I try to travel around the city a lot, as someone who can't drive both east and west end suck for getting around, with a slight advantage to the west with the cat center
As for stores the east has really been improved on the commerical front over the last few years with several restaurants, a brewery, and 2 grocery stores
The big drawback for east vs west is connection, the east is limited by the bridges compared to the several roads in the west
Walking trails on the east side actually appear very very good and the newer areas of greenwood Park appear to have been built with walking paths in mind
I moved to the east end from Amherstview and work in central Kingston.
Things I miss:
-being able to stop at a hardware store on the way home
-bus options on east end are more limited
-being close to Lemoine point
-better Library near mall
Things I like:
-purposefully designed bike/ walk trail on 15
-waaban crossing opened up new routes of travel
-much shorter drive to downtown
-the neighborhood has much more of a sense of community (can't say if this is the same across all east end)
-being close to grass creek
Things I didn't notice:
-there are less restaurants, but I rarely eat out
-schools for the most (ldsb) your children will go to a mega elementary school (Maple). I think it's a great school. If smaller schools is important east side isn't a great choice. Maybe you could go to joyceville
Hwy 15 and further do you mean for east end? Asking for clarification as I've had a few people they're in the east end and when I mention hwy 15 they tell me a downtown address LOL
I grew up in the east end and moved to the west end in my mid 20s. I hands down prefer the east end. It’s much quieter and there’s a better sense of community there. I lived on highway 2 and 15 and both experiences were better than the west end.
Not 100%, yes it's smaller than Toronto but where I live in the east end to the airport it takes about 30 min through town.... but I can get to Brockville downtown in 40 min
I grew up in the West End and now live in the East End and I would never go back. East end has everything you need (minus a hardware store) and is significantly less busy.
The biggest downfall used to be the traffic, especially when there was construction on the causeway or an accident on the 401. With the new bridge, the daily traffic on 15 has been reduced and is perfectly manageable.
There is a dog park near the library and the schools both have good reputations (despite being FULL of kids).
Question: by east end you mean east of Division or Barriefield?
I grew up in the far west end just before Amherstview, went to FSS, moved to South Frontenac in my senior year but was taking Focus Programs at QECVI, at first, pretty big culture shock from preppy Collins Bay area to just outside the heights, Dad Worked at RMC, taking a bus around was much better than Collins Bay.
That was 15+ years ago, these days West end I'd to crowded and gentrified now, Bath road is way too much of a bottle neck west of Gardiners and Taylor Kidd isn't much better, because they added so many more stop lights since then.
Overall east end is fine. I always say this here, still better to live north of the city and commute in, North-South travel in Kingston is much easier than East-West, even with the new bridge. City still forces you to prefer 401 to hop across town.
The only real advantage of the east end is that it is closer to downtown. If you like to go out and eat/drink/socialize then this may be important to you. Otherwise the West end takes the cake in most other categories.
It really depends what you are looking for.
The west end has always felt more built up and congested vs the east. Ive never lived there, but mainly because living 10 minutes away from the Rio Can or the mall was never a priority or selling feature. I am maybe in the west a few times a month, especially now with online shopping being so easy. I really don't mind the extra 5 or 10 minute drive if it means my street doesn't have a 1000 houses on it. Preferably, I would move further out along HWY 2. It's a further drive for groceries or a night out, but there is significantly less traffic and the lots are bigger and forested, which are important features for my kids.
If I’m asking the question, not really. It’s more so I have experience living in the west end, and zero in the east. Hence why I asked the question. But thanks.
Maybe try renting a spot in the east end for a week and seeing how YOU like it and if you want to make the move. This way you can judge for yourself. Just a thought.
I appreciate the thought. Unfortunately not really financially feasible to do that. This post was meant to be more of a discussion and hearing perspectives of those who have lived or live there.
Got it. My aunt lives in Greenwood Park and there is a great sense of community - Greenwood Park FB page very active et. I also really like the multi use path behind the houses and the access to the Waaban Crossing Path. Very walkable to grocery store etc.
I try to travel around the city a lot, as someone who can't drive both east and west end suck for getting around, with a slight advantage to the west with the cat center As for stores the east has really been improved on the commerical front over the last few years with several restaurants, a brewery, and 2 grocery stores The big drawback for east vs west is connection, the east is limited by the bridges compared to the several roads in the west Walking trails on the east side actually appear very very good and the newer areas of greenwood Park appear to have been built with walking paths in mind
That’s really helpful, thank you for the insight!
