This photo was taken in 1974.

Then:

The narrow Victorian semi-detached house was run by Olga Karabanow as a home for tourists, known as “The Karabanow Tourist House” for 30 years until she died. The semi was sold to the Singer family in 1995, who had plans of converting the building into a school. However, it was hard to change the home’s reputation and with constant demand for room rentals, the couple decided to keep it a guest house.

Now:

The house is now called “Global Guest House of Toronto”.

The architecture hasn’t changed, with the exception of a new coat of paint over the gable decor (trim covering the triangular portion of the wall between the edges of the sloping roof) and the addition of the door canopy. The canopy takes away from the authenticity of the building, but perhaps the addition makes the property seem more like a business and less like a residence.

The neighbouring building to the left has been demolished, and replaced with a parking lot. At least there are a few trees left.

Looking east along Queen St W, just past Ossington Ave.

Then:

This photo was taken in 1919. The set of rowhouses is a display of Toronto’s Victorian architecture, as evident by the mansard roof, dormers, decorative dentils below the roof, narrow round top windows with brick quoining. The colours of the brick would have originally been a combination of yellow and red.

Now:

The buildings depreciated over time and each of the owners maintained their property in their own manners. The obvious change here is the colour of the brick. Some of owners painted over the brick to reflect their business’s brand or perhaps reflect their own personal taste. The roofs would have all been replaced. One owner added shutters to the window, while another added a balcony.

The end result is an inconsistent look across the row, but on a busy street like Queen West, business owners strive to stand out. These days, blending in doesn’t generate business.

347 Sorauren Ave

The boutique loft is only 2 stories tall and has only 48 units. It was originally used as a ball-bearing factory. The red brick building with yellow coining around the entrance way is a fantastic display of gothic industrial architecture. In the summer, building is covered in leafy vines. The structure isn’t very wide, so it appears quite small from the street, but it is very long. The long hallways with concrete flooring enhance the industrial experience.

Specs: The units themselves vary incredibly. Some have mezzanine levels, which owners have turned into studies, while others have raised bedroom, giving the appearance of a second floor. Many of the units have plenty of storage space, as the 12-15 foot ceilings allow for lots of creativity. The units on the first floor have wooden beams and pillars, while the second floor units have steel joists.

Amenities: None. Dundas St W is just north of the lofts, where the streetcar runs from 5am to 1pm. Also just a short walk to High Park and Roncesvalles where you can find lots of shops and trendy restaurants

Average sales price freehold (2009): $416,972; (2010): $502,998

Lowest price sold (2009): $215,000; (2010): $243,000

Highest price sold (2009): $725,000; (2010): $940,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A; (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4C and M4L

Boundaries: Danforth Ave — Queen St E; Woodbine Ave — Coxwell Ave

Subway Stations: Coxwell and Woodbine

Woodbine Corridor doesn’t have the popularity that Leslieville or The Beach has, but the result is lower housing prices. It was a working class neighbourhood for the longest time. The older generation began moving out, and the younger, more eager flippers began buying fixer uppers and taking on renovation projects. The neighbourhood has its pros and cons. The business along the Danforth Ave, between Coxwell and Woodbine, is not thriving like it is to the east and the west.  However, with all the green space and good schools, the area is family friendly.

Real Estate: Semis built in the early 1900s are common; many of them have been gutted to the studs and completely redone, while others fared well with only a few renos, modern interior décor and careful landscaping.

Fixer uppers in the low-mid $300s are still easy to find. Realtors have been marketing these types of homes to builders looking to tear them down completely.

Parks: Fairmount Park, at the centre of the neighbourhood, offers families two playgrounds (one for younger children and another for older children), a soccer field, a baseball diamond, a cricket diamond, wading pool and tennis courts.

Hot Spots:

Upper Beach Café — 1917 Gerrard St E
This quaint little café (with a fireplace) serves fair-trade organic coffee, soups, salads and sandwiches.

Orangefish — 1824 Gerrard St E
Orangefish is a private shopping club that offers contemporary products, services and experiences that are unique, stylish and fun.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $736,297; (2010): $830,829

Lowest price sold (2009): $290,000; (2010): $310,000

Highest price sold (2009): $3,150,000; (2010): $3,800,000

Average sales price condo (2009): $396,887; (2010): $422,178

Postal code: M4L and M4E

Boundaries: Kingston Rd — Lake Ontario; Victoria Park Ave — Coxwell Ave

Subway Stations: Woodbine and Main

The Beach was established in the late 1700s by the Ashbridge family. It has become one of Toronto’s most popular neighbourhoods with its laid back West Coast vibe, and family-centric atmosphere. The community has a strong support system for local businesses, giving the Beach that small town feeling. The neighbourhood comes alive in the Summer when Torontonians from all parts of town flock over to the boardwalk for all sorts of sports and Summer treats.

