81 Empress Ave
81 Empress Ave is in East Willowdale. It added a second suite (such as a basement apartment) in 2021.
Data as of Nov 10, 2026 · Every item lists its source
- Added a second suite (such as a basement apartment) (completed May 2021).
01What’s planned near 81 Empress Ave
No planning proposals in progress or recently decided within 250 m (about a 3‑minute walk).
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.
Noise permits nearby
- North York Civic Centre · 5100 Yonge St
Construction · kingsgate restorationJuly 14, 2026 to May 30, 2027 · 7 to 11 pm
580 m away - We Love Willowdale Christmas Market · 5100 Yonge St
Amplified soundSat, Nov 28 · 2 to 8 pm
580 m away
City of Toronto Noise Exemption Permits: permits that let a site go past the noise bylaw’s limits for a set time (amplified sound for an event, construction outside normal hours, a concrete pour). Upcoming and current permits within 600 m. Events run by individuals show their name only for street parties, festivals and markets.
02Street work near 81 Empress Ave
1 City road or sidewalk project is planned within 500 m. The closest: road resurfacing on McKee Ave, Kenneth Ave (N Yk) to Doris Ave, Q3 2027 to Q4 2028.
Source: City of Toronto Road Reconstruction, Road Resurfacing and Sidewalk Construction programs (planned work within 500 m), and Utility Cut Permits. Dates are the City’s plan and can move. “Carried over” means the work was due earlier and is still listed.
03Safety near 81 Empress Ave
Police recorded 77 major crimes within 500 m of this address from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026. That's more than at most Toronto addresses (the typical address has 39). The table compares the neighbourhood's rates with Toronto's.
| Major crime | Near this addresswithin 500 m, last 12 months | East Willowdale compared with Torontorate per 100,000 residents, 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Break-ins | 6 near this address | About the same199 vs 190 per 100,000 | |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 7 near this address | 16% lower51 vs 61 per 100,000 | |
| Car thefts | 13 near this address | 19% lower182 vs 225 per 100,000 | |
| Robberies | 8 near this address | 28% lower57 vs 79 per 100,000 | |
| Assaults | 43 near this address | 62% lower295 vs 768 per 100,000 | |
Source: Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal, Major Crime Indicators (Oct 3, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026) and Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Reported incidents only; police place each incident at the nearest intersection. Five-year trends for East Willowdale
Traffic safety
2 collisions killed or seriously injured someone within 500 m since 2021; 1 involved pedestrians and 1 involved cyclists. Most were on 5231 Yonge St and Ellerslie Ave. East Willowdale ranks 123rd in Toronto for these collisions per resident.
- 5231 Yonge St at Ellerslie Ave · Cyclist, seriously injured · Jul 19, 2021 · 405 m
- McKee Ave at Kenneth Ave · Pedestrian, seriously injured · May 20, 2021 · 406 m
Source: Toronto Police Service, collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured (since 2021, within 500 m); City of Toronto School Safety Zones and Traffic Calming Database.
Other crimes near this address
| Last 12 months | Within 500 m | East Willowdale, per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 0 | 7 | About typical |
| Bicycle thefts | 3 | 7 | Lower than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 12 | 187 | Lower than most |
Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts and Theft From Motor Vehicle, June 2025 to June 2026. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection.
04Getting around from 81 Empress Ave
The nearest subway station is North York Centre Station (Line 1), about a 6‑minute walk (0.4 km). Within a 5‑minute walk there are 2 TTC stops served by the 97 bus, with about 147 departures on a typical weekday. The nearest GO train station is Oriole GO, 3.6 km away, with 9 train stops on a weekday.
Source: TTC · Line 1 · about 6 min walk
Source: GO Transit · 9 train stops on a weekday
TTC and GO Transit schedules for a typical weekday (Nov 11, 2026). Walking times are estimates. Bike Share Toronto station data; City of Toronto Cycling Network and Permit Parking Areas.
