The Golden Mile of Scarborough: From Industrial Powerhouse to a Vibrant Future

Scarborough’s Golden Mile along Eglinton Avenue East has transformed dramatically over the decades. What began as farmland, became a wartime munitions hub, then Canada’s premier post-war industrial strip, and later a retail destination. Today, it’s poised for one of Toronto’s largest urban renewals. That 1952 artist’s sketch from the Toronto Daily Star—showing factories sprouting up like Frigidaire, John Inglis, and Thermos—captured the excitement of a booming era. Let’s trace its journey and explore how it shaped the community around it.

Wartime Origins: The Birth of an Industrial Site

The story starts during World War II. In the early 1940s, the Canadian government acquired over 250 acres of farmland in Scarborough to build the General Engineering Company (GECO) munitions plant, a massive facility southeast of Eglinton and Warden. At its peak, GECO employed thousands—mostly women—who produced over 256 million rounds of ammunition.

Women workers moving ammunition boxes at the GECO plant in 1943. (Source: Public archives)

After the war, the site could have remained dormant. But visionary leadership stepped in: Scarborough Township Reeve Oliver Crockford negotiated to buy the land for just $350,000—a fraction of its value—and repurposed it for peacetime industry.

The Golden Age: Post-War Boom and Prosperity

By the early 1950s, the “Golden Mile of Industry” was born. Low taxes and cheap land attracted major manufacturers: General Motors assembled vans, Frigidaire made appliances, and companies like SKF, Rootes Motors, and Lambert Pharmacal set up shop. The area symbolized Canada’s economic optimism, earning its nickname from the prosperity it generated.

This industrial surge was massive. Factories employed tens of thousands, and in 1953, plans emerged for 10,000 new homes to house workers. Retail followed quickly: Golden Mile Plaza opened in 1954 as one of Canada’s first major shopping centres, complete with a theatre (believed to be the country’s first in a mall). Eglinton Square soon joined it.

The Golden Mile fueled Scarborough’s rapid suburban growth, turning a rural township into a bustling part of metropolitan Toronto.

Transition and Challenges: From Factories to Big-Box Retail

The glory days lasted through the 1960s and 1970s, but deindustrialization hit in the 1980s and 1990s. Many factories closed or relocated, leaving vacant buildings. The area shifted to retail: big-box stores, car dealerships, and plazas dominated, with sites like the old GM plant becoming power centres.

Today, the stretch from Victoria Park to Birchmount (or Pharmacy) is mostly commercial—malls like Eglinton Square, strip plazas, and surface parking lots.

A typical view of the Golden Mile today: wide roads, plazas, and big-box stores along Eglinton Avenue East.

The Community Impact: Jobs, Growth, and Ongoing Evolution

The Golden Mile profoundly shaped Scarborough’s development.

Post-war jobs drew families from across Canada and immigrants seeking opportunity, sparking a housing boom and populating neighbourhoods like Ionview.

It helped Scarborough grow from a township into a diverse, working-class borough (amalgamated into Toronto in 1998).

The area became a self-contained community hub with shopping, entertainment, and employment. Yet as industry declined, challenges emerged: higher unemployment and lower incomes compared to other parts of the city. Community groups now focus on ensuring residents benefit from change.

Looking Ahead: A Massive Redevelopment

The future looks transformative. With the Eglinton Crosstown LRT (Line 5) bringing new stations, the Golden Mile Secondary Plan envisions a complete, transit-oriented community. Proposals include:

• Up to 35,000–56,000 new residents
• Thousands of homes
• Offices
• Retail
• Parks
• New streets Developers like Choice Properties are leading projects with mixed-use towers, public spaces, and better walkability.

If done right, it could become a model for suburban renewal—dense, inclusive, and connected.

The Golden Mile reflects Scarborough’s resilience: from wartime effort to industrial triumph, retail adaptation, and now urban rebirth. It’s a reminder that communities evolve, and with thoughtful planning, yesterday’s golden era can pave the way for tomorrow’s. If you’re in Toronto, take a drive (or soon, a LRT ride) along Eglinton East—you’ll see history in motion.

Real Estate in Scarborough’s Golden Mile: Prices, Availability, and What’s Next in 2026

The Golden Mile along Eglinton Avenue East in Scarborough is in an exciting transition phase.

Once an industrial powerhouse and then a retail strip, this area—centered around neighborhoods like Clairlea-Birchmount and parts of Ionview—is now on the cusp of major urban renewal.

With the Eglinton Crosstown LRT fully operational, improved transit is drawing attention to this affordable corner of Toronto.

