Old East York
Old East York is an east-end neighbourhood of about 9,200 people, next to Broadview North, Danforth East York, Leaside-Bennington and three other neighbourhoods. Most households own their homes. Its main shopping streets are Coxwell Ave and Donlands Ave.
Neighbouring areas link to their pages. City of Toronto neighbourhood boundaries and Toronto Centreline.
Boundaries: The Don River, then Massey Creek to the north, Woodbine Ave to the east, Cosburn Ave to the south and Leaside Bdge, then Pape Ave to the west.
01 · What’s being built
Rank by proposals →There are eight active planning proposals in Old East York, fewer than most neighbourhoods (57th fewest in Toronto). One has a hearing coming up (266 Torrens Ave, Dec 9, 2026). Neighbours can send comments or speak at a hearing. Of the rest, three are waiting for a decision and four are under appeal. Another four were decided recently.
Hearing coming up (1)
Under appeal (4)
Waiting for a decision (3)
Decided recently (4)
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 it is in the Cosburn major transit station area, 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
No noise exemption permits were issued in Old East York in the last 12 months.
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, 111 major crimes were reported in Old East York: 1,102 per 100,000 residents, 17% below the citywide rate (1,322) and the 81st highest in Toronto. Break-ins and robberies were below the citywide rate. Reports were similar to the year before (118 in 2024).
Old East York compared with Toronto · rate per 100,000 residents, 2025
| Major crime | Compared with the Toronto rate | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Car thefts | About the same238 vs 225 per 100,000 | |
| Assaults | 15% lower655 vs 768 per 100,000 | |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 18% lower50 vs 61 per 100,000 | |
| Robberies | 23% lower60 vs 78 per 100,000 | |
| Break-ins | 48% lower99 vs 190 per 100,000 |
Major crimes reported per year, by type
Change from 2021 to 2025, by type
| Major crime | 2021 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 38 | 66 | up 74% |
| Car thefts | 19 | 24 | up 26% |
| Break-ins | 6 | 10 | up 67% |
| Robberies | 8 | 6 | down 25% |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 5 | 5 | about the same |
Other crimes, last 12 months
| Crime | Reported | Per 100,000 residents | Compared with other neighbourhoods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 1 | 11 | Higher than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 1 | 11 | Lower than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 22 | 240 | 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, 14 collisions in Old East York killed or seriously injured someone, the 4th highest rate per resident in Toronto. Five involved pedestrians. Most were on Pape Ave and Don Mills Rd.
Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured, by year. *2026 so far. Rank by serious collisions
03 · Getting around
Inside the neighbourhood, 58 TTC stops are served by the 100 Flemingdon Park, 72 Pape, 87 Cosburn and 70 O'Connor buses, among others.
Busiest bus routes
| Route | Weekday trips each way | Trips | Delays per 1,000 trips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 Flemingdon Park | about 166 | 4.0 | |
| 72 Pape | about 145 | 6.2 | |
| 87 Cosburn | about 124 | 1.1 | |
| 70 O'Connor | about 104 | 3.3 | |
| 51 Leslie | about 104 | 3.6 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Connor Dr Athlone Rd to Airley Cres | 37,500 | 57 km/h | May 2018 |
| Donlands Ave | 17,000 | 50 km/h | Nov 2024 |
| Coxwell Ave Cosburn Ave to Plains Rd | 16,400 | 48 km/h | Apr 2025 |
| Cosburn Ave Fairside Ave to Binswood Ave | 9,000 | 49 km/h | Sep 2021 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmsdale Rd Lane N of O Connor and E of Wolverton to Donlands Ave | 1,100 | 54 km/h | Nov 2021 |
| Athlone Rd Cosburn Ave to Plains Rd | 624 | 48 km/h | Oct 2018 |
| Four Oaks Gt Lane 2 W of Airley and S of Four Oaks to Lane 1 W of Airley and S of Four Oaks | 355 | 45 km/h | Mar 2020 |
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
Four elementary schools and two secondary schools are inside the neighbourhood. Of the two with Grade 6 results, Canadian Martyrs Catholic School beat the Toronto average in reading; neither did in math (Toronto: 87% reading, 54% math). There are five licensed child care centres with 442 spaces, four in the $10-a-day program, and one EarlyON centre.
