Distillery District Corktown

Distillery District

Located in the historic area of Gooderham and Worts Distillery, the Distillery District is a 13 acre, pedestrian only, mixed use residential and retail neighbourhood north of Lakeshore and west of DVP. It is a must destination for residents of the city and tourists with festivals and events taking place throughout the year with most activities taking place during the summer and Christmas season (Christmas Market). The beauty of the Distillery District is no cars zone, cobblestone, historic buildings which creates a unique vibe for the area.  Opened in 2003, the Distillery Historic District is regarded as one of Canada’s premier arts, culture and entertainment destinations.

Corktown

In the early 1800s Irish immigrants settled in the area working in the breweries and brickyards. Corktown, named after County Cork in Ireland, is located south of Regent Park, west of the DVP and north of Distillery District. With transit running through Corktown (503, 504 & 514 streetcars), it is very accessible from downtown Toronto, the financial district and the Yonge subway line. Getting onto the DVP or Gardiner is minutes away. In the southeast corner is an 18 acre park, Corktown Common, which is a community hub in the summer months for children to play in the splash pad and enjoy the play area. Corktown Common connects to the Don River Trail for cycling enthusiasts and runners. For the month of July 2017, outdoor movies will be screened in Corktown Common!

Parks in the neighbourhood include the Underpass Park, Percy Park and Sackville Playground.  Lots of retail options available on King and Queen Street from coffee shops, restaurants, and independent retailers. With younger families moving into the neighbourhood; more strollers and children playing around are visible.

 REAL ESTATE

3 high rises dominate the Distillery District:

  1. The Gooderham (390 Cherry Street) which is 36 storeys high with 328 units

  2. Pure Spirit (33 Mill Street) which is 33 storeys high with 380 units

  3. Clear Spirit (70 Distillery Lane) which is 43 storeys high with 344 units

There are 3 mid rises ranging from 11 to 13 storeys.

With the Pan Am Games held in Toronto in the summer of 2015, the south east corner of Corktown has and is undergoing change from the old industrial brownfield it used to be. River City and Canary District communities have been game changers; incorporating public space, wide sidewalks and connected street level commercial shops to improve pedestrian traffic. The earlier phases of River City and Canary District were used as the athletes dorms during the Pan Am Games and have been converted to condos.

The housing mix in Corktown is diverse from old victorian homes to work/live lofts to mid-rise condos configuration providing a wide range of options for someone looking to live in Corktown. Recent sales range between $381,000 and $1,215,000 (May 2017 TREB statistics).

COMMUNITY

Cooper Koo Family YMCA has been a great addition to the community with swimming pool, indoor track, gym, weights area & kids area. The retail in the neighbourhood included Dark Horse Espresso Bar, Tabule (Middle Eastern cuisine), Gears Bike shop, Sumach Espresso, Impact Kitchen, and Fusili to name a few with many more retailers coming into the area.

Corktown Residents and Business Association provides information on what’s happening in the neighbourhood.

To keep up with the latest events and festivals, visit the Distillery District

Inside the historic Distillery District area many choices of restaurants, cafes and dessert shops are available. Mill Street Brewery is located inside the district where you can have a meal or sample the various types of beer which they brew on location. Balzac’s coffee is another favourite destination with high quality coffee and espresso drinks.

The closest Toronto Public library is located at 171 Front Street East.

Elementary Schools in the area: