The Annex is a leafy residential neighbourhood in downtown Toronto with one-way streets that are lined with Victorian and Edwardian homes and mansions, mostly built between 1880 and the early 1900s. It is bounded by Dupont Street, Bloor Street, Bathurst Street and Avenue Road. This charming neighbourhood has long been a student quarter as it borders the University of Toronto, and home to many fraternity housing and members of the university’s faculty.
The Architectural style and detail of homes in The Annex sets the neighbourhood apart from many others. The houses are typically made of brick (some incorporate Credit Valley sandstone) and feature large rounded Romanesque arches along with Queen Anne style decorative turrets, and wooden porches. Attics are emphasized in the exterior architecture. Many of the houses were subdivided into apartments as the wealthy moved away from the neighbourhood.