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 (5)
- Plains Road Child Care $10 a day
520 Plains Rd · infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age174 spaces - William Burgess Jr YMCA $10 a day
100 Torrens Ave · toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age166 spaces - Centennial College East York Day Care (Plains Rd) $10 a day
175 Plains Rd · kindergarten, school-age56 spaces - Lily's House $10 a day
1032 Coxwell Ave · toddlers15 spaces - East York Montessori School
486 Cosburn Ave · toddlers, preschool31 spaces
EarlyON centres (1)
- Cosburn EarlyON Child and Family Centre904 Coxwell 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 →Old East York has four parks, three of them with playgrounds: fewer for its population than most neighbourhoods (67th fewest per resident in Toronto). It has one public pool. Its streets have 2,198 City-owned trees, mostly Norway maple, Colorado blue spruce and red oak: about typical for a Toronto neighbourhood. The City has four road or sidewalk projects planned or under way here.
How much of the neighbourhood is park
| Largest parks and open spaces | Hectares |
|---|---|
| Lower Don Parklands | 12.1 |
| Coxwell Ravine Park | 8.3 |
| Taylor Creek Park | 5.2 |
| Cullen Bryant Park | 1.9 |
| E.T. Seton Park | 1.8 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
| Amenity | Old East York | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 4 | 8 | Coxwell Ravine Park, Cullen Bryant Park, Four Oaks Gate Park and 1 more |
| Playgrounds | 3 | 5 | Cullen Bryant Park, Four Oaks Gate Park, Gamble Playground |
| Community centres | 1 | 1 | East York Community Recreation Centre |
| City programs at schools | 1 | — | Canadian Martyrs Catholic School |
| Splash pads | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Dieppe Park, just over the border in Danforth East York. |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 1 | 1 | East York Community Recreation Centre |
| Wading pools | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Livingstone Park, just over the border in Broadview North. |
| Beaches | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Beaches Park, 3.7 km away in The Beaches. |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Angela James Arena & Tennis Courts, 1.2 km away in Flemingdon Park. |
| Pickleball | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Dieppe Park, just over the border in Danforth East York. |
| Basketball | 0 | 1 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: E.t. Seton Park, 750 m away in Thorncliffe Park. |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Langford Parkette, 1.1 km away in Danforth. |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 1 | 2 | East York Community Centre · 1 of 1 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, 223 building permits were issued, more than most neighbourhoods (57th most in Toronto). Since 2021, owners have been permitted to build 21 garden and laneway suites, about typical for a Toronto neighbourhood. In all, permits have added 299 homes since 2021, fewer than most neighbourhoods (35th fewest in Toronto); new apartment buildings add more elsewhere.
Per year. *2026 so far. New homes are added by permits, including suites and new buildings.
Green roofs and solar
No building permits in Old East York have included a green roof since 2010. Since 2009, 2 included a solar hot water system.
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 East York (the former Borough of East York), a two-bedroom in a purpose-built rental averaged $1,820 a month in October 2025, $235 less than the Toronto average. About a third of households here (34%) rent, and 31% of renters spend 30% or more of their income on housing. There are 17 apartment buildings in the City’s RentSafe program, averaging 89 out of 100. There are 26 homes registered as short-term rentals, more than most neighbourhoods (60th most in Toronto). There are no licensed rooming houses and no shelters or respite sites.
Average rents, October 2025
CMHC Rental Market Survey. CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods; these cover East York (the former Borough of East York). Vacancy 3.4% (Toronto 2.8%). Averages include long-term tenants; new listings usually cost more.
08 · People
Rank by income →In 2021, 9,160 people lived here. The median household income was $96,000, the 37th highest in Toronto (above the typical neighbourhood’s $85,000). Among workers, 21% commute by transit, below the typical neighbourhood.
9,160 residents in 2021. Most common first languages other than English and French: Greek 9.7%, Tagalog (Pilipino, Filipino) 2.4%, Cantonese 2.1%. 2021 Census, from the City’s Neighbourhood Profiles.
09 · Shops and services
There are 64 licensed storefront businesses, mostly restaurants and bars and take-out and food shops. Most are on Coxwell Ave and Donlands Ave. One got a new licence in the last 90 days: Nextop Variety Convenience, a take-out or food shop at 425 Donlands Ave.
