Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My wife and me will be relocating temporarily for a year to Canada in July and my work place will be near the Toronto International airport. I am trying to figure out a which would be a convenient place to live, both from a commute perspective as well as social perspective like restaurants, entertainment, etc.
Is Toronto downtown a good place to live? I can see that there are a number or new condos available on rent. I will be having a car. Is driving to work a good option? Google Maps shows that the driving time is approximately 20 minutes to the airport. Is that a realistic estimate during office rush hours?
What are the other commuting options available?
The reason I am looking to live in the downtown area is due to its convenient access to the best things offered by Toronto. Are there any drawbacks of living in downtown are which I should consider before making the decision?
How's living in downtown Toronto comparable to living somewhere like Mississauga. The Square One area seems to also have a lot of new condos available for rent.
Congratulations, hope you enjoy your stay. You don't need to answer but where are you from out of curiousity. I only ask because I mght be able to suggest some events and venues that may remind you of home, while you're making new friends around the city.
In answer to your question, Toronto is a very urban city, so the downtown has a lot of life going on, around the clock. Google maps I find are very optimistic at judging time allowances during travel. I suspect that they only take distance and speed into the equation and forget to adjust for stolights and traffic jams. Realistically I would think that a drive from downtown to the airport, is more in the range of an hour at peak rush times, and a little of half hour during non peak times.
My experience living in the square one area is that a drive to the airport during rush morning is around a half hour, and that is cutting it very close.
Below I have included the mls site so you could check out rental pricing around the GTA. REALTOR.ca - Welcome
I will advice that you live around the West end of Toronto specifically Bloor Village. It has the best that downtown Toronto has to offer without the crime and traffic. From Bloor Village to the Airport will take you about 30min in the morning but the same trip from downtown is about one hour due to heavier traffic immediately around downtown. Look up Bloor west on google, it has some great restaurant, high park is right there, bike trails and a neighorhood feel. Most of the Condo areas of downtown are not fun, just mass with no sass. The best are west of university (China town, Annex, little Itally but they are $$$$$ and very few condos)
Hmm maybe port credit in mississauga. Its about right in between the airport and downtown. On lakeshore road there are a lot of bars and restaurants as well.
I have to say that for a city the size of Toronto, not having a rapid transit system directly linking downtown core and the airport is kind of shocking.
I'd suggest live in Yonge/Eglinton area, which basically has all the downtown convenience without the disadvantage. It is closer to the airport also I believe. I don't know how you guys define downtown, but usually anything west of Bathurst is not downtown any more, not to mention High Park. It just doesn't have the density any downtown should have.
I would like to thank all of you for your responses. So it looks like living in downtown may not be good idea w.r.to the commute to work.
I am currently located in NJ (a few miles away from Manhattan) and that's what lead me to looking at living in the downtown area just for the convenience factor.
I intend to do more research on High Park area, South Etobicoke and Bloor village. Are there any good online resources which can give me more information about these areas? How do these compare to Square One in Mississauga. What are the pros and cons of living in Toronto versus Mississauga?
I would like to thank all of you for your responses. So it looks like living in downtown may not be good idea w.r.to the commute to work.
I am currently located in NJ (a few miles away from Manhattan) and that's what lead me to looking at living in the downtown area just for the convenience factor.
I intend to do more research on High Park area, South Etobicoke and Bloor village. Are there any good online resources which can give me more information about these areas? How do these compare to Square One in Mississauga. What are the pros and cons of living in Toronto versus Mississauga?
Location is very important in the GTA, it is everyone else but its crucial here. Mississauga has a totally diff feel, its more of a suburban cookie cutter kind of place. Living in Toronto you will meet many other Americans as well as interesting well travelled Canadians. There are also nicer coffee shops, bookstores, artist, musicians etc Its just more colourful living closer to Toronto than out there in Mississauga. The Annex/Little Italy is the very best of Toronto followed by forest hill and Bloor village/high park comes third. These ofcourse are based on the criteria of rich culture, things to do and vibrant energetic people/neighorhoods.
I have to say that for a city the size of Toronto, not having a rapid transit system directly linking downtown core and the airport is kind of shocking.
I'd suggest live in Yonge/Eglinton area, which basically has all the downtown convenience without the disadvantage. It is closer to the airport also I believe. I don't know how you guys define downtown, but usually anything west of Bathurst is not downtown any more, not to mention High Park. It just doesn't have the density any downtown should have.
Yes, there are multiple proposals to deal with the lack of a rail link to the airport but it is an embarrassment for the city. The 1950s subway system was created around the bus and train stations rather than the airport.
The downtown has gradually moved westwards. Yonge Street used to be the centre of the city but now it seems to be the eastern edge of downtown.
I have always felt it is easier to travel North/South in Toronto than it is to deal with East/West traffic. I live near Yonge/Eglinton but I wouldn't want to scamper to the airport every day from here.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
