Princess Anne Manor and Princess Gardens

These were the last subdivisions to be developed by Home Smith and Company, whose earlier developments included the building of neighbourhoods such as The Kingsway, Baby Point, Old Mill, and Humber Valley Village. Home Smith and Company also built the Brule Gardens subdivision in Swansea, and the Foxwell subdivision in Lampton.

The following excerpt is taken from a 1955 Home Smith Properties Ltd. advertising brochure promoting the sale of homes in Princess Anne Manor and Princess Gardens: "Rapid acceptance of Princess Anne Manor and Princess Gardens by the builders and homeowners has been unprecedented. More than 45 discriminating families have moved into the area since May 1955 ...If you are looking for the kind of home you and your wife have planned, come to us for advice on a house or a lot in Princess Anne Manor or Princess Gardens."

Princess Anne Manor and Princess Gardens proved to be very popular with families and, by the early 1960's this neighbourhood was completely developed. These two areas are virtually one neighbourhood, however east of Kipling Avenue has always been referred to as Princess Anne Manor while west of Kipling Avenue is known as Princess Gardens.

A quiet family-oriented community, it is the epitome of suburban living. Here you will find wide open spaces, tall stands of mature trees, spacious houses, excellent schools, including Richview Collegiate Institute where the present Prime Minister, Stephen Harper attended, an abundance of parks, nearby golf courses including the world-renowned St. George’s Golf and Country Club, and neighbourhood shopping plazas.

The mix of houses in this neighbourhood includes ranch style bungalows, storey-and-a-half houses, split-level homes, contemporary style bungalows and Georgian Revival family homes. Most of these houses were built between 1955 and 1965. In the past few years many of these older homes have been completely renovated or replaced with custom-built homes. It is noteworthy that all of the houses in this neighbourhood are detached single family homes and the lots are exceptionally large with many streets offering eighty and ninety foot frontages. The selling prices of homes in the Princess Anne Manor and Princess Gardens neighbourhood range from 500,000 to $1000,000+

Princess Anne Manor or 'The Manor' as is is fondly referred to these days is home to the famed St. George's Golf and Country Club, which is currently rated in the top three golf courses in Canada and amongst the top 100 in the world. The club has had the honour of hosting the Canadian Open on four occasions, and will be hosting the RBC Canadian Open in 2010. The LPGA Classic has been held at St. George’s on five occasions, and most recently the du Maurier Champions and Canadian Senior Open were hosted by St. George’s Golf and Country Club. St. George's has won much praise from noted tour players for its persistent demand for accuracy and its four finishing holes.

The Glen Agar Plaza, (off Lloyd Manor Road) once housed a small number of stores and professional offices. It was razed a few short years ago and to this day remains vacant. There was talk about townhouses to be built on the former plaza land, however, to this day, the land still remains vacant.

Now, residents of this neighbourhood shop at the nearby Lloyd Manor Plaza at Lloyd Manor Road and Eglinton, Richview Plaza on Eglinton just east of Kipling, Thorncrest Plaza on Islington Avenue at Rathburn Road and the Humbertown Shopping Centre on The Kingsway.

The main recreational facility in this neighbourhood is the John G. Althouse Community School located at 130 Lloyd Manor Road. This community school offers a variety of sports, music and arts programs for children and adults. They also host a Spring Flea Market and a summer camp.

Tennis courts, sports fields and baseball diamonds are available for public use at the John G. Althouse School and Princess Anne Park. Lloyd Manor Park is a fabulous green space that has been the site of many exciting touch football games over the years. And, now boasts new play equipment. The community has two high school running tracks – one at Martin Grove Collegiate (Eglinton and Martin Grove Road) and Richview Collegiate (Eglinton and Islington), recreational pathways along Mimico Creek, and is close to an outdoor pool in West Deane Park. There are also public tennis courts, sports fields and baseball diamonds at community parks.

Bus services along Lloyd Manor Road, Kipling Road and Islington Avenue, connect passengers to stations on the GO Transit line and the Bloor-Danforth subway line. The Eglinton bus connects passengers to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line.

Motorists are approximately twenty-five minutes from downtown Toronto, and five minutes from the Islington Avenue and Kipling Road on-ramps to Highway 401.

For information about buying, selling or leasing a home in this area, please contact Gillian Tenneson, Coldwell Banker Terrequity Realty at 416-495-2267.