EDITOR'S CHOICE: Dunpar Homes

Streetsville Centre is like a village within a village

Canada's sixth largest city has a long and varied history starting with Mississauga First Nations who lived in the Credit River valley — about 2,000 sites have so far been excavated in the area. Europeans came as early as the 1600s, but settlement didn't start until 1805, when the British government entered trade talks with the Mississaugas. Through the 1800s, settlers took up residence along the major water systems – especially at the wide Credit River where it was relatively easy to transport essential goods such as lumber – and established the settlements of Clarkson, Cooksville, Erindale, Malton, Meadowvale, Port Credit and Streetsville.Like Toronto with its neighbourhoods, Mississauga has distinct areas; the 13-kilometre Lake Ontario shoreline, bustling shopping centres and thriving commercial areas, highrise condo towers, dense lowrise neighbourhoods and quaint historic villages like Streetsville, with intact main streets and charming heritage storefronts.The population of Streetsville has grown from 5,000 in the 1960s to about 50,000, with over half holding university or college degrees, 85 per cent owning their homes and an average household income of $124,255. And it's young – the average age is 38, with a third of the population between 25 and 44.Thanks to its thriving facilities – shops and restaurants, community facilities, entertainment, schools, parks and great housing – Streetsville is known as a community node within the city of Mississauga, which means it will be a focus of infrastructure growth in future.Nestled on the Credit River, with parks and hiking trails, this hidden gem has excellent elementary and high schools in walking distance, community centres, and the village's main street has all the services you need. Major shopping is a few minutes drive away at Erin Mills Town Centre, Square One, Dixie Outlet Mall and Sherway Gardens.An integrated community with this kind of access is the foundation of quality living. According to Jay Walljasper, author of The Great Neighbourhood Book, one of the worst trends after World War II was to segregate houses from retail shops and places of work, leading to greater reliance on cars, which isolated people from each other. But modernism seemed to pass Streetsville by, and its charming main street vibe remains. Neighbourhoods like this are sought after because they're more enjoyable and tend to encourage community building.That sentiment resonates with John Zanini, president of Dunpar Homes, who actively seeks out land in existing neighbourhoods. He lives in a Dunpar home himself, appreciating the advantages of being close to coffee shops, bookstores and local parks where people tend to meet and gather.The 201-unit development of Streetsville Centre is like a village within a village; streets are closed off from main thoroughfares, making it safe for children to play and go in and out of each other's homes. People are comfortable being out and about, walking to the store, or strolling through the park, making it a safe place to live, and fostering a sense of community spirit.Steps to the GO Transit station, it's the perfect location for a commute to Toronto, and a five-minute walk will get you to the main street for retail shopping, dining and entertainment.The exclusive community offers three-bedroom, spacious townhome designs that range from 1,500 to 1,875 square feet. Each one features a 240-square-foot rooftop patio, two-car garages, unmatched landscaping and a ton of standard luxury finishes like gourmet kitchens, luxury appliances, high quality construction, technology conservation and four levels of guarantees including two from Tarion. Prices start at $869,990.DUNPAR HOMESLocated at 80 Thomas Street, the Sales Centre is open by appointment only.416.318.9112DunparHomes.com

---