The Annex
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The Annex is a neighbourhood located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The area is generally considered to be bounded by Bathurst St. to the west, St. George St. to the east, Dupont St. to the north, and College St. to the south, with Bloor St. being the dividing line between north and south. It is an affluent and well-educated neighbourhood, containing as it does the University of Toronto. It has traditionally been home to many of the university's faculty. It's name comes from when the area was annexed to the City of Toronto in the 19th century during one of the city's many expansions.
The neighbourhood itself was established in the late 1800s. It is mainly residential, with quiet one-way streets lined with beautiful Victorian homes and mansions, most of them built between 1880 and the early 1900s. Many of these homes have been converted into buildings that offer multi-tenant apartments. However, the stretch of Bloor Street between St. George and Bathurst is a vibrant social and retail area, offering to Toronto a wide range of services from upscale dining to discount retailers like Honest Ed's. When someone says that they are "going to the Annex," this stretch of Bloor St. is usually what they are referring to.
The Annex is one of Toronto's most expensive neighbourhoods in which to rent or own a home. Because of its proximity to the university it has a high rate of seasonal tenant turnover, and its residents range from well established and wealthy families to university students and long-time residents. The surrounding areas often refer to themselves as being in the Annex even if they aren't, and the area to the west between Bathurst St. and Christie St. (the next major street), Seaton Village, is now considered by many to be a part of a greater Annex.
The Annex is well served by public transit. This small area contains no less than four TTC subway stations: Bathurst, St. George, Spadina, and Dupont. Bus services operate on Bathurst north of Bloor and on Spadina Road; streetcars operate on Spadina Avenue, Bathurst Street south of Bloor, and College Street.
The Annex is in the political riding of Trinity—Spadina, and currently represented in the Ontario parliament by Rosario Marchese of the New Democratic Party of Ontario. Federally it has voted Liberal for the last few years. Like much of Toronto, its political and economic leanings are somewhat to the left of centre. Also in the riding are many immigrant communities such as Chinatown and Little Portugal which encourages this tendency.
The Annex is also home to the Canadian writer Margaret Atwood and noted urban theorist and activist Jane Jacobs.
See also
External links
- City of Toronto Official Website (http://www.toronto.ca)
- Annex Rentals - Apartments for rent in Toronto (http://webhome.idirect.com/~vreiss/toronto-apartments/availabilities.htm)
- Annex area eateries (http://www.torontowebesites.com/directory/food/restaurants/annex.shtml)
- University of Toronto (http://www.utoronto.ca)
- The Annex history on Toronto.com (http://www.toronto.com/feature/7892/AnnexStGeorge.html)