Living in Humber Valley Village
Humber Valley Village is an upper middle-income family oriented neighbourhood. Its distinctive rolling topography, curvilinear streets and abundance of mature trees are a byproduct of the Humber River Valley Ravine which forms the eastern boundary of this neighbourhood. The two dominant geographical landmarks in Humber Valley Village are the St. George’s Golf and Country Club which stretches across Islington Avenue, and James Gardens – a picturesque strolling garden located along the banks of the Humber River Valley.
History of Humber Valley Village
The Humber Valley Village neighbourhood was developed as part of Home Smith and Company’s “Humber Valley Surveys”. The Humber Valley Surveys included 3,000 acres of prime real estate stretching along the Humber River from the Queensway north to Eglinton Avenue. This large land assembly included the building of the Humber Valley Village neighbourhood as well as the Kingsway, Baby Point, Old Mill and Princess Anne Gardens-Manor neighbourhoods. The St. George’s Golf Club off Islington Avenue was also developed by Home Smith and Company. The president of Home Smith and Company was Robert Home Smith, a graduate of law from the University of Toronto. Robert Home Smith was a multi-talented individual who served as Chairman of the Toronto Harbour Commission, helped to pioneer the development of Northern Ontario Mines, and was president of many North American railway companies. The first homes in Humber Valley Village were built in the 1930’s near James Gardens, along the Humber Valley. Unfortunately Robert Home Smith died in 1935, long before the Humber Valley Village neighbourhood was completed in the 1960’s.
Homes in Humber Valley Village
Humber Valley Village contains a wide range of housing styles which can be attributed to the fact that this neighbourhood was built in stages from the 1930’s up to the 1960’s. Thus one can find handsome English brick and stone Manor houses on streets like Edenbridge and North Drive and then just a few streets away come upon a pocket of modest split-level and ranch style bungalows. In fact, exploring the architecture of the Humber Valley housing stock provides a glimpse at most of the house designs made popular in Toronto from the 1930’s onward. These styles include Georgian, Colonial, Tudor, English Cottage, Cape Cod, ranch bungalows, split-level, contemporary and modernist designs. Humber Valley Village also contains a large number of rental apartment buildings on The Kingsway and on Anglesey Boulevard west of The Kingsway.
Lifestyle in Humber Valley Village
Humbertown Shopping Centre located at Royal York Road and The Kingsway is the quintessential neighbourhood shopping destination. It is anchored by a large supermarket and includes 50 stores and businessess. Many of these are owner operated specialty stores. There are many high-end boutique shops as this is an affluent neighbourhood. Included in the mix are mens and ladies fashion stores, childrens stores, shoe stores, a variety of food shops and specialty stores and a number of professional services. This shopping centre is a mixed indoor and open-air facility with an emphasis on the overall shopping experience which is enhanced by the pleasant landscape features and the generous amount of free parking.
Recreation in Humber Valley Village
Humbertown Shopping Centre located at Royal York Road and The Kingsway is the quintessential neighbourhood shopping destination. It is anchored by a large supermarket and includes 50 stores and businessess. Many of these are owner operated specialty stores. There are many high-end boutique shops as this is an affluent neighbourhood. Included in the mix are mens and ladies fashion stores, childrens stores, shoe stores, a variety of food shops and specialty stores and a number of professional services. This shopping centre is a mixed indoor and open-air facility with an emphasis on the overall shopping experience which is enhanced by the pleasant landscape features and the generous amount of free parking.
Transportation in Humber Valley Village
Bus service on Royal York Road and on Islington Avenue connects passengers to stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. The Eglinton bus connects passengers to Eglinton station on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. Motorists are twenty minutes from downtown Toronto via Bloor Street, five minutes from the Highway 401 on-ramp off Islington Avenue and ten minutes from Pearson International Airport.