Archive for the ‘transportation’ Category

looking for north Ontario

Posted: May 6, 2024 in construction, locations, transportation
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… the northern end of the Ontario line that is.  It was a foggy, overcast day when I went searching so I have many grey low contrast pictures with the occasion sunny image when the clouds parted for a few minutes.   As construction progresses there will be lots of opportunities for better photography!  It may be many years yet.

The plans on the Metrolinx website show the Ontario Line ending at the Science Centre station at Eglinton and Don Mills.  From the Science Centre, an elevated line runs south to a Flemingdon Park station near Gateway Blvd and Don Mills Road.  The map suggests that the line runs over or parallel to Don Mills Road.

below: Northeast corner of Don Mills and Gateway Blvd.  Grey on grey I’m afraid.

below: Map, screenshot from Metrolinx website.  Pink sections of the line are elevated and blue sections are underground.

map showing location of Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Metrolinx stations

It is difficult to determine from the map the exact route the line will follow along Don Mills Road.  At the moment, the east side is largely undeveloped between the Science Centre just south of of Eglinton to the school at Overlea.   The west side of Don Mills Road is already home to a number of tall office and residential buildings as well as stores and restaurants.  Whatever the route, traffic on Don Mills is about to get ugly again (having just returned to normal after the Eglinton LRT construction).

below: West side of Don Mills Road, looking north towards Eglinton from hydro right of way.


South of Flemingdon, and before Overlea Blvd, the line swings west and crosses the West Don River.

below: This is the section of land that has been clear cut recently. It is on the northern edge of a Hydro right of way that crosses the city.

clear cut stretch of land, some stumps still there, hydro poles and wire in the background

below: Photo taken from the same place as the one above, but looking more north.  It was a bit foggy but what you are looking at is E.T. Seton Park and the archery range there.  A tiny bit of the Science Centre can be seen near the top right.  The black bridge is the railway bridge just south of Eglinton near the foot of Leslie Street.

Seton Park, ravine, near Science Centre,

below: A spot of colour, spring blossoms on an old and gnarly crab apple tree.

below: More grey concrete.  A wall of  Valley Park Middle School at the northwest corner of Overlea Blvd and Don Mills Road.

When the Ontario line swings west of Don Mills Road, it will run parallel to Overlea Blvd as it crosses the West Don River.

below: This is the plaque on the bridge, the Charles Hiiscott Bridge apparently (does anyone call it that?).  It was named after the mayor of Leaside at the time (1960).  I’m willing to bet that everyone just calls it the Overlea bridge.  Whatever you call it, it’s 62 1/2 feet long and rises 115 feet above the valley floor.

below: Looking north from the bridge over the West Don River and the Seton Park trail.  There is a clear cut hill on near the top left corner of the photo where the Ontario Line will pass.  I have tried to find any drawing or plans that Metrolinx has that might illustrate what this section would look like beyond the fact that it will be elevated.  Some sort of bridge over the Don is needed but the details seem to be up in the air as well.

West Don River as seen from Hiscott, or Overlea, bridge, looking north towards Eglinton, spring, leaves just budding on trees, grass along path is green, some evergreen trees, large new condos n the distance

After crossing the West Don, the tracks will (probably) run behind the buildings on the north side of Overlea.  until Thorncliffe where a station is planned at the intersection of Thorncliffe and Overlea.

below: The Greek Orthodox church has a large presence in this stretch of Overlea.

United Macedonian unknown soldier memorial outside greek orthodox church, along with Canadian and macedonian flags

United Macedonian unknown soldier memorial outside greek orthodox church

truck backed into parking spot in loading bay of yellow brick warehouse type building

large puddle reflects tree that has been pruned to avoid hydro lines,

large puddle reflects a couple of high rise office buildings as well as a low brick warehouse building

 

back of a light industrial building that is red brick with large sections of coloured trim, parking lot, apartment building on Thorncliffe in the background

below: There is a large community garden there now.

large community garden in Thorncliffe, lots of fences and stakes, early spring so there isn't much growing

below: This is still on the Hydro right of way.

community garden plots on hydro right of way land

below: That’s the back of Costco just peaking into the photo.

car driving on street behind costco, vacant land and hydro right of way on the other side of street

many tall metal hydro poles on right of way

two small orange cones in front of a concrete barrier, large metal hydro poles in the background

below: Road closures and empty buildings.

dead end of street, small building there is no longer open for business, signs for metrolinx construction of Ontario lone

below: A “trash panda” raccoon checks out the old metal bin behind Costco

a raccoon climbs up broken door of a metal bin, shopping cart in foreground,

below: On the west side of Costco there is a row of apple trees now in blossom

a row of apple trees covered in white blossoms along a path beside a concrete building

below: But on the other side of the apple trees is a very large, now vacant, plot of land surrounded by hoardings.  This is Metrolinx.  This is where the Ontario Line turns to join Overlea at Thorncliffe Park.

fencing and hoardings around a vacant lot, with a pile of sand along the far edge

below: Much of Overlea to the west of Thorncliffe is either empty or about to be. The exception is the Salvation Army headquarters at the corner of Overlea and Millwood – the blue and white striped building in this photo.

below: Part of the plan for the neighbourhood is this new Islamic Centre that replaces an older building that will be demolished to make way for the Ontario Line.

new islamic center under construction,

below: A discovery – hiding in the bushes.  This looks like an old fire hydrant.

vintage red fire hydrant, still in use, behind a bush on Overlea

below: It’s actually a “fire main indicator post” made by the McAvity Company.    It marks an underground valve that controls the water supply.   Thomas McAvity started in business in 1834 in St. John New Brunswick; he was followed by most of his 6 sons and together they built a large, thriving company with foundries that produced plumbing parts, among other things.   They started making fire hydrants in 1903 but sold the company in 1960.

closer look at mcavity fire hydrant,

broken sign that had lights, in front of a building with ads for vitamins on the windows

outdoor storage of extra traffic lights, temporary lights used in construction and for road works

yellow construction fence around vacant lot with low rise building in the background

red metal piece that joins the tops of two metal construction fences, ripped corners of hoardings that used to be attached as well

below: Digging holes on one side of the street

two men working beside the road, one in a digger, and one standing by the hole that it is digging

below: And laying orange conduit for future cable on the other side

a man in hard hat and safety vest sits beside a piece of equipment used for laying large conduits for cables under roads, lots of orange conduit piping on the trailer too

below: Sidewalk hieroglyphics, speaking a language most of us don’t understand.

red, orange, and yellow markings on sidewalk, pre construction layouts and routing of underground systems

below: Looking east on Overlea approaching Millwood.  The new Islamic Centre is the building with the turquoise upper level.  Somewhere in here, sometime in the future, an elevated train will run.  At least that’s the plan.

looking east on Overlea towards construction of new islamic center

From Thorncliffe Park station at the intersection of Thorncliffe Park and Overlea Blvd., a train running towards downtown will now need to cross Millwood, the Don River, and the Don Valley Parkway.

below: I had more luck with finding possible ideas for this second bridge.  On a page on the Metrolinx website there is a rendering of the bridge that will cross both the Don River and the Don Valley Parkway (DVP).  This view is from the northwest.  It shows the new bridge running parallel to the Millwood bridge (shown here as the shorter straighter bridge).

screenshot from metrolinx website showing planned bridge over the West Don River and DVP just north of Overlea

A pretty picture.  But what does in mean?  What are the implications?

