For me its all about attitude. Toronto is a city where shit DOES happen however i think things get blown out of proportion. Having lived here all my life I have never felt majorly threatened by anything. And overall T.O. is a safer than average city for its size.

However it is VERY important to portray a confident attitude. Trouble finds people who look vunerable. So you gotta know what to look out for and AVOID anything that looks dangerous.

I can understand finding a safe place to live is important. And yeah low income/rent areas tend to have a few more "low lifes" to worry about.

I've had female friends who have lived at Sherbourne and Wellsley area. Yeah there are hookers and druggies out that way. But generally it is a place where there are always ppl out as it also being the centre for the gay scene. They never told me any stories of trouble.

Parkdale (king and Jameson) is again an area of low income housing and there are definetly low lifes out that way too. But there are also a lot of good people in that area that have tried to dispell the negative images that their area has. The big psychiatric hospital is the area so there are some pretty sedated weird people around but they generally don't cause much harm.

Jane and St. Clair is not known for anything really bad but is defiently kind of bothersome for someone going to U of T. Not impossible to commute but if your renting a place you might aswell try and make it easier on yourself. The one thing about the area is that there was once a huge slaughter house right there and quite frankly it still smells on some days. Its not too bad anymore but the houses they are building on the old grounds I would not reccomend purchasing (i know you are not in that market)

In the end I'd say go with location and price more than anything. Don't avoid a good thing just because you may think that the area is bad news.


GOOD LUCK!

Well said, Time2Burn...

For the record, I live right beside the centre for addiction and mental health. While when I bought the house last year I was kinda worried about being so close... But in over a year I have not seen any weird people, mentally challenged, drug addicts, or anything of that nature.

That area is actually really nice and really safe. There is a police station just up dovercourt, and they tend to be driving around to and from it quite a bit.

I'd probably reccomend king/dufferin area before the other two. While I may be somewhat bias, I do also believe its the best choice as far as affordability, proximity, and security.

Cheers,

/finary
http://trance.nu/

I cant really say anything about Toronto, cause I dont live there. But in Mississauga, you can find apartments that are relatively cheap, and right beside the GO station. I lived near the GO stations, and commuted to U of T everyday. The majority of students are commuters, so it really isnt that bad. Mississauge has a reputation of being very safe as well. So if your willing to expand your search, consider apartments in sauga that are close to the Port Credit Go station, Lakeview Go station, or Mimico GO station in Etobicoke. The train might cost you $125 a month (for students, from PC GO).

I walked from Union station to UofT St George every day, and it wasnt that bad (took about 25-30mins). And I usually did a lot of reading on the train.

___________________

I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.
Albert Einstein

Stereo!

I'll say it again...Etobicoke anywhere along the subway is great.
The houses are nice and there's the Islington Village that has a lot of nice little shops.
I've never heard of anything really bad goin' on in that area.
If you go too far south (along Lakeshore) you can start getting into some seedy areas (no offence to anyone there).
But same goes to going too far north past the 401 HWY.

The great thing is, the subway is right there, AND there's a 24hr bus that goes along Bloor St. (East<-->West, same street the subway runs under) so if you go out to the clubs or something, you can take the bus home.

Oh yea, subway right to Bloor and Yonge is 20 min.
Probably about 15 min. for where you want to go.

I'd calculate a monthly student pass for the TTC in your budget for sure no matter where you decide to live.

The big question is, are you serious about your schooling?
If you want to party then pick somewhere downtown.
I lived downtown for 4 months once and I have to be honest; it was different...
I think is would be pretty hard to concentrate on your studies to be honest. Unless you're pretty disciplined.

Personally, if you're going to pay for a TTC monthly pass, you might as well take a load off your mind and pick somewhere a little out of the way but at least convenient if you want to go downtown.
You won't have all the distractions around you for one and two, no bums or crackheads buggin' yea. (<-- don't tell me I didn't warn yea... )

Hope you find something hon!
If you need some help, let me know!
I tell yea all I know.

