RICHMOND HILL – Like many GTA real estate brokerages, we have certain neighbourhoods that are a pleasure for our agents and brokers to work in. Often, they offer just the right balance of location, amenities, and home quality.
One of the biggest ones for us is the Richmond Hill neighbourhood surrounding the intersection of Bayview Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive – a mix of two residential enclaves known as Rouge Woods (north of Major Mackenzie, east of Bayview) and Bayview Hill immediately to the south.
Bayview Hill: An Enclave of Executive-Style Living
Bayview Hill is an elegant master-planned community that began development in the 1990s and has attracted development interest from upscale builders such as Cachet Homes, who built 32 executive homes in the area with the help of Metrus Developments.
Homes in Bayview Hill are renowned for their expansive yards – lot frontage ranges from 50 to 120 feet – and a wide selection of high-end homes.
In the neighbourhood of Bayview Hill, real estate is about more than just a home. Residents are treated to safe school walking routes, mature trees, a vibrant community centre and a convenient selection of local amenities for shopping, dining and recreation.
Rouge Woods: A Diverse Selection of Quality Homes
A result of innovative and thoughtful work by various developers – such as renowned GTA builders Aspen Ridge Homes – Rouge Woods offers a perfect home for any size of family. Potential buyers have the freedom to pick and choose between townhomes and semi-detached houses in the north near Elgin Mills, single-garage detached homes in the southwest, or even larger detached homes backing onto a scenic ravine in the middle of the neighbourhood.
The ravine’s natural beauty is complemented by an excellent selection of schools and parks designed with kids in mind. The homes in this area – many of which are only about a decade old – generally boast all brick and stone exteriors – giving the area gorgeous curb appeal, while making it an attractive destination for real estate buyers and investors.
Area Amenities: Education, Recreation and Convenience
Residents of Bayview Hill and Rouge Woods can enjoy shopping, a quick meal or even a relaxing Starbucks coffee at Richmond Hill’s SmartCentre, a conveniently located shopping plaza on the northwest corner of Major Mackenzie and Bayview. Just a few blocks to the east, there’s also the Leslie Centre, offering favourite stops like Hero Certified Burgers and the LCBO.
Richmond Hill is also one of the top GTA municipalities for green space and recreational facilities. Rouge Woods and Bayview Hill are no exception, featuring a multitude of parks for kids to safely enjoy such as Headford Park (pictured in the slideshow above), Silver Stream Park, and Bayview Hill Park.
A quick distance up Shirley Drive from Major Mackenzie you’ll find the Rouge Woods Community Centre, where area residents ages 17 and up can enjoy gym facilities or even membership in one of the GTA’s biggest indoor bocce programs.
The entire neighbourhood was designed with families in mind, so no matter which road you live in, you’re never far from an elementary school. North of Major Mackenzie you’ll find Silver Stream Public School and Richmond Rose Public School. In Bayview Hill to the south, kids can attend Bayview Hill Elementary School, or the St. Joseph Catholic School just west of Bayview.
Bayview Secondary School
As a specially-designated International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, Bayview Secondary School is one of the most esteemed and sought-after in York Region and the GTA. It is also one of the top-ranked secondary schools, year after year, in the province of Ontario.
Bayview SS’s academic-enrolled grade nine math students outperformed students across the province on EQAO testing in 2011-12, with a remarkable 96 per cent of eligible students meeting or exceeding provincial standards. The school’s first-time-eligible Grade 10 students performed admirably on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) the same year, enjoying a 95 per cent success rate.
Jean Vanier Catholic High School
Located a couple of blocks north of Bayview SS on Bayview Avenue, Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School has many student-friendly features like a double gymnasium, stage, art/tech rooms, and even a chapel. The school has grown significantly since its establishment in 1985, and now boasts more than 650 students as well as more than 40 staff members.
Buying a Home in Rouge Woods or Bayview Hill
Many of the neighbourhoods we have featured in this profile series offer glistening new high-rise condos and an ever-changing cityscape. Sometimes, though, real estate buyers are more interested in the comfort and convenience of a classic neighbourhood with good schools, lots of green space and a strong selection of low-rise family homes to choose from.
If you’re interested in taking a look at some of the best homes Richmond Hill has to offer, the sales representatives and brokers at Living Realty are ready to help. Our agents’ extensive experience and knowledge of both Rouge Woods and Bayview hill will help you find not only the right home for your needs, but help you get a great price as well. Contact us today for more information on this neighbourhood or others in Richmond Hill.