A hint….

large tree trunks with yellow caution tape tied around them

land recently cleared of vegetation, dirt ruts

below: Another section of Toronto ravine lands cleared of trees. This is immediately west of the Millwood Overlea intersection. The Millwood bridge is in the background.

ridge of land, now cleared of trees, some debris remaining, dirt, Millwood bridge in background

large tree stump in a patch of forest that has just been clear cut

below: The clearing has made the North Toronto Wastewater Treatment facility much more visible. There is a lot of upgrade work going on there too!   Twenty five million dollars worth of upgrades in fact, yes $25,000,000.  (source: Bennett Construction Group)

North Toronto Wastewater Treatment plant, in valley by Don River

below: “The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto” in stone and embedded in the concrete of the Millwood bridge.   In the center is the “Arms” of the municipality created in 1991.  Because the internet is the source of amazing trivia, this is the description that I found on the Governor General of Canada’s website, “Argent on a chevron Gules between two open books Argent edged Or bound Gules in chief and a caduceus Or fimbriated Gules in base a representation of the Royal Crown Or on a chief Azure a cogwheel winged Or;”   One questions leads to many more, right?  Well, “gules” = red, “fimbriated” = has a narrow border,

Metropolitan toronto symbol in stone, embedded in the concrete of the Millwood bridge

below: Under the Millwood Bridge.  The fence has been repaired so access to the structural underparts is restricted. Back in 2015 it was easy to get underneath – Under the Millwood Bridge.

a photographer stands under the Millwood bridge, on hill beside fence that keeps people off the underside of the bridge, graffiti on concrete and metal parts.

graffiti on lower parts of concrete pillars hoding up the Millwood bridge beside the Don River, spring greenery

graffiti happy face under millwood bridge

simple black drawing of a man in a hat, eyes closed and crying big tears, drawn on a wall with other street art

discarded trash on the ground, broken orange cones, an old hubcap, brown paper, dead leaves, beside a sidewalk

Danforth – Woodbine – Gerrard

Posted: April 7, 2024 in alleys, doors, graffiti and street art, history, locations, reflections, stores, transportation
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or thereabouts…

below: Starting point, Woodbine and Danforth

below: Small Mediah painting in the doorway, Danforth

small street art mural by mediah in the entrance to a store, people on the sidewalk, Danforth

below: Another Mediah mural, on the railway underpass on Woodbine just south of Danforth

mural by mediah, geometric shapes and colours, on an underpass

below: And again, in an alley south of Gerrard.

below: East End Love

tall narrow mural beside sidewalk on the Danforth, East End Love

below: “Humming on Woodbine”  – A hummingird and a young woman with daffodils in yellow and purple, a mural by Blazeworks at Woodbine and Danforth.

mural painted by Blazeworks in 2023, called humming on woodbine

below: Closer-up version  –  an old streetcar (when did they stop running on Danforth?  The TTC operated streetcars on Danforth from 1923 until the subway opened in the 1960s.)

below: Two storey brick stores with square facades in front.  Rows like this can be found all over the city although in many places they are being replaced. This row has probably been here for a hundred years; this section of Danforth was developed between 1910 and 1930.  The streetcar provided a commuter route and facilitated growth to the east.  The opening of the Prince Edward Viaduct (Bloor Viaduct) over the Don River in 1918 made access to downtown and the rest of the city even easier.

row of two story brick stores on danforth

below: Some stores have added features such as this little peaked facade at the front and the fancy brick work around the windows.

two storey brick store front on danforth, with small peak in roof on on side

below: Window reflections

reflections in a window of a store on Danforth, cars and stores across the street can be seen.

below: Tims stands alone

two story building with a Tim Hortons, pale pink building, no buildings on either side of it, a woman in a pink coat walks past

below: Ghost sign on Danforth, Burnett Brothers Butchers, The House of Quality.  That would be Alfred and Horace Burnett.

ghost sign for Burnett Brothers Butchers of high quality, on old brick building on the Danforth

below: Remnants of streetcar tracks can also be found on Strathmore Blvd (behind Woodbine station) that abruptly end at Cedarvale

old streetcar tracks in a street, Strathmore Blvd., that come to an end.

below:  Drink Coca-Cola – an iconic red disc. As for the rest of the sign, the font and the style of sign is still seen in many places in Toronto.

old store, now a gallery, with red round drink coca cola sign, also old sign saying confectionery

below: Soaking up the sun in front of Atop Appliances

two people in a bus shelter, one standing, one sitting, in front of store called Atop Appliances which is an old grey building with a black shingle roof

below: Spring blossoms, pretty even if they aren’t real!

mural on the side of Value village, spring scene with blossom tree and green grass, bike share bikes in a row in front of the mural

below: A line of stars

painted along the side of a red brick building, beside driveway, two stripes, a narrow white stripe on top and a wider blue stripe below. On the blue, are eight pale orange stars

below: And stars on fences in an alley

2 large stars as decorations, on old fence in an alley, crooked fence, car parked in alley, dead leaves on the ground, mossy roof on garage next door

below: Aren’t doors fascinating?  Final Notice and 2nd Final Notice.  If a door is a title to the story that lies within, what is the story that would unfold here?

old black door, with yellow spray paint, three times, that says final notice, mailbox beside the door, number 2138, crooked concrete step

below: Many little pots in a sun-filled window, looks like an attempt to jump start spring planting.

row of old store fronts on gerrard, some now home, one has large window with greenish curtains, also a lot of little pots in the sunlight, perhaps growing seeds for spring planting

below: My favorite kind of Canada Geese.  They are quiet and don’t leave little messes behind.

front yard with decorations - in the shape of canada geese with red scarves around their necks

below: Lakeside campfire at sunset on a garage door

painting on a garage door, campfire on a granite outcropping beside a lake with pine trees around it, at sunset, sky in reds, oranges, and purples

below:  Poser bunnies in a mural on Gerrard

poser bunny mural on the side of a two storey structure on gerrard street

below:  I saw a lot of these posters that day – How to fold a fitted sheet.  Once upon a time such posters had a phone number written on little flaps that you could tear off.  Now we have the dreaded QR code.  Apparently there is now something called “quishing” which is QR code phishing (I am not calling this poster fake, I am just ranting about QR codes in general – like how annoying they are on menus because now everyone has to get their phones out).

poster on wood utility pole with the title How to fold a fitted sheet

below: Secret Park  …. sshhhhh  I can’t tell you where it is.

below: Empowerment by the wading pool (this is not the Secret Park!)

below: Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church (formerly Rogers Presbyterian Church), Woodbine

front of brick building, toronto chinese mennonite church

below: Crossing the street, towards Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church, Gerrard St.

