York University Heights, also known as Northwood Park, is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of Toronto's northernmost 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 (Derrydowns Park).
The Village at York University is one of the last major new-home developments within the City of Toronto including condominiumtownhouses, 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 developerTribute Communities, within the boundaries of the city's secondary plan for York, 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.[2]
A significant number of homes in The Village offer—or have been totally converted into—student housing (the Toronto Star reported in the fall of 2007 that the Village was "filled" with students [1]).
The Village is served by a residents' group representing both renters and homeowners, which was incorporated in mid-2006.
Both TCDSB, and TDSB operate public elementary schools in the neighbourhood. TCDSB operates one elementary school in the neighbourhood, St. Wilfred Catholic School; whereas TDSB operate five institutions that provide primary education, Derrydown Public School, Elia Middle School, Lamberton Public School, Sheppard Public School, and Stilecroft Public School. Both school boards also operate public secondary schools in the neighbourhood. TCDSB operates James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School, whereas TDSB operates C. W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute.
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.
Until March 18, 2020, the neighbourhood was also serviced by York University GO Station, a railway station on GO Transit's Barrie line, located east of the university campus. The station was permanently closed due to low passenger usage.[3][4]
Italics indicate neighbourhoods now defunct. For information on the evolution of each neighbourhood in general, see History of neighbourhoods in Toronto.