Toronto Neighbourhoods - Historic Riverside

Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods with many fascinating pockets that have not yet made it into the mainstream tourism brochures of the city. One such neighbourhood is the Riverside area, a historic neighbourhood on Queen Street, just east of the Don River. On July 21, 2010 I met with two Riverside experts from the Riverside Business Improvement Association to get some first-hand exposure to this neighbourhood.

Formerly known as Queen-Broadview Village, Riverside got its start when the Grand Trunk Railway was built through the area and quickly developed into a location for a wide range of industries. In 1884 this formerly independent village was finally annexed by the city of Toronto. Some of the more well-known factories included Colgate, Palmolive and the Riviera Pant Factory.

Industries declined in the second half of the 20th century and during the 1980s and early 1990s the area experienced significant economic problems. Over the last 15 years, though, Riverside has transformed itself and undergone significant revitalization. One of the main draws of this area is its proximity to downtown which can be reached with an easy streetcar ride. Toronto's City Hall is a mere 15 minutes away, and over recent years the area has been discovered by people working in Toronto's financial district.

Riverside also has some impressive architecture. The crown jewel of the area is the former New Broadview House Hotel, an imposing Romanesque revival structure built in 1893 that today houses Jilly's, a well known local strip club. According to my local experts, this building is the yardstick in the area for the height of new building construction. No new building is allowed to exceed the height of the former New Broadview House Hotel.

Another impressive architectural gem is the current Queen and Saulter Branch of the Toronto Public Library. With its imposing limestone columns and neoclassical design, this building also houses the Ralph Thornton Community Centre which provides many recreational and social services in the area. I had an opportunity to visit a number of the local retailers and had a look at the diverse range of products on offer in Riverside. From Quince Flowers to the Real Jerk, a popular Caribbean Restaurant, to Liloo -- a modern Indian-inspired home décor store, to Little Peeps - a children's toy and clothing store, all the merchants confirmed that they love the area because of its unique community atmosphere.

From the Don Valley to Jimmy Simpson Park, Riverside essentially offers a consistent Victorian streetscape that has been upgraded by many modern storefronts, attractive lampposts and beautification projects with planters and ribbon-like brick inlays in the sidewalk.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Travel
• Canada
• Ontario
• Toronto
• Riverside
• Queen-Broadview Village
• Victorian Architecture
• Queen Street
• Don River
• Don Valley