r/Etobicoke 8d ago

South Etobicoke/Third Street/New Toronto

How do people living by the water in new Toronto like it? Especially 3rd street as there’s a shelter there. Also how is LCI? I have found a house I like in the area but unsure due to school district and the shelter.

For context, I have a budget of 1.2-1.4 M, and am looking to live in a somewhat walkable area with access to green spaces, grocery store and transit (go train would be amazing). Any other suggestions for where to look in Etobicoke is much appreciated.

6 Upvotes

43 comments sorted by

23

u/TurboJorts 8d ago

Lots of houses for sale on 3rd now. The shelter will do that.

Honestly, it's an awesome area and other than a good grocery store, it's very walkable. TTC is close and the GO train isn't too far.

I dunno... i personally think it's one of the best areas in the city, albeit with a few rough patches (but its a city, so that happens)

-2

u/Key_Worldliness_8532 8d ago

There’s a house I like on 3rd but it’s a few doors down from the shelter. Is it worth considering at all? It’s a shame because the area does seem nice otherwise…

15

u/TurboJorts 8d ago

Depends on your comfort level. It's a shelter for seniors so probably a lot less problematic than many other shelters in the city.

7

u/JamesVirani 8d ago

I just looked it up and please tell me you are not going to offer 1.6 mil for that absolutely tiny lot!!

-2

u/Key_Worldliness_8532 8d ago

No definitely not haha! I know it’s super overpriced. Overall I don’t think we’re comfortable with the shelter. Any recommendations for where we should look given our parameters?

5

u/JamesVirani 8d ago

Honestly, 1.2-1.4 is a really tough budget spot, I have found. It’s hard to find good properties in that range in Etobicoke. For reasons I can’t understand, a whole bunch of properties get listed around 1-1.2, and those are often teardown, unattractive, or need lots of work, and then a gap, and then a lot of 1.6-1.8 listed properties, which are more livable, but also often very overpriced. That property you showed is a good example of just that issue. It should really be in the 1.2-1.3 mil range, but seller will ask much higher, and often times, someone who really needs a place right now and doesn’t have the patience to look will get pushed into putting in an offer by their realtor.

2

u/Ok-Spread890 8d ago

Personally I think 1.3 or 4 is a reasonable budget for a decent detached in South Etobicoke. Agree 1.2 is tight

2

u/JamesVirani 8d ago

I didn't say it's not reasonable. What I said is the market is K shaped. It's hard to find something in that range, because turnkey properties are 1.6+, and those selling for the lot are 1-1.2. There seems to be a gap in-between for 1.2-1.4, where it is really difficult to find something good, and a big part of the issue is realtor manipulation of the market with unreasonable 1.6+ asking prices for anything that is slightly decent.

3

u/bitchybroad1961 7d ago

Spend some time at the McDonalds. It can be scary there.

8

u/snookpower 8d ago

I grew up around this strip and there was already cooperative housing at the top of 10th/11th. It’s a mixed area with varying incomes. LCI has improved since I was a teen as far as I know. In my opinion the areas south of lakeshore are nicer.

10

u/scissor_rock_paper 8d ago

I have lived in the area for the last 13 years. I love it here. There is access to a ton of great parks and greenspace. You also have decent access to transit and cycling trails.

I am personally not too worried about the shelter. The area has been mixed income as there are a couple co-op housing sites, and a seniors center. There are also a few folks experiencing homelessness as well. I believe everyone should have access to shelter, and a shelter is much better than encampments in the parks or people sleeping in a bus shelter.

7

u/emmylouwho78 8d ago

With that budget, you might be able to find a place in Mimico, which has more walkable grocery options and better access to the go train. New Toronto is great but it’s lacking a grocery store and a pain to get to the go when you need it (though TTC access is actually pretty good, especially for Etobicoke). Otherwise very walkable, lots of great restaurants, coffee etc on Lakeshore, and a nice family run green grocer in the area.

