Trendy but still down-to-earth, Liberty Village proves you don’t need to go far out of downtown to enjoy laid-back living.
The small but vibrant neighbourhood located south of King Street West between Strachan Avenue and the Gardiner is a self-contained community of shops, pubs and living spaces.
Developers pounced on the area after the City of Toronto gave its blessing for a revitalization of the Village’s former factories and storage houses into attractive retail and loft space, and the last few years have seen an impressive crop of condominium towers sprout throughout the area.
Residents are primarily younger and professional with plenty of disposable income and businesses have been moving into the area rapidly to be a part of one of Toronto’s hottest neighbourhoods.
Location is certainly one of Liberty Village’s strengths as it sits close to the waterfront and Exhibition Place’s BMO Field while remaining just a short streetcar ride (or walk) from the downtown core to the east or the bohemian den of Parkdale to the west.
Most businesses congregate in the area’s western half, centred on the Liberty Market shopping centre while the east is a hotbed of new condo development.
The area is popular with artists and other creative types, with many Canadian and American art and design studios making Liberty Village their home as well.
Through traffic is limited in the area because of the smartly designed side streets which only connect to Lake Shore Boulevard through Strachan Avenue and Dufferin Street and thus the area feels like anyone walking or driving there is likely either a resident or there to do business.
