If you asked me which Kingston neighbourhood is changing the most right now, I'd point you to Williamsville. It's the changing heart of the city — walkable to everything, with a mix of beautiful century homes and wartime houses, and a Princess Street corridor that gets a little more interesting every year.
Where it is
Williamsville sits along Princess Street between Division Street on the east and Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard on the west, bounded by Concession Street to the north and Johnson Street to the south. Downtown is a short walk from one end; the Kingston Centre sits just past the other. In between runs the Princess Street corridor — locally owned cafés, restaurants and shops that give the neighbourhood its everyday energy.
The homes
This is one of Kingston's original neighbourhoods, and the housing shows it. The side streets hold good examples of Kingston limestone, Victorian and Craftsman-style architecture alongside more modest wartime homes — the kind of mix where a lovingly restored century house sits a few doors from a solid, sensible bungalow. Most of the neighbourhood is home to families and Queen's students, which keeps it lively without losing its residential feel.
For buyers, that mix means real range: character homes with original detail for those who want it, and smaller, more approachable houses that make a strong first home or a downsizing move.
What's happening here
A lot of the city's recent energy is in Williamsville. The renovated Kingston Memorial Centre anchors the neighbourhood and hosts the Memorial Centre Farmers' Market and the Kingston Fall Fair. Along upper Princess, steady new residential development is bringing more people — and more reasons to walk — to the corridor. The City has been planning around that growth for years, from the Williamsville Main Street Study to a more recent transportation study completed in 2024.
And a bit of trivia for the hockey fans: Williamsville is Don Cherry's childhood neighbourhood.
Who it suits
If you want character, a short walk to nearly everything, and a neighbourhood that's still on its way up, this is the one to watch. It suits first-time buyers who want to be near downtown without downtown prices, families who value walkability, and anyone who'd rather be part of a neighbourhood's next chapter than its last one.
Thinking about Williamsville?
Whether you're hoping to buy here or you already own a home in the neighbourhood and are curious what the recent changes have done to its value, I'm happy to talk it through — no pressure, ever. Get a free home evaluation, or reach out anytime for a no-pressure 15-minute call.
About the author
Kim Purcell is a REALTOR® with Sutton Group Masters Realty in Kingston, Ontario. Born and raised in Kingston and working in real estate since 2016, she has built a referral-driven business on smart pricing, strong negotiation and a genuinely no-pressure approach — earning a place in the top 1% of REALTORS® in Canada and more than 100 five-star reviews from clients across Kingston, Amherstview, Gananoque and the surrounding areas. Read more about Kim, or reach out anytime for a no-pressure 15-minute call.