Kew Beach, Balmy Beach and Ashbridges Bay Park are a main attraction for families. The annual Jazz Festival also brings in loads of tourists to the area.

Real Estate: Homes in this neighbourhood have become increasingly expensive over the last few years, and many younger families have been priced out. In the early 1900s, many of the stately Edwardians and Victorians south of Queen were built as Summer Cottages. These homes display authentic charm and distinguished architecture; many of them are protected under the Heritage Act.

Newly built homes take on the clean, light and airy Beach architecture.

While older homes showcase wide porches and mature trees on well kept lawns.

The Academy Lane Lofts are an authentic conversion on Queen Street. The historic building was once a bowling/boxing club, but is now the space is divided into large, sleek two storey units with soaring 20’ ceilings and enormous windows.

Parks: Kew Gardens is one of the main public venues in the Beaches neighbourhood. It is home to a number of facilities including tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a wading pool, and in winter, a skating rink. A number of historic buildings survive, including Williams’ cottage, the bandstand, and the Leuty Lifeguard Station.

Hot Spots:

The Pie Shack — 2035 Queen St E
The new Pie Shack offers both sweet and savoury pies with awesome crust, plus unimaginable enthusiasm (for pie).

Fox Theatre — 2236 Queen St E
The Fox Theatre first opened its doors for business 1914. It is the oldest, continually running movie house in Toronto.

The Green Eggplant — 1968 Queen St E
This Green Eggplant in the Beach serves up dishes to please all palates and offers complimentary dips upon arrival. The restaurant is already a favourite amongst the locals with their combination of good, well-portioned meals and a large kids menu.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $1,577,157; (2010): $1,663,589

Lowest price sold (2009): $529,000; (2010): $571,000

Highest price sold (2009): $7,637,500; (2010): $6,250,000

Average sales price condo (2009): $567,689; (2010): $705,368

Postal code: M4W

Boundaries: C.P.R. Tracks — Rosedale Valley Rd; Bayview Ave — Yonge St

Subway Stations: Rosedale and Summerhill

Rosedale is Toronto’s distinguished neighbourhood, known for the grand homes that line the winding, tree filled roads. It’s been said that “Old Money” lives here. The wealthiest families live in Rosedale; their incomes are second only to those living in The Bridal Path.

The neighbourhood is closed off from the rest of the city, engulfed by gorgeous ravines and streets that follow the earth’s natural topography, resulting in low traffic and a remarkably quiet atmosphere. Yonge St, north of Church St, is lined with upscale boutiques, fine restaurants and luxury condos.

Real Estate: For the most part, the homes were built between 1860 and 1930 and the architectural integrity has been well preserved. A good percentage of the buildings are protected by the Ontario Heritage Act, making it difficult to alter the appearance of the historically significant facades, let along demolish the buildings completely.

The prevalent architectural styles are Georgian and Edwardian. Georgian architecture, in particular, is very easy to observe. The front door is typically gabled with transom windows, decorative pilasters and a crown over the front door.

Quoining is used at the corners either to give the impression of strength and firmness.

The Adam is a variation on a Georgian style, symmetrical and often three stories. Windows are typically double-hung and there are usually six panes of glass per window. The front door typically has a fanlight with side lights, elaborate pilasters and a crown.

Parks: The Don Valley Brick Works is a former quarry and industrial site located in the Don River valley. Currently the buildings sit mostly unused while the quarry has been converted into a city park which includes a series of naturalized ponds. The park section of the Brick Works includes a series of three ponds, a large meadow and a small forest.

Chorley Park is a beautiful plot of naturalized land filled with trails, also boasts a beautiful view of the Don River Valley.

Hot Spots:

Summerhill Market — 446 Summerhill Ave
Summerhill Market is a hidden gem beloved by Rosedale residents and other mid-town locals. It’s not cheap but inside are the finest quality groceries, meats, fish, produce and gourmet treats.

Pastis — 1158 Yonge St
Right in the heart of Rosedale, Pastis Express is a well-known restaurant with an extensive menu and a classy ambiance.

