wyliepoon
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http://yourhome.ca/homes/article/412623
A tale of two Danforths
Celebrated street loses its pedestrian-savvy identity east of Pape
April 12, 2008
Christopher Hume
TORONTO STAR
It is the best of Toronto; it is the worst of Toronto. Danforth Ave. is one of those streets that reminds us of how much the city has to offer. But it's also one of those streets that does enormous damage to the city. Starting at Broadview Ave., Danforth is a fully cosmopolitan artery, busy but still full of pedestrians and human-scale development. Indeed, most of the buildings that line Danforth are two and three storeys tall. In fact, they could – maybe should – be taller. This, of course, is Greektown, a neighbourhood so successful in its own way that it verges on being touristic. But so far it hasn't crossed over that line; the locals are still there.
Then somewhere around Pape Ave., Danforth changes. By the time it hits Jones Ave., the change is complete. The vitality and urbanity disappear and instead we find a more desolate precinct more suited to the needs of cars than people. Interestingly, the number of traffic lanes goes from one in each direction west of Pape to two east of Pape.
Generally speaking, the quality of the architecture declines the farther east one travels. The buildings here are newer and as so often seems the case, considerably less interesting. So it's not surprising that the most interesting stretches of Danforth are the oldest. They date roughly from 1906 to 1920, a time when every bank announced its presence by building a beaux-arts landmark on the biggest corner available. A number are still standing, and remain as impressive as ever.
Until several decades ago, this was an area served by streetcars; now the subway, which has had remarkably little effect on things, has replaced them. East of Jones, Danforth still feels remote and unconnected, even though it's anything but. One might expect that at some point, the street would become an ideal candidate for intensification, not necessarily high-rise, but perhaps four to six storeys.
It's also worth pointing out that there's a celebrated IGA at Pape and Danforth. It's famous as the supermarket that has no parking lot, but which delivers. Though it's easy to forget, there was a time when stores delivered. That meant we didn't have to drive to shop; as obvious as this may seem, it's good to be reminded at a time when every merchant feels business can't succeed without parking for all.
A tale of two Danforths
Celebrated street loses its pedestrian-savvy identity east of Pape
April 12, 2008
Christopher Hume
TORONTO STAR
It is the best of Toronto; it is the worst of Toronto. Danforth Ave. is one of those streets that reminds us of how much the city has to offer. But it's also one of those streets that does enormous damage to the city. Starting at Broadview Ave., Danforth is a fully cosmopolitan artery, busy but still full of pedestrians and human-scale development. Indeed, most of the buildings that line Danforth are two and three storeys tall. In fact, they could – maybe should – be taller. This, of course, is Greektown, a neighbourhood so successful in its own way that it verges on being touristic. But so far it hasn't crossed over that line; the locals are still there.
Then somewhere around Pape Ave., Danforth changes. By the time it hits Jones Ave., the change is complete. The vitality and urbanity disappear and instead we find a more desolate precinct more suited to the needs of cars than people. Interestingly, the number of traffic lanes goes from one in each direction west of Pape to two east of Pape.
Generally speaking, the quality of the architecture declines the farther east one travels. The buildings here are newer and as so often seems the case, considerably less interesting. So it's not surprising that the most interesting stretches of Danforth are the oldest. They date roughly from 1906 to 1920, a time when every bank announced its presence by building a beaux-arts landmark on the biggest corner available. A number are still standing, and remain as impressive as ever.
Until several decades ago, this was an area served by streetcars; now the subway, which has had remarkably little effect on things, has replaced them. East of Jones, Danforth still feels remote and unconnected, even though it's anything but. One might expect that at some point, the street would become an ideal candidate for intensification, not necessarily high-rise, but perhaps four to six storeys.
It's also worth pointing out that there's a celebrated IGA at Pape and Danforth. It's famous as the supermarket that has no parking lot, but which delivers. Though it's easy to forget, there was a time when stores delivered. That meant we didn't have to drive to shop; as obvious as this may seem, it's good to be reminded at a time when every merchant feels business can't succeed without parking for all.
