Runnymede-Bloor West Village

Infobox City
official_name = Runnymede-Bloor West Village
subdivision_type2 = Country
subdivision_name2 = Canada
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Ontario
subdivision_type = City
subdivision_name = Toronto


mapsize=150px
map_caption=Location of Runnymede-Bloor West Village within Toronto

Runnymede-Bloor West Village is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located north of Bloor Street West between Jane Street and Runnymede Road north to Dundas Street West. It is located directly north of the Swansea and west of the High Park North neighbourhoods. Located along Bloor Street is Canada's first 'business improvement area' (BIA), "Bloor West Village."

Character

Homes in this neighbourhood are generally two story brick houses, however renovations are becoming popular and many of the traditional homes are being torn down to create larger, more modern homes. The tree-lined streets in this area, which was annexed by the city of Toronto in 1909 make this a popular residential neighbourhood. Much of its development was originally due to the creation of a streetcar line along Bloor Street, which the TTC later replaced by the Bloor-Danforth subway line, built in the 1960s with stations at Runnymede Road and Jane Street.

The neighourhood's first residents were largely Irish and Anglo-Saxon, followed eventually by immigrants of Eastern European origin. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Bloor West Village
work =
publisher =Bloor West Village Business Improvement Area
date =
url =http://www.bloorwestvillage.ca/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-03-18 ] The ethnicity of the area, as recorded in the 2001 Census of Canada is still largely English, Irish and Scottish. The largest Eastern European groups are Ukrainian and Polish. [cite web|url=http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/pdf2/cpa89.pdf |title=Runnymede 2001 Social Profile |accessdate=2008-05-07.] The 2006 Census of Canada estimated the number of residents within the neighbourhood as 9,565. [cite web|url=http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/2006/pdf1/cpa89.pdf|title=Runnymede-Bloor West Village Social Profile|accessdate=2008-05-07]

The major streets are Bloor Street, a four-lane arterial road, running east-west along the south of the neighbourhood. The area is bound by Jane Street to the west, Annette Street to the north and Clendennan Avenue to the east.

Bloor West Village BIA

Bloor West Village is the world's first business improvement area (BIA), established in 1970. It encompasses all businesses along Bloor Street between Jane Street and Ellis Park Road. It now consists of more than 400 shops, restaurants and services. The organization promotes business activity in the area by holding several annual events and festivals. It also puts efforts into the beautification of the area. Bloorwest Village hosts retailer sidewalk sales and the annual Ukrainian Festival, which runs for a weekend every September.

The BIA has promoted a healthy shopping district on Bloor Street. One will find retailers such as Trixie's, Max's Market, Signature Shoes and New Balance, as well as world-class restaurants such as Villa, Bloom and Yumi Sushi. Additionally, the area is known for its coffee shops, as it is home to two Starbucks, two Timothy's, a Second Cup and a local coffee enterprise called the Coffee Tree. The Village is also known for the numerous fresh food stores such as Fresh and Wild.

Runnymede Theatre

A great furor accompanied the arrival of a Chapters bookstore in the late 1990s. Aside from discontent about the effect of a large bookstore undermining older local businesses, many residents were upset that the local historic movie theatre was going to be gutted to make room for the new store. However, the arrival of Chapters allowed restoration of the historical Runnymede Theatre. At the time Chapters was the only company willing to make the $5 million investment necessary to restore the building.

chools

The village has a handful of public, semi-public, and catholic elementary and high-schools. Western Technical Commercial School, is one of the larger high schools in the area. The WTCS building also holds The Ursula Franklin Academy, which is an alternative learning school, with a focus on science and math. Just across the street from WTCS, is the largest public elementary school, Runnymede Jr and Sr Ps. It has grade Jk-8 and has around 1100 students enrolled. The collegiate high school in the area is Humberside CI. Humberside is known well for their academic success, and their strong swimming and sports teams. The largest catholic school in the area is St Pius X, which is on the corner of Bloor St West and Jane.

References

Expanding Real-estate Market

The average Bloor West Village home is a two story detached brick house. Many of these houses are not being removed, but remodeled. Many smaller houses are being renovated into houses that exceed 3,000 square feet. Unlike 10 years ago, it it not uncommon for houses in the neighborhood to sell from 1-1.5 million.

External links

* [http://www.toronto.ca/demographics/cns_profiles/cns89.htm Runnymede-Bloor West Village neighbourhood profile]
* [http://www.bwvra.ca/ Bloor West Village Residents Association]

Toronto Neighbourhood Geography
North = Rockcliffe-Smythe
East = High Park North
South = Swansea
West = Lambton Baby Point
Center = Runnymede-Bloor West Village