A look at one of Mississauga’s best known–and most quaint–neighbourhoods

While robust financial aid packages made the COVID-19 pandemic survivable for many Canadians, it temporarily decimated (and continues to affect) the country’s cultural, recreational and hospitality sectors.

One part of Mississauga, the beloved Streetsville neighbourhood, is well-known for its quaint shops, popular restaurants and community events. As a walkable destination that appeals to residents looking to shop, dine-out, enjoy a spa service, socialize and gather, it’s reasonable to assume that COVID cast a particularly dark shadow on the vibrant hotspot.

Now that Mississauga is in Stage 3 and residents are able to enjoy shopping and dining once more (although there will be no Santa Claus Parade this holiday season, unfortunately), it’s a good time to take a little dive into Streetsville and see how much people who are eyeing the neighbourhood can expect to pay to live there. 

According to Nikhil Oberoi, a sales representative with Cloud Realty, the average price of a detached house in the neighbourhood hit $993,000 in May 2020–a 9.6 per cent climb over the past 12 months. 

“Streetsvillee–the village in the city. This area provides an old school village vibe, yet is nestled right in the middle of the fast-paced city vibe that Mississauga offers,” Oberoi writes on his website. 

“I’d say Streetsville is known for its unique restaurants and businesses. It aims to strive away from the corporate life and cater to old school values of business ownership,” he writes, adding that the classic neighbourhood is home to a number of small businesses such as Burger Legend, Strings Attached, and Murphy’s Ice Cream.

The locally-famous neighbourhood is located in north-central Mississauga, with Meadowvale to the east, East Credit to the west, Meadowvale Village to the south and Central Erin Mills to the north.

Oberoi’s characterization holds true, as the neighbourhood–more similar to Clarkson or Port Credit than City Centre or Erin Mills–boasts such iconic mainstays as Crafted Decor, A Shop for All Reasons and Saucy, as well as newer spots such as Burger Factory, Butter Chicken Roti and Supermoon Cheesecakes. 

According to GTA West Living, Streetsville is best defined by its “Main Street” downtown strip and “older, eclectic mix of housing.” The neighbourhood might offer something of a small-town feel, but it’s close to the 401 and 403 and is also home to a GO station that runs on the Milton line. The neighbourhood also boasts the Vic Johnston Community Centre, Streetsville Memorial Park, a relatively new village square and a healthy smattering of classic bars and pubs. 

According to Oberoi, homes started popping up in Streetsville around 1960 and the majority were built before 1990. The average household income in Streetsville is $126,000, with detached homes making up 47 per cent of the market. Oberoi’s website says that 67 per cent of residents work in the sales and service industry and 83 per cent of people who live in the area own their homes. 

The neighbourhood is home to a lot of families, as 60 per cent of residents are married with children. 

“Streetsville predominantly caters to [people who want] detached homes and condo townhomes,” Oberoi’s website says, adding that the average price of a condo-townhome hit $665,000 in May (a whopping 20 per cent increase year-over-year). 

As for why housing types are slightly more limited, Ward 11 Councillor George Carlson said the city is careful to ensure that new developments fit and complement the village’s unique aesthetic. 

“Streetsville and Port Credit have the same challenges…being modern villages while trying to preserve heritage in a big city. In the new age, we’re dealing with more density in existing neighbourhoods to put a stop to urban sprawl,” Carlson told insauga.com during pre-COVID interview. 

“You want innovative designs that allow you to get some density in there but at the same time, follow Oscar Wilde’s warning about fashion. I want people to wonder how long a building has been there. It should fit in,” he said, adding that while he doesn’t expect developers to stick with styles common in the 1950s, he expects their designs to “have a sensitivity and compatibility.”

It’s no surprise that character sets the neighbourhood apart, as Streetsville has the biggest stock of heritage buildings in Mississauga and is home to the iconic Old Barber House. In fact, the Old Barber House site is slated for village-sensitive redevelopment (meaning the old house isn’t going anywhere and will remain untouched).

According to Buzz Buzz Home, the Old Barber House site, currently being developed by City Park Homes, will feature luxury townhouse and single-family homes. Sales for available units range in price from $1,169,900 to $2,100,000 and sizes range from 2,161 to 3,168 square feet.

Centred around the stately Victorian mansion–which was home to a restaurant until 2016–the future development will boast a total of 20 Georgian-style homes. 

Will you consider buying in Streetsville someday?