The Islands Real Estate, Toronto

The Islands neighbourhood in Toronto. Popular communities include Waterfront Communities C08, Toronto W01, University, Bay Street Corridor, Waterfront Communities C01.

The Islands has 1 homes on the market. Of the 23360 total properties listed in Toronto, The Islands makes up just 0%. The average asking price of a property in The Islands is $399,900, with an estimated mortgage of $1,355 per month. That is 3.4 times less of the average asking price of $1,370,783 in Toronto. Properties listed in The Islands are an average of 700 square feet, with 1 beds and 1 baths. The Islands has 100% apartments relative to all the other listings in this neighbourhood.

The Islands Neighbourhood Guide

The Islands, also known as the Toronto Islands is a community located on Ward's and Algonquin Islands. There are just about 650 residents on these two Islands who own their houses but lease the property from the provincial government. Real estate in the Islands is popular and there is a purchasers' waiting-list of more than three hundred people who wish to one day have a lease on the Islands.

The Toronto Islands are the only Toronto community that does not permit cars. Walking and cycling are the ordinary means of transportation here.

The Toronto Islands are a series of small islands in the City of Toronto making up the only collection of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario. The Islands are situated just offshore from downtown, and offer shelter for the Toronto Harbour. This neighbourhood is a well-liked recreational destination, and is home to a tiny residential the people as well as the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. They are joined to the mainland by numerous ferry services and by an underwater pedestrian tunnel by 2014.

The Islands encompass the biggest urban car-free district in North America, although some service vehicles are allowed. Recreational cyclists are accommodated on the ferries, and in addition, bicycles, quadracycles, and canoes can be borrowed on the islands.

Homes

Homes for sale in The Islands is managed by the Toronto Island Residential Community Trust who oversees the buying and selling of homes. Islanders are allowed to surrender their leases and homes to their heirs but no profit are allowed on the sale of Island homes or on the transfer of leases.

The Islands' home values are estimated based on the cost to build minus depreciation. The land leases vary slightly over time but are presently at $39,000 for Ward's Island, and $49,000 for Algonquin Island since the lots are larger.

The Toronto Island homes mostly have wood exteriors which mix in well with the rustic background of this neighbourhood. Each Island home is adorned with a variety of whimsical accents which add to the inclusive appeal of these picture perfect homes. A district of about 300 houses still remains on the Toronto Islands, gathered at the eastern end of the island chain on Ward's Island and Algonquin Island.

On The Islands, there are two daycare centres, one school and one church.

History

The Islands were established in 1858 after an incredible storm divided Toronto's eastern peninsula from the city's mainland. Once the Islands had been shaped they instantly became a trendy summer playground housing hotels, amusement parks, and summer cottages.

A housing predicament during WWII led to the winterization of Island cottages and marked the start of year round tenancy on the Toronto Islands. Once the war was over, Metro ordered that all the Island houses be destroyed so that the Toronto Islands could be used solely as parkland.

Only the communities of Ward's Island and Algonquin Island endured the city's wrecking crews. However, their standing remained clouded until 1994 when the province signed a 99 year lease deal with Toronto Island residents that finally protected the future of the "Islanders" and their neighbourhood.

Transportation

All streets on the islands are cemented, the only exemption being a long wooden boardwalk on the South end of Ward's Island. The use of motor vehicles is limited to City of Toronto service vehicles. Nevertheless, bicycles are welcome on the ferries and the island, and there are bikes available for rent on the island.

Lakeshore Avenue is the major road handling vehicular traffic. The single lane paved road passes through the east, south and west sides of the park. A majority of the bridges on the island are for pedestrian traffic, bicycles and ATV’s only.

Two TTC buses offer service on the Island and there are less restrictions on motor vehicles on the airport lands. The Toronto Island Ferries provide service seven days a week and operate all year round moving Island residents to and from the mainland. The ferry ride from the mainland to the Ward's Island dock takes about ten minutes.

Retail and Schools

Real estate in The Islands is affected by the lack of shopping in the area. Residents do most of their shopping on the mainland. Although, a grocery store delivers food once a week and a milkman delivers twice a week.

Entertainment

The Islands real estate agents MLS listings might mention that Ward's Island has a baseball diamond, a children's playground, lawn bowling, a soccer field, tennis courts, and one of the nicer beaches in Toronto.

Ward's Island additionally has a clubhouse and snack bar. The clubhouse on Algonquin Island is winterized, and is used for a multitude of community events. Island residents take pleasure in spending a great deal of time on their gardens which are some of the most attractive in Toronto.

The Toronto Islands are an exceptional place to go cycling, jogging, and canoeing. During the colder months, there is cross-country skiing and skating on Lake Ontario.