill St between Church and Yonge

-Yonge St between Wellesley and St. Joseph St

-Queen St W between Beverly and Soho

-Boswell Avenue between Avenue Road and Bedford Rd

-Tranby Ave between Avenue Road and Bedford Rd

-Front St between Church St and Scott St

-Kings College Circle

-Cumberland Ave between Bellair St and Avenue Road

-The Esplanade between Princess St and Berkeley St

Many great downtown blocks have been ruined for condo or retail development in the past 10-15 years.

A few of my favorate walkable urban shopping streets that come to mind:

- Cumberland and Yorkville Ave's, Ave. Rd. to Yonge St.

- Both sides of Yonge from Bloor to College (multiple blocks)

- Queen West between about Duncan St. to Bathurst

- W. Queen West between Bathurst to Gladstone

- Church St from Carlton to Gloucester St.

- Danforth from Broadview to Pape

- Queen E. from Woodbine to about Neville Park Blvd.

- Bloor W. from Spadina to Bathurst

- College from Spadina to around Grace St.

- Queen's Quay from Sherbourne to Bathurst (not great built form, but I love walking or cycling along the lake in the summer)

- Parliament St. from Wellesley to Gerrard

- Front St. from lower Jarvis to Scott St. & more I'm sure there's more

I also have lots of quiet areas or streets that are close to home that I love walking around throughout downtown in spring/summer/fall whether it's Cabbagetown, Rosedale or any number of dozens of quiet "off" streets with big mature trees, well maintained 19th century homes with beautifully maintained frontages (i.e. gardens) - examples, Dundonald Street, Gloucester Street, Alexander Street etc.

In terms of aesthetics - two blocks that would be high on my list:

Colbourne Street (south side) between Church & Leader Ln

Queen Street E (south side) between Church & Jarvis

Every time I walk by these pristine streetscapes I wish that the rest of the city looked so good.

Nice adds! Colborne on the southside is fantastic. Gloucester, Dundonald, etc (just about anything between Yonge and Church) are excellent too.

Would Yonge btw/Cumberland + Yorkville count?

adma said:

Would Yonge btw/Cumberland + Yorkville count?

Click to expand...

Of course. That's a good block. Do you know if the library reno will include outdoor seating for Balzac's? That would add to it. I'm pleased the library went with a solid local beanery here.