sophieb

We're planning on moving to Toronto in a couple of months (giving up on Montreal - yay!!) and were thinking of renting somewhere in the East End - Riverdale/Leslieville/Danforth. We've heard varying reports from "lovely funky neighbourhood" to "run-down and grim" so do any of you live there and can/can't recommend it??

We're still finalising jobs but it looks like we'll be working downtown so would like to be close (ish!) to a Metro line as we weren't planning on getting a car. We don't have kids so we're really just looking for somewhere liveable with shops/restaurants nearby.

And if you think this area is a bit grim, any other areas you can suggest for a couple of young, urban professionals. We're not keen on being out Mississauga way and would prefer to be closer to downtown Toronto.

magnumpi

Have a look at "The Beaches" a little further east, but still linked up with Trollies and buses. Great place to live, IMO if you can get a rental there.

http://www.thetorontobeaches.com/bea...al-Properties/

dbd33

The problem with the Beach is that there's no metro, only trams. I commuted from various addresses in Leslieville and the Beach by tram for a while but eventually gave up and drove to work (mind, I have a parking spot, having to pay to park might have changed my mind about driving). The subway would be quicker but would likely involving changing at Yonge and Bloor which can be really quite busy.

Anyway, none of it is grim (expect the Ulster Arms), Riverdale is flaming, the Danforth gets duller as you go east.

magnumpi

Agreed, i would not want to go much further east than Greenwood.

dbd33

Thinking of Greenwood, I lived near the bottom of that street for a couple of years, that's a good spot for catching the Queen car as it's the last place going east where all the trams go.

sophieb

Thanks for all your advice.

We've been having problems finding an apartment in Danforth that isn't a basement apartment though and I'd find that too dark, especially in the winter! So, we've decided to stretch the budget a little and are seeing a couple of great places in/near Downtown instead.