If one looked at St Clair before construction even started, a fair number of business were living from day to day.
I have shot every intersection and side streets as how they were layout from Yonge St to Scarlett Rd. I even have shot what the street looked like from the middle of those intersection in both directions including the platforms.
This was done in 2005 and 2006 with about 20 shots per intersection. Even this year, I did some re-shooting of this phase as well some of the cafe's or things on the sidewalk. Therefore I have before and after shoots of the street. The only thing I regret not doing is video the street from the streetcars before they were removed.
When I built the web page for this section, I allow for 25 pages with 20 thumbnail link to the full size of the photo. That was up to 50 a few months ago and was revised to 90 6 weeks ago. I'm am currently setting at 88 and 3 weeks to go for this year. There is also links to video's up on youtube on some of the pages. A few ppl have seen these pages including TTC as I'm still making changes to the site. I am releasing it at this time as a beta and under construction as it is a huge site and not only for TTC or transit. Some items are rough drafts or layout. The
site is written as strict Xhtml, CSS and for the accessibility community. I have stop writing hack code for IE as it too much problems and never use IE unless testing it since 1995. Opera will display the photo's in a lager size than rest of the browsers.
Yes some business went under from the construction, but mostly the rescission. At the same time, the culture has change over time and will continue to do so. This is where you get business relying on the cars from the 905.
Talk to some of the business as to why they are closing and you will find a fair numbers have had their lease double or triple this year to the point they did not renew their lease.
I talked to some of the BIA's and they told me about certain location why they have going out of business signs up. The landowners see a good thing or the gravy train coming where they can get a better return on their investment. Therefore, they want a better clientele than what they have now.
Fast food, bars, restaurant have the highest failure rate within 5 year after starting up. Some only last a few months. Take a look at TLS only to see this. There are a few new places that have open or will be opening shortly that are more up scale than what was there before.
The one thing that is clear these days, not every block can have retail like it was 30-50 years ago. At the same time, you need density to support those business in the first place. Also, having the right business in the right location sure helps.
I can take the heat for what been going on as I know I am right in how the ROW was built since by background is in construction and management. The photo's will say the same thing.
I will say again, TTC is on 20% at fault here. If they had any project manger doing their job right, it should only be 12% or less. All TTC did during this process was lay the rails and tracks on the concrete based pour by the contractor.
The City design the ROW, call tenders, issued contracts, provided the field supervision. Therefore, the blame falls on their shoulders. You need to add in how other utilities refused to worked together or the city not getting these guys ducks line up right from day one. Toronto Hydro was the biggest problem not only on St Clair, but Fleet St and other place that had a major impact on TTC.
I am a supporter of centre poles, but the poles were over size and space too close. Going with Pantograph, you can get larger distance between poles. Look at the distance the poles were back in 1911-20's as well the size of them from the photo that floating around and compare that to what out there now.
You got a week to go out to Westmount Ave and stand in the ROW between each track and between then looking east to see the snake. I can point to each section and tell you why there is a kink in the rail. Some is from the design, construction or how TTC lay the rails in the first place. Mostly construction and design errors.
I don't have all the answers on Transit, but if someone can show me a better way at a reasonable cost, I'm willing to change my views.
There is a reason for how I write and not the time to go into it.
In the next few days, testing of the power system is to get underway. I expect to see streetcars out testing the line late at night starting this weekend. I have no info on it.
Opening day Event is on the 19 from 11-4 and not sure when or who will be making the official announcement. Could take place at TTC meeting on the 17.
Mean while over in Phase IV, Dufferin Construction is not going to make end of December as plan from the looks of it now. After starting so slow, they went gang busting.
TTC should have that final 2 splices finish on Monday for the eastbound tracks going under the bridge with concrete been pour up to Wed. Once done, then the remaining curb lane can be rebuilt. Once everything is done, traffic will be switch to the south side next week subject to the weather.
The platforms at Keele St are pour waiting pavers and shelter. Work has started on the eastbound platform and maybe pour by now. The westbound platform is going to be verrrry naaaarow at Old Weston Rd.
All the shelters in the rest of Phase IV to the east are finish with glass in them.
Now we will have to wait until Feb to see what takes place at Gunns Rd intersection and before then as well the loop itself.