Licensed storefronts by type
- Restaurants and bars27
- Take-out and food shops17
- Salons and personal services13
- Auto repair shops3
- Smoke and vape shops2
Streets with the most
- Coxwell Ave22
- Donlands Ave18
- O'Connor Dr14
- Cosburn Ave5
New licences, last 90 days
City business licences, storefront types only. We show operating names, never personal names.
Business improvement areas
Pape Village is a Business Improvement Area in Old East York. 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
Old East York has one property on the Heritage Register, fewer than most neighbourhoods (37th fewest in Toronto). A small number of addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area.
- Heritage
- 1 property on the Heritage Register (0 designated, 1 listed), 37th fewest in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- Fewer than 0.1% of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area. A few (4.9%) are in TRCA’s regulated area, where some work needs a TRCA permit.
- Lead in tap water
- In M4J, 22 of 911 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (2.4%; Toronto 2.0%). In M4C, 21 of 851 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (2.5%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Paula Fletcher · Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth profile
What residents report to 311
In the last 12 months, 19,061 service requests came from postal areas M4J and M4C, which cover most of Old East York. The most common:
| Animal noise | 813 | |
| Road plowing | 763 | |
| Property standards | 707 | |
| Damaged bin lids | 631 | |
| Tree pruning | 538 | |
| Blocked sewer lines | 529 |
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 | Old East York | Typical | Rank (1st = most) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building and change | |||
| Building permits, last 12 months | 223 | 186 | 57th |
| Active planning proposals | 8 | 11 | 102nd |
| Garden and laneway suites since 2021 | 21 | 26 | 89th |
| New homes since 2021 | 299 | 795 | 124th |
| Short-term rentals | 26 | 21 | 60th |
| Heritage properties | 1 | 5 | 122nd |
| Apartment buildings (RentSafe) | 17 | 18 | 82nd |
| Safety, 2025, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Major crime, total | 1,102 | 1,107 | 81st |
| Assaults | 655 | 637 | 73rd |
| Break-ins | 99 | 173 | 132nd |
| Car thefts | 238 | 193 | 50th |
| Robberies | 60 | 70 | 88th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 50 | 46 | 67th |
| Other crimes, last 12 months, per 100,000 residents | |||
| Shootings and firearm discharges | 11 | 6 | 47th |
| Bicycle thefts | 11 | 31 | 120th |
| Thefts from vehicles | 240 | 212 | 61st |
| People, 2021 Census | |||
| Residents | 9,160 | 16,813 | 150th |
| Median household income | $96,000 | $85,000 | 37th |
| Households that rent | 34.2% | 45.5% | 126th |
| Renters paying 30%+ on housing | 30.6% | 39.0% | 141st |
| Commute by transit | 21.3% | 25.8% | 120th |
| Walk or cycle to work | 9.1% | 5.3% | 59th |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.2% | 16.3% | 46th |
| Parks, trees and streets | |||
| Serious collisions since 2021, per 10,000 residents | 15.3 | 5.1 | 4th |
| Parks per 10,000 residents | 4.4 | 5.0 | 92nd |
| Playgrounds per 1,000 children | 2.1 | 2.1 | 74th |
| Street trees per 1,000 residents | 240 | 228 | 74th |
| Affordable homes coming | 0 | 19 | 93rd |
| Road and sidewalk projects | 4 | 10 | 130th |
| Park and open space, share of land | 13.0% | 7.8% | 50th |
| Park and open space, hectares per 1,000 residents | 3.3 | 1.6 | 41st |
| Parking tickets per 1,000 residents, 2025 | 443 | 410 | 75th |
| Green roof permits since 2010 | 0 | 4 | 150th |
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 | 38 | 68 | 63 | 74 | 66 |
| Break-ins | 6 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 10 |
| Car thefts | 19 | 21 | 32 | 23 | 24 |
| Robberies | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Total | 76 | 119 | 109 | 118 | 111 |
| 2025 rate per 100,000 | Old East York | Citywide | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assaults | 655 | 768 | 73rd |
| Break-ins | 99 | 190 | 132nd |
| Car thefts | 238 | 225 | 50th |
| Robberies | 60 | 78 | 88th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 50 | 61 | 67th |
| Total | 1,102 | 1,322 | 81st |
Rank: 1st is the most of 158.
