Kensington-Chinatown
Kensington-Chinatown is a downtown neighbourhood of about 18,000 people, next to Bay-Cloverhill, Palmerston-Little Italy, Trinity-Bellwoods and four other neighbourhoods. Most households rent. Four subway stations (Line 1) are in or next to it. Its main shopping street is Spadina Ave. It stands out for how many residents walk or cycle to work and its many short-term rentals. It has fewer street trees and one of the highest rates of serious traffic collisions in the city.
Neighbouring areas link to their pages. City of Toronto neighbourhood boundaries and Toronto Centreline.
Boundaries: College St to the north, University Ave to the east, Queen St W to the south and Bathurst St to the west.
01 · What’s being built
Rank by proposals →There are 20 active planning proposals in Kensington-Chinatown, more than most neighbourhoods (40th most in Toronto). One has a hearing coming up (130 D'Arcy St, Dec 9, 2026). Neighbours can send comments or speak at a hearing. Of the rest, 16 are waiting for a decision and three are under appeal. Another five were decided recently.
Hearing coming up (1)
Under appeal (3)
Waiting for a decision (16)
Decided recently (5)
Each proposal has its own page. All applications in progress here · Hearings and comment deadlines
City of Toronto Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment. One entry per site. Decided recently: development files submitted in the last 4 years; Committee of Adjustment decisions in the last 2 years.
Planning rules
Part of the neighbourhood is in the Kensington Market heritage conservation district, where changes to building exteriors need heritage approval. Part of the neighbourhood is in the Queen Street West heritage conservation district, where changes to building exteriors need heritage approval. Parts of it are in the St Patrick, Queen-Spadina and Osgoode major transit station areas, where minimum densities are set to bring more homes and jobs near transit.
City of Toronto Heritage Conservation Districts and Major Transit Station Areas. Each address report shows the zoning for that lot.
Noise permits
In the last 12 months, 41 noise exemption permits were issued in Kensington-Chinatown: 38 for amplified sound at events, 2 for construction outside normal hours and 1 for continuous concrete pours.
City of Toronto Noise Exemption Permits. A permit lets an event or a construction project make noise outside the hours the noise bylaw allows. Address pages list the permits nearby that haven’t ended yet.
02 · Safety
Rank by crime →In 2025, 682 major crimes were reported in Kensington-Chinatown: 2,991 per 100,000 residents, 2.3 times the citywide rate (1,322) and the 4th highest in Toronto. The picture is mixed. Thefts over $5,000 were 219 per 100,000, 3.6 times the citywide rate (61) and the 3rd highest in Toronto, while car thefts were below the citywide rate. Reports fell from 780 in 2024 to 682 in 2025, mostly break-ins (152 to 101) and robberies (61 to 44). Rates are per resident, so areas with few residents and many visitors, workers or shoppers have high rates.
Kensington-Chinatown compared with Toronto · rate per 100,000 residents, 2025
| Major crime | Compared with the Toronto rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Thefts over $5,000 | 259% higher219 vs 61 per 100,000 | |
| Assaults | 163% higher2,017 vs 768 per 100,000 | |
| Robberies | 147% higher193 vs 78 per 100,000 | |
| Break-ins | 133% higher443 vs 190 per 100,000 | |
| Car thefts | 48% lower118 vs 225 per 100,000 |
Major crimes reported per year, by type
Change from 2021 to 2025, by type
| Major crime | 2021 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 405 | 460 | up 14% |
| Car thefts | 25 | 27 | about the same |
| Break-ins | 98 | 101 | about the same |
| Robberies | 32 | 44 | up 38% |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 22 | 50 | more than doubled |
Other crimes, last 12 months
| Crime | Reported | Per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 5 | 28 | Higher than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 80 | 442 | Higher than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 171 | 944 | Higher than most |
Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts and Theft From Motor Vehicle, last 12 months. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection.
Toronto Police Service neighbourhood crime rates: assaults, break-ins, car thefts, robberies and thefts over $5,000. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection. Address reports also count incidents within 500 m.
Traffic safety
Since 2021, 22 collisions in Kensington-Chinatown killed or seriously injured someone, the 11th highest rate per resident in Toronto. Eight involved pedestrians. Most were on Dundas St W and Spadina Ave.
Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured, by year. *2026 so far. Rank by serious collisions
03 · Getting around
Osgoode, Queen's Park, St Andrew and St Patrick stations are in or near the neighbourhood (Line 1). Inside the neighbourhood, 36 TTC stops are served by the 506 Carlton, 505 Dundas, 510 Spadina and 511 Bathurst streetcars, among others.
Stations in or near the neighbourhood
- Osgoode StationLine 1
- Queen's Park StationLine 1
- St Andrew StationLine 1
- St Patrick StationLine 1
Busiest bus and streetcar routes
| Route | Weekday trips each way | Trips | Delays per 1,000 trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 506 Carlton Streetcar | about 256 | 7.5 · high | |
| 505 Dundas Streetcar | about 229 | 8.7 · high | |
| 510 Spadina Streetcar | about 219 | 4.7 | |
| 511 Bathurst Streetcar | about 172 | 3.9 | |
| 504 King Streetcar | about 139 | 7.1 · high |
TTC and GO schedules for a typical weekday. Trips each way: trips past the route’s busiest stop in the neighbourhood. Each route links to its TTC page (schedule and map).
