George Street, Toronto

George Street is a north-south street in Toronto, Canada from south of Front Street, north to Gerrard Street. Its southern blocks are within the grid of the townsite of the original town of York, Upper Canada. George Street was once one of the most exclusive and expensive addresses in the city. Today, the north end of the street, next to Seaton House men's shelter, is an example of urban blight. The City of Toronto is redeveloping the street with a new Seaton House institution focussed more on long-term care. Several abandoned buildings have been bought by the City and others are being expropriated to facilitate the redevelopment.

Throughout almost all of its length, the street is a two-lane north-south street. The street begins in the south as "George Street South" as part of a 1990s-era housing development south of Front Street. The housing development is composed of condominium towers and townhomes. The street continues north of Front Street as George Street. On the north-east corner of Front is another large condominium development. Proceeding north, on the west side is the circa 1840 Thomas Thompson Building which adjoins the south side of King Street. At the corner is the Little York Inn from ca. 1880. Behind it at 65 George is its former stable. The street has 'gas-lamp' street lights as part of the "Old Town" district.

North of King Street, the King George Square condo takes up most of the west side. The east side is the King Street campus of George Brown College. On the south-east corner at Adelaide, the college occupies the former Christie's biscuit factory. North of Adelaide, the west side is another condo development. On the south-east corner, stretching north along George is the Bank of Upper Canada Building, which dates to 1827. North of the bank building on the east side are former industrial buildings dating to the 1900s period when the area was an industrial district. North of Richmond to Queen, the street has mixed uses on both sides. There is an old row-house of worker's housing along the east side. Halfway up along the east side is Britain Street, which bends to the south and east, marking the old riverbank of Taddle Creek. George Street is then interrupted north of Queen Street by Moss Park.

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