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It doesn't matter. Bedbugs can embed themselves in wood, even in human skin I heard . If an apartment is infested and treated they can just crawl to the other apartments. Again, try to look at the feedback and reviews of buildings on those sites, and if you go see an apartment you like, try hanging around the building if you can and ask some residents what they think of living there.
Here's a recent article: Bed bugs so bad in Toronto they'll soon spread on transit, in theatres, experts warn - Posted Toronto (http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/11/10/bed-bugs-so-bad-in-toronto-they-ll-soon-spread-on-transit-in-theatres-experts-warn.aspx - broken link)
It doesn't matter. Bedbugs can embed themselves in wood, even in human skin I heard . If an apartment is infested and treated they can just crawl to the other apartments. Again, try to look at the feedback and reviews of buildings on those sites, and if you go see an apartment you like, try hanging around the building if you can and ask some residents what they think of living there.
I have to say, I was concerned when I looked at the map and saw so many reports of infested apartments. Some of the comments were saying that building managers normally spray only the affected apartment, not the whole building (which does not help towards a permanent solution).
I would understand the proliferation of bugs in warmer climates, like Miami. I did not expect this kind of pest to be so prevalent in colder climates (but, if bugs are said to be the only animal form that would survive a nuclear disaster, why wouldn't bedbugs survive cold weather, eh?)
I have to say, I was concerned when I looked at the map and saw so many reports of infested apartments. Some of the comments were saying that building managers normally spray only the affected apartment, not the whole building (which does not help towards a permanent solution).
I would understand the proliferation of bugs in warmer climates, like Miami. I did not expect this kind of pest to be so prevalent in colder climates (but, if bugs are said to be the only animal form that would survive a nuclear disaster, why wouldn't bedbugs survive cold weather, eh?)
Bona-fide apartments in Toronto tend to be crappy as the pro-tenancy rental laws are so strong, it discourages investment into any rental property (take a look at the last unsubsidized apartment building built!).
If you're looking for "apartment" style living, rent a condo or room(s) in a house. There's been plenty of condo stock as Toronto has experienced a condo boom over the past 5+ years. Renting in Toronto is cheaper than buying too.
Funny.. Little Italy has a few Italian shops still, but the new Little Italy is basically Woodbridge and Maple.. in the suburbs. The grandparents came and bought in the west end and then moved north, and are now in York Region as well as a swath north of where they started.
St. Clair from Dufferin to Lansdowne used to be quite Italian, second and third generation Italian Canadians seem to be moving into the places their grandparents lived in and then moved on.
I know what you are saying about the condo owner problem, but I can't help but think that a big rental property might be a problem. However an apartment in a triplex or sixplex or something like that is likely fine. I will check on the Ohara thing.
Love Little Italy on College. If you want the best Italian pizza try Bitondo's..you won't regret it!
Anyway, if you are a young professional then Yonge and Eglington might be the place for you. Everything you need right at your doorstep (subway, theatre, restaurants, bars, library, shopping etc..) plus it one of the most happening places in the city. You might also want to look at Rosedale and Davisville if you like upscale and trendy. Beware however... you will pay through your nose in Rosedale while Yonge & Eg's pretty affordable.
Pretty well anywhere along Yonge Street is fine and High Park is also another option for as well.
There is a growing bedbug problem in Toronto...and not just in the "seedy" areas. If you're interested in a place check on here to make sure they don't have bedbugs, although some buildings might not be listed.
What a great (yet scary) web site. Shocked my old apartment in Toronto is NOT on the list.. LOL..
I have to say, I was concerned when I looked at the map and saw so many reports of infested apartments. Some of the comments were saying that building managers normally spray only the affected apartment, not the whole building (which does not help towards a permanent solution).
I would understand the proliferation of bugs in warmer climates, like Miami. I did not expect this kind of pest to be so prevalent in colder climates (but, if bugs are said to be the only animal form that would survive a nuclear disaster, why wouldn't bedbugs survive cold weather, eh?)
One piece of advice: don't trust those complaints too much. First, information on those websites is biased: only those who had bad experience would post there; second, many people are very hard to please. Given a four seasons suite, they will still complain about this and that.