Olliffe — 1097 Yonge St
Olliffe is Rosedale’s favourite butcher. The meat selection is probably without equal in Toronto and there are always new prepared creations ready to be picked up for a no-fuss dinner.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $429,059; (2010): $581,522

Lowest price sold (2009): $175,000; (2010): $525,000

Highest price sold (2009): $658,000; (2010): $965,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A; (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4J and M4C

Boundaries: Falstead Ave — C.P.R. Tracks; Woodbine Ave – Donlands Ave

Subway Stations: Donlands, Greenwood, Coxwell and Woodbine

Danforth Village makes for an interesting study. At the western end just off Greektown, the avenue is thriving. The eastern end of the Danforth is an entirely different story.

There is a Middle Eastern pocket from Jones to about Greenwood, with some well reviewed Halal pizza shops and butchers, as well as two mosques.

Past Coxwell, seedy looking business (dollar stores, used appliance and pawn shops) line Danforth. Bland, old signage above store fronts doesn’t help curb appeal one bit. The area is developing, but it may be a while before Starbucks opens shop.

A lesser known fact about the land north of the Danforth is that it was once owned by the Church of England. Local street names like Glebemount, and Glebeholme, are reminders that this was once Church land.

Real Estate: Two storey semis are the most common type of home in the village, but detached homes start popping up north of the Danforth into East York.

There is no particularly consistent style of architecture, but a good percentage of the homes are reno’d with modern interior design, and have meticulously well groomed lawns.

A few of the streets closer to Woodbine, like Roseheath, are filled with cute cottage-like semis with Gambrel roofs.

Parks: There is a bit of green space between East and West Lynn, but residents head to Monarch Park (north of the C.P.R. Track between Greenwood and Coxwell) for a variety of outdoors activities, such as skating.

Hot Spots:

Carter’s Ice Cream — 3 Woodmount Ave
Carter’s Ice Cream is just steps off the Danforth. The parlour serves locally made Kawartha Dairy ice cream.

Sarah’s Café and Bar – 1426 Danforth Ave
Sarah’s Café and Bar is the neighbourhood hot spot where Toronto locals meet to eat. The menu features Bistro-inspired Canadian classic cuisine.

Rendez -Vous — 1408 Danforth Ave
Travel to Africa with Rendez-Vous restaurant. Savour the dishes of the exotic continent and immerse yourself in the alluring environment of traditional African cuisine and coffee roasting rituals.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $587,835 (2010): $669,723; (2011): $732,241; (2012): $733,760

Boundaries: Queen St W — Lake Shore Blvd W; Dufferin St — Roncesvalles Ave

Subway Stations: Dufferin, Dundas St Wes, Landsdowne, Osgoode and St. Andrew

At the western tips of King St W and Queen St W is Parkdale, a 160 year old neighbourhood that has seen its share of ups and downs. The few mansions scattered around are a reminder of Parkdale in the early 20^th century, when it was considered an upper income residential area. However, when the city built the Gardiner Expressway in 1955, a large portion of the neighbourhood was demolished. As a result, the wealthy residents moved further west leaving the local economy in decline. Nowadays, the neighbourhood attracts lower income families and newcomers to Canada living in numerous apartment buildings south of King St W. Many of the notable mansions have since been converted into rooming houses, and many of the older warehouses and factories have been turned into authentic residential lofts.

Nevertheless, the neighbourhood is seeing increasing signs of gentrification, as the Queen West hipster bars, and art galleries slowly extend further west. Roncesvalles is also undergoing a slow gentrification, as young couples replace old couples; the whole area is experiencing a slow renovation.

Real Estate: It’s common to find homes in every state of repair, from dilapidated homes in the process of foreclosure or an estate sale to immaculately restored and completely renovated Victorians, with well maintained lots. The general style of architecture in the area is Victorian, and many of the houses are over 100 years old. The  homes in this area are larger, and built on bigger lots compared to neighbourhoods like Little Italy.

The oldest homes in the neighbourhood  have distinctly round Romanesque arches over windows and entrance ways. The walls are masonry and often feature different patterns of rough faced stone-work.

Although there aren’t any condo developments this far along King St W yet, a few notable lofts can be found tucked away on some of the side streets.

Hot Spots:

The Rhino  – 1249 Queen St W
Great food and great beer in Parkdale at the newly renovated Rhino, with regular exhibitions showing in The Thick Skin Gallery.

The Mascot — 1267 Queen St W
The café doubles as an art gallery, the espresso is great, the furniture is antique and the woodworking is done by local artist Kwest.