| Crimes reported | 2025 rate per 100,000 residents | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major crime | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Old East York | Citywide | Rank (1st = most) |
| Assaults | 38 | 68 | 63 | 74 | 66 | 655 | 768 | 73rd |
| Break-ins | 6 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 99 | 190 | 132nd |
| Car thefts | 19 | 21 | 32 | 23 | 24 | 238 | 225 | 50th |
| Robberies | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 60 | 78 | 88th |
| Thefts over $5,000 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 50 | 61 | 67th |
| Total | 76 | 119 | 109 | 118 | 111 | 1,102 | 1,322 | 81st |
Source: Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates.
Permits and new homes by year
| Year | Building permits | New homes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 220 | 16 |
| 2022 | 241 | 18 |
| 2023 | 211 | 23 |
| 2024 | 202 | 57 |
| 2025 | 187 | 47 |
| 2026 | 198 | 138 |
Source: City of Toronto Building Permits (active and cleared). 2026 so far.
Average rents, October 2025
| Unit | East York | A year earlier | Toronto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,339 | $1,192 | $1,499 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,578 | $1,510 | $1,763 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,820 | $1,750 | $2,055 |
| 3 bedrooms or more | $2,189 | $2,241 | $2,361 |
Source: CMHC Rental Market Survey, purpose-built rental apartments. Covers East York (the former Borough of East York); CMHC doesn’t publish rents for single neighbourhoods.
Planning proposals (12)
Hearing coming up (1)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 266 Torrens Ave | New house | Minor variance | Hearing Dec 9 | A0745/26TEY |
Under appeal (4)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Northbrook Rd | Add a storey | Minor variance | Submitted Jan 2022 | A0100/22TEY |
| 210 Cosburn Ave | Addition | Minor variance | Submitted Feb 2025 | A0102/25TEY |
| 354 Woodmount Ave | Add a storey | Minor variance | Submitted Mar 2021 | A0402/21TEY |
| 686 Cosburn Ave | New house | Minor variance and consent | Submitted Sep 2017 | A0975/17TEY |
Waiting for a decision (3)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 125 O'Connor Dr | Site plan | Site plan | Submitted Jun 2014 | 14 178862 STE 29 SA |
| 334 Donlands Ave | Second suite | Minor variance | Submitted Aug 2026 | A0593/26TEY |
| 62 Lankin Blvd | Add a storey | Minor variance | Submitted Nov 2026 | A0765/26TEY |
Decided recently (4)
| Address | Proposal | Type | Key date | City file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 304 Cosburn Ave | Split the lot | Consent | Decided Jul 2025 | B0065/22TEY |
| 42 Rivercourt Blvd | Add a storey | Minor variance | Decided Feb 2025 | A0130/25TEY |
| 493 Plains Rd | Split the lot | Consent | Decided Jul 2025 | B0018/25TEY |
| 655 O'Connor Dr | Garage or parking | Minor variance | Decided Mar 2026 | A0271/26TEY |
Source: City of Toronto Development Applications and Committee of Adjustment. One row per site. · Download CSV
Apartment buildings (17)
| Building | RentSafe score | Units | Built | Open fire violations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 133 Gamble Ave | 77 | 27 | 1960 | 0 |
| 230 Cosburn Ave | 79 | 30 | 1960 | 0 |
| 140 Cosburn Ave | 82 | 17 | 1960 | 0 |
| 250 Cosburn Ave | 82 | 40 | 1927 | 2 |
| 210 Cosburn Ave | 83 | 33 | 1968 | 0 |
| 120 Cosburn Ave | 86 | 57 | 1950 | — |
| 9 Elmsdale Rd | 88 | 38 | 1945 | 0 |
| 150 Cosburn Ave | 90 | 153 | 1962 | 0 |
| 190 Cosburn Ave | 90 | 47 | 1959 | — |
| 200 Cosburn Ave | 90 | 45 | 1965 | 10 |
| 130 Cosburn Ave | 92 | 48 | 1956 | 0 |
| 240 Cosburn Ave | 93 | 38 | 1959 | — |
| 338 Donlands Ave | 94 | 36 | 1949 | — |
| 257 Torrens Ave | 94 | 17 | 1950 | 0 |
| 246 Cosburn Ave | 96 | 40 | 1955 | 0 |
| 1430 Woodbine Ave | 97 | 61 | 1992 | 0 |
