Willowdale is one of Toronto’s more established neighbourhoods. Located in North York, it is bounded by Bathurst Street to the west, Steeles Avenue to the north, Victoria Park Avenue to the east and the 401 freeway to the south. Willowdale was formally a postal village which extended from Elmwood Avenue at the south, Bathurst Street to the west, Finch Avenue to the north and Bayview Avenue to the east.
North York Centre, which is located at the intersection of Yonge Street and Empress Avenue is commonly considered to be part of Willowdale, however, its recent high-rise residential and commercial development sets it apart from the rest of Willowdale.
Willowdale is populated with single-family homes that were built in 1910 to the 1950s (originally one and two-storey pre-war houses that were replaced by luxury two-storey houses after the 1990s), condominium townhouses and high-rise condominium towers. The term ‘monster homes’ was first applied by Torontonians to this neighbourhood.