70 Spruce St
70 Spruce St is in Cabbagetown-South St.James Town, on the City's Heritage Register. It's outside TRCA flood hazard areas and there are 6 planning applications nearby (two hearing on Nov 25, one under appeal after approval, one waiting for a hearing date, two others).
Data as of Nov 8, 2026 · Every item lists its source
- It is in a Heritage Conservation District (Cabbagetown South) (Part V).
- Outside TRCA flood hazard areas.
- 6 planning applications within 250 m: two hearing on Nov 25, one under appeal after approval, one waiting for a hearing date, two others.
01What’s planned near 70 Spruce St
6 active planning applications within 250 m (about a 3-minute walk): two hearing on Nov 25, one under appeal after approval, one waiting for a hearing date, two others. That's more than at most Toronto addresses (the typical address has 1).
In progress
- 1Minor variance359 1/2 Sackville St · 91 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 Apr 27, 2022. It has been appealed to the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB), which will hold its own hearing and make the final decision.
To construct a second residential building on the lot, having two storeies, in rear of the existing two-storey detached dwelling.File A0995/20TEY · submitted Oct 29, 2020 - 2Minor variance359 1/2 Sackville St · 91 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 construct a new second residential building ((two-storey detached dwelling (garden suite) located in the rear yard, abutting Spruce Street, as approved under Committee of Adjustment File A0995/20TEY)) with a basement, and a side…File A0546/25TEY · submitted Jul 18, 2025 - 3Minor variance40 Nasmith Ave · 97 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 Feb 28, 2024. It has been appealed to the Toronto Local Appeal Body (TLAB), which will hold its own hearing and make the final decision.
To alter the existing two-storey semi-detached dwelling by constructing one and two -storey rear additions (with an unfinished basement), as well as a rear ground floor deck with stairs.File A0887/23TEY · submitted Oct 10, 2023
Decided recently
- 6Minor variance126 Spruce St · 222 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 Dec 13, 2023.
To construct a new one-storey ancillary building (detached garage with hobby workshop) in the rear yard, abutting the laneway (Chipping Sparrow Lane).File A0799/23TEY · submitted Sep 14, 2023
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 70 Spruce St
Police recorded 172 major crimes within 500 m from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026: 109 assaults, 41 break-ins, 8 car thefts, 7 robberies and 7 thefts over $5,000. Per resident, in Cabbagetown-South St.James Town in 2025, assaults, break-ins and robberies were above the Toronto rate; car thefts and thefts over $5,000 were below it. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection, so these figures describe the area, not this address.
| Major crime | Near this addressreported within 500 m, last 12 months | Cabbagetown-South St.James Townper 100,000 residents, 2025 | Torontoper 100,000 residents, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 109 | 1,079 | 768Cabbagetown-South St.James Town is higher |
| Break-ins | 41 | 321 | 190Cabbagetown-South St.James Town is higher |
| Car thefts | 8 | 92 | 225Cabbagetown-South St.James Town is lower |
| Robberies | 7 | 145 | 79Cabbagetown-South St.James Town is higher |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 7 | 23 | 61Cabbagetown-South St.James Town is lower |
Thick bar: Cabbagetown-South St.James Town. Thin grey bar: Toronto. Source: Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal, Major Crime Indicators (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026) and Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Reported incidents only; police place each incident at the nearest intersection. Five-year trends for Cabbagetown-South St.James Town
03Getting around from 70 Spruce St
The nearest subway station is Castle Frank Station (Line 2), about a 17-minute walk (1.1 km). Within a 5-minute walk there are 8 TTC stops served by routes 506, 65 and 121, with about 3,065 departures on a typical weekday. The nearest GO train station is Union Station GO, 2.5 km away, with 354 train stops on a weekday.
Source: TTC · Line 2 · about 17 min walk
Nearest stop: Gerrard St East at Sackville St.
Nearest stop: Gerrard St East at Sumach St.
Nearest stop: Parliament St at Carlton St.
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 families near 70 Spruce St
These are the closest public and Catholic schools by distance. They may not be the schools assigned to this address: school boards set their own attendance areas, so check with the Toronto District School Board or Toronto Catholic District School Board.
Share of students meeting the provincial standard; the red tick is the Toronto average. Source: Ontario Ministry of Education (2026), EQAO results.
Within 500 m (about a 6-minute walk): six licensed child care centres, three EarlyON centres, no privately owned public spaces and one shelter or respite site.
70 Spruce St · 56 spaces · kindergarten, school age · in the $10-a-day program · fee subsidies
517 Parliament St · 32 spaces · toddler, preschool, school age · in the $10-a-day program
270 Gerrard St E · 65 spaces · infant, toddler, preschool · in the $10-a-day program · fee subsidies
70 Spruce St · free programs for children up to 6 and their caregivers
101 Spruce St · free programs for children up to 6 and their caregivers
350 Parliament St · free programs for children up to 6 and their caregivers
213 Carlton Street · Mixed Adult · 25 beds
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, POPS, and Daily Shelter Occupancy (Nov 6, 2026). Confidential shelter locations are not published.
