The Annex

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Annex.
The Annex
Larger homes typically found in the Annex north of Bloor Street
Larger homes typically found in the Annex north of Bloor Street
Location of Annex within Toronto
Location of Annex within Toronto
City Toronto
Province Ontario
Country Canada

The Annex is a neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada located north of Bloor Street, extending west to Christie Street, north to the CPR tracks north of Dupont, and east to Yonge Street. It is an affluent neighbourhood with well-educated residents and it borders the University of Toronto. It has traditionally been home to many of the university's faculty, as well as housing the university's student body.The Annex is in the political riding of Trinity--Spadina, which is represented both Provincially and Federally by the New Democratic Party.

Contents

[edit] History

European settlement of this area began in the 1790s when surveyors laid out York Township. The area east of Brunswick Avenue became part of the village of Yorkville, while the region west of Brunswick was part of Seaton Village. In 1883, Yorkville agreed to annexation with the City of Toronto. In 1886, Simeon Janes, a developer, created a subdivision which he called the Toronto Annex.

[edit] Character

It is mainly residential, with quiet, tree lined one-way streets lined with beautiful Victorian and Edwardian homes and mansions, most of them built between 1880 and the early 1900s. During the 1950s and 1960s, an influx of Hungarian immigrants moved into the neighbourhood after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution was suppressed, and many of the businesses and properties along Bloor are owned by Hungarian-Canadian families.

Many of these homes have been converted into buildings that offer multi-tenant apartments. However, the stretch of Bloor Street between St. George and Bathurst is a vibrant social and retail area, offering to Toronto a wide range of services from upscale dining to discount retailers like Honest Ed's. When someone says that they are "going to the Annex," this stretch of Bloor St. is usually what they are referring to.

The Annex is one of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Toronto in which to rent or own a home. Because of its proximity to the university, it has a high rate of seasonal tenant turnover, and its residents range from university students to long-time residents, including well-established and wealthy families. The neighbourhood's appeal sometimes results in the stretching of its borders by realtors and residents of surrounding areas. For example, Seaton Village, the architecturally-similar district between Bathurst St. and Christie St., is considered by some to be the "West Annex", although the street signs on that stretch of Bloor call it the Korean Business Area. The area between Bloor and College Street is also sometimes referred to as the "South Annex" (again, most often by realtors).

It is interesting to note that, although the Annex is widely regarded as being peaceful, vibrant, and highly desirable, it is also fairly dense. In fact, if the rest of the geographical Toronto (the official City of Toronto, not including suburban municipalities) was built in a similar manner to the Annex, the entire population of the sprawling GTA (approximately 6 million people[1]) would fit in an area less than one-tenth the size that it does now[2].

[edit] Seaton Village

Seaton Village or 'West Annex' is that part of the Annex west of Bathurst Street. Although the Koreatown shopping district is at its southern border, it is sometimes referred to as the "West Annex". While Seaton Village shares several characteristics with The Annex (notably its architecture and its popularity with University of Toronto students), it is generally quieter, more family-oriented, and with smaller, less expensive homes.

Vermont Square Park is near the centre of Seaton Village. The park has a playground, including a wading pool. St. Albans Boys and Girls club and the Bill Bolton hockey arena are also located in the park.

One feature of the area is a sculpture of a large white elephant in a front garden, which causes, according to the house owner, "about 20 cars a day stopping to look." Clinton Street features a house almost totally covered with wine corks.[3]

[edit] Culture

The neighbourhood has a thriving cultural scene, with the Tranzac (Toronto Australia-New Zealand) Club, the Bathurst Street Theatre, the Bloor Theatre (repertory cinema), the Jewish Community Centre, and, until recently, the now closed Poor Alex Theatre at Bloor and Brunswick. Stores are open late and some restaurants are open well past midnight.

[edit] Transportation

The Annex is well served by public transit, including four Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) subway stations: Bathurst, St. George, Spadina, and Dupont. Bus services operate on Bathurst north of Bloor and on Spadina Road; streetcars operate on Spadina Avenue, Bathurst Street south of Bloor, and College Street.

[edit] Notable persons

The Annex is home to the Canadian writer Margaret Atwood and the former Governor General and broadcaster Adrienne Clarkson. The noted urban theorist and activist Jane Jacobs lived at 69 Albany Avenue for the 37 years up to her death in April 2006.[4] Members of the rock band Sloan also reside in the neighbourhood.

Seaton Village is the former home of Canadian poet and children's author Dennis Lee and Oscar-winning (for Chicago) sound engineer David Lee (no relation). It is the current home of novelist and playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald and sociologist Barry Wellman.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Statistics Canada Census 2006
  2. ^ Population of approx. 6 000 000 divided by average Annex population density of 8 500 people/km2 gives approx. 706 km2; current size of Greater Toronto Area is approx. 7 125km2. From Census 2001 Data and http://www.brocku.ca/maplibrary/atlas96/Toronto/TO_popdens.PDF
  3. ^ Bielski, Zosia. "Home on the strange: odd abodes celebrated", National Post, 12 August 2006. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  4. ^ Globe and Mail, 2006-04-29, page M3

[edit] External links


Forest Hill
v • d • e
 
Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson North Rosedale
West   The Annex    East
South
Palmerston-Little Italy
Languages