View Sutton Bayview Neighbourhoods in a larger map

Area Description:

Lawrence Park is a wonderful place in which to live and offers the affluent an ideal Toronto location in which to raise their families. The housing, however, is very expensive, mainly because the lot sizes are typically oversized – if not huge – by City of Toronto standards (most lots have a 50 foot frontage and a 150 feet depth) and land in this part of the city is very dear indeed.

The neighbourhood’s name comes from John Lawrence, who owned the majority of the property there and sold it to a development company (Dovercourt Land Co.) in 1907. The lots were sold to various builders and owners and homes were constructed until well into the 1950’s. Some of the homes include architectural gems that still shine brightly: think stained glass and leaded glass windows, wood paneling, perfectly proportioned rooms, natural stone walkways and terraces, porticoes, etc.

Some exquisite older residences are built along St. Edmunds Drive, just east of the Yonge and Lawrence intersection. The newer part of “the park” is in the southeast section, Stratford and Stratheden Roads. Lawrence Park homes feature many architectural styles, from classic Georgian to English cottage. Many of the typical houses are 4- or 5-bedroom, two or three-storey residences with centre hall design.

Builders still scramble to secure the occasional lot on which a new home can be developed. These days it is commonplace to see a house on a good Lawrence Park lot sell in excess of one million dollars, only for the house itself to come down and be replaced with a magnificent multi-million dollar residence within a year.

The area of Lawrence Park from Mt. Pleasant to Yonge has curving, circling streets that discourage flow-through traffic, so that peaceful, quiet properties can be found right in the middle of town. Shopping on the perimeters of Lawrence Park functions as another traffic reducer.

The section of Glengowan between Garland and Strathgowan has been called “Millionaire’s Row” for as long as I can remember; perhaps it should now be called “Multi-Millionaire’s Row”! Take a drive along there to see some exquisite real estate.

A strong Anglo Saxon heritage still seems to be the order of the day for most of the residents. There are many lawyers and businesspeople who are proud to call Lawrence Park home, but its residents also include sports stars and entertainment personalities. Even visiting royalty has stayed in Lawrence Park. The Lawrence station of the Yonge subway line is within walking distance for many of the residents and for others a short bus ride away.

Lawrence Park is home to my favourite public park in Toronto: Alexander Muir Park, an absolute gem in the centre of the city. There are formal gardens and glorious rolling lawns leading to impeccably maintained flower beds and jogging/walking trails along the ravines.

Home to quite an affluent crowd, Lawrence Park is a Toronto address of note.

Boundaries:

Blythwood Road on the South
Bayview Avenue on the East
Lawrence Avenue on the North
Yonge Street on the West

(The boundaries named above are the traditionally accepted boundaries of Lawrence Park, but more recently the area south of Blythwood, which includes Blyth Hill and Blyth Dale Roads, are also deemed to be part of Lawrence Park proper.)