Hip Hip Hooray For 140 Hampton Avenue In Riverdale, Toronto

Something sublime emerges when you pair function and style with a vibrant location that enhances the overall essence of your everyday life. After all, the joys of domesticity are not limited to the four walls that cocoon you; the village neighbourhood in which you reside is one more concentric circle that defines your urban life. When we find our place in community, it both supports and nurtures.

If you’re seeking the comforts of domestic bliss, then this handsome semi-detached Edwardian residence kissed with classic contemporary touches – situated literal steps to The Danforth – is most certainly worth your consideration!

Welcome to 140 Hampton Avenue!

For starters, the location of this Swell Dwell is amenity-rich. One of the best features of the original City of Toronto – long regarded as ‘the city of neighbourhoods‘ – is how the fabric of our urban landscape is like a colourful patchwork quilt of domesticity. Each neighbourhood pocket, woven into the threads of the others surrounding it, has its own unique qualities that have evolved over time, creating the patina of character that makes each of them special and Toronto so vibrant. Surrounded by Playter Estates & Danforth Village to the north, The Pocket & Little India to the east, Leslieville, Chinatown East & Riverside to the south, and Corktown, Cabbagetown & Rosedale to the west, when you live here it feels like all points radiate from Riverdale!

Although John Cox Cottage located at 469 Broadview Avenue is the oldest still-occupied house in the city dating from 1807, the majority of homes in Riverdale date after the neighbourhood was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1884. Boasting an eclectic mix of family-friendly Victorian and Edwardian vintage row, semi and detached dwellings ranging from working-class cottages to elegant merchant-class manses, the lush canopy of mature trees amidst this rolling landscape is a beautiful setting for this collection of charming residences.

Despite this residence’s proximity to arterial roads and major highways (a 6-minute drive to the Dundas onramp to the Don Valley Parkway north & a 12-minute drive to Lakeshore East), and the intangible value of good public transit (a 4-minute walk north to the Chester Subway Station – thus the Transit Score of 100!) almost everything you require is within walking distance.

In need of a few necessities or a last minute gift? No need for a car – this address has a walk score of 95!  Everything healthy & organic is available at Carrot Common at the top of the block, along with Shopper’s Drug Mart, the LCBO, Pape Market (who deliver!), The Meat Department, De La Mer, Dough Bake Shop & Cob’s Bread, Moss Garden Home & Treasure Island Toys – it’s the Tic Tac Toe of daily errands!

Looking to head out for dinner and/or drinks? The Only Cafe is perfect for pints, and if you want to mix brews with gastronomic delights, try Noonan’s (also great for live music!), Sidebar, or The Auld! Enjoy awesome fish & chips at Off The Hook (great gluten free option too!), premium pizza at One Night Only, fab Italian dishes at 7 Numbers, and The Square Boy will fulfill your craving for a classic Greasy Spoon.

You’ll love venturing up to the Danforth on weekend afternoons to take advantage of the myriad of sundry, design, and fashion retailers, plus cafes like Broadview Espresso, great pubs, and eateries like Allen’s and Mihali’s Place! Nights out are a blast in Leslieville to the south, with Queen Street East being home to some great bars like Goods & Provisions, restos including Tabülè Middle Eastern Cuisine, and cafes like Pilot Roasters/Te Aro Cafe (not to mention boutiques and purveyors of great home design furnishings – like Guff!) This is urban living at its best!

Looking for fresh eastern fare? Chinatown East, just a short stroll south, is one of the best enclaves in the city for culinary creatives seeking fresh produce, but if you’re not in the mood to cook try the standout Dine and Dim with its stylin’ decor and – get this – one of the few dim sum restaurants in Toronto that still offers cart service. In the same block, some of the more recent additions to the street have earned our patronage like Soul Chocolate for those with a sweet tooth, Pop Music for lovers of vinyl records, and the Farside Bar for its cool vibes and tasty libations. Feel like switching it up? We love shopping for the vibrant fabrics and economical housewares sold in Little India on Gerrard East just east of Greenwood where for over 30 years we’ve enjoyed the city’s best vegetarian samosas at MotiMahal Restaurant!

In addition to urban amenities, relaxing in nature and increasing your heart rate with recreational activities is an integral part of city life. Fortunately, 140 Hampton Avenue enjoys proximity to two of Toronto’s best! Two blocks south and three blocks west is 18-hectare Riverdale Park East. Popular for winter tobogganing and the panoramic views of the downtown Toronto skyline, it features two ball diamonds, three multipurpose sports fields, a running track, seven tennis courts, an artificial outdoor ice rink, and a ball hockey pad, a picnic area, a children’s playground, and an outdoor pool. There’s a naturalized area at the north end of the park, a bridge over to Cabbagetown’s Riverdale Farm, and links to the Don Valley – and Evergreen Brickworks – for cyclists. (We love getting around the City on two wheels; check out our enthusiasm for cycling here!)

