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Weston Village

junctionist said:
It has a lot of assets in spite of its present social problems. It's harder and harder to afford the "nicer communities", so Weston will hopefully be seen for its strengths and potential by more rather than ignored.
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That's exactly why I moved there. I see great potential for the future. As energy becomes more expensive, two attributes of Weston will become more important than they are today - the presence of the downtown stores, which could come back to life if people no longer drive long distances to go to malls, and the presence of the rail line, a quick connector to downtown Toronto.

I also see potential for improved transit along Lawrence and Weston - but this would be far in the future.
 
the_yellow_dart said:
That's exactly why I moved there. I see great potential for the future. As energy becomes more expensive, two attributes of Weston will become more important than they are today - the presence of the downtown stores, which could come back to life if people no longer drive long distances to go to malls, and the presence of the rail line, a quick connector to downtown Toronto.

I also see potential for improved transit along Lawrence and Weston - but this would be far in the future.
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Weston is so full of potential. I'm in the Islington/Dixon area, and went on an adventure walk down Weston from the 401 to Eglinton. It's nice, but I mean how many weave shops does one hood need, really!? lol
 
Potential?...Weston has the most drug dens,rub and tug salon,booze cans per block than anywhere in the GTA...Yes the Go stations are being upgraded but this area income is one of the lowest in the GTA.It had the highest murders rates the last 5 years even though this year its really slow down.You see at least 25 empty stores between Lawrence and 401 and many more for lease or sale.Maybe the "potential part" will happen but not within 10 years...........
 
Towered said:
Weston will be the next Junction - you heard it here first ;)
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It will be a long long time before that happens. Way too many issues in the area. Too many slum landlords and ineffective politicians. The airport rail link will hurt the area more if it is diesel. Disfunctional BIA, residents avoid Weston Rd, lack of decent retail and businesses.
There may be a slight glimmer of hope with the recent election of Mike Sullivan.
 
And it'd also take a bit of a "leapfrog" for Weston to be the next Junction--methinks we'd need a little more gentrification-on-the-way for Mount Dennis, et al...
 
Hey, 10 years ago the Junction was a dump, so...

I will concede however that the one major obstacle to Weston gentrifying is its location. It's simply too far from downtown, where the hipster urbanite gentrifiers are - the burbs, where Weston is, are anathema to that demographic.
 
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Towered said:
Hey, 10 years ago the Junction was a dump, so...

I will concede however that the one major obstacle to Weston gentrifying is its location. It's simply too far from downtown, where the hipster urbanite gentrifiers are - the burbs, where Weston is, are anathema to that demographic.
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Why does Weston need to be gentrified? Clean up Weston Rd with a proper BIA, put funding into the local schools, and clean up the slum landlords. That would go a long way to helping the area. All the above requires leadership which the area lacks.
 
Towered said:
Hey, 10 years ago the Junction was a dump, so...

I will concede however that the one major obstacle to Weston gentrifying is its location. It's simply too far from downtown, where the hipster urbanite gentrifiers are - the burbs, where Weston is, are anathema to that demographic.
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And remember: the Junction may have been a dump (and dry laws didn't help matters), but it was still cheek-by-jowl w/Bloor West, High Park, Roncy etc. It didn't involve "leapfrogging"; it was right there...
 
Towered said:
I will concede however that the one major obstacle to Weston gentrifying is its location. It's simply too far from downtown, where the hipster urbanite gentrifiers are - the burbs, where Weston is, are anathema to that demographic.
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Although the "hipster urbanite gentrifiers" are in the parts of downtown that they can still afford and that offer mixed-use streets, unique spaces and relatively cheap rent. Once they can't afford those areas, they will look for the next frontier. Toronto's suburbs can't offer those settings, but Weston can. Still as Adma quite rightly said, Weston is not happening anytime soon until the bits inbetween are dealt with, but I'd say its eventually coming.
 
I don't see why everyone thinks that we need 'hipsters' or artistic people to gentrify a community. I think if more higher-income people like me simply move there and stabilize and improve the housing situation, things will get better.
 
tendim said:
In lieu of hair salons, dollar stores and payday loans, what kinds of businesses do you think local residents would support?
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Personally, I'd like to see some more restaurants serving healthy options. As it is, all we really have is fried chicken, pizza, unhealthy versions of chinese, and fish+chips. Weston Station's food is actually not bad, but the restaurant itself is so ugly inside and all everybody else seems to go in there for is cheap beer. It would be nice to actually see people eating once in a while.

Also, a modern sports bar would be nice. Someplace I could go out for a drink with my friends when they come to my house. Doesn't have to be big - I'm picturing something like the Gabby's on Bloor West near Prince Edward. As it is, the only real 'bar' in the area is a known gang spot - and I'm not touching that with a 10 foot pole.
 
the_yellow_dart said:
I don't see why everyone thinks that we need 'hipsters' or artistic people to gentrify a community. I think if more higher-income people like me simply move there and stabilize and improve the housing situation, things will get better.
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Because these things happen gradually. "Higher income people" don't typically move into poorer neighbourhoods (especially not in large enough numbers to have an effect). But if low-rent-seeking hipsters move in first, open new coffee shops, restaurants, and businesses (and aren't involved in "undesirable" activities), that can pave the way for the "higher income people".
 
No influx of higher income residents is even necessary for positive change, so long as local residents and businesses organize themselves to rally for improvements and work to make changes themselves. Yet it would probably be for the better to have a wider distribution of incomes in the area to better cement improvements by shopping locally, for instance.
 
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