Delays: incidents the TTC logged as delaying service, Sep 2025 to Sep 2026, per 1,000 scheduled trips. “High” marks the 30 routes (of 200) with the most delays per trip; a typical route has 4.0.
Parking tickets and EV charging
Busiest streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Ave Orde St to Queen's Park | 20,800 | — | Sep 2019 |
| Beverley St D'Arcy St to Baldwin St | 9,600 | 39 km/h | Mar 2026 |
| Dundas St W Lane E of Spadina and S of Dundas to Spadina Ave | 7,000 | — | Jan 2016 |
| Murray St Elm St to Orde St | 5,200 | 29 km/h | May 2026 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orde St Murray St to McCaul to Orde Parkette Trl | 1,500 | 48 km/h | Oct 2019 |
| D'Arcy St Beverley St to Huron St | 5,100 | 40 km/h | Apr 2024 |
| Wolseley St Ryerson Ave to Lane E of Bathurst and N of Wolseley | 881 | 39 km/h | Sep 2025 |
City of Toronto Traffic Volumes, counts since 2016; each street shows its highest count. “Residential” means streets the City classes as local roads. Counts are taken on different streets in different years, so they aren’t ranked.
04 · Schools and child care
Five elementary schools and one secondary school are inside the neighbourhood. Of the three with Grade 6 results, Orde Street Public School beat the Toronto average in reading; Orde Street Public School beat the Toronto average in math (Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math). There are 15 licensed child care centres with 1,100 spaces, 14 in the $10-a-day program, and five EarlyON centres.
Schools in the neighbourhood
Elementary schools
Share of Grade 6 students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math.
Ontario Ministry of Education (2026) and EQAO. Nearest the neighbourhood’s centre first. The red tick on each bar is the Toronto average. The nearest school may not be the assigned one; check with the board.
Licensed child care (15)
- Orde Day Care Centre (Orde Street) $10 a day
18 Orde St · preschool, kindergarten, school-age146 spaces - Ogden Day Care Centre $10 a day
33 Phoebe St · toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age136 spaces - Kids & Company Queen West $10 a day
308 Queen St W · infants, toddlers, preschool107 spaces - Kensington Kids Early Learning Centre $10 a day
401 College St · infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten99 spaces - Hydrokids - Opg $10 a day
700 University Ave · infants, toddlers, preschool82 spaces
EarlyON centres (5)
- Alexandra Park EarlyON Child and Family Centre105 Grange Crt
- Cecil Community Centre EarlyON Child and Family Centre58 Cecil St
- Ryerson Community EarlyON Child and Family Centre96 Denison Ave
- Scadding Court EarlyON Child and Family Centre707 Dundas St W
- TCCSA EarlyON Child and Family Centre302 Spadina Ave
Free drop-in programs for children up to 6 and their parents or caregivers. Sources: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres (each centre links to its page in the City’s child care finder) and EarlyON Child and Family Centres.
05 · Parks, trees and recreation
Rank by parks →Kensington-Chinatown has 11 parks, six of them with playgrounds: more for its population than most neighbourhoods (58th most per resident in Toronto). It has three public pools and one wading pool. Its streets have 2,405 City-owned trees, mostly honey locust, Norway maple and elm: fewer per resident than most neighbourhoods (28th fewest per resident in Toronto). The City has 24 road or sidewalk projects planned or under way here.
How much of the neighbourhood is park
| Largest parks and open spaces | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Alexandra Park | 2.7 |
| Grange Park | 1.8 |
| Bellevue Square Park | 0.4 |
| Mccaul - Orde Parkette | 0.3 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
Park projects
- New Park on St. Patrick Street
A new park is coming to 234 Simcoe St as part of the Relic Linear Park System. Learn more about the project and how you can get involved.In progress - New Park at 464-470 Queen Street West
A new park is coming to 464-470 Queen St. W., at the corner of Queen Street West and Augusta Avenue in the Alexandra Park neighbourhood.In progress - New Park on Dundas Street West
A new park is coming to 129 McCaul St as part of the Relic Linear Park System. Learn more about the project and how you can get involved.In progress
City of Toronto Park and Recreation Facility Projects.
| Amenity | Kensington-Chinatown | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 11 | 8 | Alexandra Park, Bellevue Square Park, Gallery Park and 8 more |
| Playgrounds | 6 | 5 | Alexandra Park, Bellevue Square Park, Grange Park and 3 more |
| Community centres | 2 | 1 | Harrison Pool, Scadding Court Community Centre |
| Splash pads | 1 | 0 | Alexandra Park |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 3 | 1 | Alexandra Park, Harrison Pool, Scadding Court Community Centre |
| Wading pools | 1 | 0 | Randy Padmore Park |
| Beaches | 0 | 0 | None inside Kensington-Chinatown. Nearest: Hto Park, 1.4 km away in Harbourfront-CityPlace. |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside Kensington-Chinatown. Nearest: Stanley Park South-Toronto, 710 m away in West Queen West. |
| Pickleball | 1 | 0 | Alexandra Park |
| Basketball | 1 | 1 | Alexandra Park |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 2 | 0 | Bellevue Square Park, Julius Deutsch Park |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 6 | 2 | Alexandra Park, Bellevue Square Park and 2 more · 4 of 6 open today |
City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Tennis Courts, Washroom Facilities and Street Tree Data; Toronto Public Health. Typical: the median Toronto neighbourhood. Open today: as reported by the City this morning. City programs at schools run in a school’s gym or pool and aren’t counted as community centres.