| 260 Gamble Ave | 98 | 24 | 1950 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diefenbaker Elementary School | JK-5 | TDSB | 300 | — | — | — |
| Cosburn Middle School | 6-8 | TDSB | 490 | 77% | 43% | — |
| William Burgess Elementary School | JK-5 | TDSB | 365 | — | — | — |
| Canadian Martyrs Catholic School | JK-8 | TCDSB | 355 | 88% | 54% | — |
| East York Collegiate Institute | 9-12 | TDSB | 1,090 | — | — | 83% |
| East York Alternative Secondary School | 9-12 | TDSB | 140 | — | — | — |
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 (5)
| Centre | Address | Ages | Spaces | $10 a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plains Road Child Care | 520 Plains Rd | infants, toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 174 | Yes |
| William Burgess Jr YMCA | 100 Torrens Ave | toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, school-age | 166 | Yes |
| Centennial College East York Day Care (Plains Rd) | 175 Plains Rd | kindergarten, school-age | 56 | Yes |
| Lily's House | 1032 Coxwell Ave | toddlers | 15 | Yes |
| East York Montessori School | 486 Cosburn Ave | toddlers, preschool | 31 | No |
Source: City of Toronto Licensed Child Care Centres.
Busiest bus and streetcar routes
| Route | Type | Trips each way, weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Flemingdon Park | Bus | 166 |
| 72 Pape | Bus | 145 |
| 87 Cosburn | Bus | 124 |
| 70 O'Connor | Bus | 104 |
| 51 Leslie | Bus | 104 |
| 8 Broadview | Bus | 61 |
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 | Old East York | Typical | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parks and play | |||
| Parks | 4 | 8 | Coxwell Ravine Park, Cullen Bryant Park, Four Oaks Gate Park and 1 more |
| Playgrounds | 3 | 5 | Cullen Bryant Park, Four Oaks Gate Park, Gamble Playground |
| Community centres | 1 | 1 | East York Community Recreation Centre |
| City programs at schools | 1 | — | Canadian Martyrs Catholic School |
| Splash pads | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Dieppe Park, just over the border in Danforth East York. |
| Swimming | |||
| Public pools | 1 | 1 | East York Community Recreation Centre |
| Wading pools | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Livingstone Park, just over the border in Broadview North. |
| Beaches | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Beaches Park, 3.7 km away in The Beaches. |
| Courts and fitness | |||
| Tennis | 0 | 1 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Angela James Arena & Tennis Courts, 1.2 km away in Flemingdon Park. |
| Pickleball | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Dieppe Park, just over the border in Danforth East York. |
| Basketball | 0 | 1 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: E.t. Seton Park, 750 m away in Thorncliffe Park. |
| Outdoor fitness equipment | 0 | 0 | None inside Old East York. Nearest: Langford Parkette, 1.1 km away in Danforth. |
| Facilities | |||
| Public washrooms | 1 | 2 | East York Community Centre · 1 of 1 open today |
Source: City of Toronto Parks and Recreation Facilities, Tennis Courts and Washroom Facilities. Typical neighbourhood: the median across Toronto.
Street work (4)
| Work | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Road resurfacing | Cosburn Ave, Norlong Blvd to Woodmount Ave | Q3 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Cosburn Ave, Binswood Ave to Roblin Ave | Q3 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Cosburn Ave, Glebemount Ave to Norlong Blvd | Q3 to Q4 2027 |
| Road resurfacing | Cosburn Ave, Roblin Ave to Glebemount Ave | Q3 to Q4 2027 |
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 (1)
| Business | Type | Address | Licence issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nextop Variety Convenience | Take-out or food shop | 425 Donlands Ave | Sep 22, 2026 |
Source: City of Toronto Business Licences and Permits, storefront types. Operating names only.
