North York

North York forms the central part of the northern half of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It has a population of around 630,000.

Until 1998, North York was one of six municipalities that comprised another larger municipal structure called Metropolitan Toronto. That year, the provincial Government of Ontario passed legislation to force these municipalities to merge into a single, new amalgamated City of Toronto.

The Township of North York was formed out of the rural part of the Township of York. The rapidly-urbanizing parts of the Township remained in that township. As North York itself became more urbanized, it became the Borough of North York, and then, the City of North York. To commemorate receiving its city charter on St. Valentine's Day, the city's corporate slogan was "The City with Heart". It now forms the largest part of the area served by the "North York Community Council", a committee of Toronto City Council.

Originally, North York was known as a regional agricultural hub comprised of scattered villages. The area boomed following World War II, and by the 1950s and '60s, it resembled many other sprawling North American suburbs. Of note is the community of Don Mills.

File:Yonge-Buildings.jpg

File:Yonge-House.jpg

File:N0rthYork-Bathurst.jpg

File:NOrthYork-living.jpg

While much of the area still retains its mostly suburban nature, efforts led by former Mayor of North York and Toronto Mel Lastman were made to intensify development along Yonge Street between Finch and Sheppard Avenues, coinciding with the path of the Toronto Transit Commission's Yonge-University Spadina subway line.

There are many stores and high-rise office and condominium apartment buildings along this central North York corridor, particularly centred around the old North York City Hall. Directly beside the old City Hall is the Toronto Centre for the Arts. Thanks to a new subway line along Sheppard Avenue, more high-rise condominiums are being built along the Sheppard East Corridor.

The central area is gradually ceasing to be suburban, resembling a smaller version of the city's downtown. World-renowned corporations have built their own office towers along Yonge Street in central North York, including the Canadian head offices of Procter & Gamble, Nestlé and Xerox. McDonald's of Canada is also located in North York, although not along this corridor. This particular area is the region in the foreground of this photograph. [1] Note the absence of the five high-rise condominiums that where built after the picture was taken.

The section of Highway 401 which traverses North York is the busiest section of freeway in North America, exceeding 400,000 vehicles per day. Driving time to the United States via Niagara Falls is approximately 90 minutes.

In the 1980s the administration of Mel Lastman transformed North York into an amazing metropolis. It remains a model of urban planning and architecture. The former North York City Hall looks out upon a reflecting pool (much like that in Washington D.C.). Directly south of the city hall in the same complex is the board of education. And to the north in the complex there exists a large mall with subway access. The mall is connected to the North York reference library, the second largest in Toronto. The library is a part of a much larger facility including a school board work station, swimming pool, snack bar, veterans center and large hotel, the rooms of which look onto the inside of the mall. North York was a city built for commerce and had it been able to live out its creed, would likely have surpassed Toronto proper economically.

North York is the northern extent of the Carolinian forest zone.

See Category:Buildings and structures in North York

The condos of 1 Pemberton and 3 Pemberton Avenue is officially known as Park Lane I and II. Built by developer Pemberton Group in 1998 with direct access to Finch (TTC) subway station. Several condos on Pemberton Avenue have access to Finch, including 2 more buildings built ny Pemberton Group.

• 1 Pemberton Avenue
• Pemberton Group

3080 Yonge Street is a 6 floor office building at Lawrence Avenue West and Yonge Street. Built in 1975 and 1984, it underwent renovations and replaced the brick clad wall with marble like finish.

The building has access to Lawrence (TTC) subway station.

• 3080 Yonge

5078 Yonge is a 10 floor office tower on Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue. Built in 1978 it has 85,533 sq. ft of space.

• 5078 Yonge

Madison Centre is a 24 storey office tower on Yonge Street in North York and is connected to the Sheppard-Yonge (TTC) subway station. The steel and glass structure was completed in 1986 during the building boom on Yonge Street. Across the street is Sheppard Centre retail and residential complex.

