Called “the hottest Toronto neighbourhood” by many, Liberty Village has grown in leaps and bounds in the last few years. Bounded by King Street West, Dufferin Street, the Gardiner Expressway and Strachan Avenue, this area is filled with old factories given new life in the form of loft conversions, restaurants, fitness centres, and artists’ studios. The area is particularly popular with young, trendy professionals who relish the convenience of living in a neighbourhood which is only a five minutes walk from the Lakeshore, a 20 minute walk to the Financial District, and easily accessible by TTC. Other nearby neighbourhoods include hip West Queen West, up-and-coming Ossington, and the business-oriented King Street West.
Originally home to industry because of the ease of access to downtown railway lines, the area now known as Liberty Village was home to the Toronto Carpet Factory between 1899 and 1920, was a location for the production of Magic Baking Powder, and was involved in the manufacturing of everything from oil storage containers to gentleman’s collars and cuffs. Other industries in the area included post and beamconstruction, the production of billiard tables (at a factory which is now the location for the Academy of Spherical Arts), grist and flour mills, wineries, the production of corrugated cardboard boxes, and the home of the Irwin Toy Factory (which is now the Toy Factory Lofts).
The City of Toronto includes Liberty Village in the “Niagara neighbourhood,” where the population is a great deal lower than average, according to the 2006 demographic statistics. Because of the rapid "condofication" of this area, it is safe to assume that the population has climbed significantly since these figures were produced. Liberty Village in particular has seen the completion of multiple condo buildings, and loft conversions continue to appeal to those who live (or want to live) in the Liberty Village area.
This neighbourhood has been described as its own “self-enclosed hamlet,” and includes everything you could want or need on a daily basis. Grocery stores, trendy restaurants, and multiple cafes dot the streets of Liberty Village, and the steady influx of film and television production companies, architectural firms, and web-based businesses provide employment to residents.
There are no schools in Liberty Village however; the nearest public school is Alexander Muir/Gladstone Ave Junior and Senior Public School, while the closest secondary school is Parkdale Collegiate Institute. Perhaps as the area’s population climbs, and as more families move into the area, schools will follow suit.
