This is a wish list and I hope that someday these or a variation of these ideas materialize. However, in the meantime, we can still dream about them and how they would change this community if they were to become reality.
1. Renewal of the intersection which the area is named after - The Junction at Dundas/Annette/Dupont starting with a preferably retail and/or residential development on the site of the Gasrite gas station (3449 Dundas St W) and the site of the Coffee Time located diagonally across. This will provide a stimulus for two orphaned streches of storefronts along Dundas from Jerome St to Humberside Ave and also to another neglected retail storefronts that stretch along Dupont from Dundas to Symington.
2. An RT/LRT (something similar to Scarborough RT) on existing or new rails along the Milton Railway Corridor running from Dundas West all the way to Scarlett/ Dundas/ St. Clair intersection. With stops along major streets such as Dupont, Keele/Indian Grove, Quebec, Runnymede, Jane etc. Every logical solution is bound to be expensive, if this can be done creatively and cost-effectively, it would be a model system that could potentially be extended all the way downtown along the rail corridor.
3. Footbridges over the railway tracks linking the neighbourhoods north of Dundas to the Stockyards, Clendenan Ave would probably be the ideal choice for this footbridge since geographically its the closest to Ethel Ave north of the tracks. This would reduce auto use and encourage pedestrian use of the streets in the Junction, which will lead to higher foot traffic and increased retail improvement along the Dundas retail stretch.
4. Extension of the Railpath idea all the way to Scarlett along the Milton rail corridor (not sure if there is enough of a right-of-way for this along this
stretch of the corridor), but it would make the entire community accessible by bike and walking trails to the downtown core.
5. Linking of the severed Old Weston Road from the Dundas/Annette/Dupont intersection to the rest of the street north of the tracks at Davenport and Old Weston by re-ercting the bridge that was demolished long ago. This will actually relieve a lot of the traffic congestion that now uses the Keele St jog at Dundas and Keele.
6. Creating a public square on the parking lot beside the Bank of Montreal building at Keele and Dundas. Free community-run wifi access for the square and park benches would increase pedestrian and community use of that area. The farmers market could still use the site on the weekends.
7. Re-development of the storage yard with two large smokestacks silos on the south side of Junction Rd, north of the railway tracks/the old Canadian Tire site. This site is currently being used as storage by NRI industries and St. Mary's Cement, but there is a lot of potential for it to be something a lot more community oriented.
8. A parkette on the south west corner of Keele and Vine, it is such a waste to have a piece land at such a good location, dedicated solely for the purpose having just one large billboard stand on it.
9. Re-development of the large warehouses on the south side of West Toronto Street, south of the Stockyards, north of the railway tracks. There is a large warehouse complex on this site, east of Rona. It could be redeveloped into a residential project, a park or a recereation center. It can be whatever, as long as its not another big box retail complex.
10. Recreate/redesign/renew the existing West Toronto lawn bowling club and the park adjacent to it on the northeast corner of Humberside and Keele. Increased uses for this park should be considered as well as free wifi access. It is a large enough space that can be used for small concerts, community events, festivals, picnics, art shows etc.
2.01.2008
10 Dream projects I would like to see realized at The Junction
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6 comments:
9. It is preferable to have industrial or non-retail commercial because it would mean jobs, not McJobs. It makes no sense to have residential if they have to travel to the suburban cities (in most cases by car) for their jobs.
This a fine list. My dream would have the silos converted to lofts with additional units added to the site. Since this is a dream list, a complete restoration of all the facades on Dundas would be great. The public square idea sounds great. Keele and Vine should perhaps get developed for a better streetwall, there used to be a hotel at the site. Those parking lots should go too.
The name Junction doesn't come from a street intersection! It comes from the massive railway junction known as West Toronto Junction creating a diamond shape when seen from above.
I think something the community could push for is for the Downtown Relief Line to be built with it's terminus not at Dundas West station, but at Dundas and Keele.
Hi,
Great wish list! I'm thinking of possibly moving into the area (davenport and old weston rd.) and am wondering if the area is safe.
Is there a lot of crime? What can you tell me about living in the area? I contacted the local police dept., but they were very jaded and 'did not recommend' the area for a young family. I'm expecting my first child and my husband and I just want to make sure it's safe to walk around and go out.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
thanks much!
Daniela
Daniela,
I live at Davenport/Old Weston and I bought my house 2-1/2 years ago. I bought there because housing prices in many parts of the city were way out of my league and it was still relatively affordable here (although that seems to be changing now!).
In the time I've lived here, I've seen a lot of good change. There's a growing number of residents who are becoming actively involved in the community forming a residents association, getting more trees planted and greening the 'hood (check out www.greenhere.ca),organizing a Jane's Walk etc., getting improvements in the local park etc.
I have great neighbours, some who are longtime residents and some who are new like me. I don't know if you're aware but the police station for 11 division, currently located on Mavety is moving into the Carleton Village School building on Davenport. There will be pros and cons to this, but it might help in your decision.
I hope this helps and good luck!
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Watch what you wish for!
I am a transplanted American, here in this area BECAUSE I love how funky and small business friendly it is.
Given what I have seen of developers in Toronto I expect a US style invasion of boring strip mall chain store development within ten yrs. or sooner in this area. We will have to be very organized to fight that. Starbucks NEVER puts in a store without doing some really intense demographics, and they just put in a shop on Dundas at???Quebec? Directly across the street from a wonderful local cafe - "Crema"
This kind of ugly business practice on the part of U.S. corporations is part of the reason we moved our family here.
Now, because of the "yuppification" of the area, we cannot find an affordable house. They are going in the 700K - million range. And no, they ARE NOT worth the money.
Rich developers are buying them, gutting, putting in sterotypical Home Depot tile, kitchens, generic syle granite, etc. then flipping to rich people, who want back in to areas convenient to transportation.
This is pushing the working class and the artists who so enrich and diversify this area out...
Darn, I LOVE the ideas posted. But they scare me. I have seen this pattern over and over again in America- New York, Chicago...just destroyed in the name of 'upscaling.' (not that this is what the poster proposes at all - but often comes as adjunct to these ideas._Indeed the workers of America have been pushed into areas that afford them little choice in terms of commutes to the only places - Malls- that offer employment. Forget walking to work, or even a subway ride. Just get killed trying to cross the highway to get to the minimum wage gig - because no way can you afford to live close to the job. And this also is part of the never uttered reason for America's high crime rate: There's NOBODY HOME!! Empty streets, kids in trouble because both parents need to be gone all the time to earn that 5K mortgage payment...and the granny's who we have at home around here - well they will be forced to move out due to high taxes.
Already I cringe at all the nannies of color I see with white children in tow...like the States. Yuck.
I am inspired by the idea of neighborhood organizing, a la Jane! We need it, esp in view of the nasty plan to extend the GO trains and use DEISEL to power them!!!
This is a WONDERFUL place to live. I hope we all can work to avoid the pitfalls that occur when development goes awry! MB, who really really does not want to move!
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