My apartment in downtown Toronto had so many horrible comments from this website that I am glad that I didn't see those before I moved it. It is a simple no frills place but the management always keeps the public place clean and safe, and the suites are in good conditions too.
If you read reviews on hotel review websites such as tripadvisor, hell those people are good at complaining and whining about teeny tiny stuff. One thing makes them unhappy (such as the staff didn't smile when talking to them), they leave the worst score on all categories. Many "horrible" and "unbearable" hotels turned out to be quite agreeable for me. I guess many people wanted to be treated queens and kings, and hence the disappointment.
I lived in Toronto for many years and if I was to move back I would only consider "The Beaches". The area from Woodbine to Victoria Park, east to west and from the lake up to Gerrard north to south. I would look for an apartment right on Queen above a store. I have had a couple of really awsome ones over the years. My youngest daughter had a beautiful apartment right over the little cafe that she managed. What a setup. She almost never made less than $200 a shift in tips on top of her salary. It's minutes to downtown on the streetcar, very close to the subway and just the greatest neighbourhood in all of the GTA. It's all parkland along the beach with a boardwalk and never ending action. It's a mix of everything from upperclass to students and the entire area has a social agenda. It has always been a bastion of the NDP party which is the socialist party of Canada so there is all the programs that reflect that. Check it out, you will like it I'm sure.
I found some offers in the areas below. I would be interested in knowing what type of neighborhoods these are (e.g., safe/unsafe, singles/families, etc.):
- Yonge and St. Clair
- St. Clair and Bathurst
- Bloor and Sherbourne
- Bloor and Parliament (Cabbagetown?)
- River and Gerard
- O'Hara Ave. and Cunningham Ave. (West side)
- College and Dufferin (West side)
- Bloor St. W and Shaw St. (near Korea Town / Little Italy)
When I say "city feel", I mean an apartment building where you can go down and buy the newspaper in a nearby convenience store, or get some milk or other necessities, maybe with a sidewalk cafe nearby, as opposed to the suburbs, where you would have to drive quite a distance for any minor need (unless suburbs in Toronto work more like satellite cities, and they have a life of their own).
If you know any of the areas above, any opinions / suggestions / pointers / etc. will be greatly appreciated.
What type of people cultures etc are you most comfortable with and what style living are you looking at in affordability? Unless you can afford a nice place I would stay away from Parliment, Wellesley, Shurbourne anything around there unless like I said you can afford something in the upscale. St.James Town is a HOLE! So is everything along Gerrard from Broadview to Parliment. And all along Dundas from the same streets. Yonge and St. Clair is nice Almost anything around Yonge is ok with the exception of a couple of places. Little Italy is nice but not much of it left! The Annex is nice. Do not go into Parkdale! I know T.O. like the back of my hand so I can give you a lot of info...Main and Danforth is another not so hot area convenient but over priced and over run with drugs crime and other elements.
What type of people cultures etc are you most comfortable with and what style living are you looking at in affordability?
I'd like a place with good, decent, mature people, e.g., I'm not into the bar scene, party animals, posers, yuppies, etc. Any culture is fine, as long as the individuals are open minded and accepting of the guy next door. In the past I've said I would like to find Hispanic and Italian areas, but then I'm saddened to see Hispanic neighbourhoods may not be in the best place of town, may have higher crime rates (for whatever reason, not necessarily because there are Hispanics in the area), and in the end, they are not places I would feel comfortable in. The bottom line is, safe and nice would be my goal.
In terms of affordability, two years ago I was paying $450 a month for a nice, though small (550 sqf) apartment in north Florida. A year and a half ago I moved to upstate New York, where I'm paying $700 for a slightly larger apartment (675 sqf).
Aparently the further up north I move the more expensive housing gets haha. So in Toronto I don't think (given the ads I've been looking at) I will spend less than $900 for a 1bed/1bath apartment. And anything with a nice view (like a view of the downtown skyline) would not be less than $1200...
yonge and st.clair all the way if you want safe....good subway access but y ou don't want to be close to too many bad areas...definetly yonge and st.clair
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. If an apartment is infested and treated they can just crawl to the other apartments. Again, try to look at the feedback and reviews of buildings on those sites, and if you go see an apartment you like, try hanging around the building if you can and ask some residents what they think of living there. 
