ETOBICOKE REAL ESTATE – With its rich history, distinct character, and exceptional waterfront location just a short distance west of downtown Toronto, Mimico is home to many of the GTA’s most sought-after lakeside properties.
To celebrate the recent launch of Living Realty’s New Home Projects index, this month we decided to feature one of Toronto’s most buzzworthy new home communities: Humber Bay Village in the heart of northeast Mimico.
Toronto’s Western Gateway: Humber Bay’s History
One of the most alluring aspects of Humber Bay and Mimico is the area’s rich past, which has been carefully compiled by the Humber Bay Shores Condominium Association (HBSCA) on their community history web page.
Mimico – named for the First Nations word meaning “the resting place of wild pigeons” – first developed into a year-round community in 1906, with the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway’s Mimico Yard. Mimico functioned as an independent town from 1917 to 1967, when it was incorporated into the municipality of Etobicoke. Over the years, Mimico has developed a strong reputation as a tight-knit and culturally vibrant community, offering attractions like the annual Lakeshore Community Festival.
Located at the very northeast tip of Mimico, along the banks of Lake Ontario and the Mimico Creek, Humber Bay Village is a community whose history began in 1888 with the establishment of the Humber Bay Schoolhouse. The schoolhouse was demolished to make way for housing developments and farms, and Humber Bay eventually grew to include a number of businesses, including a brick yard and a volunteer fire brigade.
While Humber Bay’s industrial past is still a part of its landscape and character, the area is becoming much more of a residential community – and has attracted the attention of many Toronto condominium developers in recent years.
Humber Bay: A Premier Destination for Waterfront Condo Buyers
With great area amenities, lots of beautiful green space and a strong sense of community, Humber Bay and northeast Mimico offer many of the luxuries of a downtown Toronto neighbourhood – without the costs of a downtown condo or townhouse.
The now-extensive list of notable home developers building in Humber Bay Village has grown in recent years, and now includes huge names like Conservatory Group, Monarch Homes, Empire Communities, and Amexon Development Corporation.
All it takes is a quick drive along Lake Shore Boulevard West – and perhaps even a stroll along the scenic Marine Parade Drive – to take in a grand view of the neighbourhood’s breathtaking new high-rise developments. Here’s a selection of our favourite projects from the area:
- Conservatory Group’s Waterways Condos is one of the hottest brand-new projects currently in pre-construction along Lake Shore Boulevard West near Park Lawn Road. Check out our recent Project Spotlight feature for more details on this elegant and attractive new high-rise build.
- Empire Communities’ Beyond the Sea and Star Tower condo towers are truly a centrepiece of this neighbourhood, soaring tall over Mimico Creek at the intersection of Legion Road and Lake Shore Boulevard West. Officially completed just last year, this master-planned community features striking design and a huge selection of amenities for its residents.
- Also from Empire, Eau du Soleil is a stunningly designed new condo project currently in preconstruction on Marine Park Drive. The luxurious list of amenities at Water Tower, the most recently announced phase of this master-planned community, will include a salt water pool and a state-of-the-art CrossFit Training Zone.
- Waterscapes is the thrilling final component of Monarch Group’s gorgeous Waterview condo community at Lake Shore Boulevard West and Brooker’s Lane. Featuring a ground-breaking elliptical design and stunning views of the lake, this tower is currently completing construction and has already turned out to be a big hit with investors and users alike.
- Just a short distance northwest on Park Lawn Road, Amexon’s striking South Beach condominium towers are soon to be joined next door by Key West Condos, an exciting 343-unit project by Times Group scheduled for completion in 2015.
- West of Mimico Creek you’ll also find the elegant Grand Harbour, a resort-inspired community of condos and townhouses. Completed in 1991, this sought-after property is renowned for its stunning building design by Matsui Baer Vanstone.
The list goes on – Lago Condos by Monarch and Jade Waterfront Condos by Phantom Developments, both on Lake Shore Boulevard, are also notable contenders in one of Toronto’s strongest new condo markets. Northeast Mimico also offers a strong selection of low- and mid-rise residential developments on quiet roads like Harbourview Crescent and Greystone Court.
Parks, Schools, and Recreation in Mimico and Humber Bay
Located on two naturally beautiful peninsulas stretching into Lake Ontario from the east and west banks of Mimico Creek, Humber Bay Park is a true Toronto destination for nature lovers and boating enthusiasts alike. Visitors to the park can enjoy picnic and beach areas, nature trails, and scenic views of the lake.
For those who enjoy a day out on the water, Humber Bay Park is also home to the Humber Bay Shores Park, located just across the bay along the lakefront land south of Marine Parade Drive, is home to the Etobicoke Yachting Club – one of Toronto’s most vibrant boating communities and a local institution since 1978, when it was relocated to Humber Bay from Marie Curtis Park.
The Humber Bay area is perfect for families, too, with a location just a short distance away from a handful of local elementary schools such as George R. Gauld Junior School and Swansea Junior and Senior Public School.
Just a few blocks west of the Mimico neighbourhood, you’ll find Humber College’s beautiful Lakeshore Campus and two of west Toronto’s finest high school’s: Lakeshore Collegiate Institute, and Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School.
Lakeshore Collegiate Institute
With a comprehensive offering of university-preparation programs and co-curricular activities for students, Lakeshore Collegiate Institute lives up to its name as one of the most reputable high schools in west Toronto. It’s also the home of the CyberARTS program, a ground-breaking initiative that gives creatively-inclined students an opportunity to build their multimedia skills.
Lakeshore CI is also known for its high-quality sports programs, offering more extracurricular sports options than any other school in the region. A brand-new arena next door to the school will ensure that the school’s teams can enjoy state-of-the-art facilities for years to come.
Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School and Regional Arts Centre
Tucked away in a peaceful, treed corner of the college campus, just south of Kipling, Father John Redmond is committed to a “Triple A” emphasis on academics, athletics, and arts. The school enjoys a modern building completed in 2006, and offers a variety of specialty programs in both arts and sports.
Father John Redmond Catholic Secondary School’s students have excelled in mathematics in recent years, with 87 per cent meeting of academic-enrolled grade nine students meeting or exceeding the provincial standard for math performance during the 2011-12 schoolyear. According to EQAO numbers, the school’s first-time-eligible grade 10 students also enjoyed a 94 per cent success rate on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy test during the same school year.
Humber Bay: An Investment in the Future of High-Rise Living
Even as residents continue to enjoy the beautiful designs of Humber Bay Village’s high-rise communities, the area continues to transform – with cranes rising up from beyond construction fences on almost every corner along this special stretch of Lake Shore Boulevard.
As developer interest in this red-hot community continues to grow, there has never been a better time to purchase your own property in northeast Mimico. With the college campus just a quick drive or streetcar ride away, this historic area represents a great opportunity for investors who are looking to enjoy rental income from their residential properties.
The options are many and the pricing very competitive. With many condominiums starting from the $200,000s, the Humber Bay neighbourhood is also a fantastic option for young couples or professionals looking to invest in their first Toronto condo – contact Living Realty sales representative or broker today for details on special incentives and pricing available in the area.