• Madison Centre
• Madison Centre

North American Centre in North York is a two tower office complex in North York, Toronto, Canada and situated at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue. The south tower was built in the 1986 for insurer North American Life and now home to Xerox Canada. The north tower was completed in 1992. Other tenants of the twin 24 storey towers are:

• Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care's Trillium Drug Program
• CIBC Telephone Banking

The site is connected to Finch (TTC) subway station and site of a manse where late Canadian Prime Minister Lester Bowles Pearson was born. A plaque at the north end commemorates Pearson's birth place.

• NA Centre

Novotel hotel chain operates a hotel in North York, Ontario next to the City Centre (Toronto) office tower. To the north of the hotel is Toronto Centre for the Arts and to the south is Mel Lastman Square. Access to North York Centre (TTC) is made via North York City Centre (Toronto) next door.

It was built in the 1990's as Mel Lastman's bid to build North York's downtown core.

NY Towers is a condo development in North York, Ontario. The series of towers depicts key towers from New York City:

• The Chrysler Phase I East consist of two towers (East tower at 28 stories and West at 20 storeys) mimicing the Chrysler Building in New York City
• The Waldorf Phase II East and West consist of two towers mimicing the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.

• Phase III Empire 2005 consist of a 28 stories tower (349 suites) and Rockefeller at 28 stories (349 suites). Both mimics the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center respectively.

The building uses pole construction and is built by Kikor Partners for Daniels Corporation.

Unit names also pays homage to New York City: Astoria, Bedford, Madison, Plaza, Manhattan, Soho, Tribeca, Carlton, Broadway, Belvedere, Chelsea, Brentwood, Broadwalk, Empire, Hampstead, Hudson, Monclair, Paramount, and Rochelle.

• Rockefeller
• {[http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=8293 - Chrysler East

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=8292 - Chrylser West]

• NY Towers
• The Empire on Bayview
• Waldorf West
• Waldorf West

Place Nouveau in North York is a 18 storey glass covered ofice tower. Completed in 1989, it was the former home to Canada's Land Force Central Headquarters and Laurentian Bank of Canada. A large Bellair Direct sign graces the two sides on the top floor.

It is connected to the Finch (TTC) subway station and North American Centre (North York) office towers.

• Place Nouveau

Proctor and Gamble Building at Yonge Street and south of Sheppard Avenue East is the 15 floor Canadian General Office of U.S. based Proctor and Gamble.

The Royal Bank Building at 5001 Yonge Street in North York, Ontario is a 19 floor 312,312 sq. ft. building. The building was built in 1992.

• Royal Bank Building, North York

The Transamerica Tower is a 20 storey glass office tower in North York, Ontario. Completed in 2004, it is home to Transamerica's Canadian headquarters. It has 50,167 m² of space and built by Adamson Associates.

Located near Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue in North York. A Baton Rouge restaurant is the main floor tenant.

• Transamerica Tower
• Transamerica Tower

Trimark Towers is a 23 storey office tower on Yonge Street near Sheppard Avenue. Completed in 1987 for AIM Trimark and is next to the Novotel (North York) Hotel. Tenants include an HSBC branch.

• Trimark Towers

The Warner Brothers Tower is a 7 story office tower. Located near Yonge Street and Highway 401, it was completed in the 1989 with 94,989 square feet of space.

• Warner Brothers Tower
• Warner Brothers Tower

File:North-York Center.jpg

Two of the largest malls in Ontario, the Yorkdale Shopping Centre and Fairview Mall, are located here, along with the smaller Don Mills Centre. It is also home to York University and Osgoode Hall Law School.

Major health-care facilities, such as North York General Hospital, Humber River Regional Hospital (Finch Avenue Site) and the massive Sunnybrook complex which includes a veterans' residence and regional trauma center are located here.

A military base and aircraft manufacturing facility is located at Downsview, although with the end of the Cold War, much of the land is now being transformed into a park.

Black Creek Pioneer Village, an authentic nineteenth-century village, and the Ontario Science Centre, which boasts over 800 science-oriented exhibits, are North York's primary attractions.

Along North York's Bathurst Street is one of the world's most important Jewish communities, with a significant population of Holocaust survivors.

• List of neighbourhoods in Toronto