Garden and laneway suites (21)
| Address | Type | Permit |
|---|---|---|
| 184 Gamble Ave | Garden suite | Aug 2026 |
| 229 Gamble Ave | Garden suite | Apr 2026 |
| 227 Gamble Ave | Garden suite | Mar 2026 |
| 174 Gamble Ave | Garden suite | Feb 2026 |
| 187 Gamble Ave | Garden suite | Jan 2026 |
| 245 Torrens Ave | Garden suite | Oct 2025 |
| 70 Chilton Rd | Garden suite | Jul 2025 |
| 422 O'Connor Dr | Garden suite | Jun 2025 |
| 239 Torrens Ave | Laneway or garden suite | May 2025 |
| 309 Donlands Ave | Laneway or garden suite | Mar 2025 |
| 614 O'Connor Dr | Garden suite | Dec 2024 |
| 78 St Hubert Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Oct 2024 |
| 18 Don Mills Rd | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Jul 2024 |
| 148 Gamble Ave | Garden suite | Feb 2024 |
| 577 O'Connor Dr | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Feb 2024 |
| 171 Durant Ave | Garden suite | Nov 2023 |
| 177 Gamble Ave | Garden suite | Aug 2023 |
| 217 Woodville Ave | Garden suite | Jan 2023 |
| 1065 Pape Ave | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | Feb 2022 |
| 331 Donlands Ave | Laneway suite | Aug 2020 |
| 139 O'Connor Dr | Second suite (such as a basement apartment) | May 2010 |
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 | 1 | 11 | Higher than most |
| Bicycle thefts | 1 | 11 | Lower than most |
| Thefts from vehicles | 22 | 240 | 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 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Source: Toronto Police Service: collisions in which someone was killed or seriously injured. 2026 so far.
Stations, streets, parking and EV charging
Parking tickets and EV charging
Busiest streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Connor Dr Athlone Rd to Airley Cres | 37,500 | 57 km/h | May 2018 |
| Donlands Ave | 17,000 | 50 km/h | Nov 2024 |
| Coxwell Ave Cosburn Ave to Plains Rd | 16,400 | 48 km/h | Apr 2025 |
| Cosburn Ave Fairside Ave to Binswood Ave | 9,000 | 49 km/h | Sep 2021 |
Fastest residential streets
| Street | Vehicles a day | 85% drive at or under | Counted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elmsdale Rd Lane N of O Connor and E of Wolverton to Donlands Ave | 1,100 | 54 km/h | Nov 2021 |
| Athlone Rd Cosburn Ave to Plains Rd | 624 | 48 km/h | Oct 2018 |
| Four Oaks Gt Lane 2 W of Airley and S of Four Oaks to Lane 1 W of Airley and S of Four Oaks | 355 | 45 km/h | Mar 2020 |
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 |
|---|---|
| Lower Don Parklands | 12.1 |
| Coxwell Ravine Park | 8.3 |
| Taylor Creek Park | 5.2 |
| Cullen Bryant Park | 1.9 |
| E.T. Seton Park | 1.8 |
City of Toronto Green Spaces: parks, natural areas and conservation land. Hydro corridors, golf courses, cemeteries and road verges aren’t counted.
Green roofs and solar
Green roofs and solar
No building permits in Old East York have included a green roof since 2010. Since 2009, 2 included a solar hot water system.
City of Toronto building permits for green roofs (required on larger new buildings since 2010) and solar hot water systems.
Noise permits
Noise permits
No noise exemption permits were issued in Old East York in the last 12 months.
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
Pape Village is a Business Improvement Area in Old East York. 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
- 1 property on the Heritage Register (0 designated, 1 listed), 37th fewest in Toronto.
- Flood and shoreline
- Fewer than 0.1% of its addresses are in a TRCA flood or shoreline hazard area. A few (4.9%) are in TRCA’s regulated area, where some work needs a TRCA permit.
- Lead in tap water
- In M4J, 22 of 911 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (2.4%; Toronto 2.0%). In M4C, 21 of 851 home tests were above Ontario’s limit (2.5%; Toronto 2.0%).
- Councillor
- Paula Fletcher · Ward 14 Toronto-Danforth 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, 19,061 service requests came from postal areas M4J and M4C, which cover most of Old East York. The most common:
| Animal noise | 813 | |
| Road plowing | 763 | |
| Property standards | 707 | |
| Damaged bin lids | 631 | |
| Tree pruning | 538 | |
| Blocked sewer lines | 529 |
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.
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