06 · Homes and renovation
Rank by permits →In the last 12 months, 456 building permits were issued, more than almost anywhere in Toronto (8th most in Toronto). Since 2021, owners have been permitted to build 45 garden and laneway suites, more than most neighbourhoods (40th most in Toronto). In all, permits have added 4,126 homes since 2021, more than most neighbourhoods (12th most in Toronto).
Per year. *2026 so far. New homes are added by permits, including suites and new buildings.
Green roofs and solar
Since 2010, 21 building permits in Kensington-Chinatown included a green roof, the 10th most in Toronto. None has included a solar hot water system since 2009.
City of Toronto building permits for green roofs (required on larger new buildings since 2010) and solar hot water systems.
07 · Renting and housing
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 averaged $2,457 a month in October 2025, $402 more than the Toronto average. More than half of households here (68%) rent, and 44% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. There are 28 apartment buildings in the City’s RentSafe program, averaging 89 out of 100. There are 103 homes registered as short-term rentals, more than almost anywhere in Toronto (5th most in Toronto). There are 11 licensed rooming houses and six shelters or respite sites. 856 affordable homes are approved, proposed or being built here, more than almost anywhere in Toronto (6th most in Toronto); the largest project is 191 College St, with 408 affordable homes.
Average rents, October 2025
CMHC Rental Market Survey. CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods; these cover central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation). Vacancy 3.2% (Toronto 2.8%). Averages include long-term tenants; new listings usually cost more.
08 · People
Rank by income →In 2021, 18,120 people lived here. The median household income was $62,000, the 153rd highest in Toronto (below the typical neighbourhood’s $85,000). Among workers, 50% walk or cycle to work, more than nine times the typical neighbourhood; 24% commute by transit, about the same as the typical neighbourhood.
18,120 residents in 2021. Most common first languages other than English and French: Mandarin 12.7%, Cantonese 10.9%, Spanish 2.2%. 2021 Census, from the City’s Neighbourhood Profiles.
09 · Shops and services
There are 693 licensed storefront businesses, mostly restaurants and bars and take-out and food shops. The biggest cluster is on Spadina Ave. In the last 90 days, 24 businesses got new licences; the newest is Kuya's Vape, a vape shop at 167 Augusta Ave.
Licensed storefronts by type
- Restaurants and bars353
- Take-out and food shops207
- Salons and personal services86
- Second-hand shops19
- Smoke and vape shops14
Streets with the most
- Spadina Ave176
- Dundas St W113
- Queen St W101
- Augusta Ave75
New licences, last 90 days
City business licences, storefront types only. We show operating names, never personal names.
Business improvement areas
Chinatown, Kensington Market and Queen Street West are Business Improvement Areas in Kensington-Chinatown. A BIA is run by local businesses, who pay a levy for street events, cleaning, decorations and promotion.
City of Toronto Business Improvement Areas.
10 · Heritage, flood risk and local contacts
Kensington-Chinatown has 296 properties on the Heritage Register, more than almost anywhere in Toronto (8th most in Toronto). No part of it is in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Heritage
- 296 properties on the Heritage Register (62 designated, 234 listed), 8th most in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- None of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Lead in tap water
- None of 85 home tests in M5T were above Ontario’s limit. In M5V, 3 of 32 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (9.4%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Dianne Saxe · Ward 11 University-Rosedale profile
What residents report to 311
In the last 12 months, 4,311 service requests came from postal area M5T, which covers most of Kensington-Chinatown. The most common:
| Graffiti on private property | 398 | |
| Property standards | 272 | |
| Illegal dumping | 183 | |
| Amplified music or instrument noise | 166 | |
| Encroachment on City property | 144 | |
| Injured wildlife | 125 |
City of Toronto 311 Service Requests, October 2025 to October 2026. 311 gives only the first three characters of the postal code, which don’t line up with neighbourhoods, so this isn’t ranked on the leaderboard.