woman crossing stret with a dog on a leash dog has a purple coat on, in front of old brick church, grant african

below: Plaque of Dedication for Grant Church

Plaque outside Grant Church

Plaque of Dedication commemorating the relocation of Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church from 23 Soho Street to 2029 Gerrard Street, November 17th, 1991. 
  Grant Church Journey
In 1833 in Toronto, worship began in each other’s homes.  The meetings were held on a site on Chestnut Street.  Later, a church was built on Richmond Street.  In 1856 we moved to a hall at Queen and McCaul Streets.  In 1912 we celebrated the grand opening at University and Elm Streets, and moved to 23 Soho Street in 1929.

grant african methodist episcopal church, brick building, on gerrard,

below: St. Francis National Evangelical Spiritual Baptist Faith, Archdiocese of Canada.

below: Semis on a slope

semi divided houses in a row on gerrard, two stories, with front porches,

below: A newer three storey residential building. I wonder how many units it has? Three at least?

new three story residence beside an older house

below: Layers

car parked in a driveway beside an older house, with a taller glass and brick condo building behind

semi houses, large trees between sidewalk and street

below: Pink house with a lot of stairs to the front door, Woodbine

below: Housing on the hill

below: A bus shelter, unfortunately it seems to be acting as housing as well.

below: May Peace Prevail on Earth in two languages (and more on the back)

4 sided pole about 8 feet high, with words written on it, may peace, also written in another language (different alphabet too)

southern Spadina, from Dundas to Ireland.

Posted: March 9, 2024 in alleys, intersections, locations, stores, transportation, waterfront, windows and walls
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Spadina has many faces –  It starts at Eglinton as Spadina Road where it runs south through Forest Hill.  It’s journey southward then continues through a number of different parts of the city including a spot where there is a block missing at Casa Loma.  Pedestrians can use the Baldwin Stairs but traffic has to detour around the castle.   At Bloor it changes to Spadina Avenue and widens to allow streetcar access down the middle of the road.   Here, it is also the western edge of the University of Toronto.

Just north of College Street,  Spadina becomes Spadina Crescent as it forms a circle around what is now the Daniels Faculty of Architecture building.   South of College Street to Dundas  the neighbourhood is somewhat eclectic with a mix of Kensington Market and Chinatown.

three people waiting for a green light before crossing spadina, a woman in a long yellow and grey plaid coat and a couple talking to each other

on a pole at an intresection, a yellow button for crossing signal plus lots of papers, posters and graffiti, a cyclist goes north on spadina in the background

people buying fruit and vegetables from a market, on the sidewalk,

chinese food store on spadina, with some items on display on the sidewalk

2 asian women on sidewalk, talking together, one has a clear plastic bag with 2 cauliflowers in it.

below: Celtuce and asparagus for sale.  Celtuce was new to me – I’ve never seen it before.  It is also called also called stem lettuce, celery lettuce, asparagus lettuce, or Chinese lettuce.  Unlike other lettuces, it is the stem that is eaten (although the leaves are also edible).

box of celtuce for sale at a fruit and vegetable market in chinatown, also a box of asparagus tied in bundles,

below: Collaborative mural under the window, the work of June Kim and Curtia Wright. East meets West, painted back in October.

mural with tigers and women face, under window on chinatown store

part of mural with tigers and women face, under window on chinatown store

a woman walks along spadina, pulling a shopping bag on rollers, walking past a store with displays on the sidewalk

head mannequin of a young boy, wearing a fur hat, in the window of a store

window display of asian chinese store in chinatown on spadina, metal grille in window as well, tea cups, silver piggybank, porcelain figurines,

below: Holy Chinatown window Batman!

window display, chinese and asian new year items, lots of red, plus one batman toy in blue

below: A Canada Post mailbox decorated originally with an image of the Year of the Rat (from Lunar New Year calendar) stamp issued in 2020.

side of a canada post mailbox with chinese characeters, one male and one female, on the side, also stickers and graffiti slaps on it

below: Waiting for the streetcar

a young man is waiting for ttc streetcar on spadina, standing in front of an advertisement featuring the large face of a woman

a large yellow school bus turns right onto spadina from queen street, two men are standing by the street car tracks

below: Looking eastward along Queen Street West with a web of streetcar wires overhead and many tracks underfoot.   The new Ontario Line subway will cross here with a new Queen-Spadina station being planned.   Between Sherbourne (Moss Park) and Spadina the Ontario Line will be under Queen Street.  West of here the tracks will swing south to a station at King and Bathurst.

looking east along queen street from spadina, people crossing the street, ttc wires above and tracks at street level

below: Another eastward looking view, this time from a bit farther south at Adelaide, a street that has become canyon-like as it makes it way through the older brick buildings in foreground and then the taller glass buildings as it gets closer to Yonge Street and the downtown core.

people crossing Adelaide Street at Spadina, looking eastward along Adelaide with Yonge street in the distance, large tall buildings on both sides of adelaide

below: And a little bit more south again… the CN Tower rises into the fog as it peeks out between two glass condo buildings at King and Spadina.  South of King is the new development “The Well” that opened recently.  I have blogged about it previously (Well, Well, Well, 27 Nov 2023)

CN tower peaks through between two highrise glass condo buildings, above where two people are repainting a billboard

Spadina is also a major access point to Lakeshore Blvd and the Gardiner Expressway.  This section of the road is rather barren if you are on foot (unless you are a concrete aficionado LOL)

below: Another eastward view – Both Lakeshore Blvd westbound (but not eastbound!) and the Gardiner Expressway are elevated and they run parallel as they cross over Spadina.

ramp to the gardiner expressway, plus upper levels of the gardiner, looking east from spadina

below: Standing on the northwest corner of Spadina and Queens Quay.  This is where Spadina ends – at the waterfront with some of the docks and parks that have been redeveloped in recent years.

a couple stands on the northwest corner of spadina and queens quay

below: Looking north up Spadina from Queens Quay.

view from queens quay looking north up spadina, with gardiner crossing over, lots of ttc streetcar wires overhead

below: Look!  Continue walking towards the waterfront but be careful crossing the bike lanes of the Martin Goodman Trail!

on the street, paved with bricks, the word look has been painted in blue on white background,

below: Spadina Wave Deck

Spadina Wave Deck on Queens Quay, where the sidewalk arches up over the water, glass condos rise up in the background

below: The Omni Coastal, a tug boat, is docked at Spadina Quay.

a boat tied up at a dock, with city street scene behind

thick grey rope wrapped around a metal post

below: Pulling back a little farther… the CN Tower is still hiding in the fog.

toronto waterfront at spadina quay, omni coastal tug boat is docked, condos on the waterfront, CN tower obscured by fog, grey cloudy day

below: Ahoy matey!

caution sign on a wood tree planter that someone has written the word pirates on, so sign now says caution, pirates!
below:   It’s a much quieter scene in the winter when fewer boats are here.  In the background, the Canada Malting Company silos still stand strong.

view of Toronto waterfront, looking west from Spadina Quay, towards large Canada Malting Co silos, boats in the foreground, but not many because it's winter, some wrapped in white, foggy grey day

lamp post, black with downward curved top, in music garden, with condos behind,

below: Looking for the signs of spring and finding the beginnings of tulips and daffodils in the Music Garden

small daffodils and tulips starting to grow in a garden in front of a large willow tree

small wood bird house with a blue roof hanging from the branch of a tree

below:  Some useful information: “Bathrooms, Where can they be found?”  Number one on the list is Billy Bishop Airport and I can attest to the fact that yes, they have bathrooms (check in the ferry terminal building).