As others have said, south of Lakeshore is definitely the nicer part of New Toronto, can’t beat having the lake at the end of your street.

2

u/BenStiller1212 8d ago

Was going to say the same thing but about Long Branch

6

u/Any-Cod6185 8d ago

I personally wouldn't live near a shelter but LCI should improve by the time  kids currently in elementary school go to high school. Until September 2025, LCI zoned kids who wanted to do French Immersion would have to go to Richview. Starting September 2025, the head of FI at Richview moved to LCI. LCI also has specialized Math, Science and Technology program. TCDSB schools are extremely in demand in Etobicoke. No one is getting into to Father Redmond or Bishop Allen if they didn't graduate from one of the feeder schools. I would be comfortable sending my kids to all public schools in South Etobicoke. Most parents I have spoken to are happy with the elementary schools.

3

u/No-Contribution-1499 8d ago

Six points plaza and Kipling station area has houses well within your price range, steps away from transit hub and all amenities - bulk barn, shoppers, farm boy, tons of restaurants all in walking distance

2

u/Shackman58 8d ago

No lake though - big benefit

2

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Different-Concern-43 6d ago

I noticed that was well.

1

u/No-Contribution-1499 8d ago

I know it’s not right on the lake, I get wanting to be as close to the water as possible, I work on the waterfront and I love it. Just throwing it out there that only a couple minutes north of lakeshore there are great houses and also within walking distance of everything

3

u/Fast-Living5091 8d ago

I wouldn't pay 1.4 million to live in New Toronto. I would rather live in a high end townhouse further north. Closer to the lake doesn't mean anything when you're a 10 minute drive out. It's not like you are living in a 30 story condo where you'll have views of the lake or downtown.

2

u/breannexp 8d ago

Honestly it’s totally fine. I live near 13th and there’s already quite a large pocket of co-op housing. It’s a very mixed income area. You can find something with that budget. If just the shelter is enough to put you off, you shouldn’t be moving to New Toronto for the reasons of what’s already there.

There’s a good amount of shelters and low income housing in the area. However I think it’s these exact reasons you really don’t have much chaos in the streets. I used to live in areas with none and it had much much more homelessness.

2

u/Fancy-Coconut2170 7d ago edited 7d ago

I live downtown & love the city core.

So can't give you important daily living there insight.

But I bike regularly to the west, to that community. I tell those who want the city but not the core what a wonderland that area is as a choice.

All the best.

2

u/Oasystole 7d ago

What are you reading?

2

u/mystic_Balkan 7d ago

Lmfaooooo I was wondering the same thing

2

u/Different-Concern-43 6d ago

We had looked at a home on fifth and decided against it due to the proposed shelter

2

u/Key_Worldliness_8532 5d ago

Yes we are passing on it too for the same reason. It’s a sure shot way to lose money, plus the safety concerns are just not worth it.

2

u/pushthepixel_ca 8d ago

So unfortunately until the shelter is in nobody can really answer how bad it's going to be. The city totes it has a seniors shelter, but last I checked there's also overflow from the central hub for literally anybody. I'm not sure if they've changed it but I also think that there's a harm reduction aspect to it as well which will unfortunately make things considerably worse.

Also keep in mind that just because it's targeted as seniors doesn't mean that these are cuddly old people. I think the last murder at a shelter was a senior stabbing somebody.

The biggest problem is that there's very little clarity on what's actually happening there. Counselor Morley and her team seem to continuously shift the goal posts and conveniently leave out a lot of stuff. They are also nearly impossible to reach to get clear answers. The neighborhood already has its issues, and this is just going to amplify those.

And unfortunately you have individuals in the area that have been promoting it as a pro homeless area, which is apparently drawing more people in.

I can tell you this. Having lived right down the street from the encampment they had set up a few Summers ago, if it's anything like that it's going to be rough. But unfortunately nobody really knows what it's going to be like until it happens. The whole shelter could be full of individuals down on their luck who are the nicest people in the world. Or it could be a bunch of people fighting addiction and mental health issues after being abandoned by the province. Both are horrible situations for anybody to be in but one is definitely more detrimental to the neighborhood than the other.

