St. Clair and Runnymede could definitely use some mixed-use avenues-style development to improve the area. It's a good location for the prices you see that's about a 10-minute bus ride to the subway with several bus routes available. Someone living there has a large variety of retail in the area to choose from, including 3 major grocery stores in walking distance, and is also a few minutes away from the Junction's main retail area by foot/bike.
High Park, Bloor West Village, and the parkland in the Humber Valley are a quick bike ride/drive away too. Yet, St. Clair from Runnymede to Symes Road looks rather uninspiring at the present time with numerous auto repair shops, a few rundown low-rise apartment buildings, ugly used car lots, and generic retail buildings.