Leaside ~~ A Prime Toronto Neighbourhood History Leaside was first settled by John Lea, a pioneer farmer who emigrated to Canada from Lancashire, England, via Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1819.  The neighbourhood gets its name from an octagonal-shaped house build by Lea’s eldest son near the present day site of Leaside Memorial Gardens. The Canadian Northern Railway incorporated the Town of Leaside in 1913.  Development was stalled due to WWI, howver, Leaside's subsequent development was historically significant in that it was the first town in Ontario to be completely planned on paper before any homes were actually built. However, Leaside's status as a Town came to an end in 1967 when it became part of the Borough of East York, which has since annexed into the City of Toronto. Overview Leaside is one of the most popular neighbourhoods in Toronto and is in especially high demand with upper middle income families who value this neighbourhood as an ideal place to raise children. Leaside has abundant greenspace and parkland, a fine election of schools, one of Toronto's best shopping districts on Bayview Avenue, and excellent access to public transit. In light of its high profile, it is not surprising that Leaside is also one of the more expensive real estate districts in Toronto.  Due to strict enrollment boundaries, you will want to contact the school of your choice to see if they accept children from the address you’re considering.  Leaside Real Estate   Leaside's Tudor-style houses were built largely in the 1930's and 1940's and most of the houses contain beautiful wood trim, hardwood floors, and a working fireplace.  The typical Leaside house is situated on a generous size lot with a private drive and a garage.  There is a good mix of two-story detached homes, bungalows, and semi-detached houses. A growing number of the bungalows have had second story additions, while others have been replaced by new custom designed homes.   During the 1990's a handful of exclusive condominium and townhouse projects have been built on the periphery of the neighbourhood. Leaside also contains some of Toronto's nicest rental apartment buildings, located on the east side of Bayview Avenue and on Leacrest Road overlooking the Don Valley Ravine. Shopping Bayview Avenue features a wonderful collection of shops and restaurants.  Many of these stores are geared towards children reflecting the demographics of this neighbourhood.  Bayview Avenue is also known for its antique and specialty shops, national retail stores, and neighbourhood pubs. Leaside's newest shopping destination is the Leaside Centre and adjacent to the Leaside Centre is the Leaside Business Park which combines light industrial businesses mixed in with specialty retail stores. Recreation Few Toronto neighbourhoods can match Leaside when it comes to recreation. The Leaside Memorial Community Gardens is a multi-recreational complex that includes an indoor ice arena, an indoor swimming pool, a curling rink, and an auditorium. There are several parks for fitness activities and enjoying nature.  In addition to offering ideal picnic spots, Sunnybrook Park features top notch sports fields, an exercise trail, horseback riding stables, and a licensed snack bar operated by the Parks and Property Department.  Trace Manes Park is the home of the Leaside Tennis Club which has six tennis courts. It also has a tots playground, a baseball diamond, and an outdoor natural ice rink which is in use from late December until the end of February. With all the available amenities, Leaside real estate offers new residents a lot of opportunities to live the good life.