Hi:

We are moving to Toronto this summer from the US and are looking at North York as a potential place to live in. I searched the site but after a few hundred posts, I gave up since I could not find what I was looking for. Please answer my questions when you get a chance.

1) We have a 11 year-old son who's in 6th grade now. Are the public schools in the North York area good? Can you recommend any schools?
2) We have a car but would still like to live near the subway in a city-like setting. Can you recommend some good areas to live in? What's the average rent for a 2-bed apt plus parking? I saw a few sites where the rent ranges from 1000 to 1500 but I wasn't sure how good they were.
3) Are there desi groceries within 5 miles? What about ethnic restaurants?

Thank you in advance for your help.

North York has quite a variations. It doesnt have subway in all areas. Also, subway area is not really desi dominated. I have sent you PM give me a shout..

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Manjeet Singh

The area opposite Ontario science centre is not good. "Crime"

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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership

i live at lawrence avenue west and black creek ..

I like this place due to following reasons:

1) hwy 400 and 410 is very close, less than 2mins from black creek drive
(coz black creek changes to 400)

2) dominion, lcbo, beer store, barbar shop, chinese supermarket are all very very close by

3) no frills very close ..

4) 20mins drive to albion and islington which is the hub of indian groceries & restuarants....i love brar restuarant...its a nice vegitarian one

5) 15mins in ttc to lawrence avenue west subway, if you drive its around 10mins

6) i live very close to keele street (actually live between black creek drive and keele st. on lawrence)

7) apartments of all range
if your finance is limited there are couple of apartments you can get for cheap but as the rent the quality of service is the same...you can get
1br for 800 its 1557 lawrence ave w...but nice to for a fresh beginning...management by a mexican family.
here 2 br apartment is around 920 (i think ) incl of utilities and all
alot of black, south american and indian population

there are couple of low rise buildings ranging from 1br for $820 to up
i like the 1560 lawrence its a low rise 1br for 800 excl utilities but free parking..very clean and nice management
alot of italian, filippino population..few indians

dont take the 1442 lawrence ave w at keele and lawrence ave ...the building is poor and mainted very poorly with alot of bug infestations

8) i dont have kids but i have seen school kids walking there , i think there is a public school near by...walkable distance

9) public library very close and church

10)TTC runs around 3 bus route thru here

Over all population here are south americans, blacks, indias and chinese (well what a surprise right!)

i've been living in this area for around 1 yr now, very quiet and nice place...like any where in toronto you need to be careful at night...

hope this helps

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Earning more stars!

sorry forgot some more things

11) yorkdale mall, which is one of the busiest malls in toronto is at duffrin and lawrene which is less than 10mins by car..oh yea they have movie theater too

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Earning more stars!

Dear Friends:

Thank you very much for the replies so far.

My concern is not whether there are desis in the area. Also, I think no matter where you live in the GTA, desi restaurants and stores will be within a 30-minute drive. Therefore, that's not a concern too.

We want to live near good schools and also in a city-like setting close to the subway. I am assuming that good schools are also in safe areas. Please reply if you can directly address the questions in my original post.

Thanks,
Naresh

Have you considered the Sheppard- Don Mills area (Near Fairview Mall)? It fits all your criteria.