Playter Estate

Quiet crescents just north of the Danforth.

Playter Estate is a pocket of big, leafy Edwardian streets tucked between the Danforth and the Don Valley, with Broadview Station at the corner. It sits just north of Danforth Avenue, roughly from the Don Valley east toward Pape Avenue and up to Fulton Avenue, with Playter Boulevard and Playter Crescent at its heart.

Playter Estate at a glance

  • TRREB district: E03 (Playter Estates-Danforth)

  • Main street: Danforth Avenue, plus Broadview Avenue

  • Typical homes: Edwardian and Victorian-style detached and semi-detached homes, mostly built between 1912 and 1930

  • Getting downtown: Line 2 from Broadview or Chester station

A little history

The neighbourhood is named for the Playter family, Loyalists who arrived in the 1790s and were granted land along the Don. John Lea Playter built the farmhouse that still stands at 28 Playter Crescent, and the surrounding farmland was subdivided by 1912 to create Playter Estates. Nearby Jackman Avenue and Ellerbeck Street are named after women who married into the family.

Homes you'll find

On the Playter streets: Larger detached and semi-detached Edwardian homes with front porches, stone details and, on some, original slate roofs and fish-scale shingles.

Toward Jackman and Pape: Slightly more modest brick semis and detached homes on narrower lots, still very much in the same style.

Along the edges: Apartments over shops on the Danforth and some low- and mid-rise buildings along Broadview.

What homes cost

Detached and larger semi-detached homes are the main event here, and they're among the pricier houses in the east end. Smaller semis toward Pape are a step down, and condos and apartments along the Danforth and Broadview are the lower-cost way in. For the latest TRREB numbers, see the nearby market data, or ask us for recent sales on the streets you're looking at.

What we love

It's quiet, but the Danforth is two minutes away. You get the subway at the corner, the Carrot Common and the Big Carrot at Danforth and Jackman, Riverdale Park East just across the Danforth, and valley views and trails off the west edge. The streets have a consistent look you don't find often this close to downtown.

The honest take

  • Older homes, older systems. Most houses here are 100-plus years old. Big and beautiful, but check roofs, wiring, plumbing and foundations carefully.

  • Parking is tight. Plenty of homes rely on street permit parking, and the side streets fill up.

  • The valley edge. Homes near the ravine get the views, plus slopes, mature trees and conservation rules that can limit what you build.

  • Not much inventory. It's a small pocket, so the right house may take a while to come up.

Schools

Jackman Avenue Junior Public School is in the neighbourhood. Chester Elementary School is just north on Gowan Avenue, and Earl Grey Senior Public School is just south of the Danforth. High school options depend on the exact address, so check the locator early.

Boundaries change. Always confirm a specific address with the TDSB or TCDSB school locator before you buy.

Getting around

  • Subway: Broadview and Chester stations on Line 2 are a short walk from most homes.

  • Streetcar: 504 King and 505 Dundas start at Broadview Station and run south down Broadview.

  • Bus: 8 Broadview, 62 Mortimer, 87 Cosburn and 100 Flemingdon Park all leave from Broadview Station.

  • Driving: The Don Valley Parkway is just west across the valley.

  • Coming: Ontario Line, under construction, with an interchange at Pape Station on the east side.

Things to do

  • Danforth shops, cafés and restaurants

  • The Carrot Common and the Big Carrot at Danforth and Jackman

  • Riverdale Park East, just across the Danforth

  • Valley views from Chester Hill Lookout

  • Biking down into the Don Valley trails

Buying in Playter Estate

Homes here don't come up often, so it helps to know the streets before you need them. Check the lot depth, the parking situation and, near the valley, any ravine or conservation rules before you plan an addition. A good inspection matters on houses this age.

Playter Estate FAQ

Where exactly is Playter Estate?

Playter Estate is just north of the Danforth near Broadview. Roughly, it runs from the Don Valley east toward Pape Avenue, between Danforth Avenue and Fulton Avenue, with Playter Boulevard and Playter Crescent at its centre.

Is there a subway in Playter Estate?

Yes, close by. Broadview and Chester stations on Line 2 sit along the Danforth at the south edge, a short walk from most homes.

How much is a house in Playter Estate?

It depends a lot on the street and the type of home. For the latest TRREB numbers, see the nearby market data. For a specific street, ask us and we'll pull the recent sales.

Playter Estate or Riverdale?

They face each other across the Danforth. Playter Estate is a small, quiet pocket with larger homes and more of a matched look. Riverdale, south of the Danforth, is bigger, with more streets, more choice and Riverdale Park in the middle of it.

Thinking about Playter Estate?

We've been selling homes in Toronto since 2005. Book a call and we'll walk you through the streets, the prices and the trade-offs.