Bridle Path, Toronto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bridle Path is an upscale residential neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that is characterized by large multi-million dollar mansions and two to four acre (8,000 to 16,000 m²) lot sizes. It is often referred to as "Millionaires' Row".
Although "The Bridle Path" is in fact the name of a road in the area, the term generally applies to the surrounding neighbourhood as a whole. It is generally bounded by The Bridle Path on the north, Sunnybrook Hospital on the south, Bayview Avenue on the west and Leslie Street on the east. Few roads pass through the area, contributing to the area's exclusivity. House prices in the Bridle Path are varied, but most of the houses in this area sell for well in excess of a million dollars. It is a secluded neighbourhood, surrounded by the Don River Valley and lush parklands.
The Bridle Path was little more than farmland until 1929, when the Bayview Bridge was constructed across the steep Don River Valley. It was at that point that the area was first considered for residential development. Hubert Page, a Toronto-based land developer, envisioned the Bridle Path as an "exclusive enclave of estate homes" and he built the neighbourhood's first home, a Cape Cod Colonial style home at 2 The Bridle Path in order to spark interest in the development.
The street's name is frequently misspelled as "The Bridal Path" by those who are unfamiliar with the history of the area. The actual "Bridle Path" name came about as early plans for the neighbourhood included an elaborate system of equestrian bridle paths. While the paths have since been paved over, their legacy remains in the Bridle Path's wide streets and in the name of this elite community.
The Bridle Path is home to media moguls Moses Znaimer and Conrad Black. Prince is said to have purchased a home in the Bridle Path for $5.5 million.
