York University Heights, also known as Northwood Park, is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of Toronto's northern-most neighbourhoods, located along the northern boundary of Steeles Avenue in the former city of North York. The neighbourhood is so named because it contains the main campus of York University. This area is most popular with immigrants of Italian and Chinese descent who have established communities in the area. It is located between Sheppard Avenue and Steeles Avenue east of Black Creek. The neighborhood contains many private residences, many of which are detached and semi-detached bungalows, townhouses as well as a recent new urbanism development, the Village at York, there is also a handful of condominiums, several lowrise apartments, and a few high rise apartments.
History
The Village at York University
The Village at York University is one of the last major new-home developments within the City of Toronto including condominium townhouses, semi-detached and detached homes. First residents moved into the first phase of approximately 550 homes in the summer of 2005. A second phase, which started construction in 2007, adds about 300 more homes but includes no new townhouses. It is located just south of the York University campus, north of Finch Avenue. Characteristics of The Village:
It sits on land purchased from York University by the real estate developer , within the boundaries of the , and in some ways is still considered part of the university community. First-time buyers were given no-cost memberships to York's athletic facilities and privileges at its libraries. Many residents of the Village are York students and staff.
The development's design is loosely based on what is called "new urbanism", the features of which include high density, garages opening to laneways in the back, and plenty of balconies and terraces.
The Village, though no longer on university-owned land, is considered part of the broader university area by city planners, and is a component of the York University Secondary Plan.
A significant number of homes in The Village offer—or have been totally converted into—student housing.
The Village is served by a residents' group representing both renters and homeowners, which was incorporated in mid-2006.
Several major roadways pass through the neighbourhood including north-south Keele Street, and east-west roadways Finch and Sheppard Avenue. To the north, the neighbourhood is bounded by Steeles Avenue.
Public transit
Public transportation in the neighbourhood is provided by the Toronto Transit Commission. The TTC operates a number of public transportation services, including bus routes, and the Toronto subway. Three subway stations of Line 1 Yonge–University are located in the neighbourhood, Pioneer Village station on Steeles Avenue, York University station, and Finch West station on Finch Avenue. In addition to TTC services, the neighbourhood is also serviced by GO Transit's commuter rail service. Located east of the university campus, York University GO Station provides access to GO Transit's Barrie line. Access to York Region Transit, and Brampton's Zümrapid bus transit may also be accessed at the bus stations in York University.