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

quote:

Originally posted by StereoPrincess So as you all know, I'm moving. There are a few apartment buildings around the University which have openings. What do you all think of Sherbourne/Wellesley Area and Parliament St. by the Cemetery. Does anyone actually live around there. Also another area I'm looking at is Jameson/King but that's a little bit farther. Any input you can share please do.

sylphin off TA lived on the Sherbourne and Dundas area which isn't too far.. and yea it seems pretty sketchy. he found it kinda unsafe walkin at nite too ..

if i were u i'd live in the burbs and maybe commute.. the province is gonna do a massive overhaul of the transit system to ease gridlock as said in today's STAR:

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...ol=969483202845

AND

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...ol=968793972154

___________________
Palm Trees > Pine Trees , Sand > Snow

quote:

Originally posted by dEsidEL sylphin off TA lived on the Sherbourne and Dundas area which isn't too far.. and yea it seems pretty sketchy. he found it kinda unsafe walkin at nite too ..

yep yep, check your PMs stereo..

for everyone suggestioning NOT livign downtown, trust me its just NOT worth it.. factor in the over 100$/mo of commuting, then the 2hrs/day it'll take.. and it just aint worth it.

trust me, you wont regret the extra cash spent to live downtown.. everything will be a 5$ cab ride away, you wont have to worry about commuting, even if you get a TINY apartment.. who cares, you're living DOWNTOWN, NOT in your apartment.

I personally suggest you start looking around kensington, between bathurst and spadina.. you should be able to find something half decent there, esp. if your going to UofT

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insert sig here

LOL, hey chica, jane and woolner is the most dangerous intersection in the GTA......well top 5 , City TV did a news series on it.....!!!
nowhere in Jane please...and im serious...


Jameson and King used to be the Richest area of toronto, beautiful victorian mansion and such....they put the Gardiner in and it went to hell....however its still awesome and cheap! Live there, its very ethnically diverse, consisting of mainly Sri Lankans(tamals). Regardless of what anyone says, its safe....no gangs etc...the dangerous part is the escapees from 1001 Queen St. (Mental Home) Other than the loonies, not tough at all......

hope your search goes well

ps. Etobicoke is really nice as mentioned, im high park, but its cheaper further out , Islington, Kipling, and on the Subway line is KEY!

pps. I Freakin' LOVE Skybar on Thursdays!!!

quote:

Originally posted by sylphin yep yep, check your PMs stereo.. for everyone suggestioning NOT livign downtown, trust me its just NOT worth it.. factor in the over 100$/mo of commuting, then the 2hrs/day it'll take.. and it just aint worth it. trust me, you wont regret the extra cash spent to live downtown.. everything will be a 5$ cab ride away, you wont have to worry about commuting, even if you get a TINY apartment.. who cares, you're living DOWNTOWN, NOT in your apartment. I personally suggest you start looking around kensington, between bathurst and spadina.. you should be able to find something half decent there, esp. if your going to UofT

yea..I agree with that..simply because you don't need to commute, you save your self time and money. But lets be realistc here, To get a place downtown takes like two months of searching and calling, it's tough to get a place downtown.

I just started to clean my new place at Spadina and Dundus (Darcy), in the heart of chinatown

If you don't mind the smell and are cool with azn ppl then chinatown is a good place, CHEAP AND GREAT FOOD SHOPPING AND FOOD TO EAT!

plus..10min walk to UT Campus and most of the places are fairly cheap cuz you're dealing with azn's haha


hey hey guys! come on now! I still live in Scarborogh, it's not that bad in the summer okaY!?!??! They just planted some new trees here in the road medians here on eglinton/kingston

hehe

___________________
Mav - Chris Yan

Life and the universe is about balance.

May i suggest Jane and Finch LMAO!

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quote:

Originally posted by Maverick I just started to clean my new place at Spadina and Dundus (Darcy), in the heart of chinatown If you don't mind the smell and are cool with azn ppl then chinatown is a good place, CHEAP AND GREAT FOOD SHOPPING AND FOOD TO EAT! plus..10min walk to UT Campus and most of the places are fairly cheap cuz you're dealing with azn's haha hey hey guys! come on now! I still live in Scarborogh, it's not that bad in the summer okaY!?!??! They just planted some new trees here in the road medians here on eglinton/kingston hehe

OOOOooooo....trees.....

Speakin' of Chinatown....
Be ready for....GARBAGEDAY!!!
OMFG...the smell.....
You almost want to fall over...
Not to mention the raccoon sized rats (yes, I've seen some).

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."