I just skimmed the article, but if that was a crackhouse then wouldn't it be in a bad neighborhood? Then once their shiny new place becomes known to the local denizens, break-ins galore!
The author describes walking their children through the house upon becoming the owner and finding two people smoking crack. So yes, it was a crack house.
It was also in Parkdale - not exactly one of Toronto's "best" neighborhoods.
Toronto is probably one of the safest cities in North America (and that's saying something, since North America is largely so safe). That said, Parkdale is a fairly risky place as far as Toronto goes. Recently some Parkdale landowners have sold land to condo developers though, so something tells me it won't be that way for long.
It was also in Parkdale - not exactly one of Toronto's "best" neighborhoods.