The Annex

Banner Photo:  "Toronto The Annex 11" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by rouilleralain

The Annex is one of Toronto’s most vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods. It is home to a unique and eclectic mix of successful businesspeople, artists and creative professionals, university students, and families with deep roots in the area. Its quiet, leafy streets, stately homes, and beautiful architecture make it one of the downtown area’s most in-demand districts.

 Informally, the Annex is bounded by Dupont Street to the north, Avenue Road to the east, Bloor Street West to the south, and Bathurst Street to the west. The City of Toronto uses a slightly different definition, expanding the neighbourhood’s boundaries to include the adjacent districts of Yorkville, which lies east of Avenue Road, and Seaton Village, which is just west of Bathurst.

History

The Annex is one of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods, with a history of immigrant settlement dating to the 1790s. Initially incorporated into York Township, the Annex was subdivided into individual lots beginning in the 1870s as Toronto’s growth accelerated. Between this point and the 1920s, the Annex was widely considered Toronto’s most prestigious neighbourhood, and was home to many if its wealthiest and most prominent citizens. Timothy Eaton, the founder of the Eaton’s department store chain, was among its well-known early residents.

Today, the Annex is a close-knit neighbourhood, retaining the elite qualities of its storied history while remaining welcoming and accessible. Its residents are strongly committed to preserving the district’s unique character, which is evident at every turn.

Most of the homes in the Annex date to the late 19^th or early 20^th centuries, with a characteristic annex house featuring highly detailed Victorian architecture. The Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque styles are also prominently featured on the Annex’s placid, tree-lined streets. Annex homes are also well-known for their distinctive and detailed, yet classic and understated exterior detail. Brick, sandstone, and terra cotta facades dominate the neighbourhood.

"Toronto The Annex 7" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by rouilleralain

A newer generation of homes, mostly in the Georgian and Tudor Revival styles, was also built in the mid-20^th century. These homes tend to display less bombast in their exterior detail, yet  project a quiet elegance that suits the neighbourhood perfectly.

Detached and semi-detached single-family homes are the most common property option in the Annex, though some townhouses are also available. As residents of the Annex fiercely protect the historic character of their neighbourhood, modern condominium developments are largely relegated to the major streets on the neighbourhood’s periphery. Condo buyers will find plenty of options along these corridors.

Neighbourhood Amenities

Schools

The Annex is in the Toronto District School Board’s Ward 10. Nearby public schools include:

• Huron Street Junior Public School (541 Huron Street)
• Palmerston Avenue Junior Public School (734 Palmerston Avenue)
• Cottingham Junior Public School (85 Birch Avenue)
• Hillcrest Community School (junior kindergarten to grade six) (44 Hilton Avenue)
• Jesse Ketchum Junior and Senior Public School (61 Davenport Road)

Students in the Catholic system can attend:

• St. Raymond Catholic School (270 Barton Avenue)
• St. Joseph College (girls’ only high school) (74 Wellesley Street West)

Many of Toronto’s most highly regarded private schools are also conveniently located, with easy access from the Annex:

• Royal St. George’s College (boys only, grades 3-12) (120 Howland Avenue)
• Howlett Academy (junior kindergarten to grade eight) (15 Madison Avenue)
• Blyth Academy, Yorkville campus (grades 9-12) (85 St. Nicholas Street)
• Waldorf Academy (junior kindergarten to grade eight) (250 Madison Avenue)
• The Mabin School (elementary school) (50 Poplar Plains Road)
• Upper Canada College (200 Lonsdale Road)

Please note that private schools establish and maintain their own admissions policies. Parents of prospective students should contact each school directly with questions out admissions and eligibility criteria.

The Annex is also very close to the University of Toronto’s St. George campus, making the area popular with university students.

Services

Residents of the Annex are within easy walking distance of everything they need for their day-to-day lives. Most businesses and retail outlets are clustered along the major streets that border the Annex, with Bloor Street West offering a particularly complete range of restaurants, coffee shops, boutiques, and healthcare and professional services offices. A few pubs and casual eateries are also nestled into the quieter residential streets in the neighbourhood’s interior.

"The Annex, Toronto" (CC BY-ND 2.0) by chrislee-cm

Transit

The Annex boasts an outstanding Walk Score of 94 and an even better Transit Score of 97. Most neighbourhood residents catch the subway at St. George station, which serves Line 1’s University-Spadina branch as well as Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth). Southbound streetcars are available at the Spadina subway station, and another Line 1 subway station is located at Dupont Street.

A subway trip from St. George to Union Station typically takes less than 15 minutes.

Culture and Recreation

The Annex’s main cultural attraction is the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), a world-renowned natural history and arts museum that draws millions of visitors each year. Annex residents are within easy walking distance of the ROM, which is located at 100 Queens Park.

Downtown Toronto’s vibrant theatre, cultural, arts, and entertainment districts are easily accessible within minutes on the subway.