How reliable are your routes?
| Route | Delays reported | Per 1,000 trips | Compared with other TTC routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 538 | 8.5 | more than most routes |
TTC Bus and Streetcar Delay Data, September 2025 to September 2026: incidents the TTC logged as delaying service. Per 1,000 trips uses each route’s weekday schedule, so busy routes aren’t penalized for running more vehicles. A typical route: 4.0.
Charging and bike parking
- EV charging: 33 Elmhurst Ave
City-run (On-Street): 2 Level 2 ports. Next: 19 Glendora Ave, 1.2 km.864 m
City of Toronto: City-operated EV charging stations (private chargers aren’t included); indoor bike stations, shown within 1.5 km.
05Schools and child care near 81 Empress Ave
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.
Grades 7–8 schools
These schools start at Grade 7, after the Grade 6 tests, so they have no Grade 6 results.
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: Crown Academy, Toronto French Montessori, Elpis College Toronto (Temporarily Moved), Central Montessori School - Willowdale, Newton International College School and 5 more. Source: Ontario Ministry of Education (2026), EQAO results.
Within 500 m (about a 6‑minute walk): two licensed child care centres and no EarlyON centres.
Last health inspection Feb 6, 2026: pass.
Last health inspection Sep 23, 2026: pass.
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and ChildCareSafe (Toronto Public Health inspections).
06Parks, trees and libraries near 81 Empress Ave
There are 8 parks and 1 playground within 500 m. The nearest pool is Mitchell Field Community Centre, 519 m away.
Parks and community centres within 500 m
- Ring Road Linear Park · 139 Doris Ave · 167 m
- Lee Lifeson Art Park · washroom · 45 Princess Ave · 168 m
- Princess Park · 214 Doris Ave · 229 m
- McKenzie Parkette · 293 Doris Ave · 310 m
- North York Rose Garden · 4 Park Home Ave · 378 m
Pools, courts and more
Also nearby
Source: City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Registered Programs and Drop-In Programs, Tennis Courts, Outdoor and Indoor Ice Rinks, Washroom Facilities, Off-Leash Areas, Street Tree Data; Toronto Public Health SwimSafe and Beach Water Quality; Toronto Public Library branches.
Park space
Park projects nearby
- John McKenzie Parkette Expansion
The City is expanding John McKenzie Parkette as a result of acquiring the land at 37 Norton Ave. in North York.In progress · 338 m - Willowdale Park Improvements
The City is improving Willowdale Park with proposed upgrades that include a new playground offering fun and creative play opportunities, a new fitness area, a shade structure and repairs to the tennis courts.In progress · 409 m - Holmes Park Expansion
The City is expanding Holmes Park with the help of local community feedback.In progress · 955 m - Albert Standing Park Expansion
The City is expanding Albert Standing Park by 600 m² (a bit larger than an NBA basketball court) as part of the development project located just west of the park on Bogert Avenue.In progress · 1.1 km - New Memorial at Olive Square Park
The City is adding a memorial to Olive Square Park to honour and remember the victims of the tragedy that took place on Yonge Street on April 23, 2018.In progress · 1.1 km
City of Toronto: Green Spaces (parks, natural areas and conservation land; hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted); Park and Recreation Facility Projects within 1.5 km.
07The building at 81 Empress Ave
There are no building orders, by-law investigations, heritage listing or short-term rental registration on record for 81 Empress Ave. Here is what the City does have.
Source: Building Permits · 9 on record
Permit history: 4 projects from 9 permits
- Second suite (such as a basement apartment)New home · completed May 17, 2021
Proposal to add a 2nd suite in the basement of an existing detached dwelling. · Permit 21 137127 - New Building · completed Mar 22, 2021
Rev 02: Add non-rated glazing (transom windows) into 45 min door frames.Proposal to demolish and construct a two storey single family dwelling with attached one car garage and walk-out basement · 6 permits in this project (such as building, plumbing and heating) · Permit 19 144222 - Demolition · completed Mar 22, 2021
Proposal to demolish and construct a two storey single family dwelling with attached one car garage and basement secondary suite, walk-out basement · Permit 19 144228 - Porch · completed Feb 26, 2018
Proposal to construct concrete porch at front · Permit 14 192411
The lot
Measured from the City’s property boundary map. It’s compiled from records of varying age, so treat these as approximate; a survey is the legal measure.