Every figure, with ranks
| Measure | Kensington-Chinatown | Typical | Rank (1st = most) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building and change | |||
| Building permits, last 12 months | 456 | 186 | 8th |
| Active planning proposals | 20 | 11 | 40th |
| Garden and laneway suites since 2021 | 45 | 26 | 40th |
| New homes since 2021 | 4,126 | 795 | 12th |
| Short-term rentals | 103 | 21 | 5th |
| Heritage properties | 296 | 5 | 8th |
| Apartment buildings (RentSafe) | 28 | 18 | 49th |
| Safety, 2025, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Major crime, total | 2,991 | 1,107 | 4th |
| Assaults | 2,017 | 637 | 5th |
| Break-ins | 443 | 173 | 4th |
| Car thefts | 118 | 193 | 121st |
| Robberies | 193 | 70 | 4th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 219 | 46 | 3rd |
| Other crimes, last 12 months, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 28 | 6 | 10th |
| Bicycle thefts | 442 | 31 | 5th |
| Thefts from vehicles | 944 | 212 | 1st |
| People, 2021 Census | |||
| Residents | 18,120 | 16,813 | 66th |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $85,000 | 153rd |
| Households that rent | 68.4% | 45.5% | 11th |
| Renters paying 30%+ on housing | 43.9% | 39.0% | 34th |
| Commute by transit | 24.0% | 25.8% | 96th |
| Walk or cycle to work | 50.0% | 5.3% | 2nd |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.5% | 16.3% | 99th |
| Parks, trees and streets | |||
| Serious collisions since 2021, per 10,000 residents | 12.1 | 5.1 | 11th |
| Parks per 10,000 residents | 6.1 | 5.0 | 58th |
| Playgrounds per 1,000 children | 4.8 | 2.1 | 7th |
| Street trees per 1,000 residents | 133 | 228 | 131st |
| Affordable homes coming | 856 | 19 | 6th |
| Road and sidewalk projects | 24 | 10 | 21st |
| Park and open space, share of land | 3.7% | 7.8% | 124th |
| Park and open space, hectares per 1,000 residents | 0.3 | 1.6 | 139th |
| Parking tickets per 1,000 residents, 2025 | 3,260 | 410 | 5th |
| Green roof permits since 2010 | 21 | 4 | 10th |
Source: Building permits, City of Toronto; planning applications; Short Term Rentals Registration; Heritage Register; RentSafeTO. Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates. Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts, Theft From Motor Vehicle. Statistics Canada, 2021 Census, via City of Toronto Neighbourhood Profiles. City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Street Tree Data, Green Spaces, parking tickets, green roof permits, road and sidewalk programs, Affordable Housing Pipeline; Toronto Police Service serious collisions. Typical: the middle of Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods; half have more, half have less. Rank: 1st is the most or highest of 158. · Download CSV
Major crime by year
| Crimes reported | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 405 | 409 | 482 | 476 | 460 |
| Break-ins | 98 | 105 | 145 | 152 | 101 |
| Car thefts | 25 | 40 | 51 | 28 | 27 |
| Robberies | 32 | 50 | 46 | 61 | 44 |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 22 | 20 | 28 | 63 | 50 |
| Total | 582 | 624 | 752 | 780 | 682 |
| 2025 rate per 100,000 | Kensington-Chinatown | Citywide | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 2,017 | 768 | 5th |
| Break-ins | 443 | 190 | 4th |
| Car thefts | 118 | 225 | 121st |
| Robberies | 193 | 78 | 4th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 219 | 61 | 3rd |
| Total | 2,991 | 1,322 | 4th |
Rank: 1st is the most of 158.
| Crimes reported | 2025 rate per 100,000 residents | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major crime | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Kensington-Chinatown | Citywide | Rank (1st = most) |
| Assaults | 405 | 409 | 482 | 476 | 460 | 2,017 | 768 | 5th |
| Break-ins | 98 | 105 | 145 | 152 | 101 | 443 | 190 | 4th |
| Car thefts | 25 | 40 | 51 | 28 | 27 | 118 | 225 | 121st |
| Robberies | 32 | 50 | 46 | 61 | 44 | 193 | 78 | 4th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 22 | 20 | 28 | 63 | 50 | 219 | 61 | 3rd |
| Total | 582 | 624 | 752 | 780 | 682 | 2,991 | 1,322 | 4th |
Source: Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates.
Permits and new homes by year
| Year | Building permits | New homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 333 | 21 |
| 2022 | 317 | 1,007 |
| 2023 | 332 | 9 |
| 2024 | 330 | 430 |
| 2025 | 399 | 975 |
| 2026 | 400 | 1,684 |
Source: City of Toronto Building Permits (active and cleared). 2026 so far.
Average rents, October 2025
| Unit | Central Toronto | A year earlier | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,526 | $1,492 | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,914 | $1,842 | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,457 | $2,317 | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $3,195 | $3,194 | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey, purpose-built rental apartments. Covers central Toronto (the old City of Toronto, before the 1998 amalgamation); CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods.
