I worked at Yonge & Eglinton in 2005–2006 and got familiar with the area while we were still at Victoria Park and Kingston Road, commuting by bus and subway. I really enjoyed the shops and walkability — it felt safe and comfortable. That stuck with us when we bought here.

The townhouse is extremely well built and quite spacious for a family of four and a small dog. It was — and still is — turnkey, which is very appealing if you don’t want renos. Not having to share bathrooms was a big plus. We still enjoy walking to local parks and trails — Sherwood Park, Mount Pleasant Cemetery — and as a shopper you can’t beat the variety of grocery stores, services, restaurants, and takeout within walking distance.

It was aesthetically pleasing, with great appliances, tall ceilings, parking, lockers, and access to the amenities at 83 Redpath. We did see a few other homes in 2011–12, but they were out of our budget and we didn’t want to get into multiple bidding wars. Redpath was the one that made sense.

Line 1 on the TTC. It’s about a 10–13 minute walk to Eglinton Station, then about 25 minutes on the subway to College Station. I did that commute for 14 years — a direct trip that really sealed why we chose Redpath.

Coffee: Tim Hortons most days, plus Starbucks nearby and independents like Hale’s (where Farm Boy is), Origin Coffee on Mount Pleasant, and Paris Baguette on Yonge. Groceries: Loblaws, Metro, Farm Boy, No Frills, and sometimes Summerhill Market — depends what’s on sale or what we’re craving. Takeout: 99 Cent Sushi/Thai, Kinton Ramen, Monkey Sushi, Pizzaiolo, A&W, Shake Shack once in a while. Sit-down: Pai Uptown, Stock TC Market, Ajisen Ramen, and Moru.

We go next door to 83 if we want the gym equipment. Rob bikes the streets out to the nearby trails. Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a walk down Mount Pleasant toward Davisville — around 25–30 minutes. Sherwood Park is about 30–40 minutes on foot.

I find it relatively quiet overall. You’ll occasionally hear a siren as emergency vehicles go up or down the street — very rare. There has been construction noise from a new building nearby, usually after about 7 a.m., but it’s not an all-day thing inside. We haven’t sat on the terrace as often since construction began; it’s getting closer to completion. When we first moved in, terrace evenings were very pleasant. I consider Redpath fairly quiet overall.

From the parking ramp you can exit toward Brownlow when you’re heading east — it saves driving around the block. We don’t deal with elevators in the townhouse. The lobby at 83 is pretty quiet if you just need a break. Packages can go to the concierge at 83 instead of sitting at our door — real peace of mind. Management has been good about looking after issues; when Rob asked about replacing the shrubbery out front, they followed up.

Kitchen Stuff Plus on Yonge; Winners at Yonge-Eglinton Centre; Rexall and Shoppers nearby for essentials on sale. Our dentist and family GP are within walking distance — Dr. Fisher at Yonge Eglinton Dental is lovely. Cob’s Bread on Yonge for fresh bread and pastries now and then.

Yonge & Eglinton is very much an urban young-professional neighbourhood, but it is family-friendly too. It’s diverse — Asian, Middle Eastern, Italian cuisine, plus the usual standbys. I haven’t heard negatives about 83 Redpath; they’re pretty good at looking after issues, and directing packages to the concierge rather than leaving them at the door is peace of mind.