Liberty Village

Liberty Village is one those perfect Toronto examples of a neighbourhood that came up quickly, making its investors a mint. Truly an urban ‘village’ in every sense of the word, this pocket of the city stretches between the Gardiner and King and Dufferin, running east to Strachan, including the rail lands that run South of the major routes.

A planned community from the get-go, you’ll find a good mix of residential, commercial, and retail space. Everything you need (and lots you simply enjoy) is available within a small, walkable radius; from a 24-hour grocery store, drycleaning, a gym, an LCBO (finally!), to the popular pub (The Brazen Head) and coffee shop right in the middle.

In the 1800s the area was home to a prison, and Liberty Street, the main east-west thoroughfare, is said to be named as such because it was the first steps of freedom taken when a prisoner was released. The area’s rail paths, originally built around the 1850’s, led to the industrialization of the area (i.e. factories and warehouses). Liberty Village remained in that state until fairly recently, as development really only took off in the last 10 years.

As is the case in many revitalized Toronto communities, remnants of its industrialized era can be seen in the architecture, and a walk through its now heavily populated streets will take you around exposed brick heritage buildings and loft conversions. Slightly removed from the downtown core by rail tracks, it can be nearly impossible at peak times to catch transit into the downtown core. You’ll see many residents opting to walk, or cycle, to their jobs downtown. Besides, if you’ve got everything you need in your own little hood, you don’t really have to go elsewhere, do you?

Young professionals, the vast majority of whom are in their 20’s and 30’s, many of whom work in the neighbourhoods many media, production, and advertising companies. There’s a huge singles scene in this hood; they’ve even got speed dating nights at the gym! It’s not uncommon for owners to eventually rent out their places and move to more family-friendly areas, so there is an even split between renters and homeowners.

Super convenient, one-stop-shopping at your doorstep. They weren’t kidding when they called it a village!