Planning proposals (25)
Hearing coming up (1)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 130 D'Arcy St | Split the lot | Consent | Hearing Dec 9 | B0053/26TEY |
Under appeal (3)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 184 Spadina Ave | Minor variance | Minor variance | Submitted Aug 2025 | A0646/25TEY |
| 241 Beverley St | Second suite | Minor variance | Submitted May 2014 | A0533/14TEY |
| 6 Nassau St | New house | Minor variance | Submitted Feb 2021 | A0250/21TEY |
Waiting for a decision (16)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115 Denison Ave | New house | Minor variance | Submitted Oct 2026 | A0733/26TEY |
| 150 College St | 9-storey building | Site plan | Submitted Mar 2026 | 26 131356 STE 11 SA |
| 191 College St | 31-storey building with shops | Site plan | Submitted Aug 2022 | 22 196930 STE 11 SA |
| 202 Beverley St | New house | Minor variance | Submitted Nov 2024 | A0951/24TEY |
| 230 Augusta Ave | Minor variance | Minor variance | Submitted Jun 2025 | A0508/25TEY |
| 240 Mc Caul St | 18-storey building with shops | Site plan | Submitted Jun 2022 | 22 155554 STE 11 SA |
| 250 Dundas St W | 57-storey building with shops | Subdivision and rezoning | Submitted Nov 2021 | 21 234749 STE 11 SB |
| 309 Augusta Ave | Rezoning | Rezoning | Submitted Jul 2026 | 26 206718 STE 11 OZ |
| 317 Dundas St W | Split the lot | Consent | Submitted Oct 2026 | B0063/26TEY |
| 33 Kensington Ave | Consent | Consent | Submitted Jun 2020 | B0039/20TEY |
Decided recently (5)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 234 Simcoe St | Condominium | Condominium | Submitted Apr 2024 | 24 135230 STE 10 CD |
| 292 Dundas St W | Consent | Consent | Decided Apr 2026 | B0010/26TEY |
| 34 Sullivan St | Laneway suite | Minor variance | Decided Aug 2026 | A0450/26TEY |
| 42 Carr St | Add a storey | Minor variance | Decided Nov 2026 | A0667/26TEY |
| 610 Dundas St W | Addition | Minor variance | Decided Jun 2025 | A0657/25TEY |
Source: City of Toronto Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment. One row per site. · Download CSV
Apartment buildings (28)
| Building | RentSafe score | Units | Built | Open fire violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 164 Grange Ave | 71 | 24 | 1970 | — |
| 99 Bellevue Ave | 72 | 16 | 1988 | 0 |
| 88 Oxford St | 75 | 11 | 1895 | — |
| 87 Bellevue Ave | 76 | 28 | 1885 | 0 |
| 76 Grange Ave | 80 | 11 | 1993 | 0 |
| 123 Huron St | 85 | 18 | 1914 | 0 |
| 91 Augusta Ave | 86 | 257 | 1968 | 2 |
| 15 Larch St | 87 | 20 | 1993 | 0 |
| 170 Vanauley Walk | 88 | 40 | 1969 | 0 |
| 123 D'Arcy St | 88 | 24 | 1985 | 0 |
| 34 Oxford St | 89 | 189 | 1979 | 0 |
| 335 College St | 89 | 27 | 2017 | 24 |
| 2 Murray St | 91 | 86 | 1961 | 0 |
| 210 Beverley St | 91 | 21 | 1892 | 0 |
| 20 St Patrick St | 91 | 256 | 1982 | 0 |
| 11 Sullivan St | 91 | 17 | 1923 | 0 |
| 222 Elm St | 92 | 268 | 1970 | 0 |
| 6 Henry St | 92 | 105 | 1978 | 0 |
| 190 John St | 93 | 26 | 1992 | 0 |
| 20 Vanauley St | 93 | 135 | 1986 | 0 |
| 168 John St | 94 | 180 | 1979 | 0 |
| 200 Elm St | 94 | 120 | 1961 | 0 |
| 248 Simcoe St | 95 | 53 | 1991 | 0 |
| 25 Leonard Ave | 96 | 76 | 1960 | 4 |
| 127 St Patrick St | 96 | 54 | 1980 | 0 |
| 162 Huron St | 97 | 18 | 1903 | — |
| 69 Baldwin St | 98 | 17 | 1927 | — |
| 160 Huron St | 98 | 69 | 1805 | 0 |
Source: RentSafeTO Apartment Building Evaluation; Residential Fire Inspection Results.
Schools (6)
| School | Grades | Board | Students | Gr. 6 reading | Gr. 6 math | Gr. 10 literacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beverley School | JK-8 | TDSB | 75 | — | — | — |
| Ogden Junior Public School | JK-6 | TDSB | 230 | 77% | 53% | — |
| Ryerson Community School Junior Senior | JK-8 | TDSB | 335 | 65% | 26% | — |
| Orde Street Public School | JK-8 | TDSB | 455 | 89% | 64% | — |
| Kensington Community School Junior | JK-6 | TDSB | 130 | — | — | — |
| Contact Alternative School | 9-12 | TDSB | 60 | — | — | — |
Source: Ontario Ministry of Education (2026) and EQAO: share of students meeting the provincial standard. Toronto: 87% Grade 6 reading, 54% math, 84% Grade 10 literacy.
