54 Phoebe St
54 Phoebe St is in Kensington-Chinatown, on the City's Heritage Register. There are 3 planning proposals within 250 m. Osgoode Station is a 12‑minute walk.
Data as of Nov 9, 2026 · Every item lists its source
- 4 building permits in the last 5 years.
- It is listed on the Heritage Register, which flags heritage value without full designation.
- 3 planning proposals within 250 m: two in progress and one decided recently.
- Assaults, break-ins, robberies and thefts over $5,000 in Kensington-Chinatown were above the Toronto rate in 2025.
- Osgoode Station (Line 1) is about a 12-minute walk.
- The nearest elementary school is Ogden Junior Public School, 87 m away.
01What’s planned near 54 Phoebe St
3 planning proposals within 250 m (about a 3‑minute walk): two in progress and one decided recently. That's more than at most Toronto addresses (the typical address has 1).
In progress
- 1Minor variance184 Spadina Ave · 120 m awayCommittee of Adjustment · Minor variance: permission to bend a zoning rule, such as height, size or setbacks
The Committee of Adjustment refused it on Dec 3, 2025. It has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (formerly the OMB), which will make the final decision.
To alter the development standards (as approved under Site Specific Zoning By-law 762-2023) for a new 14 and 15-storey hotel building (east tower fronting Spadina Avenue, and west tower fronting Cameron Street), connected by a one-storey…File A0646/25TEY · submitted Aug 25, 2025 - 2Second suite49 Grange Ave · 196 m awayCommittee of Adjustment · Minor variance: permission to bend a zoning rule, such as height, size or setbacks
The hearing was postponed. A new date hasn't been published yet.
To convert the basement and first storey from a personal service shop to a second dwelling unit.File A0728/21TEY · submitted May 7, 2021
Decided recently
- 3Laneway suite34 Sullivan St · 152 m awayCommittee of Adjustment · Minor variance: permission to bend a zoning rule, such as height, size or setbacks
The Committee of Adjustment approved it on Aug 12, 2026.
To construct a new two-storey detached ancillary building containing two laneway suites with a second level south canopy, in the rear yard, abutting Orphanage Mews laneway on the north side, and North Sullivan East Huron laneway on the…File A0450/26TEY · submitted Jun 18, 2026
Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment Applications, City of Toronto. A proposal that covers several addresses is listed once. Decided: development files submitted in the last 4 years; Committee of Adjustment decisions in the last 2 years.
02Safety near 54 Phoebe St
Police recorded 441 major crimes within 500 m of this address from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026. That's more than at almost all Toronto addresses. The table compares the neighbourhood's rates with Toronto's.
| Major crime | Near this addressreported within 500 m, last 12 months | Kensington-Chinatownper 100,000 residents, 2025 | Torontoper 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 270 | 2,018 | 768Kensington-Chinatown is higher |
| Break-ins | 98 | 443 | 190Kensington-Chinatown is higher |
| Car thefts | 12 | 118 | 225Kensington-Chinatown is lower |
| Robberies | 33 | 193 | 79Kensington-Chinatown is higher |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 28 | 219 | 61Kensington-Chinatown is higher |
Thick bar: Kensington-Chinatown. Thin grey bar: Toronto. Source: Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal, Major Crime Indicators (Oct 2, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026) and Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Reported incidents only; police place each incident at the nearest intersection. Five-year trends for Kensington-Chinatown
03Getting around from 54 Phoebe St
The nearest subway station is Osgoode Station (Line 1), about a 12‑minute walk (0.8 km). Within a 5‑minute walk there are 12 TTC stops served by the 510, 501, 504 and 505 streetcars, with about 3,429 departures on a typical weekday. The nearest GO train station is Union Station GO, 1.4 km away, with 354 train stops on a weekday.
Source: TTC · Line 1 · about 12 min walk
Nearest stop: Spadina Ave at Sullivan St, plus 3 more stops for this route within 250 m.
Nearest stop: Queen St West at Spadina Ave, plus 1 more stop for this route within 250 m.
Nearest stop: Spadina Ave at Queen St West South Side.
Nearest stop: Dundas St West at Spadina Ave.
Source: GO Transit · 354 train stops on a weekday
TTC and GO Transit schedules for a typical weekday (Nov 11, 2026). Walking times are estimates.
04Schools and child care near 54 Phoebe St
The closest public and Catholic schools. They may not be the ones assigned to this address; check with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) or Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB).
Elementary schools
Share of Grade 6 students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math.
Secondary schools
Share of students who passed the Grade 10 literacy test on their first try. Toronto: 84%.
The red tick on each bar is the Toronto average. Private schools within 1 km: Cornerstone Preparatory School - Main Campus, Braemar College Private Secondary School, Ronald Mcdonald House, Westside Montessori Elementary School. Source: Ontario Ministry of Education (2026), EQAO results.
Within 500 m (about a 6‑minute walk): six licensed child care centres and two EarlyON centres.
33 Phoebe St · 136 spaces · toddler, preschool, kindergarten, school age · in the $10-a-day program · fee subsidies
308 Queen St W · 107 spaces · infant, toddler, preschool · in the $10-a-day program
75 Augusta Sq · 36 spaces · infant, toddler, preschool · in the $10-a-day program · fee subsidies
105 Grange Crt · free programs for children up to 6 and their caregivers
302 Spadina Ave · free programs for children up to 6 and their caregivers
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres and EarlyON Child and Family Centres.
05The building at 54 Phoebe St
Source: Building Construction/Demolition Violations
4 building permits in the last 5 years. For comparison, about 10% of Toronto addresses had any permit in that time. Permits show work the City approved; they don't show work done without a permit.
