St James Town, Toronto Neighbourhood Guide: A Community of Highrise Living

A collection of 18 highrises, St. James Town is an inner-city neighbourhood that is home to mostly new Canadians with limited means and other fixed-income tenants. This neighbourhood is both the most densely populated community in Canada and also includes the largest collection of highrises.

Revitalization of this neighbourhood with housing and park improvements and enhanced recreational facilities began in 2000. This has resulted in the construction of a new community centre and other positive developments.

St. James Town was once a bustling community of Victorian residences, home to the middle-class in the 19th century. However, in the 1950s, the City of Toronto rezoned the area due to the declining state of many of the older homes in an effort to improve the neighbourhood.

These 19-century homes were torn down and replaced with highrise apartment buildings.  The city named each building after a major Canadian city. Unfortunately, the government’s good intentions to revitalize the neighbourhood with affordable and sustainable housing didn’t happen; instead, the neighbourhood began to decline. Currently, St. James Town is one of the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada.

This high-density neighbourhood contains 18 highrise apartment buildings. These buildings house over 15,000 residents in 7,000 units. Many of the buildings are named after major Canadian cities and the rents are at typical Toronto rates. Four of the apartment buildings are owned by the Metro Toronto Housing Authority offering rent geared to income.

The annual St. James Town Festival brings locals together to celebrate the diversity of their neighbourhood. In 2021, St. James Town joined with nearby Cabbagetown to combine their two street festivals. Various performers — including kids, seniors and youth among 10 local residents — displayed colourful costumes and diverse dancing and musical talents. 

Additionally, multicultural cuisine was served up by food vendors offering meals from around the globe. Arts and crafts vendors and activities like henna and face painting made this festival a chance for residents to celebrate their unique cultures and become acquainted with neighbours.

Health providers set up booths to help local residents become aware of the various community services available. This vibrant festival shows how a diverse neighbourhood can come together as a homogeneous force for excellence.

The inner community of this neighbourhood is home to a limited number of retail shops and services. Residents can travel to the streets that surround the neighbourhood, such as Wellesley, Sherbourne and Parliament Streets, for their shopping needs.

On nearby Parliament Street, you’ll find convenience stores, butchers, delis, and restaurants. Wellesley Street also offers a spot for picking up necessities. The Food Basics grocery store here allows for convenient grocery shopping.

The thoroughfares that surround this neighbourhood, like Wellesley, Sherbourne, and Parliament Streets, feature a variety of multicultural eateries serving this diverse community.

Tala on Howard Street serves home-cooked Filipino food with a variety of seafood and meat dishes. Food Factor on Sherbourne Street features home-cooked comfort food from burgers to shawarma to baklava.

Manila Sentro Filipino Cuisine is on Howard Street. This diner is a favourite for locals, many of whom think it’s one of the neighbourhood’s best-kept secrets.

Throughout this neighbourhood, you’ll find a scattering of local parks, providing opportunities for families to gather. St. Jamestown West Park features a beautiful mural, celebrating human rights. The park is currently undergoing a facelift to revitalize this popular meeting spot.

St. James Park on King Street East features flower gardens and walking paths, in addition to a playground. Nearby Rosedale Ravine Lands Park on Bloor Street East is close to the Sherbourne subway station and easily accessible for commuters. It features a myriad of walking and hiking trails with panoramic views from several bridges.

Additionally, outside of the neighbourhood, residents don’t have to travel far to reach larger parks, like Wellesley Park, Riverdale Park West, Winchester Park, and Allan Gardens.

The Wellesley Community Centre on Sherbourne Street is a focal point of the community. The centre features a fitness room, a gym, an indoor pool, and a kitchen and lounge. Various arts, fitness, sports, and general interest programs are offered to residents — drop-in basketball and adult lane swimming are favourite pastimes at this locale. An on-site library is a great place for students to find a quiet nook to study.

Residents enjoy easy access to TTC buses that travel on the streets bordering this neighbourhood. Additionally, the Sherbourne subway station is a short walk away. The Don Valley Parkway can be accessed a few minutes away at the Bloor Street on-ramp.

St. James Town offers affordable housing to those with limited financial means. With the ongoing revitalization of housing, parks, and recreation, this neighbourhood has the potential to blossom into an accessible community for those seeking more affordable rents.