Hi,
I'm looking for a new place to rent, and I'm wondering if St Clair/Bathrust neighborhood is good to live in, because the prices are somewhat much lower than St Clair/Yonge... I saw there is a grocery store and subway station, so it seems great. However, most of the buildings look pretty old and not in good shape... someone knows a bit about the building at 1500 Bathurst?
Thanks if you have some insights!

Welcome aboard, blue.

I don't know that particular building, but the neighbourhood is pretty much OK.

Bathurst is like a linear Israel, while St. Clair around there is Portugal and Italy shaken up together. Frankly a lot of building in Toronto is pretty old and not in good shape.

Does this web site help you figure out what is what...click on Birds Eye for the best coverage...you can look at the area in a few different directions.

http://maps.live.com/Default.aspx?q=...41NzIyNjU2MjU=

This is one area that I really like, but rental options aren't too good, it is all the same sort of layout in most of the buildings we looked at and the space aspect for us wasn't good.

I find it a very good kids friendly area, there is an indoor playground (not too many of them about) a big park.

Shops-wise the Loblaws is massive, one of the biggest in Toronto and there is a LCBO there as well. There is also a Leonidas there and they have the best frappucino drinks I have ever had. From what I remember there is a Subway, Tim Hortons, Second Cup, Post Office, Shoppers Drug Mart in the area.

The subway station is very near Loblaws, and you have the Bathurst bus as well which doesn't take too long to get to the station. There is also the St Clair tram which takes you to St Clair station and also the Italian area which you could walk as well.

If it wasn't for lack of rental opportunities we would be there now.

Thanks for all answers... Yes, the location seems pretty convenient. Too bad, I haven't found any decent rental place so far... so, I keep on looking... I still have 3 weeks before being homeless!

In the past 6 months there have been noticeably fewer good quality rental units at reasonable prices in Toronto in general, but the st clair/avenue, st clair/bathurst area is always a tough one on budget.

Babsi is right about the area, but larger apartment buildings in the city are generally not in good shape. Some smaller buildings (about 9 units or less) have been kept in good shape if the landlord cares about the premises. You might want to look preferentially for smaller buildings, apartments in houses, or condos (there aren't many in that area) in that part of the city.