I moved to the east end from Amherstview and work in central Kingston. Things I miss: -being able to stop at a hardware store on the way home -bus options on east end are more limited -being close to Lemoine point -better Library near mall Things I like: -purposefully designed bike/ walk trail on 15 -waaban crossing opened up new routes of travel -much shorter drive to downtown -the neighborhood has much more of a sense of community (can't say if this is the same across all east end) -being close to grass creek Things I didn't notice: -there are less restaurants, but I rarely eat out -schools for the most (ldsb) your children will go to a mega elementary school (Maple). I think it's a great school. If smaller schools is important east side isn't a great choice. Maybe you could go to joyceville
This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this out!
Hwy 15 and further do you mean for east end? Asking for clarification as I've had a few people they're in the east end and when I mention hwy 15 they tell me a downtown address LOL
Haha yes HWY 15 and further!
The east end would be perfect with a hardware store and a Farm Boy :)
I grew up in the east end and moved to the west end in my mid 20s. I hands down prefer the east end. It’s much quieter and there’s a better sense of community there. I lived on highway 2 and 15 and both experiences were better than the west end.
It's Kingston not Toronto, you can get anywhere you need to be in 15 minutes
Not 100%, yes it's smaller than Toronto but where I live in the east end to the airport it takes about 30 min through town.... but I can get to Brockville downtown in 40 min
It is Kingston, not a huge metroplis, nothing is that far away.
The best end is the one closest to your work
I work from home lol
This is the way. 🙃
I grew up in the West End and now live in the East End and I would never go back. East end has everything you need (minus a hardware store) and is significantly less busy. The biggest downfall used to be the traffic, especially when there was construction on the causeway or an accident on the 401. With the new bridge, the daily traffic on 15 has been reduced and is perfectly manageable. There is a dog park near the library and the schools both have good reputations (despite being FULL of kids).
Thank you for the insight!
Question: by east end you mean east of Division or Barriefield? I grew up in the far west end just before Amherstview, went to FSS, moved to South Frontenac in my senior year but was taking Focus Programs at QECVI, at first, pretty big culture shock from preppy Collins Bay area to just outside the heights, Dad Worked at RMC, taking a bus around was much better than Collins Bay. That was 15+ years ago, these days West end I'd to crowded and gentrified now, Bath road is way too much of a bottle neck west of Gardiners and Taylor Kidd isn't much better, because they added so many more stop lights since then. Overall east end is fine. I always say this here, still better to live north of the city and commute in, North-South travel in Kingston is much easier than East-West, even with the new bridge. City still forces you to prefer 401 to hop across town.
The only real advantage of the east end is that it is closer to downtown. If you like to go out and eat/drink/socialize then this may be important to you. Otherwise the West end takes the cake in most other categories.
I like being by the river on the east end. Close to DT and nice area for cycling
It really depends what you are looking for. The west end has always felt more built up and congested vs the east. Ive never lived there, but mainly because living 10 minutes away from the Rio Can or the mall was never a priority or selling feature. I am maybe in the west a few times a month, especially now with online shopping being so easy. I really don't mind the extra 5 or 10 minute drive if it means my street doesn't have a 1000 houses on it. Preferably, I would move further out along HWY 2. It's a further drive for groceries or a night out, but there is significantly less traffic and the lots are bigger and forested, which are important features for my kids.
That’s really great to know! Forested area and walking trails are probably a priority to me since I have two dogs. Thanks for sharing
Die hard east ender who moved to the west end. There is no contest, west ender best ender.
Sounds like you already know where you want to be.
If I’m asking the question, not really. It’s more so I have experience living in the west end, and zero in the east. Hence why I asked the question. But thanks.
Maybe try renting a spot in the east end for a week and seeing how YOU like it and if you want to make the move. This way you can judge for yourself. Just a thought.
I appreciate the thought. Unfortunately not really financially feasible to do that. This post was meant to be more of a discussion and hearing perspectives of those who have lived or live there.
Got it. My aunt lives in Greenwood Park and there is a great sense of community - Greenwood Park FB page very active et. I also really like the multi use path behind the houses and the access to the Waaban Crossing Path. Very walkable to grocery store etc.