About this district
The character of Liberty Village
Liberty Village occupies the former William Davies and Inglis manufacturing lands. By the 1990s most of the industrial tenants had left, leaving a dense grid of brick factory buildings between King Street West and the rail corridor. The first residential conversions began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and the area developed rapidly through the 2010s.
The result is a mixed district. The Toy Factory Lofts at 43 Hanna Avenue are genuinely excellent, converted from an Irwin Toy factory established in 1926. Timber beams, polished concrete, original brick. It's a well-managed building with an active condo board and a strong resale track record. The Strachan Lofts on Strachan Avenue and the Liberty Market Lofts on E Liberty Street are also true hard loft conversions worth considering.
The western side of Liberty Village tells a different story. Streets like East Liberty and Fraser Avenue are lined with newer glass and brick buildings that market themselves as lofts but are purpose-built condos with 10-foot ceilings. They're fine condos, but if you're looking for a true hard loft experience, focus your search on Hanna, Strachan, and the eastern boundary of the neighbourhood.
What makes Liberty Village distinct from West Queen West is density and amenity. Liberty Village has more restaurants, cafes, and services concentrated within the neighbourhood itself than you'll find in most west-end loft districts. The Liberty Village BIA has invested heavily in the public realm. It's a complete neighbourhood in a way that some loft districts aren't.
The tradeoff is that Liberty Village is busier and more congested. The single road network in and out (King and Dufferin) creates significant traffic at peak hours. Transit on the 29 Dufferin and the 504 King streetcar can be very crowded. If you rely on the streetcar for a downtown commute, factor in travel time. Residents who work from home or drive against traffic find the location excellent.