Don Mills Homes & Real Estate Toronto

When the first immigrants arrived here in 1817, Toronto was still Muddy York, and the land that would become the Don Mills neighbourhood was a lush mature forest. But, for those first European settlers, the Don River provided an easy means of transportation, and a power source for the mills they built along its banks.

Cut off from the growing city of Toronto by wild ravines to south, east and west, the area remained a rural district for the next 130 years. In 1950, the community still consisted of some 20 farms, with York Mills Road and Don Mills Road the only connections to the city — but transformation was about to begin.

In 1951, industrialist E.P. Taylor began planning a self-contained “garden city” on 2100 acres of farmland he acquired, centred on the intersection of Don Mills Road and Lawrence Avenue East. Two years later, he announced that development would begin at an estimated cost of $200-millon, a staggering sum at that time.

Today, Don Mills is recognized as North America’s first planned, fully integrated post-war community — credited with setting out the blueprint for Toronto's suburban development and the building of contemporary neighbourhoods.

The community was designed as four neighbourhood quadrants, each with its own church, school and park, and with the Don Mills Shopping Centre at the hub. Separation of pedestrian and vehicle traffic was accomplished with a network of pedestrian paths providing easy access through parks to area schools and the town centre, while winding roads, T-intersections, and cul-de-sacs were designed to slow traffic.

Builders were required to use only architects trained in the Bauhaus principles, and home design was to follow the Modernist style in vogue in the 50s and 60s... often with steeply peaked roofs, multi-dimensional façades, sleek carports and generous driveways, on good-size lots.

Thus Don Mills homes represent the full the complete range of styles from the era, including townhomes, side splits, ranch-style bungalows, and wide two-storey homes. In addition, various condominiums and apartments are nicely integrated into the neighbourhood. While about half of the original development’s unique styles remain intact, a large number of homes have been replaced by the current vogue of “monster” mansions. Homeowners and investors can find excellent value in this neighbourhood. In particular, the townhouses southwest of the Shops at Don Mills (the newly reborn Son Mills Shopping Centre) are well priced, as are homes east of the Don and south of Lawrence.

For those seeking a quiet, green, family-oriented neighbourhood, offering plenty of space and good value, Don Mills is a definitely a community to consider.

For current information on available listings for Don Mills homes and real estate, please see the column at the right of this page. Listings are updated daily, so we recommend that you bookmark this page and check back frequently.