OVERVIEW

North York Centre is the name of the district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, surrounding the Toronto Transit Commission subway station of the same name.
The subway station is the second last stop on the TTC’s Yonge subway line, just before Finch Station. Although the subway to Finch had been opened in 1974, North York Centre station opened in 1987 to serve the growing downtown core of the former City of North York. North York was merged with five other municipalities and a regional government to form the new “City of Toronto” in 1998.
The Yonge corridor between Finch and Sheppard Avenues grew extensively after the opening of the subway station. To relieve pressure on downtown Toronto, the Official Plan for Metropolitan Toronto encouraged high-density redevelopment at North York Centre (and other suburban centres) permitting high rise condominium towers and office buildings. In the past decade over 20,000 units of new housing have been approved, with over 16,000 of these presently built or under construction. Condominiums pack this strip now growing northward past Finch and extending south from Sheppard toward Highway 401. The area has become an increasingly vibrant part of Toronto due to the dense residential population and numerous commercial and entertainment destinations. Growth has become so rapid that on new condominium projects, the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Catholic District School Board have posted notices stating that they are unable to accommodate new students in local schools.

North York Centre at night.

The North York Centre subway station is accessed through the basement levels of the two shopping malls at the intersection of Yonge Street and Empress Avenue; Empress Walk and North York Centre.
The North York Civic Centre (formerly North York City Hall) contains City of Toronto offices, and faces onto Mel Lastman Square
on the west side of Yonge Street.
The station serves Earl Haig Secondary School (two blocks east), the adjacent North York Central Library, as well as the Empress Walk shopping centre with a movie theatre (above) and a stage theatre (the Toronto Centre for the Arts, three blocks south).
A 2001 Census showed that the average household income is approximately $78 000, with a disposable income of $48 000. It is projected that by the year 2011, the average household income will reach $97 000, with a disposable income of $62 000.

NORTH YORK COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

Recreation and Parks:
The North York Civic Centre:& This multi-faceted facility includes The Douglas Show Aquatic Centre which hosts a pool, whirlpools and saunas for public use, the North York Central Library and Mel Lastman Square which provides a supervised outdoor skating rink and special events calendar for the whole family.
Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts:  Includes the Art Gallery of North York, the George Weston Recital Hall and the Studio Theatre.
Dempsey Park: Has a great little children’s playground.
North York Ski Centre (Inside Earl Bales Park):  Has snowboarding, skiing, night skiing with chair lifts and tow rope, all rentals and snack bar.
Willowdale Lawn Bowling Facility: Right around the corner on Beecroft Road.
The Bathurst Jewish Centre:  Indoor and outdoor pools, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, running tracks, tennis, programs for children and adults.
Walking Trails:  Stroll or bike to the 401 and enjoy the 2 incredible water playgrounds along the way!

Nearby Attractions:
Gibson House Museum – A glimpse into Toronto’s rural past.
Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art.
Sivercity (Famous Players) and Empress Walk (Cineplex Odeon) Theatres.
Downtown access to Harbourfront, Sky Dome and the Air Canada Centre.

Local Restaurants:
The restaurants along Yonge Street porvide a variety of dining options – Baton Rouge, Chez Laurent, Japanese Hooraiya, Mr. Greek, The Keg, Milestones, Wendy’s, Second Cup, St Louis Bistro and Mezzanotee Italian Restaurant just to name a few!

Transportation:
Public: North York Centre Subway Station is a 5 minute walk. The Yonge Street Subway Line provides direct access to the Yonge Bloor Subway Line and Union Station to the heart of downtown Toronto. There is a GO Transit Bus Terminal located at the Sheppard Subway Station, with services to Toronto Pearson Airport.

Local Shops and Conveniences:
Enjoy all Yonge St, and Sheppard Ave. Has to offer: Loblaws, 24-hour Dominion, Staples, Fabricland, National Sports, Deboer’s, Future Shop, Blockbusters, Shoppers, Winners, LCBO, Dentist and Walk-in Clinic.
Sheppard Centre Mall: Has a large selection of stores like Shoppers, Blacks, Jamson Luggage, Lewiscraft, Minute Mart, Payless Shoes, Canada Post, Reitmans, Winners, Radio Shack, Florists, Shoe Repair, The Workout, Massage Clinic, CIBC, TD Canada Trust and Bank of Montreal just to name a few.

Health Care:
North York General Hospital, North York General Hospital – Branson, and Markham Stouffville Hospital.