Café Taste — 1330 Queen St W
Cafe Taste is an environmentally-mandated business modeled after a European cafe, featuring local products with a focus on Wine & Cheese.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $521,587; (2010): $534,914

Lowest price sold (2009):$290,000l; (2010): $320,000

Highest price sold (2009): $821,000; (2010): $1,199,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A  (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4J and M4K

Boundaries: Mortimer Ave — Danforth Ave; Dewhurst Blvd — Chester Ave

Subway Stations: Chester, Pape and Donlands

Greektown on the Danforth is one of the major settlement areas of early Greek immigrants to Toronto. To this day, the neighbourhood still has a large population of Greek residents and a high concentration of souvlaki shops, Greek restaurants, Greek butchers, bakeries and delis.

Greektown on the Danforth boasts one of the highest concentrations of restaurants per kilometre in the world, and once a year the vendors sell moderately priced samples of their cuisine at the annual street festival, The Taste of the Danforth. The three day event held in August, celebrates Greek food and culture.

Real Estate: The neighbourhood is comprised of mostly 2 storey semis, but the further north you go — the more detached homes you will encounter. Aldwych Ave is known for its detached homes, with bonnet roofs and large single dormers.

Vinyl siding is very common in this part of town, and many of the houses feature this exterior cladding in various arrays of colour.

Muriel Ave showcases some more colourful 2 ^1/2 storey homes, with bay windows, verandas and dormers.

The Glebe Lofts is a true loft conversion of the architecturally magnificent Presbyterian Church. Many of the units have two stories, but the interior design is mainly modern — without the characteristics of a hard loft. There are very few units in this development, and rarely go up for sale.

Parks: In the heart of Greektown is Alexander the Great Parkette, complete with a fountain, benches, a large stone dais, and a semi-circle of doric columns. Within these columns is a sculpture of the bust of Alexander of Macedon.

Hot Spots:

Kalyvia — 420 Danforth Ave
In business for over 20 years, this family run restaurant prides itself on its authentic Greek menu prepared traditionally by Greek people.

Megas The Art of Greek Cuisine — 402 Danforth Ave
The chefs at Megas create a variety of classic yet modern Greek temptations to indulge your taste buds with contemporary flavours and spices.

Athens Pastries Pies — 509 Danforth Ave
Athens serves a variety of “pies” (filling wrapped in several layers of phyllo pastry): spinach (spanakopita), cheese (tiropita), and custard.

Average sales price freehold (2009): $453,305; (2010): $480,759

Lowest price sold (2009): $188,000; (2010): $200,000

Highest price sold (2009): $1,310,00; (2010): $975,000

Average sales price condo (2009): N/A; (2010): N/A

Postal code: M4J and M4C

Boundaries: Strathcona Ave/Falstead Ave – Gerrard St E; Coxwell Ave – Carlaw Ave

Subway Stations: Pape, Donlands, Greenwood and Coxwell

Blake-Jones and Greenwood-Coxwell are neighbourhoods which aren’t known for much. The quiet residential area has not really established an identity yet, and the majority of commercial buildings along Danforth are somewhat colourless and unexciting. Nevertheless, the many dead end streets create a low traffic family friendly environment, and residents participate in neighbourhood clean up parties and other community events. The TTC owns 32 acres of land right in the middle of the neighbourhood, which they use for maintaining, storing and repairing subway cars — the sight is unattractive to say the least, luckily there is an equally unattractive fence blocking off the side streets which back onto the yard.

Real Estate: The streets are lined with mostly uninspired semis, however wide verandas and large bay window on the upper level are the trend.

Mismatched brick row-houses are a common sight as well.

There aren’t any high-rise condos in this part of town, but the multi level town houses along Strathcona averaged around $250,000 in 2009.

Parks: Monarch Park, just south of Felstead Ave is a popular point of interest for residents. The outdoor rink at the centre of the park adds value to the neighbourhood in the winter months. Monarch Park Stadium is located right next to the park. It’s used mostly for amateur soccer, baseball and athletics by the TDSB.

Hot Spots:

Dukem – 950 Danforth Ave
Art lovers will enjoy Dukem’s decor. Owner of the Ethiopian restaurant, supports local artists by lending his wall space for art shows.

Katya Trischuk – 755 Danforth Ave
Gallery of Ukrainian Artist, Katya Trischuk, features portraits of women who are often exaggerated, with elongated limbs and softened faces.

Corner Lot Home Décor – 745 Danforth Ave
Corner Lot Home Decor is Toronto’s leading supplier of Canadian made sofas and home decor items.