05The building at 70 Spruce St
Source: Building Construction/Demolition Violations
0 building permits in the last 5 years. Permits show work the City approved; they don't show work done without a permit.
Source: Building Permits · 1 on record
It is in a Heritage Conservation District (Cabbagetown South) (Part V). Exterior changes and demolition may need a heritage permit.
Source: Heritage Register
Permit history: 1 project from 1 permit
- Solar Collector · completed Nov 19, 2018
installation of roof top photovolactic soalr array on existing building - Sprucecourt Junior Public School · Permit 16 201796
06Around the block
Stays of less than 28 days, like Airbnb. That's more than at most Toronto addresses (the typical address has 2).
Houses that rent individual rooms with shared kitchens or bathrooms. The City licenses them to enforce safety standards.
Source: Short Term Rentals Registration, Multi-Tenant (Rooming) House Licences, and Business Licences and Permits (storefront types; owners’ personal names are never shown).
07Risks and environment at 70 Spruce 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 M5A, 4 of 134 home tap-water samples (3.0%) tested above Ontario's limit for lead (10 micrograms per litre). Across Toronto, 2.0% of samples did, so M5A is about the same as the city overall. Health Canada recommends a stricter limit of 5 micrograms per litre: 9 samples here (6.7%) 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 · 134 tests, May 21, 2014 to Oct 15, 2026
Air Quality Health Index from Environment and Climate Change Canada's Toronto Downtown station, 2.9 km away, measured 2:00 PM EST Sunday 8 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: Cabbagetown-South St.James Town
Cabbagetown-South St. James Town had 11,020 residents in 2021. The median household income was $76,500, about the same as the typical Toronto neighbourhood ($85,000). 55% of households rent (typical neighbourhood: 46%). 39% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 27% of workers commuted by transit and 38% walked or cycled (typical neighbourhood: 26% and 5%). The most common first languages other than English and French are Spanish (3.2%), Pilipino, Filipino (2.9%) and Cantonese (1.6%). Source: 2021 Census; the next census was taken in 2026.
In October 2025, the average rent for a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental building in the former City of Toronto was $2,457, up 6% from a year earlier. Across Toronto: $2,055. 3.2% of these apartments were vacant. These are averages paid by all tenants, including long-term ones, across a large area; new listings usually cost more.
| Average rent, October 2025 | Former City of Toronto | Change in a year | City of 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. Adapted by My Address in Toronto.
How Cabbagetown-South St.James Town compares with Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods →09Quick answers about 70 Spruce St
Is 70 Spruce St in a flood plain?
No. TRCA maps it outside river flood and lake shoreline hazard areas. Basement flooding from sewers can still happen anywhere. Source: TRCA Regulation mapping 2025, as of Nov 8, 2026.
What is being built near 70 Spruce St?
There are 6 active planning applications within 250 metres (two hearing on Nov 25, one under appeal after approval, one waiting for a hearing date, two others). The closest is at 359 1/2 Sackville St, 91 m away. Source: Development Applications; Committee of Adjustment Applications, as of Nov 8, 2026.
Has 70 Spruce St been renovated?
Yes. The City has 1 building permit on record, 0 in the last 5 years. Source: Building Permits, as of Nov 8, 2026.
Is 70 Spruce St a heritage property?
Yes. It is in a Heritage Conservation District (Cabbagetown South) (Part V). Exterior changes and demolition may need a heritage permit. Source: Heritage Register, as of Nov 8, 2026.
How far is 70 Spruce St from the subway?
The nearest station is Castle Frank Station (Line 2), 1.1 km away (about a 17-minute walk). 8 TTC stops are within a 5-minute walk. Source: TTC and GO Transit schedules, as of Nov 8, 2026.
What schools are near 70 Spruce St?
The closest are Sprucecourt Junior Public School, Lord Dufferin Junior and Senior Public School and Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. These may not be the assigned schools; check with the school board. Source: Ontario Ministry of Education school information, as of Nov 8, 2026.
How much crime is there near 70 Spruce St?
Police recorded 172 major crimes within 500 m from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026: 109 assaults, 41 break-ins, 8 car thefts, 7 robberies and 7 thefts over $5,000. Per resident, in Cabbagetown-South St.James Town in 2025, assaults, break-ins and robberies were above the Toronto rate; car thefts and thefts over $5,000 were below it. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection, so these figures describe the area, not this address. Source: Toronto Police Service, as of Nov 8, 2026.
When is garbage day at 70 Spruce St?
Collection is on Wednesdays. Green bin goes out every week; garbage and recycling alternate weeks. The next garbage pickup is Nov 18, 2026. Source: Solid Waste Collection Schedule, as of Nov 8, 2026.
Answers are generated from the data on this page and update when the data changes.
10From the archives
Photo locations are matched from each photo’s title against City street and address data, so some may be off. Report a wrong location