sign on sidewalk on waterfront re information on where to find a bathroom in the area

below: Another red tugboat in the fog – this one is the Radium Yellowknife.

red fire boat docked at Toronto waterfront, on a foggy day

below: The silos have been under wraps as they have been renovated.

scaffolding and blue tarps around the curved ends of the canada malting co silos

below: Built on reclaimed land in the early 1900s, the silos have been empty since 1987 and  had fallen into disrepair.   Although they are now missing a couple of letters, the silos are in much better shape.  I am not sure if there is any use planned for the structures but the site is being turned into a park, Bathurst Quay Common.

below: If you walk past the silos, you come to Ireland Park with its memorial to those who fled the Irish famine in the 1840s.   The park also has seven sculptures cast in bronze by Rowan Gillespie of Dublin Ireland. The installation is called ‘Arrival’.  These figures match an earlier installation on the Customs House Quay in Dublin, ‘Famine’ (1997).  A third installation in Tasmania Australia completes the trilogy.

In Ireland Park statue of man, very thin, ragged clothes, upraised arms, representing Irish immigrants to Toronto during Irish famine in 1847

head and shoulders of a cast bronze statue of an Irish immigrant at Ireland Park on Toronto waterfront, part of a memorial to Irish immigrants to Canada during the famine years in the 1840s

below: Along the exterior walls of the silos, a few signs have been posted that tell the story of Irish immigration to Canada.  This is one of those signs.

sign half in English and half in French that tells the story of the ship called The City of Toronto that brought irish immigrants to Canada in 1847.

Arrival of the City of Toronto – When the steamer City of Toronto dropped anchor at Rees’s Wharf on Sunday, 6 June 1847, City officials had no way of knowing the boat was a harbinger of the chaotic and overwhelming migration season to come.  The City carried 700 people.  More than half of the adults on board were “indigent” migrants from Ireland, all traveling at the expense of the government. 
Given reports of ongoing distress and hunger in Ireland, the volume of immigrants was expected to be high that year, but Toronto was still unprepared for the tidal wave of Irish Famine immigrants now cresting its shores.  Toronto, with its population of 20,000 would eventually receive 38,000 immigrants in 1847. 
Steamships arrived filled to capacity with passengers exhausted and sick from their weeks-long journey.  Many of those who had been deemed healthy by doctors at Grosse Ile were beginning to show signs of typhus.  
The logistics of receiving, triaging, housing, treating and transporting (or burying) this wave of newcomers fell to a group of municipal and provincial officials, who had to make do with rudimentary medical and settlement infrastructure and resources.

black and white photograph of a woman sitting at the back of a streetcar, looking through the window

 

intersections – McCowan and Sheppard

Posted: November 11, 2023 in construction, graffiti and street art, intersections, locations, transportation
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After years of false starts, indecision re routes, and all the other consequences of being City Council’s favorite political football, the new Scarborough subway extension is underway.

on black hoardings around metrolinx site, pink subway symbol, fallen street signs on their side at bottom of hoardings

Once upon a time, the extension was to only go to Scarborough Town Centre and was derided as the “One Stop Subway”.  Now it seems to be three stops from the present Kennedy station with the end point being at McCowan and Sheppard.  In true Metrolinx style, it seems like the last station is going to be called Sheppard East.  Such imagination! … to have three stations called Sheppard!  That seems to be the situation at present…. as for tomorrow’s situation?  Who knows…..

printed on hoardings around metrolinx site, map of scarborough subway extension from Kennedy to Lawrence to Scarborough Centre to McCowan

In case you’ve never been to that intersection, let me show you what’s there…..

below: Looking west on Sheppard approaching McCowan with Metrolinx site on the right hand side.  This construction site is very large and dominates the area.

looking west on Sheppard towards mccowan, metrolinx construction on right side

below: One of the entrance gates to the Metrolinx construction site.  Note all the stacked concrete sections that will form the tunnel walls.

gate across entrance to construction site, red crane inside, also partially curved structures that will form walls of circular subway tunnel

metrolinx site for mccowan station on SHeppard subway extension, red crane,

below:  This blue object is part of the equipment needed to move dirt brought to the surface by the Tunnel Boring Machine that is working underground (There is also a TBM working out in Rexdale on the Crosstown West).

large blue piece of equipment on construction site, made for moving dirt that has been removed from tunnel by tunnel boring machine

It is a very big machine

below: Gate B

Gate B of metrolinx sheppard extension site on mccowan, watch for oncoming traffic sign,

In general, the area south of Sheppard is residential while the area north of Sheppard is industrial or commercial.   Canadian Tire is on the northwest corner.

below: Apartments on Sheppard (south side, east of McCowan)

man walking past low rise apartment building with balconies, green fence beside sidewalk

below:  Because of the angle from which this photo was taken, the exact locations are slightly unclear.  The Medical Clinic is 4651 Sheppard East.  To the west of that is a vacant lot that used to be a gas station and it is on the SE corner of McCowan and Sheppard; it is in the process of being redeveloped.   The apartment building is actually on the SWt corner of McCowan and Sheppard.

apartment building and lowrise plaza with medical clinic, sheppard east

below:  looking east on Sheppard from McCowan

TTC bus shelter beside sidewalk on Sheppard East, hoardings or metrolinx construction site Sheppard East station, are behind the shelter

 

below: Walking McCowan north of Sheppard is partially impeded by a fence across the sidewalk…. but it is easily bypassed.  Nugget Avenue is just beyond the fence.

chainlink fence across sidewalk at Nugget Ave

below: Looking southeast from McCowan and Nugget where West Highland Creek branches.  The large Metrolinx site fills the triangle formed by McCowan, West Highland Creek, and Sheppard Avenue.  The white apartment building in the distance is on Sheppard Ave.

creeks north of Sheppard

The creek’s concrete bed might make for easy management of the water flow but it makes for an ugly scene – unfriendly to both nature and people.  There are parks north of here on both branches of the creek but here where most of the land use is industrial or commercial, little attention is paid to the esthetics.

dead vines on chainlink fence beside concrete bottom creek

graffiti on concrete sides of west highland creek

below: Dufferin Concrete at Nugget and McCowan

concrete plant in Scarborough

below: Nugget Avenue crosses West Highland Creek.  The plaza at 20 Nugget Ave, with the red and white stripes, was shut down (bought out) by Metrolinx.  Apparently, the two-acre property is needed for an emergency exit and underground tail track for the future Sheppard East Station.

bridge over creek at Nugget Ave

empty two storey plaza, lower level painted with red and white vertical stripes

empty building behind construction fence, red and white vertical stripes on lower level, window on upper level, three signs for businesses, Best Housewares Inc., BestFare travel and tours, and Babhis Beauty Salon

old banners on a chainlink fence advertising boxing week specials, ads for restaurant food,

below: Spotted on a bulletin board at a bus shelter on Nugget (It’s a collection of bible verses).