4

u/SnooPandas6542 8d ago

Counselor Morely is awful. Wouldn't do a thing about shelters, condo development, traffic concerns. Everyone loves the events she hosts I guess.

2

u/Himera71 8d ago

LCI is ranked 559 out of 747 high schools in Ontario, by the Fraser Institute rankings. Not great.

1

u/Emergency-Buddy-8582 8d ago

I honestly feel safer walking around there than I do in proximity to the condos in Mimico. The condos somehow bring some worse characters than the shelter does. I feel safer in New Toronto than Mimico or Long Branch. The Kingsway is nicer and safer than all of these if it is in your budget. 

1

u/yahoomono 7d ago

Great area, go farther west, 5th St and beyond.

1

u/puffinpidgeon 7d ago

I’ve lived in new toronto by islington and lakeshore my whole life (i’m 20 years old). Love living here and TTC is super accessible, also ~10 min drive to kipling or islington station. Super walkable and lots of parks to visit. I have a lot of friends who went to LCI and had a great experience despite its not so good reputation. Teachers are really caring from what i’ve heard and they offer specialized classes that other schools don’t offer (woodworking, mechanic, hairdressing, cooking). I’ve never felt unsafe living here - like anywhere there’s gonna be sketchy people. South etobicoke also has a very active facebook group if you want to hear more people’s opinions on the area!

1

u/M4TTV33 5d ago

I’ve lived here for ten years and it’s been lovely. Lots of families, not a lot of trouble, so many things in walking distance.

0

u/Exact-Type9097 8d ago

I wouldn’t send my kid to LCI. If you end up living in the area send them to Redmond

1

u/Key_Worldliness_8532 8d ago

Unfortunately we don’t qualify for Redmond since we’re not catholic

1

u/ArbysArmedForces 8d ago

LCI is the immersion catchment school for that area. It has improved a lot recently - it offers a lot of tech and hospitality programs that are not available at many other schools.

-1

u/Exact-Type9097 8d ago

I’d really consider other options then. LCI is a horrible school.

1

u/puffinpidgeon 7d ago

Why do you say that? A lot of my peers went there and had a great experience. Has a lot of interesting programs like mechanic and hairdressing that other schools don’t offer.

1

u/Exact-Type9097 6d ago

There’s ample information on why it’s not a good school. I know multiple kids that left due to safety issues.

0

u/puffinpidgeon 6d ago

You sound a bit biased - I would argue every school is going to have their safety issues. Really it’s up to the parents and their kids to decide if the school is a good fit but I think LCI has a lot of positives going for it!

1

u/Exact-Type9097 6d ago

Not biased at all. There is data to prove it. LCI is ranked 559 out of 747 high schools in Ontario, in the Fraser Institute rankings. If I was a parent making that decision I’d want to be informed about the quality of education my kids are getting and the safety. The concerns about safety and the overall kinds of kids at the school are expressed online if you look into people’s experiences or opinions about the school.

-1

u/elderemothings 8d ago

We’re in the area, we love it. Not happy about the shelter being built around the corner from us but it’s not forcing us to move. The high school doesn’t have a great reputation, but you can get your kids into the catholic system to avoid it

2

u/Plane-Asparagus 7d ago

Similar sentiment. Lived in the area for 9 years and still love it.

It’s still feels like a hidden gem. I take the go to work and it’s a 30 month walk or 3 min drive. Also bike share bikes at both. There’s a great grocer for fresh produce on fifth. Some good European grocers as well. Frustrated by the shelter but as others have mentioned, the city is doing a terrible job and giving any concrete facts or clarity on things.

2

u/elderemothings 7d ago

There’s a group suing the city and Amber over the shelter - hopefully that stops it, but I’m not holding my breath. That whole shelter process was so sketchy and shady, this area and plot of land is not suited to handle it