M II A II R II K
Senior Member
Dead end for a square?
Mar 12 2010
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/778717--dead-end-for-a-square
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Among Toronto's public squares, the open space at the northwest corner of Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. seems an orphan. Irregular and windswept, this modest square is little appreciated. But it's far from clear that the best option for improvement is to cover much of this space with a three-storey shopping complex, as North York Community Council decided earlier this week – over the objections of area residents.
The proposed mall and the addition of extra floors to surrounding office towers was backed by city staff on grounds that these changes would improve the "public realm." Perhaps so, but there may be far better ways to make this unloved square more desirable than glassing it in and opening shops. Serious thought should be given to other options before city council gives final approval later this month.
Its prime location at the centre point of the city – a crossroads of two major thoroughfares – would seem to argue in favour of retaining open public space at Yonge and Eglinton. With yet more high-rise development planned, the need for a shared gathering place is clear.
The developer, RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, has agreed to cover the proposed mall with a rooftop green space that would be accessible to the public. But that is small consolation for building over an existing public space at ground level. If this area is built over and replaced with a shopping mall, it will be difficult to reverse course and turn it back into community space. Once gone, this square could be lost forever.
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Mar 12 2010
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/778717--dead-end-for-a-square
##############################################
Among Toronto's public squares, the open space at the northwest corner of Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. seems an orphan. Irregular and windswept, this modest square is little appreciated. But it's far from clear that the best option for improvement is to cover much of this space with a three-storey shopping complex, as North York Community Council decided earlier this week – over the objections of area residents.
The proposed mall and the addition of extra floors to surrounding office towers was backed by city staff on grounds that these changes would improve the "public realm." Perhaps so, but there may be far better ways to make this unloved square more desirable than glassing it in and opening shops. Serious thought should be given to other options before city council gives final approval later this month.
Its prime location at the centre point of the city – a crossroads of two major thoroughfares – would seem to argue in favour of retaining open public space at Yonge and Eglinton. With yet more high-rise development planned, the need for a shared gathering place is clear.
The developer, RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust, has agreed to cover the proposed mall with a rooftop green space that would be accessible to the public. But that is small consolation for building over an existing public space at ground level. If this area is built over and replaced with a shopping mall, it will be difficult to reverse course and turn it back into community space. Once gone, this square could be lost forever.
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