on public message board at a bus shelter, 4 pieces of 8 1/2 by 11 paper with typing on them, a collection of bible verses

below: Immediately north of Nugget Avenue are train tracks. This is the western edge of the large CPR Toronto Yard.  If you are interested in this yard and some of the trains, I blogged about it previously (Around the marshaling yards – with love and peace).

black tanker cars on railway bridge over McCowan

downward arrow shape painted in yellow and white on blue concrete under a brdge

below: North side of tracks along McCowan

concrete waterway and tunnel for west highland creek as it goes under the railway tracks

a banner for welcome to sheppard east village on a pole, with an autumn tree behind

vertical banner on pole on sheppard east for east sheppard village, picture of three people on banner

traffic signs and warning signs at entrance to construction site on mccowan road

dirt track uphill to the tracks

flock of birds on a wire

Silhouettes on the door

Posted: October 9, 2023 in construction, graffiti and street art, locations, transportation
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I heard about these silhouettes that have painted on the plywood used to board up the doors and windows of five empty houses so I went to see them for myself.  They are on Raglan Road which is close to St. Clair and Bathurst.

black silhouettes of people painted on plywood used to board up doors and windows of empty houses waiting to be demolished

black silhouettes of people painted on plywood used to board up doors and windows of two empty houses waiting to be demolished

black silhouettes of people painted on plywood used to board up doors and windows of empty houses waiting to be demolished, older woman

“Took a walk and passed your house late last night
All the shades were pulled and drawn way down tight
From within, the dim light cast two silhouettes on the shade
Oh, what a lovely couple they made”

two black silhouettes painted on plywood covering a window, parent holding up young child in air above head

row of houses boarded up and empty

I am not sure how long these houses have been empty but there is graffiti in the back too.

graffiti across the back of two empty houses

As I was in the neighbourhood, what else is there to see here?  Anything new? Back in 2015 I posted a few pictures from the St. Clair and Vaughan Road area (see Intersections).  This time I stayed within the northwest quadrant of that intersection.   Like most places, somethings have changed while other things remain the same.

Back to early October 2023 …  many other houses were empty and boarded up

behind metal construction fence, an empty house that has been boarded up

yellow fire hydrant in front of hoardings around old houses waiting to be demolished. The hoardings hava painting of a young man, a red poppy and a large orange flower

… and many other houses have already been demolished.

man walking past construction site with tall condo tower as well as single family houses in the background

vacant lot with houses and highrises bhind

red and blue barrels in a vacant lot in front of other buildings

In the above picture you can see that this area has some older smaller apartment buildings.  Raglan Road runs parallel to Vaughan Road, home to many mid-sized older buildings.

front entrance of an older brick apartment building

three storey brick apartment building on Vaughan Road

three storey brick apartment building on Vaughan Road

cement truck delivering cement to a work site beside an older brick apartment building

below: Linked buildings

elevated corridors, open to outside, linking buildings

Once it was the Happy Family Restaurant.  Now someone (a happy family?) lives there.

squarish building, two storey, lower level once a store, now a residence, two entrance doors, old yellow sign

…. other businesses are boarded up.  This was the Dutch Dreams Ice Cream shop before they moved farther south on Vaughan Road.  While it sits empty it is a space for graffti.  Dutch Dreams had moved out before December 2015.

old black Mercedes car parked beside a boarded up red brick building

below: Just wait – Not sure what we’re waiting for but I see an alpha and an omega on a death moth?

paper graffiti with words just wait, black and white drawing of a dragonfly, on red brick

below: Peeling and faded.  Sailor dude and some colourful designs.

peeling and faded paper graffiti

below: Elaborate probably female form with gown and hat beside a not so elaborate wine bottle.  The label on the bottle says Lutte Libre Bruht.

black stencil graffiti on plywood

below: They’ve been here a while – Urban Ninja Squadron’s T-Bonez in various poses including dressed as Robin, the Boy Wonder.

peeling pasteup graffiti on plywood

below: Give Love and be a Hero

paper pasteup printed in red, on plywood board covering window

In the summer of 2020 there was fire in the adjacent building that impacted the old Dutch Dreams building too.  That was three years ago.   It is a pity that empty buildings sit for so long especially since nothing good comes of it.

in alley, back of buildings that had burned, fence with no trespassing signs around them

More people – Street musicians playing on the sidewalk.

mural on a box on the street, a group of musicians playing, trumpet, bass, singing,

As I walked around the neighbourhood I noticed a mix of architectural styles and building sizes.

From single family….

tall trees and single family homes

streetscape with different shaped houses

Through midsized apartments like the older ones shown above as well as some newer ones….

midrise apartment buildings with some single family homes in the middle

apartment buildings with green space between them

… To massive apartment buildings

very large, wide, highrise residential building with white balconies

large tag graffiti that says a c k , on the side of a brick house

below: Southwest corner of St. Clair and Vaughan Road

person in wheelchair being pushed across St. Clair at Vaughan Road, southwest corner with CIBC bank in old brick building

beside lowrise building from the 1960s, a single story older brick building, Choice coin laundry

brick buildings on vaughan road, 4 storey apartment building, coin laundry, and a convenience store

mister milk convenience store on vaughan road, once a two storey house, with upstairs enclosed balcony

below: The bright yellow building of Hercules Automotive and Tire Service in an alley behind St. Clair.  The top of St. Alphonsus R C church can be seen above it.

low yellow building in alley, Hercules Automotive and tire service, parking lot in front of it, top of St. Alphonsus R C Church behind it, also three tall condo towers in the background

below: Walking westward on St. Clair approaching Wychwood Ave with yet another vacant lot.

father and son walking on sidewalk, along St clair west, towards wychwood ave

below: St. Clair Avenue Baptist Church, on this site since November 1924.

Baptist church on Wychwood ave., brown brick building

below: Beside St. Alphonsus RC Church at Vaughan Road and St. Clair.

statue of man holding a bird, a small wreath hangs beside the statue

street sign for Helen Porter Lane, with Kenwood Arts sign attached to same pole

below: Kenwood

wood utility pole in alley, painted with pink, blue, and green heart, with stripes and squares below

below: A Jack Layton quote: “Love is better than hate; Hope is better than fear.”

words written in many colours across a board on a wood fence in an alley, a quote from Jack Layton that says

hand written poem story on board, hanging next to a garage with paintings of birds in a tree

“AND people stayed home and read books and listened and rested.
… and learned new ways and stopped and listened more deeply
… and people began to think differently.  And people healed
… AND when the danger ended and people found themselves, they grieved for the dead … and made new choices … and dreamed new visions… and created new ways of living… and healed the earth as they were healed.”

below: “My Blue World – I know a place where the world is still where time and space have no hold”  Painting by Elly Dawson 2020.  Poem by Lanna M.

my blue world, a painting on a wood fence, of two boats in the water,

below: A large Canadian flag hangs over the Toronto skyline.

mural on a garage door, large canadian flag behind the toronto skyline, blue lake in front, blue sky behind

Also in Helen Porter Lane, someone has taken advantage of the space here to build new housing.

new housing built in a lane

 

The orange sign on the streetcar stop says that the 512 St. Clair streetcar stopped running early in September 2023 and will be out of service until summer 2024.   The whole line from Yonge to Gunns Loop

 

bus shelter on route 512, St. Clair streetcar, at Bathurst

below: Westbound TTC buses on St. Clair

2 TTC buses plus traffic, westbound on St. Clair in front of Loblaws just before Bathurst street

While we’re on the subject of the TTC, one very dirty bus shelter!

