Parkdale Village

[EVCco]

Saw some Parkdale discussion in the "West Queen West" thread, but didn't notice a thread specifically for all things west of Dufferin Street.

Used to live there (2003-2007), and it was already undergoing some revitalization before I ever arrived (mostly around the periphery) - but it was certainly still living up to its unpleasant reputation as well. I think there were about 6 or 7 murders within a few blocks of my apt. during the time I lived there (not including the guy who chopped his wife up and scattered her body parts throughout the neighbourhood).

Inside the apartment itself were crack houses(units), "body houses" with "doormen" at the front door asking what business you have going into your own apartment, schizophrenics throwing coffee pots urine on people, homeless people crashing in vacant units, nude crackheads covered in blood screaming in the halls, weird guys in ski masks knocking on your door in the middle of the night, and a woman occasionally breaking into the building to perform voodoo ceremonies.

But then again, in typical Toronto style, right next door there was a lovely old Victorian house with 2 BMWs in the driveway (and an electric security fence around it)...

Anyways, here's a few "before" shots from 2003 or so. I don't get out there much anymore. Anyone living there now? Any more current shots, or stories?

 

[Aaron]

I moved to Parkdale in 1997. I'd just dropped out of OCAD and bought a tiny loft at 24 Noble. Even back then, I didn't see much going on. There was certainly a stigma and this was pre-Drake, but I never felt unsafe, even during my late-night runs to the now demolished 7-11. Jameson was (still is?) kinda sketchy all the way down to the scary No Frills and the "Friday Night Fights" in the parking lot of Club OV were unsettling (I had a bird's eye view), but other than that, I loved it. I left in 2000.

 

[EVCco]

My thoughts exactly.

Of course, I lived right at Jameson & Leopold. Shopped at that No Frills every week, too.

...as well as that "Full Worth" place! Loved buying individual dented cans of cherry coke there that had been off the market for like 2 years...

 

[Orangeaspossible]

I live in Parkdale West of Dufferin now. In one of the old mansions converted to questionable bachelor apartments on King Street. I have been living here since July and find this area interesting enough to move as soon as I can. There has been four murders since I moved here (as far as I am aware o)f, there is an uncomfortable amount of people wandering around in their pajamas and the best part is homeless people actually come to your door and ask to come inside your apartment.

One lovely trashbag lady, has knocked on my door asking to come in because she was being followed. She stunk of urine and booze so I told her go away. She then knocked on my neighbors door and told him that she had a bottle of wine she wanted to share with him saying that she was lonely and would like to come inside. He told her to go away. She came back today and asked me if I am an artist and wouldn't ya know it...I am a painter. This woman has been looking inside my apartment! She told me that she had a gift for me and to open the door so she could give it to me. It was a board, which on closer inspection revealed itself to be a cardboard backing for a bookshelf she must of plucked from someones trash. I told her to go away and never come back and she did leaving her gift outside. I noticed she was holding and drinking from a bottle of beer. I believe this is what she would have tried to hit me with if I opened the door.

...yeah, I am moving.

 

[urbandreamer]

Ha, reminds me of the DES vibe in Vancouver, c.2003.

 

[calimehtar]

EVCco, the thing you photographed look exactly the same today, as far as I know, but Parkdale, despite the comments in this thread, is the new West Queen West. There are at least 3 new cafes and one new vegetarian indian restaurant in the last year, west of Dufferin.
http://www.themascot.ca/home_temp.php

There's Blondie's, Motel, and Parts and Labour, and wrongbar was named best dance club in toronto by now:
http://www.nowtoronto.com/bestof/bestof_readerpicks.cfm?category=Music

Even the sketchy part close to King and Dufferin has a Hue's Kitchen, and the other sketchy part near Queen and Lansdowne has Gandhi's offspring and heir-apparent Mother India. I left because Rhino and Cadillac started hosting bachelor and bachelorette parties. The Parkdale Drink has become a haven from the madness.

Most of the time Parkdale is still Parkdale, but it is rapidly becoming a new hotspot.

 

[enelemcee]

Speaking of cafes, there have been quite a few opening up, such as Ground Level on Queen and Lansdowne, and my new favourite, the Mascot (which used to be a T-shirt store). They have some awesome coffee there.

 

[paraone]

Yes, great coffee shop owned by an amazing Graffiti artist named Kwest, the have awesome tshirts by artists like Ren and Whisper every once in a while. I love the decor of the place, they've done a great job with it.

 

[Bogtrotter]

Very interesting part of town. I was recently informed that there is a significant Roma population in Parkdale, can anyone confirm this?

 

[LAz]

Ah Parkdale. When I think of it I think of the displacement of poor.

 

[DC83]

Ah Parkdale. When I think of it I think of the displacement of poor.

Great point; and I agree. I'm just really curious as to where they're being displaced to? Seems more and more of TO's 'problem hoods' are becoming gentrified. Where are all the ne'er-do-wells going?
My guess: Hamilton! LOL (only half joking, btw)

 

[LAz]

Great point; and I agree. I'm just really curious as to where they're being displaced to? Seems more and more of TO's 'problem hoods' are becoming gentrified. Where are all the ne'er-do-wells going?
My guess: Hamilton! LOL (only half joking, btw)

Hm, I dunno, but I suspect most go to other parts of the city. Not much research on gentrification focuses on those who get displaced because it's hard to find them.

Many of Chicago's displaced blacks went up to Minnesota. If they can move I suppose that our poor can move too. :/

 

[Pfloyd]

West Queen West

I actually took a stroll last Tuesday evening mainly from Macdonnell to Roncy and was quite surprised with all the bars, restaurants, galleries, stores and other businesses that are giving this stretch of Queen Street West that cool hip vibe that we all like. Here is a list of some of the places I remember from my walk:
Parts and Labour - http://www.partsandlabour.ca/
Studio Brillantine - http://www.blogto.com/design/studiobrillantine
Cowbell - http://www.cowbellrestaurant.ca/
Mitzi's Sister - http://www.mitzis.ca/sister.html
Poor John's Cafe - http://www.blogto.com/restaurants/poorjohnscafe
Big Guy's Coffee Shop - http://www.blogto.com/cafes/big-guys-coffee-shop-toronto
Six String Garage - http://sixstringgarage.com/
Yummy Stuff - http://yummystuff.ca/
Local Kitchen and Wine Bar - http://www.localkitchen.ca/photo-gallery.php
Conspiracy Culture - http://conspiracyculture.com/
Not My Dog - http://www.blogto.com/bars/notmydog

 

[taal]

It's not parkdale, but the stretch from Dufferin east to Yonge feels so much different now ... gentrification at it's best or worst depending on your view ... so many more families in this area now ... it still seems to retain 'hipness' to a certain degree - the more expensive type And with everything going on at CAMH now ... if you're saying this is spreading west as well ... what happening to Queen W!

 

[wicked willy]

I live in Parkdale now. After living and traveling all over the states, this place is nothing. I do not feel for my safety or my families safety in the least. That said though, I can NOT wait to get out of here. This place is filthy. Tired of the constant drunk asses roaming the streets at night. Tired of the graffiti explosion happening here. Tired of constant and endless construction all around. Whilst these may be trivial in nature to some, to me, they all add up to decreased standards of living and unhappiness.