Child care centres (15)
| Centre | Address | Ages | Spaces | $10 a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orde Day Care Centre (Orde Street) | 18 Orde St | preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 146 | Yes |
| Ogden Day Care Centre | 33 Phoebe St | toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 136 | Yes |
| Kids & Company Queen West | 308 Queen St W | infants, toddlers, preschool | 107 | Yes |
| Kensington Kids Early Learning Centre | 401 College St | infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten | 99 | Yes |
| Hydrokids - Opg | 700 University Ave | infants, toddlers, preschool | 82 | Yes |
| Jingbao (Downtown) Bilingual Children's Centre (96 Denison Avenue) | 96 Denison Ave | toddlers, preschool, kindergarten | 65 | Yes |
| Network Child Care Services - Children's Gallery Child Care Centre | 292 Dundas St W | infants, toddlers, preschool | 62 | Yes |
| Life-Bridge Child Care | 330 University Ave | infants, toddlers, preschool | 57 | Yes |
| George Brown - Fashion District/Ryerson Child Care Centre | 96 Denison Ave | kindergarten, school-age | 56 | Yes |
| University Settlement Day Care Centre | 23 Grange Rd | infants, toddlers, preschool | 54 | Yes |
| Orde Day Care Satellite (St. Patrick Street) | 132 St Patrick St | infants, toddlers, preschool | 49 | Yes |
| Children's Primary Centre | 177 Beverley St | preschool, kindergarten | 44 | Yes |
| Alexandra Park Early Learning & Child Care Centre | 75 Augusta Sq | infants, toddlers, preschool | 36 | Yes |
| The Neighbourhood Group Bellevue Child Care | 91 Bellevue Ave | toddlers, preschool | 34 | Yes |
| Westside Montessori School | 95 Bellevue Ave | toddlers, preschool | 73 | No |
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres.
Busiest bus and streetcar routes
| Route | Type | Trips each way, weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 506 Carlton | Streetcar | 256 |
| 505 Dundas | Streetcar | 229 |
| 510 Spadina | Streetcar | 219 |
| 511 Bathurst | Streetcar | 172 |
| 504 King | Streetcar | 139 |
| 501 Queen | Streetcar | 120 |
Source: TTC and GO Transit schedules for a typical weekday. Trips each way: weekday trips past the route’s busiest stop in the neighbourhood.
Parks and recreation
| Amenity | Kensington-Chinatown | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 11 | 8 | Alexandra Park, Bellevue Square Park, Gallery Park and 8 more |
| Playgrounds | 6 | 5 | Alexandra Park, Bellevue Square Park, Grange Park and 3 more |
| Community centres | 2 | 1 | Harrison Pool, Scadding Court Community Centre |
| Splash pads | 1 | 0 | Alexandra Park |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 3 | 1 | Alexandra Park, Harrison Pool, Scadding Court Community Centre |
| Wading pools | 1 | 0 | Randy Padmore Park |
| Beaches | 0 | 0 | None inside Kensington-Chinatown. Nearest: Hto Park, 1.4 km away in Harbourfront-CityPlace. |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside Kensington-Chinatown. Nearest: Stanley Park South-Toronto, 710 m away in West Queen West. |
| Pickleball | 1 | 0 | Alexandra Park |
| Basketball | 1 | 1 | Alexandra Park |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 2 | 0 | Bellevue Square Park, Julius Deutsch Park |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 6 | 2 | Alexandra Park, Bellevue Square Park and 2 more · 4 of 6 open today |
Source: City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Tennis Courts and Washroom Facilities. Typical neighbourhood: the median across Toronto.
Affordable housing and rental demolitions
| Address | Stage | Affordable homes |
|---|---|---|
| 191 College St | Rezoning approved | 408 |
| 25 Eden Place | Early planning | 100 |
| 15 Denison Ave | Early planning | 100 |
| 310 Spadina Ave | Application under review | 83 |
| 35 Bellevue Ave | Under construction | 78 |
| 250 Dundas St W | Rezoning approved | 34 |
| 7 Vanauley St | Under construction | 31 |
| 315 Spadina Ave | Under construction | 22 |
Source: City of Toronto Affordable Housing Pipeline (projects not yet occupied) and Rental Housing Demolition applications approved since 2023.
Street work (24)
| Work | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Laneway rebuild | Douglas Campbell Lane, near College St | 2026 |
| Road rebuild | Augusta Ave, Baldwin St to Nassau St | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Road repairs | Wales Ave, Augusta Ave to Denison Ave | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Road rebuild | Kensington Ave, Dundas St W to Fitzroy Ter | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Road repairs | Wales Ave, Bellevue Ave to Leonard Ave | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Laneway rebuild | Kensington Pl | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Road rebuild | Baldwin St, near Spadina Ave | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Road repairs | Wales Ave, Denison Ave to Bellevue Ave | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Laneway rebuild | Fitzroy Ter, near Kensington Ave | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Laneway rebuild | Fitzroy Ter, near Kensington Ave | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Road repairs | Wales Ave, Leonard Ave to Carlyle St | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Sidewalk work | Wales Ave, Augusta Ave to Denison Ave | Q2 2027 to Q4 2028 |
| Laneway rebuild | Sullivan St, Grange Pl to Huron St | Q2 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Baldwin St, near Huron St | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Huron St, Dundas St W to D'arcy St | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Spadina Ave, D'arcy St to Baldwin St | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Dundas St W, Beverley St to Huron St | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Dundas St W, near Huron St | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Huron St, near Dundas St W | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Dundas St W, near Huron St | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Laneway rebuild | Dundas St W, near Beverley St | Q3 2026 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Wolseley St, near Bathurst St | Q4 2024 to Q3 2025 (carried over) |
| Road resurfacing | Wolseley St, Ryerson Ave to Bathurst St | Q4 2024 to Q3 2025 (carried over) |
| Road resurfacing | Wolseley St, Augusta Ave to Denison Ave | Q4 2024 to Q3 2025 (carried over) |
Source: City of Toronto Road Reconstruction, Road Resurfacing and Sidewalk Construction programs. Dates are the City’s plan and can move.