As of January 2026, the market here remains buyer-friendly compared to the city’s core, with prices reflecting the broader GTA slowdown in 2025 but strong long-term potential from upcoming mixed-use developments.

Current Market Snapshot

The real estate market in Clairlea-Birchmount (encompassing much of the Golden Mile) is steady but soft entering 2026. Recent data shows:

• Average sold price: Around $883,000–$910,000 across all property types.
• Homes typically sell in about 30 days on market.
• Sale-to-list ratio: 97%, meaning modest negotiations are possible.
• Active listings: 28–41 properties, with inventory up slightly year-over-year.

Broader Toronto trends influence the area—GTA average prices dipped in late 2025 to around $1,006,000—but Scarborough remains more accessible, appealing to first-time buyers, families, and investors.

Types of Housing and Price Ranges

The Golden Mile area primarily offers post-war suburban homes, with a mix of older stock and some low-rise condos/townhouses.

High-rises are coming, but current availability focuses on:

• Detached and Semi-Detached Homes: The most common type, often bungalows or 1.5/2-storey homes from the 1950s–1960s on generous lots. Average sold prices hover around $900,000–$1,000,000 for detached, though some recent detached sales averaged lower in specific periods. Listings range from $800,000 for fixers to $1.8M–$2.2M for renovated or larger properties with basements/in-law suites.
• Townhouses: Freehold or condo towns, often 3–4 bedrooms. Prices typically $700,000–$1,000,000. Examples include end-unit towns around $800,000.
• Condos and Low-Rise Apartments: More limited, but affordable entry points. 1–2 bedroom units start in the low $400,000s, with 2-bed/2-bath around $500,000–$550,000.

Overall price range for current listings: $419,000 (smaller condos) to $2M+ (premium detached or multi-unit properties), with outliers up to $6–7M for commercial/residential mixes.

What’s Available Right Now

As of early 2026, there are about 25–40 active listings in the core Golden Mile and surrounding Clairlea-Birchmount area:

• Around 15 detached/semi-detached houses.
• 3–5 townhouses.
• 4–10 condos/low-rises.

Some standout examples:

• A 3+1 bed townhouse around $800,000 with finished basement.
• Renovated 3–4 bed detached bungalows in the $999,000–$1.2M range.
• 1+1 bed condos starting at $425,000, ideal for investors or starters.
• Larger family homes with 4+ beds and multiple baths up to $2.2M.

Inventory is moderate, with new listings steady but sales slower than peak years—great for buyers browsing without intense competition.

The Exciting Future: New Developments

The real game-changer is the ongoing redevelopment of the Golden Mile.

Major projects like Choice Properties’ 19-acre mixed-use community at the former shopping centre site (1880 Eglinton Ave E) will introduce thousands of residential units in mid- and high-rise towers, alongside retail, offices, and new parks. Partnered with developers like Daniels and Mattamy Homes, these are mostly in pre-construction or planning stages as of 2026.

Other notable projects:

• Towers at 1891 Eglinton Ave E and multiple phases along the strip.
• Focus on transit-oriented, walkable design with direct LRT access.

Pre-construction condos here offer modern amenities at prices likely starting in the mid-$600,000s and up (depending on phase and size)—still competitive for new builds in Toronto.

This influx could add 10,000+ residents over the next decade, boosting values and transforming the area into a denser, vibrant hub.

Why Consider the Golden Mile Today?

This pocket of Scarborough offers solid value: spacious homes under $1M, proximity to downtown via LRT, and upside from redevelopment.

It’s family-friendly with parks, schools, and shopping, yet more affordable than many GTA suburbs. For investors, rental demand is strong due to transit and jobs.

The Golden Mile/Clairlea-Birchmount area is still a solid play for clients right now. It’s affordable relative to the GTA average (which dipped to around $1M–$1.06M city-wide late 2025), with strong upside from the Crosstown LRT and those big redevelopment projects rolling out.

Quick latest snapshot (early 2026 data)

• Average sold price: Hovering around $910,000–$920,000 across property types.
• Recent medians: Closer to $832,000–$900,000 in the last couple months of 2025.
• Active listings: About 40–42 in Clairlea-Birchmount proper, with another 25–30 in the broader Golden Mile pocket.
• Inventory mix: Mostly detached/semidetached bungalows and 2-storeys ($800k–$1.2M+), some towns/condos starting low $400ks, and a handful of renovated or larger homes pushing $1.5M–$2M+.
• Market pace: Balanced—things are moving in 20–40 days, with some room for negotiation.

Pre-construction in the redevelopment zones is heating up too—great for investors eyeing transit-oriented growth.