Todmorden Village

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Todmorden Village
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      History:

      Todmorden Village grew up around a complex of mills and a brewery that operated near the banks of the Don River beginning in 1795. Many of Todmorden’s original families, including the Helliwells and Eastwoods came from Todmorden Village in Yorkshire England. It is this English Village that Todmorden is named after. The Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum situated at the foot of Pottery Road and a small number of workers houses east of Broadview Avenue are vivid reminders of this pioneer community. The history of the Todmorden area north of O’Connor is dominated by the Taylor family who came to the Don Valley in 1834. The Taylors owned all of the land north of O’Connor between Broadview and Woodbine Avenues. The Taylors’ business empire in the Don Valley included paper mills, saw mills, grist mills, and the Don Valley Pressed Brick Works which supplied the bricks for many of Toronto’s houses and commercial buildings.

      The Taylor estates were subdivided in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s, which led to the residential development of the north end of Todmorden Village.

       

      Overview:

      The Todmorden Village neighbourhood is a mature, established community with quiet tree-lined streets and solid brick family homes. The rustic beauty of this neighbourhood is shaped by its location perched atop the ancient slopes of the Don Valley ravine. The vast amount of urban forest that shapes the western and northern boundaries of this neighbourhood make Todmorden Village one of the more peaceful and tranquil settings in Toronto.

      Lifestyle:

      The Pape Village shopping district south of O’Connor is brimming with local retailers that cater to the homeowners in the surrounding area. This busy shopping district is very diverse and includes everything from hardware stores and pharmacies to grocery stores, bakeries, and restaurants. The retail district located at Broadview Avenue and Pottery Road includes a large grocery store, restaurants, a health centre, and professional offices. On a hot summer day, it’s worth a stop at the local Dairy Queen at the north-west corner of Broadview and Pottery Road. At the back of this Dairy Queen is an observation platform that provides a spectacular view of the Don River Valley. The Evergreen Brick Works situated in the Don Valley ravine off the Bayview Extension seems like a world away from everyday life in Toronto. Evergreen Brick Works is Toronto’s newest Green initiative and it is attracting visitors of all ages from all parts of the city who are gathering here to shop at the popular farmers market, hike along nature trails and to learn about Toronto’s urban nature. One of the highlights of the Evergreen Brick Works is the immensely popular Saturday Farmers’ market. There are a plethora of vendors at this market selling everything from native plants and organically grown local fruits and vegetables to freshly baked bread and organic meats. One popular vendor delights the early morning and lunchtime crowd by selling freshly made crepes as well as breakfast burritos. Waffles and organic lemonade are other popular stops for hungry shoppers enjoying the fresh air of the open market.

      Homes:

      The houses west of Broadview Avenue consist primarily of Tudor and Cottage style brick homes from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Sprinkled into this mix are Victorian cottages and row houses that date from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. These homes are holdovers from the old Todmorden Village. Many of the houses in this part of the neighbourhood back onto the Don Valley Ravine and enjoy a marvellous view of the city. There are also a handful of low-rise and high-rise apartment buildings situated in this part of the neighbourhood. The six streets north of O’Connor between Pape and Donlands Avenues have been coined “The Golden Triangle” by real estate agents. These charming Tudor style homes were built in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s and include many decorative accents like front porches, leaded glass windows, wood burning fireplaces, beautiful wood trim and hardwood floors. The north-east pocket of Todmorden Village around Four Oaks Park contains some of the prettier stone and brick bungalows in the city. These cosy homes are ideal for singles, couples and empty nesters.

      Recreation:

      Todmorden Village residents enjoy convenient access to the Central Don network of parks that follow the valleys of the West Don River and Taylor Creek. These parks are linked together by a nine kilometre paved trail that is ideal for nature walks, picnics, jogging, and cycling. The Todmorden Mills Heritage Museum and Arts Centre is located off Pottery Road. This heritage museum offers year-round programs for the whole family including art classes, a lecture series, a nature program, theatrical plays, and special pioneer festivals. Access to the Lower Don Valley nature trail is located off Pottery Road and at Beechwood Avenue. On your way into this parkland you might want to catch a glimpse of the charming red brick house at number 20-22 Beechwood Avenue. This house was built in 1840 by the Taylor family, and is the oldest privately owned residence in Todmorden Village. The East York Community Centre located at 1081 and 1/2 Pape Avenue, offers year-round recreational programs for the whole family. This community centre features a swimming pool, a gymnasium, a weight room and a small public library.

      Transportation:

      Bus services on Broadview Avenue and O’Connor Drive connect passengers to the Broadview station on the Bloor-Danforth subway line, while the Pape Avenue bus connects passengers to the Pape station, also on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Motorist can drive downtown in five to ten minutes via either the Bloor Viaduct or the Bayview Extension. Commuters are just a few minutes from the Don Valley Parkway, which connects motorists to a series of highways that span the Greater Metropolitan Toronto Region. The Bayview Extension and Don Valley Parkway can be accessed from Pottery Road.

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          Todmorden Village Stats

          Walkability:

          Medium

          Bikeability:

          Medium

          Public Transit:

          Medium

          Affordability:

          Medium

          Greenspace:

          High

          Recreation:

          Medium

           

          Legend: Low, Medium, High

          Commute Times

          Time to Closest Shopping Mall:
          20 Minutes
          Time To TTC Station:
          10 Minutes
          Time to GO Bus or Train Station:
          25 Minutes
          Time To Hospital:
          15 Minutes
          Time to Toronto Pearson International Airport
          35 Minutes
          Time to Closest Highway:
          5 Minutes

          * All commuting times provided are approximate times only. Commute times may increase or decrease depending on where you live within the neighbourhood and the time of day i.e rush hour versus off hour commutes. Time estimates to public transit are based on walking distance or bus line connection whichever is quicker. All other commute times on the chart above are based on drive times.

          School Guide

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          Toronto School Resources

          Editor’s Note. BEFORE MOVING INTO, BUYING OR RENTING A HOME, PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL YOU ARE CONSIDERING BY PHONE to ensure your home is within the designated boundaries and that your child is age appropriate. WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MISINFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL ENROLLMENT SO DO NOT ASSUME that your child can automatically attend a specific school or specialized program until you have official confirmation from that school. Please visit the school board web sites for more information.