Source: Building Permits · 4 on record
It is listed on the Heritage Register, which flags heritage value without full designation. Owners must give the City 60 days' notice before demolition.
Source: Heritage Register
Permit history: 4 projects from 4 permits
- Interior Alterations · inspection · issued May 14, 2026
Proposed interior basement reinforcement alterations · Permit 26 152213 - Party Wall Admin Permits · permit issued · issued Jun 23, 2025
Administrative party wall permit associated to permit application 22 172273 BLD 02 SR (52 Phoebe St.), shared foundation wall · Permit 25 173851 - Deck · completed Dec 18, 2025
Proposal to replace existing third floor deck/terrace. · Permit 25 155739 - Other(SR) · inspection · issued Jul 27, 2022
Basement foundation repairs, waterproofing, reinforcement support · Permit 22 175847
06Around the block
Stays of less than 28 days, like Airbnb. That's more than at 96% of Toronto addresses.
Houses that rent individual rooms with shared kitchens or bathrooms. The City licenses them to enforce safety standards.
Kuya's Vape (vape shop), Jd Barbers (salon or personal services), The University Club of Toronto (entertainment venue), and 41 more.
10 Stephanie Street (451 m).
Wagner Green YMCA (254 m), Streets to Homes Assessment and Referral Centre (SHARC) (299 m), Sojourn House Hotel Program (429 m), and 3 more.
All new business licences in Kensington-Chinatown (44)
- Kuya's Vape · Vape shop · 167 Augusta Ave · 507 m · licensed Dec 1, 2026
- Jd Barbers · Salon or personal services · 454 Queen St W · 359 m · licensed Nov 6, 2026
- The University Club of Toronto · Entertainment venue · 380 University Ave · 703 m · licensed Nov 3, 2026
- Tim Hortons · Restaurant or bar · 700 University Ave · 1028 m · licensed Oct 30, 2026
- Qing Shu Hot Pot (Dt) · Restaurant or bar · 442 Dundas St W · 351 m · licensed Oct 29, 2026
- Film Cafe · Sidewalk café · 230 Augusta Ave · 727 m · licensed Oct 29, 2026
- Green Drip · Restaurant or bar · 283 College St · 878 m · licensed Oct 28, 2026
- 888 Photo & Electronics · Second-hand shop · 289 Spadina Ave · 351 m · licensed Oct 27, 2026
- Chungneon Cupbap Spadina · Sidewalk café · 398 Spadina Ave · 642 m · licensed Oct 26, 2026
- Sultans Mediterranean Grill · Take-out or food shop · 700 University Ave · 1028 m · licensed Oct 22, 2026
- Nails Queen · Salon or personal services · 422 Queen St W · 262 m · licensed Oct 21, 2026
- Uncle Vintage · Second-hand shop · 33 Kensington Ave · 455 m · licensed Oct 19, 2026
Source: Short Term Rentals Registration, Multi-Tenant (Rooming) House Licences, Business Licences and Permits (storefront types; owners’ personal names are never shown), POPS, and Daily Shelter Occupancy (Nov 6, 2026). Confidential shelter locations are not published.
07Risks and environment at 54 Phoebe St
TRCA's maps show this address is outside the areas that could flood from rivers in a major storm (TRCA plans for a storm like Hurricane Hazel in 1954) and outside lake shoreline hazards. Basement flooding from overloaded sewers can still happen anywhere in the city.
Source: TRCA Regulation mapping 2025
In postal area M5T, 0 of 85 home tap-water samples (0%) tested above Ontario's limit for lead (10 micrograms per litre). Across Toronto, 2.0% of samples did, so M5T is lower than the city overall. Health Canada recommends a stricter limit of 5 micrograms per litre: 1 samples here (1.2%) were above it. These are voluntary tests, mostly from older homes, so they don't tell you about this house. Lead comes from old pipes and plumbing, not the City's treatment plants. If your home was built before the mid-1950s, you can get a free test kit by calling 311.
Source: Non Regulated Lead Sample · 85 tests, Feb 20, 2014 to Sep 11, 2026
Air Quality Health Index from Environment and Climate Change Canada's Toronto Downtown station, 2.8 km away, measured 8:00 AM EST Monday 9 November 2026. Forecast high for the next 24 hours: 2 (low risk). The scale runs from 1 to 10+; 1 to 3 is low risk.
Source: Environment and Climate Change Canada · hourly
TRCA mapping is for screening, not site-specific decisions. Lead results are voluntary samples from homes in the postal area, not this address.
08The neighbourhood: Kensington-Chinatown
Kensington-Chinatown had 18,120 residents in 2021. The median household income was $62,000, lower than the typical Toronto neighbourhood ($85,000). 68% of households rent (typical neighbourhood: 46%). 44% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 24% of workers commuted by transit and 50% walked or cycled (typical neighbourhood: 26% and 5%). The most common first languages other than English and French are Mandarin (12.7%), Cantonese (10.9%) and Spanish (2.2%). Source: 2021 Census; the next census was taken in 2026.
Rents aren't published for single neighbourhoods. Across central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation), a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental building averaged $2,457 a month in October 2025, up 6% from a year earlier. The Toronto average was $2,055. The vacancy rate was 3.2%. These averages include long-term tenants; new listings usually cost more.
| Average rent, October 2025 | Central Toronto | Change in a year | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,526 | +2% | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,914 | +4% | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,457 | +6% | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $3,195 | 0% | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC, Rental Market Survey (October 2025), purpose-built rental apartments, central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation). CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods. Adapted by My Address in Toronto.
How Kensington-Chinatown compares with Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods →Archive photos from near this address: myaddressintoronto.com/address/54-phoebe-st#sec-history
