Runnymede, Toronto

Runnymede
Neighbourhood
Looking north on Runnymede Road
Runnymede Bloor West Village BIA neighbourhood map
Location within Toronto
Coordinates: 43°39′34″N 79°29′02″W / 43.6595°N 79.4840°W / 43.6595; -79.4840Coordinates: 43°39′34″N 79°29′02″W / 43.6595°N 79.4840°W / 43.6595; -79.4840
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
City	Toronto
Community	Toronto & East York
Changed Municipality	1998 Toronto from Toronto (former)
Government
• MP	Peggy Nash (Parkdale—High Park)
• MPP	Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale—High Park)
• Councillor	Sarah Doucette (Ward 13 Parkdale—High Park)

Runnymede is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located north of Bloor Street West between Jane Street and Runnymede Road north to Dundas Street West. It is located directly north of the former village of Swansea and west of the High Park North neighbourhood. The immediate area around Bloor Street is commonly known as Bloor West Village after the shopping area along Bloor Street, whereas the area to the north is considered the Runnymede neighbourhood.

The name Runnymede originates with the estate of John Scarlett, an early land owner in the area. Scarlett owned land in the area as early as 1817. He gave the name Runnymede to his house on Dundas Street. In 1856, Scarlett's holdings bounded by Jane, St. Clair, Clendenan and Annette were purchased by Marcus Rossin, who sub-divided the lands as the "Runnymede Estate". The sub-division was vacant until 1878.

The major streets are Bloor Street, Jane Street, and Runnymede Road. Bloor Street, the main thoroughfare, is a four-lane major arterial road, lined with mainly commercial and retail, predominately two-storey buildings with a retail first floor and residential on the upper floors. Most businesses are local stores and restaurants and there are some chains of fast-food restaurants.Most businesses found along Bloor are local and in this respect they are unique but they still have to compete with modern chain businesses in the area, such as clothing stores, cafes and grocery stores. In the Official Plan –which discusses the intended pattern of future growth – Bloor Street has been identified as an area for potential intensification which will turn this street into an avenue. In order to allow for this density intensification, zoning amendments are to take place. For instance the maximum height for buildings in the area is 5 stories, however along Bloor, they are allowing for a maximum height of 8 stories. The businesses are organized into the Bloor-West Village Business Improvement Association. The Runnymede Library is also located on Bloor. Jane Street, which is a four-lane major arterial road running north from Bloor, changes along its length within the neighbourhood, being predominantly commercial and retail around Bloor Street and Annette. Annette, in the northern part of the neighbourhood, is a four-lane minor arterial road, which runs east-west and is predominantly residential with some schools and the Annette Library located along the street.Bloor Street and Jane Street, as the main streets in the neighbourhood, serve as both edges that separate BWV from adjacent neighourhoods and as paths to connect people from one place to another.Any activity or social interaction only really occurs along Bloor Street, part of the reason is because it has many points of interests along the way. The fact that the sidewalks are quite lengthy also contributes to this activity. However, the opposite is true for the minor roads; they serve strictly as pathways, not as a place to interact. Runnymede Road, which runs north-south, is also classified as a minor arterial road with predominantly residential land use, and includes Runnymede Junior and Senior Public School, as well as Runnymede United Church. The land use becomes more mixed approaching Annette St. and Dundas St. W. Dundas is another major arterial in the neighbourhood, but it is not as dominant as the other four.