Lansing

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Lansing

      History:

      Lansing was first settled by Joseph Shepard, who built a log house on Yonge Street at Sheppard Avenue in 1798. Shepard was a swashbuckling character who traded furs with the First Nations people, fought in the battle of York against the Americans and operated saw and grist mills on the banks of the Don River.

      Shepard was a close friend of William Lyon Mackenzie, who led the Toronto rebellion in 1837. Shepard passed away just prior to the rebellion, however his four sons were active participants in the revolt. Joseph and Jacob were captured and spent time in prison, while Thomas and Michael escaped from the Kingston Penitentiary and fled to the United States.

      In 1813 the Shepard brothers were pardoned by the Queen and returned to Lansing to carry on their fathers business. In 1860 Joseph Shepard built a general store and a residence on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue. He added a post office in 1866. This post office was given the name “Lansing” by Shepard’s daughter Saida.

      The Lansing general store and post office – later known as Dempsey Brothers Hardware Store – was a fixture in this neighbourhood until 1966 when it was moved to its present location at 250 Beecroft Road, where it now serves as a public museum and office for the North York Archives.

      Overview:

      Lansing is conveniently located along the Yonge Street corridor near the former North York City Hall and the North York Civic Centre. Lansing is a surprisingly peaceful and quiet neighbourhood, considering it’s central location. This neighbourhood is sheltered from outside traffic by its borders which include the Don River Valley, York Cemetery, and Beecroft Road.

      Lifestyle:

      The Yonge Street shopping corridor is brimming with coffee shops and restaurants. This shopping area is anchored by the Yonge Sheppard Centre a modern indoor shopping centre featuring a wide range of retailers, restaurants and a fitness centre.

      Homes:

      Lansing streetscapes feature gently swaying pine trees and grand old maple trees that compliment the whimsical mix of Edwardian, Tudor, English Cottage and Craftsman style houses that were originally built in this neighbourhood. These houses were built between the 1920s and 1940s. Many of the bungalows have been bought by developers and replaced with luxurious new custom built homes.

      Historical houses in this neighbourhood include the Joseph Shepard house, circa 1835, located at 90 Bundle Avenue, The Michael Shepard house, circa 1859 which now serves as the York Cemetery office; the Joseph Shepard House/Dempsey Brothers Store, circa 1860 at 250 Beecroft Road; and the former house of Canadian artist and Group of Seven member Frank Carmichael, circa 1918, located at 21 Cameron Avenue.

      Recreation:

      The North York Civic Centre at Beecroft Drive is one of Toronto’s finest sports and entertainment centres. This complex includes the massive North York Central Library, and the Douglas Snow Aquatic Centre which is recognized as one of Canada’s top all-purpose aquatic facilities. Across the street from the civic centre on Beecroft Drive is the Willowdale Lawn Bowling Club.

      Adjacent to the civic centre is Mel Lastman Square, a multi-faceted civic square that is equipped with a spacious amphitheatre, intimate wedding pavilion, a garden court and a reflecting pool which doubles as a skating rink in the wintertime. Mel Lastman Square is also the site of many ceremonies, festivals and annual events including the very popular North York Winter Carnival.

      The Meridian Arts Centre for the Performing Arts located at 5040 Yonge Street includes the Art Gallery of North York, the George Weston Recital Hall and the Studio Theatre.

      The very scenic Gwendolen Park has an active community tennis club, a baseball diamond and a children’s playground. Earl Bales Park located south of Sheppard Avenue is the home of the North York Ski Centre which offers downhill skiing and snowboarding at reasonable rates from December to March.

      When you think of Downsview in North York you might immediately think of Yorkdale Shopping Centre, the Allen Expressway and the former Canadian Forces base (CFB Toronto) that occupies a huge swath of land that extends from WilsonHeights to Keele Street and from Wilson Avenue to Sheppard Avenue West.

      Now there is a new neighbourhood landmark: DownsviewPark. Situated on the former CFB Toronto land, DownsviewPark is Canada’s only national urban park. This mammoth park sits on 572 acres of green space conveniently located right in the middle of Toronto, making it accessible for all to enjoy.

      Development of DownsviewPark began in 2006; it’s still a work in progress. It will continue to evolve over the next few decades, as the master plan calls for the creation of five new neighbourhoods with mixed use including residential, parkland, commercial, educational and institutional. This is one of the largest redevelopment projects ever initiated in the city of Toronto.

      In respect for the land’s former use — the home of De Havilland Aircraft Company and later a Canadian Forces base — this development includes the historical preservation of the former Downsview Hangar, a collection of steel, glass and concrete structures that once stored WWII aircraft. The Hangar is now enjoying a new life as a 45,000 square metre multi-purpose recreational facility that includes indoor fields, beach volleyball courts and ball hockey arena, as well as a pro shop and a restaurant called The Hangar Grill.

      Downsview Park also has a Discovery Centre and Film Studios and has been able to attract a number of exciting tenants including: Canadian Air and Space Museum, Defcon Paintball, Downsview Park Arts Alliance, Downsview Park Merchants Market, Grand Prix Kartways, HoopDome, North York Soccer Association, The Rail Skate Park, Toronto Roller Derby League, Toronto School of Circus Arts, Treble Clef Music School and True North Climbing.

      In addition to all its permanent facilities DownsviewPark hosts events year-round. A fall fair, a three-on-three street hockey tournament, a spring Earth Day festival, Downsview Park’s Trail of Lights during the Christmas season, and Canada Day at Downsview Park are just a few of these annual events. With all of these great facilities and events DownsviewPark is sure to become one of Toronto’s most popular recreational destinations.

      The Downsview Park Hangar a perfect setting for indoor soccer.

      Transportation:

      Bus service on Sheppard Avenue, Bathurst Street, Yonge Street, and Senlac Road connects passengers to the Sheppard subway station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. This Sheppard subway station is within walking distance of most Lansing residents.

      Yonge Street provides a direct route to downtown Toronto in approximately twenty-five minutes. Lansing commuters can gain immediate access to the Yonge Street on-ramp to Highway 401 located just south of Sheppard Avenue.

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          Lansing Stats

          Walkability:

          High

          Public Transit:

          High

          Affordability:

          Low

          Greenspace:

          Medium

          Recreation:

          High

           

          Legend: Low, Medium, High

          Commute Times

          Time to Closest Shopping Mall:
          5 Minutes
          Time To TTC Station:
          5 Minutes
          Time to GO Bus or Train Station:
          15 Minutes
          Time To Hospital:
          10 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.