Neighbourhood

Heritage corridor

TORONTO’S HERITAGE
AVENUE: SPADINA

Balfour Building, est. 1930

Framing the entryway to Toronto’s Fashion District (previously known as the Garment District) Spadina and Adelaide is home to Toronto’s eclectic and innovative art deco legacy.

Characterized by strong lines, symmetry, balance and proportion, as well as buff brick and carved limestone, some of Toronto’s most significant and defining architecture was created here at the turn of the twentieth century.

These transformative and ornate buildings still stand at Spadina Avenue and Adelaide West today, and are symbolic of elegance and innovation.

Many of these buildings, now deemed as heritage, were designed by architect Benjamin Brown, a prominent Toronto city builder of the first half of the 20th century, and functioned as the gateway to what was in the 1920s and 1930s, Toronto’s thriving Garment District.

Architect Benjamin Brown (1888-1974) came to Canada from Lithuania in 1896. He studied at the Central Ontario School of Art and Design (now OCAD-U) and graduated from the School of Architecture at The University of Toronto in 1913. Brown created many of Toronto’s most significant buildings in the iconic art deco style in this area.

benjamin Brown, June 16, 1974.
Workers at looms, City of Toronto Archives
SPADINA AVENUE

A visual history

Balfour Building, northeast corner of Adelaide & Spadina, Toronto. Circa 1930.
Spadina & College, 1902 City of Toronto Archives
Spadina Avenue, October 8, 1902. City of Toronto Archives
Hotel Falconer: north-west corner of King Street West and Spadina Avenue, between 1900 and 1920. City of Toronto Archives
Toronto Water Works - improved drinking fountain: at College Street and Spadina Avenue, April 26, 1899, City of Toronto Archives
Spadina Avenue, looking south from Queen Street, Febraury, 1914. City of Toronto Archives
Parks
Trinity Bellwoods
Parks
Stanley Park
Parks
Alexandra Park
Parks
Waterworks Park
Parks
Toronto Music Garden
Parks
Coronation Park/Dog Park
Parks
St. Andrew’s Playground Park & Dog Area
Schools
Toronto Metropolitan
University
Schools
OCAD University
Schools
Ogden Junior Public School
Schools
The Waterfront School
Schools
Heydon Park Secondary School
Restaurants / Bars
Alo Restaurant
Restaurants / Bars
Gusto 101
Restaurants / Bars
Lavelle
Restaurants / Bars
1 Kitchen Toronto
Restaurants / Bars
The Parlour
Restaurants / Bars
Campechano
Restaurants / Bars
Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse
Restaurants / Bars
Cà Phê Rang
Restaurants / Bars
R&D
Restaurants / Bars
Vela
Restaurants / Bars
Pink Sky
Restaurants / Bars
Beatrice Society
Restaurants / Bars
Mamakas Taverna
Restaurants / Bars
ODDSEOUL
Restaurants / Bars
La Cubana
Restaurants / Bars
Bang Bang Ice Cream
Restaurants / Bars
Bellwoods Brewery
Cafés
Jimmy’s Coffee
Cafés
Forget Me Not Café
Cafés
Fahrenheit Coffee
Cafés
Le Gourmand
Gyms / Fitness
Totum Life Science
Gyms / Fitness
Ride Cycle Club
Gyms / Fitness
Othership
Gyms / Fitness
Repair & Run
Gyms / Fitness
Trek Bicycle
Gyms / Fitness
YMCA at Waterworks
Arts & Culture
Art Gallery of Ontario
Arts & Culture
TIFF Bell Lightbox
Arts & Culture
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Artspace
Arts & Culture
Birch Contemporary
Arts & Culture
The Bentway
Grocery / Shopping
MEC
Grocery / Shopping
Stackt Market
Grocery / Shopping
Loblaws
Grocery / Shopping

Farm Boy

Grocery / Shopping
Kettleman's Bagel
Grocery / Shopping
The Well
Grocery / Shopping

Point 51

Transit
St. Andrew Station
Transit
Osgoode Station
Transit
Union Station
Transit
Union Station Go
Transit
Queen St West
Transit
Spadina Streetcar (510)
Transit

Queen St. Streetcar (501)

Transit & Connectivity

Convenience

Heritage charm, urban connections, and transit at your door to take you anywhere you want to go.

3-Minute walk to Queen Station on the future Ontario Line. This new 15.6-km subway line in Toronto, currently under construction, will run from Exhibition Place, through downtown, all the way to the Ontario Science Centre.

WALK SCORE: 100 | TRANSIT SCORE: 100 | BIKE SCORE: 98