New storefront businesses, last 90 days (24)
| Business | Type | Address | Licence issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuya's Vape | Vape shop | 167 Augusta Ave | Dec 1, 2026 |
| The University Club of Toronto | Entertainment venue | 380 University Ave | Nov 3, 2026 |
| Tim Hortons | Restaurant or bar | 700 University Ave | Oct 30, 2026 |
| Qing Shu Hot Pot (Dt) | Restaurant or bar | 442 Dundas St W | Oct 29, 2026 |
| Green Drip | Restaurant or bar | 283 College St | Oct 28, 2026 |
| Sultans Mediterranean Grill | Take-out or food shop | 700 University Ave | Oct 22, 2026 |
| Tres Piggies | Take-out or food shop | 72 Kensington Ave | Oct 17, 2026 |
| C2y Hair Salon | Salon or personal services | 222 Spadina Ave | Oct 15, 2026 |
| Papparoti Café & Bakery | Restaurant or bar | 202 Queen St W | Oct 11, 2026 |
| Ba Ngoai-Vietnamese Home Kitchen | Restaurant or bar | 47 Baldwin St | Oct 9, 2026 |
| Hattendo | Restaurant or bar | 13 Baldwin St | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Hup | Restaurant or bar | 285 College St | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Aeden Tattoo Studio | Salon or personal services | 566 Queen St W | Sep 26, 2026 |
| Chayan Toronto | Restaurant or bar | 407 Spadina Ave | Sep 25, 2026 |
| J&C Restaurant | Restaurant or bar | 318 Spadina Ave | Sep 23, 2026 |
| Little Town Story Sichuan Cuisine.bbq | Restaurant or bar | 454 Spadina Ave | Sep 22, 2026 |
| Panda Wrap | Take-out or food shop | 222 Spadina Ave | Sep 9, 2026 |
| La Marka Studios | Salon or personal services | 162A Spadina Ave | Sep 3, 2026 |
| Pyro Resto Lounge | Restaurant or bar | 552 Queen St W | Sep 3, 2026 |
| Kajiken Queen W | Restaurant or bar | 214 Queen St W | Sep 2, 2026 |
| Dolyang Love&Fire Momo | Restaurant or bar | 249 Augusta Ave | Sep 2, 2026 |
| Tutti Frutti Famous Foods | Take-out or food shop | 221 Augusta Ave | Aug 27, 2026 |
| Cmt8 | Restaurant or bar | 81 Huron St | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Seoul Gamjatang Baldwin | Restaurant or bar | 3 Baldwin St | Aug 14, 2026 |
Source: City of Toronto Business Licences and Permits, storefront types. Operating names only.
Garden and laneway suites (45)
| Address | Type | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| 34 Sullivan St | Laneway suite | Oct 2026 |
| 119 Baldwin St | Laneway suite | Jul 2026 |
| 23 Ross St | Garden suite | May 2026 |
| 20 Sullivan St | Laneway suite | Mar 2026 |
| 53 Sullivan St | Laneway suite | Mar 2026 |
| 55 Huron St | Laneway suite | Jan 2026 |
| 112 Oxford St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Nov 2025 |
| 477 Bathurst St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Sep 2025 |
| 73 D'Arcy St | Laneway suite | Aug 2025 |
| 477 Bathurst St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Aug 2025 |
| 59 Wolseley St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Aug 2025 |
| 26 Grange Ave | Laneway suite | Aug 2025 |
| 59 Wolseley St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Aug 2025 |
| 477 Bathurst St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Aug 2025 |
| 18 Oxford St | Laneway suite | May 2025 |
| 36 Phoebe St | Laneway suite | Mar 2025 |
| 115 D'Arcy St | Laneway suite | Jan 2025 |
| 41 Henry St | Laneway suite | Oct 2024 |
| 78 Baldwin St | Laneway suite | Aug 2024 |
| 77 Wales Ave | Laneway suite | Jul 2024 |
| 140 Denison Ave | Laneway suite | Jul 2024 |
| 437 Bathurst St | Laneway suite | Mar 2024 |
| 45 Wales Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Nov 2023 |
| 49 Wales Ave | Laneway suite | Nov 2023 |
| 47 Wales Ave | Laneway suite | Nov 2023 |
| 43 Wales Ave | Laneway suite | Nov 2023 |
| 39 Henry St | Laneway suite | Jun 2023 |
| 20 Huron St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Mar 2023 |
| 437 Bathurst St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Mar 2023 |
| 39 Henry St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Jan 2023 |
| 32 Nassau St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Sep 2022 |
| 58 Beverley St | Laneway suite | Jun 2022 |
| 18 Ross St | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Dec 2021 |
| 147 Denison Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Dec 2021 |
| 431 Bathurst St | Laneway or garden suite | Dec 2021 |
| 19 Grange Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Aug 2021 |
| 60 Beverley St | Laneway suite | Jan 2021 |
| 22 Bellevue Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | May 2020 |
| 31 Grange Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Apr 2020 |
| 122 D'Arcy St | Laneway or garden suite | Mar 2020 |
Source: City of Toronto Building Permits, since 2021.
