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Olde Whitby:

Some Olde Whitby homes are of such grand scale that the buildings have been divided into multiple apartments, and others were built as units.  And some lots that once stretched for whole blocks, and faced north-south, have been broken up so that the original grand homes now sit behind newer houses built on surrounding east-west-facing parcels of land.   In sharp contrast, some of the other older homes are so tiny that you wonder how the original occupants raised whole families in such close quarters.  It is a reminder of changing expectations and, perhaps, that family and love are what make any house a home.

What these homes and other buildings share, however, is a geographic locale wrapped  by mature trees, some almost as old as the earliest homes.  The noises from the 401 and Brock St. are scarcely audible—the sounds of crickets, birds, and wind-blown leaves prevail.  St. Mark’s Church, and the apartment building on Colborne,  soften the transition from the northern commercial and parking lots to the scenic residential further south.  The streets are paved, yet still irregular and charming, with a lack of raised curbs contributing to a Victorian small-town feel.   Roadside ditches are still in evidence, if not all in use.  Yards are often marked by low wooden or wrought-iron fences-- nothing to obstruct the view.  There is a real sense of get-to-know-your-neighbours community.  Olde Whitby is a place to move into because it’s a joy to live there, and not just a good investment.

The Olde Whitby neighbourhood is characterized by its many residents who embrace and celebrate the unique physical charms of their homes, and their neighbour’s homes.  It is, overall, a “well kept” neighbourhood, with homes from many eras maintained, as much as possible, in keeping with the style in which they were originally built.  The area contains the highest concentration of heritage structures in Whitby: of 82 historic structures, ranging from the old County Courthouse to a cottage built in 1832 by one of Whitby’s earliest settlers, 19 are designated under Part IV of the Heritage Act.

And many of the non-residential buildings seem to share this sense of community, of blending in with the heritage of the area.  From the beautifully restored Centennial Building on Centre Street, to the many previously-residential buildings closer to the four-corners that have been taken over by various doctors, lawyers, dentists, and other businesses, many commercial owners are dedicated to preserving the feel of the neighbourhood.  Even some new construction has been designed  in such a beautiful heritage style that you need to look twice to see if it is really an old building, or just looks like one.  Just minutes walk to downtown, Olde Whitby is great place to live or work, with the flavour of yesteryear.