One block south and one block east, you’ll find lush & enchanting Withrow Park! Sprawling over 8.5 hectares, this multipurpose park boasts ball diamonds, a multi-purpose sports field, tennis courts, a volleyball court, a wading pool, and a children’s playground. There’s even an ice hockey rink in the winter and a weekly summer farmers’ market from May to October. Plus, the community’s dog owners adore the off-leash area! We were strolling through Withrow Park just last weekend where one could smell the earth thawing; Spring cannot come soon enough!

This location is a dream for households with children. Stroll down Garnock Avenue and hook a left and you’re at the reputable Frankland Community School (which offers programming from JK to Grade 6) & Centre (which has an indoor swimming pool and gym which are used to run programs during the day and after school). On Strathcona east of Pape Avenue is Earl Grey Senior Public School (GR. 07-08) and your tweens can complete high school at Riverdale Collegiate on Gerrard East at Jones Avenue or Danforth Collegiate & Technical Institute on Greenwood Avenue.

Life is good in family-friendly Riverdale!

Located just 15 dwellings directly south of The Carrot Common on Danforth Avenue, this 4-bed, 3.5-bath, 3-storey semi-detached dwelling was constructed in 1908. Surrounded by mature trees with a sun-drenched west exposure, this exceptional family home with legal front pad parking is located on a generous 22.75 x 136 foot fenced lot with a storage shed.

From the moment one crosses the threshold, one instantly feels how spatially expansive this airy home is. With unusually high 10’5′′ ceilings, the generous 18’5″ x 23’4″ open-plan entertainment space has wood floors, recessed lighting, and a closet located under the stairs.

A 2–piece washroom paying homage to disco is located just off the entertainment space as one enters the large upgraded kitchen. Featuring 2 sinks, a newer built-in dishwasher, and plenty of counter space, the kitchen is serviceable as-is or ready for a refresh. This space benefits from south-facing windows as well as a walk-out to the west-facing deck where the barbecue (included) is connected directly to the gas line.

Off the kitchen is a well-proportioned 10 x 15 foot family room addition with gas fireplace (in as-is condition, the Sellers never used it during their tenure) flanked by leaded windows, and a pair of french doors walking out to the large west-facing deck. You’ll see the floor was raised by the previous owner who required a wheelchair.

Up the stairs to the second level are three good-sized bedrooms and a family bath (redone in 2009). Two of the bedrooms have double closets (one with wood flooring) while the third has a walk-out to a private west-facing deck located on top of the family room. The renovated family bath is stylish, with stacking laundry located beside it on this level. At the front of the hall is a walk-out to a small balcony fitted with Trex decking and wrapped in glass on top of the front porch which was rebuilt in 2017.

Continuing to the third level, a sun-kissed open-plan space with wood floors, a walk-in closet, a 3-piece washroom (2014), and 9’2” ceilings could be divided into two rooms, or enclosed to become a private sleeping sanctuary. A remote-controlled operable skylight (2018) above the staircase offers excellent cross-ventilation to complement the existing east and west fenestration on this level. We especially love the treetop vistas overlooking the neighbourhood and the CN Tower peak-a-view.

The unfinished lower level with 4-piece washroom, wrapped in a waterproof membrane by the previous owner in 2008, is ready to tailor to suit. The 3/4″ waterline was upgraded and the On Demand Hot Water Tank was installed in 2009, the heating/cooling systems date from 1 to 5 years old, and the wiring is 200 amp. The west room on this lower level only recently experienced water penetration. The inspector believes water is running behind the waterproof membrane from above in proximity to the downspout (Inspection report available on request).

Substantially rebuilt in 1989, the property had an elevator installed between 2000 and 2009 by a previous owner who had mobility issues. When our Sellers purchased the property in 2009, they had the elevator removed and filled in the open floor plates, at which time they improved the heating/cooling ductwork, and installed new windows throughout as well as window inserts on the third floor. Since then a number of additional upgrades and renovations have occurred, including reconfiguring the space plan on the second level (the elevator was very large), replacing the wood floors in the entertainment space, and installing cat 60 wiring throughout (all 2012). More recently the residence was professionally painted and new broadloom was installed (see Upgrades List).

Well-situated, well-proportioned, and welcoming, this family-friendly residence is an ideal opportunity for those seeking great space in a superb coveted neighbourhood.

Interested in booking a private tour of this dwelling? Contact Steven Fudge (steve@urbaneer.com) or James Ormston (james@urbaneer.com).