Stop – Take a Breath

stop sign with words and breathe added to it

locked gate, fence, vacant lot, with lowrise apartment buildings in the background

golden mile

Posted: September 27, 2023 in construction, history, intersections, transportation
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This has become one of the more forlorn corners in the city – the northeast corner of Eglinton and Vic Park.   I am not sure what the structure was originally used for or what it looked like back in the day.  Now it just stands there, perhaps in limbo like the Eglinton LRT that it sits next to.

concrete and glass rectangular structure beside a large empty parking lot

There is another one at the other end of the Golden Mile Mall (one block east at Pharmacy & Eglinton).  Brutalistic and ugly.

two women with an umbrella on a sunny day, under a concrete and glass structure

The Golden Mile Mall opened in 1954.  And even Queen Elizabeth II visited it (in 1959).

below: Golden Mile Mall parking lot today.  The mall (or plaza) has a No Frills and a Joe Fresh, both of which are part of Loblaws.  In fact, Choice Properties REIT (also Loblaws) owns the 19 acre site and has plans to redevelop it into a mixed use site.   The site runs north of Eglinton from Victoria Park to Pharmacy.  It’s early in the process so anything can happen but if you are interested, the site plan is a downloadable pdf

large parking lot at golden mile mall, not many cars

Did that tall metal structure have a purpose? Or just decoration?

Even back in the 1950s the parking lot was enormous.  I get the impression that the golden mile wasn’t so golden if you didn’t own a car.

black and white photo from 1950s of cars in a parking lot in front of a mall, the golden mile mall

Photo Source: From Old Toronto Series facebook page. If you are interested in the way Toronto used to look, check them out!

below: Part of the mall was destroyed by fire in 1986

black and white photo of firemen rolling up hoses in front of burnt out woolworths store

Photo Credit: Rick Eglinton, Toronto Star Photograph Archive, “Original Toronto Star caption: Fire guts part of Golden Mile plaza. Three of the 50 firefighters called out yesterday to battle a spectacular fire that gutted the west end of Scarborugh’s Golden Mile Plaza roll up their hoses after finally dousing the last ember. The mall, built mostly of wood in the 1950s and once Canada biggest, is now being demolished. The Ontario Fire Marshall’s Office has not yet determined the cause of the blaze. Published in Toronto Star, 16 December 1986”.  Found online at Toronto Public Libbrary Digital

 

development notice sign for redevelopment of golden mile mall property at Eglinton and Victoria Park

two women walking along the sidewalk as a truck passes by

As I alluded to above, the Eglinton LRT has been built here.  As most of you know, this is the mystery transit line – nobody knows when it’s going to be operational.  Not even Metrolinx knows.  Coincidences are such that after I took these photos I discovered that Metrolinx was supposed to make an announcement about the Eglinton LRT this afternoon (Sept 27).  As it turns out the announcement was that there was no announcement but they will make more announcements in a couple of months.

below: So O’Connor LRT station sits waiting…   Just in case you don’t know, O’Connor station is at Eglinton & Vic Park (O’Connor Drive ends at Vic Park a short distance south of here).

empty LRT station with yellow and white barricade

below: O’Connor LRT station, from another angle

LRT station on Eglinton

below: I was shocked to see a streetcar pull into the station!  They really are running tests or training people, or whatever it is they’re doing.  Back in early June 2021 (more than two years ago!) the first LRT vehicles made their debut in Toronto (blog post from that day)

eglinton lrt vehicle at o'connor station

tracks and empty platfor at o'connor lrt station

When the area was first settled it became farmland.  A few apple trees still grow along the side of Pharmacy Ave

apples growing on apple tree

During WW2, the Canadian government bought some of that farmland and built a munitions plant known as GECo (General Engineering Company). This factory was south of Eglinton and east of Pharmacy. After the war, many other industries moved into the area.  Beginning in the 1980s, the industries started leaving.

below: Today there are still a few left such as this IPEX facility – they make thermoplastic pipes (such as PVC pipes used in plumbing)

barbed wire surrounds a group of chemical silos

Another industry, Flexible Packaging Corp, has moved on

front end loader, digger, demolishing a brick industrial building

demolition of industrial building

If you google their address, 1891 Eglinton Ave East, you will discover that there are plans for the latest trend – the mixed use community – here too.  Tall condo towers, retail, and public space (here 5 towers, 4 of which between 30 and 45 storeys).  There are going to be a few of these along Eglinton.  For instance, the Crosstown neighbourhood is well underway at Eglinton and Don Mills.  And there is the Golden Mile Mall redevelopment that I mentioned above.

building being demolished, broken walls, no doors, sign that says truckers report to office

The Eglinton LRT has, not surprisingly, encouraged a lot of redevelopment.  Almost every building along Eglinton between Victoria Park and Pharmacy has a blue and white development notice in front.   I didn’t walk farther east but I suspect that a similar story is playing out there too.

below: At the southwest corner of Eglinton and Pharmacy, one tall tower of 35 storeys

blue and white development notice sign in front of a Burger King

below: North side of Eglinton, 2 towers – 38 and 40 storeys.

blue and white development notice sign in front of a Bank of Montreal building

Across the street from the Golden Mile Mall is Eglinton Square, another mall. It too has a development notice out front.   It was dated 2018 so take it with a grain of salt that the mall is retained but 91 rental units behind it will disappear. … Can we believe that?  So…  A quick google and yikes!  Seven towers, 5 of which are 40 storeys or more for 1 Eglinton Square.   Really?  Are we that short of ideas for housing?  In twenty to thirty years are we going to look around and wonder what the hell happened here?

street scene with little green sign for eglinton square entrance

below: HBC on the west side of Eglinton Square

entrance to Hudsons Bay store at Eglinton Square

below: This is the triangle formed by O’Connor Drive, Eglinton Ave., and Victoria Park Ave.  The parkette that was here is all dug up.   I’m not sure that I want to know what’s happening here.

levelled ground, dirt, construction equipment working there,

Graffiti

small white skull, graffiti painted on a black metal box

below: Danger due to blunt mop.  At first I thought it was someone’s strange humour but on closer look realized that it was an advert for a soundcloud account.

danger due to blunt mop sign on hydro pole

below: Help wanted!  and “help” available at a price

signs on the side of a blue and white free newspaper box, one sign says help wanted, and the other is an ad for viagra and cialis

sidewalk on Vic Park near Eglinton, sign advertising cannabis at lowest prices,

looking through a glass wall where 2 panes of glass are missing and the others have graffiti on them

*****

Additional Note:

This is the “Progress Chart” released by Metrolinx today re the Eglinton LRT.

revisiting Ontario Place

Posted: September 26, 2023 in construction, graffiti and street art, landmarks, locations, public art, transportation, waterfront
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A story in three parts

 

There has been a lot of talk about Ontario Place in the news lately so I thought that I would take some time to explore that part of the city.