Shootings, bicycle thefts and thefts from vehicles
Other crimes, last 12 months
| Crime | Reported | Per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 5 | 28 | Higher than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 80 | 442 | Higher than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 171 | 944 | Higher than most |
Toronto Police Service: Shootings and Firearm Discharges, Bicycle Thefts and Theft From Motor Vehicle, last 12 months. Police place each incident at the nearest intersection.
Serious collisions by year
| Year | Collisions |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Source: Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured. 2026 so far.
Stations, streets, parking and EV charging
| Station | Service | Lines | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osgoode Station | TTC subway | 1 | Nearby |
| Queen's Park Station | TTC subway | 1 | Nearby |
| St Andrew Station | TTC subway | 1 | Nearby |
| St Patrick Station | TTC subway | 1 | Nearby |
Parking tickets and EV charging
Busiest streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| University Ave Orde St to Queen's Park | 20,800 | — | Sep 2019 |
| Beverley St D'Arcy St to Baldwin St | 9,600 | 39 km/h | Mar 2026 |
| Dundas St W Lane E of Spadina and S of Dundas to Spadina Ave | 7,000 | — | Jan 2016 |
| Murray St Elm St to Orde St | 5,200 | 29 km/h | May 2026 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orde St Murray St to McCaul to Orde Parkette Trl | 1,500 | 48 km/h | Oct 2019 |
| D'Arcy St Beverley St to Huron St | 5,100 | 40 km/h | Apr 2024 |
| Wolseley St Ryerson Ave to Lane E of Bathurst and N of Wolseley | 881 | 39 km/h | Sep 2025 |
City of Toronto Traffic Volumes, counts since 2016; each street shows its highest count. “Residential” means streets the City classes as local roads. Counts are taken on different streets in different years, so they aren’t ranked.
Park space and park projects
How much of the neighbourhood is park
| Largest parks and open spaces | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Alexandra Park | 2.7 |
| Grange Park | 1.8 |
| Bellevue Square Park | 0.4 |
| Mccaul - Orde Parkette | 0.3 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
Park projects
- New Park on St. Patrick Street
A new park is coming to 234 Simcoe St as part of the Relic Linear Park System. Learn more about the project and how you can get involved.In progress - New Park at 464-470 Queen Street West
A new park is coming to 464-470 Queen St. W., at the corner of Queen Street West and Augusta Avenue in the Alexandra Park neighbourhood.In progress - New Park on Dundas Street West
A new park is coming to 129 McCaul St as part of the Relic Linear Park System. Learn more about the project and how you can get involved.In progress
City of Toronto Park and Recreation Facility Projects.
Green roofs and solar
Green roofs and solar
Since 2010, 21 building permits in Kensington-Chinatown included a green roof, the 10th most in Toronto. None has included a solar hot water system since 2009.
City of Toronto building permits for green roofs (required on larger new buildings since 2010) and solar hot water systems.
Noise permits
Noise permits
In the last 12 months, 41 noise exemption permits were issued in Kensington-Chinatown: 38 for amplified sound at events, 2 for construction outside normal hours and 1 for continuous concrete pours.
City of Toronto Noise Exemption Permits. A permit lets an event or a construction project make noise outside the hours the noise bylaw allows. Address pages list the permits nearby that haven’t ended yet.
Business improvement area
Business improvement areas
Chinatown, Kensington Market and Queen Street West are Business Improvement Areas in Kensington-Chinatown. A BIA is run by local businesses, who pay a levy for street events, cleaning, decorations and promotion.
City of Toronto Business Improvement Areas.
Heritage, flood risk and local contacts
- Heritage
- 296 properties on the Heritage Register (62 designated, 234 listed), 8th most in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- None of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Lead in tap water
- None of 85 home tests in M5T were above Ontario’s limit. In M5V, 3 of 32 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (9.4%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Dianne Saxe · Ward 11 University-Rosedale profile
Source: City of Toronto Heritage Register; Toronto and Region Conservation Authority; City of Toronto lead testing; City of Toronto elected officials.
What residents report to 311
What residents report to 311
In the last 12 months, 4,311 service requests came from postal area M5T, which covers most of Kensington-Chinatown. The most common:
| Graffiti on private property | 398 | |
| Property standards | 272 | |
| Illegal dumping | 183 | |
| Amplified music or instrument noise | 166 | |
| Encroachment on City property | 144 | |
| Injured wildlife | 125 |
City of Toronto 311 Service Requests, October 2025 to October 2026. 311 gives only the first three characters of the postal code, which don’t line up with neighbourhoods, so this isn’t ranked on the leaderboard.
One email every Wednesday with what changed in Kensington-Chinatown: new proposals, demolitions, heritage listings, serious collisions and more. Add up to 4 more neighbourhoods. Free, and no address needed.
More: Neighbourhood leaderboard · Compare Kensington-Chinatown side by side