Green roof and solar permits
No green roof or solar hot water permits at this address. Within 500 m: 2 with a green roof.
City of Toronto Building Permits: Green Roofs, and Solar Hot Water Heaters.
08What can be built at 81 Empress Ave
RD (Residential Detached) zoning allows detached houses. The numbers below are the main limits; the full rules depend on the lot.
Source: Zoning By-law 569-2013, chapter 10
Source: Height overlay
Source: Lot coverage overlay
Source: Zone label (x)
Special areas
Source: City of Toronto Zoning By-law 569-2013 (zone, height and lot coverage overlays), Heritage Conservation Districts, Major Transit Station Areas, Secondary Plans and Archaeological Potential. This is a summary, not a zoning review. Read the by-law and see the City’s map.
09Around the block
Stays of less than 28 days, like Airbnb. That's about typical for Toronto (the typical address has 2).
Houses that rent individual rooms with shared kitchens or bathrooms. The City licenses them to enforce safety standards.
5170 Yonge Street (374 m).
Source: Affordable Housing Pipeline, Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion applications, 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 8, 2026). Confidential shelter locations are not published.
Traffic on your street
City of Toronto Transportation Services: speed, volume and classification counts since 2016.
Parking tickets on this block
558 tickets in 2025 on Empress Ave between numbers 31 and 131: 425 for stopping where it’s not allowed, 88 for unpaid parking.
City of Toronto Parking Tickets, 2025. Placed by the street address the officer recorded.
Main street business area
Yonge North York BIA, about 180 m away. Business Improvement Areas are local business associations that run street events and improvements.
City of Toronto Business Improvement Areas, within 400 m.
What neighbours report to 311
In the last 12 months, 8,062 service requests came from postal area M2N, which includes 81 Empress Ave. The most common:
| Damaged bin lids | 339 | |
| Potholes and road damage | 313 | |
| Blocked sewer lines | 261 | |
| Damaged sidewalks | 247 | |
| Property standards | 239 | |
| Posters on City property | 222 |
City of Toronto 311 Service Requests, October 2025 to October 2026. 311 publishes only the first three characters of the postal code, so this covers the wider postal area. Counts reflect how often people call as well as how often problems happen.
10Risks and environment at 81 Empress Ave
Source: TRCA Regulation mapping 2025
Source: Non Regulated Lead Sample · 133 tests, Feb 12, 2014 to Oct 6, 2026
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.
11The neighbourhood: East Willowdale
East Willowdale had 15,485 residents in 2021. The median household income was $95,000, higher than the typical Toronto neighbourhood ($85,000). 30% of households rent (typical neighbourhood: 46%). 43% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 24% of workers commuted by transit and 4% walked or cycled (typical neighbourhood: 26% and 5%). The most common first languages other than English and French are Mandarin (21.1%), Cantonese (11.0%) and Iranian Persian (8.5%). Source: 2021 Census; the next census was taken in 2026.
Rents aren't published for single neighbourhoods. Across North York (the former City of North York), a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental building averaged $1,915 a month in October 2025, up 1% from a year earlier. The Toronto average was $2,055. The vacancy rate was 2.6%. These averages include long-term tenants; new listings usually cost more.
| Average rent, October 2025 | North York | Change in a year | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,316 | +5% | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,643 | 0% | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,915 | +1% | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $2,196 | +2% | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC, Rental Market Survey (October 2025), purpose-built rental apartments, North York (the former City of North York). CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods. Adapted by My Address in Toronto.
How East Willowdale compares with the rest of Toronto →