below: My walk started in Liberty Village where I discovered that others are trying to promote walking around and exploring here. If you are interested, Walk Liberty is online.  It is a fairly comprehensive guide to the history of the area.

small public space in liberty village with sign posted red liberty village walks

below: Cut into the back of this bench are the words “Is it not the reason we are here”.  This bench was designed by Jose Andres Mora was part of the Liberty Village BIA Artist Bench series from 2019.  My reason? …  Well, I was only passing by because it was a convenient place to have a cup of coffee before walking towards Ontario Place.

red metal bench with words laser cut into the back that say

below:  Comfortable shoes as we keep on walking

part of a large mural by jarus, someone wearing blue jeans and white running shoes

When I reached Atlantic Avenue I discovered that most of the south end of the street was now part of a construction site – both sides of the street have Metrolinx Ontario Line hoardings.

low rise older brick building, light industrial, with black hoardings in front, with signs advertising metrolinx ontario line,

below: The Liberty Trail is closed.  This sign was posted by Ontario Transit Group.  They are the group who are building some of the infrastructure for the Ontario Line.  There are a number of companies included in this group with the two leads being Ferrovial Construction Canada Inc., and VINCI Construction Grands Projects.  They were awarded the six billion dollar contract in Nov 2022 and if you want to see a list of what that money should buy us, the information is on an Infrastructure Ontario website (while you’re there, spot the typo!).

2 signs on a fence, one is a danger due to demolition and the other says liberty trail is closed, Second sign was posted by ontario transit group

hoardings and danger due to demolition sign around a brick structure

below: Looking north on Atlantic Avenue

looking north on Atlantic Avenue from the south end, a white car parked there, many buildings now empty with hoardings in front for metrolinx onstruction

below: The Exhibition GO station is at the south end of Atlantic Ave.  The new Ontario line will also have a station here. The ability to transfer between GO and TTC services here will impact a lot of people who commute from the western side of the GTA as they may be able to bypass Union Station.

a man with a backpack walks towards Exhibition station where there is a green and white GO train already in the station

path towards exhibition station GO line, from Atlantic Ave in Liberty Village

graffiti on metrolinx ontario line hoardings that says tax $ this is a real money pit

below: From Exhibition station east towards the city centre, north side.   A new street that parallels the railway tracks is being built here.  If the plans are correct, the new street will connect Strachan Ave in the east with Dufferin St in the west.

cn tower in the distance, metrolinx ontario line construction at atlantic avenue in the foreground

below: Construction on the north side of the tracks at Exhibition station where a new concourse area is being built above the tracks

construction on north side of GO tracks at Exhibition station

below: Looking eastward from the south side

looking eastward along the north side of the GO tracks from Exhibition station, looking towards downtown

After walking through the tunnel under the tracks at Exhibition GO station, you emerge under the Gardiner Expressway, right beside the Exhibition  grounds.  …. And so begins Part 2.   A quick note – when Metrolinx describes Exhibition station on the Ontario Line, they usually add “Ontario Place” to it, i.e. it’s Exhibition/Ontario Place station.

green and white GO transit sign for exhibition station rises high beside the Gardiner expressway

The first building that you encounter on the south side is the Horse Palace

below: South entrance of the Horse Palace.  Three levels of government contributed to the construction of this building which opened in 1931.  It is two storeys high and covers 4 acres.  Originally it accommodated 1200 horses.  Today it is home to Toronto’s mounted police unit.

stone work at entrance of horse palace at exhibition grounds

below: Horse in the art deco style, carved in the limestone facade of the Horse Palace.

art deco bas relief in stone on horse palace at the CNE grounds, a horse with one front hoof raised

In August it is busy here as it is the home of the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) but September is another story!  I didn’t see many people as I wandered around.  The buildings are locked up tight.

CN Tower innackground, horse palace on the left, parking lot in front

One of the dominant features of the area is BMO field which was built as a large soccer stadium.  In 2016 it also became the home of the Toronto Argonauts, the other Toronto football team.

interior of BMO soccer field, red seating, large awning over seats, green grass on field

below: Mural above the entrance, gate 6 BMO Field. This mural can be difficult to see from outside because it is behind a window. It confused me at first because why is there a hockey themed picture at BMO field? – they don’t play hockey here. As I was trying to get a closer look at it from outside, a group of men walked past and one of them asked me if I needed help…. here’s the story:  Once upon a time the Hockey Hall of Fame was here. When the building was demolished in 2006 to make way for the soccer field, portions of it were retained including the entrance and this mural,  “Face Off” by Ronald Satok.

hockey theme mural over entrance gate at BMO Field

below: The Hockey Hall of Fame building (1961-1993) at the Exhibition.  The mural is behind the glass in the entrance way.

vintage photo of the front of the hockey hall of fame at the exhibition grounds in the 1970s

below: Also at BMO Field is a Wall of Honour commemorating iconic moments and MLS Honours (e.g. coach of the year, MVP players, etc).  Red and white are the colours of Toronto FC (Football Club) whose home is here at BMO stadium.   Note: (MLS = Maple Leaf Sports, owners of the Toronto FC  )

wall of honour at BMO field, a red wall with plaques commemorating different players and events

After WW2, the popularity of the CNE was booming and more modern spaces were needed.  The Hockey Hall of Fame building was a great success so the Food Building (1954), followed by the Queen Elizabeth Building (1957), and the Better Living Centre (1962) resulted.  These buildings still stand.  All were very modern buildings for their time.

below: Food Building

low rise horizontal building with food written in large letters above the glass entrance

below: Queen Elizabeth Building

Queen Elizabeth building on the CNE grounds

below: Better Living Centre, symmetry of the side entrances.  In the 1960s this building housed exhibits during the CNE that featured different rooms decorated with the latest trends and gadgets… like colour TVs! and other consumer goods.

side entrance of better living building

below: Front entrance with its wide stairs leading to the doors as well as one of its curved walls

front entrance of better living centre at cne, low white tiles, curved wall, large staircase

below: Artwork on the roof of the Better Living Centre is a three dimensional grid of steel with different coloured plexiglass panels in some of the squares.

rectangles and squares, colours, art structure above better living building

paste up graffiti on exhibition grounds

graffiti sticker on a danger high voltage sign, exhibition grounds

We entered the Exhibition grounds by tunnel and we will leave by bridge over Lakeshore Blvd…. so to Part 3, Ontario Place

bridge to ontario place

below: Looking west from the bridge over Lakeshore Blvd

looking west along lakeshore blvd from bridge to ontario place

Ontario Place consists of three different areas, East Island, West Island, and the pods in the middle.  When Ontario Place first opened in 1971, the eastern portion was a children’s adventure playground.  Today it is Trillium Park.  I didn’t go there last week, but if you are interested, I blogged about it on two previous visits (a rainy day from June 2019, and Ontario Place 2.0 from July 2017)

The middle section of the park is where you find the “pods”, the elevated structures with water below, and the marina.

pod buildings at ontario place

The contentious part at the moment is West Island.

