Crosby

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Crosby
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      History:

      Parker Crosby emigarted to Canada in 1844. He hailed from Cumberland, England. He was a successful merchant who operated a dry goods store at Yonge Street and Richmond. After the first store was destroyed in a fire in 1866, the resilient Crosby rebuilt his business in a fire resistant dwelling and renamed it “The Fire Proof”.In 1863 Parker and Mary Crosby built their home Crosby Hall at 38 Bedford Park Avenue just south of the present day Crosby Avenue. This Victorian Ontario farmhouse was distinguished by a large central cupola that was a Richmond Hill landmark. The Parker’s son Issac bricked the home around 1889. Issac also took over the family business which was a staple for many generations of Richmond Hill residents.

      Editors Note: The Richmond Hill Heritage Centre is located in the Crosby neighbourhood at 19 Church Street North. The Richmond Hill Heritage Centre is based in an 1840s restored Regency style cottage. The history of Richmond Hill is on display within the walls of this building with various exhibits, programs and workshops.

      Overview:

      The Crosby neighbourhood is part of Richmond Hill’s charming downtown core along Yonge Street. This neighbourhood is comprised of many different enclaves of homes built up at different times spanning over 100 years. The oldest part of the neighbourhood is in the Centre Street area where the houses date back to the 1800s when Richmond Hill was still a village. Some houses are designated with historical plaques while older streets have signage that proclaims the history of the Village of Richmond Hill established in 1873. Neighbourhood topographical landmarks include the Rouge River and the railway as well as a green corridor of connecting parks that traverse through the centre of this neighbourhood. There is a light industrial corridor that runs off Crosby Avenue on the approach to Yonge Street.Crosby residents enjoy many benefits of living in the middle of downtown Richmond Hill. Nearby amenities include: the many shops and restaurants along Yonge Street, the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Riichmond Hill Central Public Library, and the Elgin Barrow Arena complex. There are also outstanding parks and recreational facilities in this neighbourhood. Commuters are also well served with numerous bus lines and and a Go Transit train station.

      Lifestyle:

      Richmond Hills primary shopping, business and entertainment district is situated along Yonge Street, north of Major Mackenzie Drive. Along this stretch you will find an eclectic mix of stores as well as restaurants and professional services.

      Homes:

      Virtually any type of home can be found in the Crosby neighbourhood which is a repository of house styles dating back to the late 1800s right up to the present. At the south end of the neighbourhood around Centre Street is the oldest part of the neighbourhood where the street signs proudly proclaim that you are in the Village of Richmond Hill founded in 1873. The whimsical heritage homes with pretty front porches that grace this neighbourhood date back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. Fanning out from Centre Street there are random pockets of bungalows, ranch-style homes, and infill two storey detached homes.that would have been built most in the 1950s and 60s.The north section of the neighbourhood closer to Crosby Avenue features ranch-style and split-level houses as well as detached homes and bungalows from the 1950s onwards. The lots are big with expansive front lawns and private driveways. The streets are tree-iined without sidewalks making for a rustic and very pretty setting.

      Recreation:

      Crosby Park located at at the corner of Newkirk Road and Crosby Avenue, has a childrens playground and water play area as well as a Sensory Garden with a variety of annuals, herbs, perennials and grasses. This park has trails that are popular for bird watching. There are colourful birdhouses and artwork displays in the park. Centennial Pool is located adjacent to Crosby Park. This is a beautiful indoor swimming facility with six lanes. Crosby Park is also the home of the Richmond Hill Lawn Tennis Club which has six hard courts with lights and a clubhouse.Town Park off Church Street has a large baseball diamond, tennis courts, lawn bowling and a children’s playground.

      Arts:

      Located in the heart of the historic downtown on Yonge Street at Wright Avenue, the landmark Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts (RHCPA) is a beautiful 4,000 square metre, 631 seat, state of the art cultural facility that offers a full season of professional entertainment celebrating the many cultures of York Region. The Centre is also home to Richmond Hill’s diverse arts community, creating a major venue in the downtown core to bring Canadian and International performers to the area.

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          Crosby Stats

          Walkability:

          High

          Bikeability:

          High

          Public Transit:

          High

          Affordability:

          Low

          Greenspace:

          High

          Recreation:

          High

           

          Legend: Low, Medium, High

          Commute Times

          Time to Closest Shopping Mall:
          10 Minutes
          Time to GO Bus or Train Station:
          5 Minutes
          Time To Hospital:
          15 Minutes
          Time to Toronto Pearson International Airport
          45 Minutes
          Time to Closest Highway:
          10 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.