Developer: Metrolinx
Architect: HDR
  
Address: 850 Queen St E, Toronto
Category: Transit
Status: ConstructionCrane(s): 0
Height: 49 ft / 15.00 mStoreys: 2 storeys
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Toronto Ontario Line: Riverside-Leslieville Station | 15m | 2s | Metrolinx | HDR

This neighborhood needs more seating. Jimmie Simpson Park doesn’t really have any place to sit other than a few small benches facing Queen Street.

IMO, Metrolinx should scrap the ridiculous 3-4 parking spots they retained and expand the proposed plaza in front of the station to look something more like the following:

IMG_6067.jpeg

Bella Abzug Park NYC

I can see this area being much busier than it already is when the Ontario Line opens, so I think creating more of a welcoming area where people feel comfortable to stick around for a while is important. Think: meeting up with friends, a place to rest after a long walk or allow for families to get sorted before boarding the train/entering the busy station.

The plan already includes a bench or two (circled in the render below) but that’s not nearly enough to seat the number of ‘bums’ this area will see.

IMG_0447.jpeg

From the database

To accommodate the parking if needed, I’d propose moving it to Strange Street (permit only) and I’d even go as far as saying the street should be cobbled to allow overflow for pedestrians and differentiate the priority to drivers that it’s not a place the can idle at for long.

Further, I can’t stress enough that a proper Dutch-style raised crosswalk should be the new standard especially in this case:

IMG_0448.jpeg

Strange Street Crosswalk

…since they’re already so close, I hope they don’t revert to a dipped curb as shown.

IMG_0449.jpeg

From the database (cropped for emphasis)
 
This neighborhood needs more seating. Jimmie Simpson Park doesn’t really have any place to sit other than a few small benches facing Queen Street.

IMO, Metrolinx should scrap the ridiculous 3-4 parking spots they retained and expand the proposed plaza in front of the station to look something more like the following:

View attachment 618842
Bella Abzug Park NYC

I can see this area being much busier than it already is when the Ontario Line opens, so I think creating more of a welcoming area where people feel comfortable to stick around for a while is important. Think: meeting up with friends, a place to rest after a long walk or allow for families to get sorted before boarding the train/entering the busy station.

The plan already includes a bench or two (circled in the render below) but that’s not nearly enough to seat the number of ‘bums’ this area will see.

View attachment 618844
From the database

To accommodate the parking if needed, I’d propose moving it to Strange Street (permit only) and I’d even go as far as saying the street should be cobbled to allow overflow for pedestrians and differentiate the priority to drivers that it’s not a place the can idle at for long.

Further, I can’t stress enough that a proper Dutch-style raised crosswalk should be the new standard especially in this case:

View attachment 618853
Strange Street Crosswalk

…since they’re already so close, I hope they don’t revert to a dipped curb as shown.

View attachment 618854
From the database (cropped for emphasis)
I think you’re onto something and would like to see that additional seating added on the McGee side as well as within an overhaul of Jimmie Simpson that is sorely needed now that the eastern walls are pretty much done. I asked the city and metrolinx for an update on the plan to beautify McGee and Jimmie Simpson and the only person that replied was Phil Verster directly to me… that was a couple days prior to his resignation tho… the city hasn’t responded with anything of substance yet
 
Does anyone know why they kept those parking spaces rather than green space or seating? The only justification I can think of is for emergency or transit security vehicles.

If the answer is "because the community asked for it"... I think my head might explode.
 
Does anyone know why they kept those parking spaces rather than green space or seating? The only justification I can think of is for emergency or transit security vehicles.

If the answer is "because the community asked for it"... I think my head might explode.
It's the much beloved Jimmy Simpson Community Parking Lot!
 
An over-the-holiday progress update for the station area. Most notable is that they've started piles for support underneath where the next set of tracks & station will go.

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Can anybody who knows help me understand why they’ve temporarily filled this all in and are building it up with gravel when they need to remove the western section of the bridge and are also building station entrances at ground level? Both would require removing all this land mass so I’m super confused why they’re building it up!?
I had assumed they would be building the west side similar to the eastern portion which necessitated a full and complete dig out of several levels below ground surface!??! Super confused why they’re adding all this material when it will need to be removed to build the station entrances and also to remove the bridge like they just did at eastern ave? 🫠🫠🫠 Seems like double the work and would like to understand the why? Thanks!
 
Can anybody who knows help me understand why they’ve temporarily filled this all in and are building it up with gravel when they need to remove the western section of the bridge and are also building station entrances at ground level? Both would require removing all this land mass so I’m super confused why they’re building it up!?
I had assumed they would be building the west side similar to the eastern portion which necessitated a full and complete dig out of several levels below ground surface!??! Super confused why they’re adding all this material when it will need to be removed to build the station entrances and also to remove the bridge like they just did at eastern ave? 🫠🫠🫠 Seems like double the work and would like to understand the why? Thanks!

Lets have a look at the Site Plan that no one bothered to post......even though it's been up since late December......


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