As far as any plan can be trusted, this is from Infrastructure Ontario, dated April 2023.    The majority of the West Island becomes covered with a 12 acre waterpark and spa to be built by an Austrian company, Therme.   The majority of that is housed in glass buildings.

map of Infrastructure Ontario's vision for ontario place

This is a conceptual drawing from Therme’s website.  That’s a lot of glass.  If you know West Island, you’ll realize that this drawing looks nothing like it.  That’s because everything is to be removed, leveled, and a lot of landfill added.

rendering of a concept of therme spa to be built on west island, from their website

Already gone is a bell, the Goh Ohn Bell.  This is the Japanese Canadian Centennial Temple Bell.   I took this picture on the 20th of Sept and by the 25th it was gone.  Despite a protest on the weekend, it was removed to storage.  The Temple Bell was installed in 1977 in a structure designed by Raymond Moriyama (1929 – Sept 2023); it was a gift to the province Japanese Canadians living in Ontario to mark the centennial of Japanese settlement in Canada.   Now it is in the way of the Therme spa.  Even though the project has not been approved, the provincial government is plowing ahead.

large metal bell in memorial structure, memorial to Japanese Canadians, marks 100 years of Japanese in Canada

large metal temple bell, Japanese Canadian , Raymond Moriyama

Some say that the West Island is under used now anyhow…..

Perhaps.  But the biggest reason for that is the neglect (negligence actually) that it’s been subjected to over the years.

graffiti on grey wall that says die slow

painting of an orange and blue fish on a white wall close to a compost garbage bin

old faded paintings on the exterior of a grey silo type structure

exterior rusted white metal stairs on the side of grey concrete building, goldenrod growing below it, some graffiti above including a black line drawn skull

Once their were restaurants here but they closed years ago.  Their ghosts remain.

below: Pizza anyone?

old pizza pizza restaurant location at ontario place. faded awning with remains of sign, overgrown,

empty structures at Ontarioplace that were used as food outlets or little stores

art exhibit from 2018 that hasn't been upgraded, defaced pictures,

Once there were amusement rides here, those ghosts too still haunt the place.

abandoned waiting area and starting place for an old amusement ride, outdoors, overgrown, neglected

below: Yellow lines to stand behind while you waited your turn for a ride.

painted on wood floor, instructions for lining up at a ride, says wait here in french and english

Once upon a time there was some attempt to make something of the place.  Then it was  abandoned and ignored.  In those quiet years the beach and paths were used by those who knew about them. It became a peaceful spot.

muskoka chairs along the top of a hill, under pine trees, overlooking lake ontario

two people sitting on the beah at ontario place, lake ontario, mississauga and western GTA in the background

Unknowns – there are many because there has been nothing transparent about any of the dealings between Therme and the provincial government.  Therme gets a 95 year lease but what are the terms?  The provincial government is going to pay for an underground (under the water table!) parking lot for 2000+ cars apparently.  They will also be responsible for all those little details that you can’t see –  like where does the water go when you flush the toilet? –  those little pesky things.  Rather than go into more detail here, I highly recommend John Lorinc’s article in Spacing magazine, Below Grade Scandal

Not everyone is happy with the plans…..

construction site, someone has written in yellow marker the words fuck doug ford

a tale of two bridges

Posted: September 15, 2023 in construction, locations, old buildings, transportation
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Traffic on Eastern Avenue near Broadview has faced construction and traffic delays over the past few months.   The slow downs are ongoing as work on the railway bridge progresses.  This work is because Metrolinx is adding tracks to make room for the new Ontario Line.  Like many parts of the city, there are many changes occurring in the area.

Demolition on the north side of Eastern, and poof,  gone, one large 5 storey Self Storage facility at 356 Eastern. Removed to make way for new tracks.   The beige house faces Lewis Street.

an orange bin sits in a vacant lot where a building has just been demolished

empty bucket of a front end loader sits on the ground beside a man on a ladder who is inspecting roof of building

… and now sitting gutted on the south side is another not old building (South side of Eastern Ave between Broadview and the railway tracks).

by a street construction zone, taller narrow building gutted, empty windows, brick on bottom, black cladding on top

South side of Eastern, from another angle.

empty group of buildings on south side of Eastern Ave., between Broadview and the railway tracks

West side approach to the Canadian National Railway bridge

orange and black traffic cones as well as black and orange signs with arrows directing traffic as Eastern Ave approaches railway bridge at McGee St., from west side of the bridge

west side of Canadian National Railway bridge on Eastern Ave

Along with the new railway line, Metrolinx is building what they are calling the East Harbour transit hub.  This involves a new Ontario Line station as well as a new GO station on the Lakeshore East and Stouffville GO lines. Eventually, plans are to have TTC streetcars or LRT link here (it is directly south of Broadview and there is a plan to extend Broadview).

below: Construction along the railway line, south of Eastern Ave

construction site south of Eastern Ave., west of the train tracks, a man with a red shovel is clearing a now vacant lot

text graffiti in blue and white on the side of a railway bridge, water tower in the background

below: One side (the east side) of the railway tracks has been demolished.  Ultimately the whole bridge will be replaced but it is being done in stages to allow GO trains and VIA rail trains to continue running throughout the process.

bridge on eastern avenue with west side of railway track demolished

white folding chair sitting on sidewalk under railway overpass

A constant flow of dump trucks back and forth, in and out, of the construction site south of Eastern (on both sides of the railway tracks).  The 38 acre site that includes the old Lever Bros (Ponds, Sunlight etc) soap factory is being redeveloped at the same time – it extends south to Lakeshore and west to the Don River.

red dump trucks entering and exiting a construction site

Looking west on Eastern Ave, back towards downtown.

looking west on Eastern Ave., back towards railway bridge that is half demolished, traffic on the streets

green and white double decker go train on tracks, passing by a construction site

red dump truck being filled up with dirt

405 Eastern Ave, immediately east of the railway bridge, is also under construction.  It has nothing to do with transportation as it is a new Enbridge building.   A large 3 storey building with both offices and industrial (computers?) will probably be built here.

new concrete building being constructed on eastern ave

Makes sense, gas pipelines on site.

behind a chainlink fence, no trespassing sign, enbridge property

CCTV sign warning, on a chainlink fence, natural gas pipeline

Just north of Eastern Ave, the railway tracks cross Queen St East., crossing over a bridge of the same style and vintage.   Once upon a time this was a level crossing with a railway station on the northwest corner, the Riverdale station on the Grand Trunk Railway.  This is soon to be the location of the Riverside Leslieville station on the not yet built Ontario Line.

plaque describing history of riverdale railway station beside a concrete wall, with drawing of street map of part of toronto

So far the bridge is still intact but it too will be completely changed by the time Metrolinx is finished.  The station itself will be on the bridge (if their drawings & plans are to be believed).

Here there will be 6 tracks – 4 for GO Transit and 2 for the Ontario Line.

Union Station and beyond

Posted: August 19, 2023 in construction, locations, people, public art, transportation
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Welcome back!

one of the statues of Maple Leaf hockey players,

below: Posing with the men of Legends Row

people taking picture

below: The CN Tower peaks out from behind glass buildings on Bremner.

CN Tower peaking out from behind galss buildings on Bremner, reflections in the glass too

below: A slightly different angle, but still looking west on Bremner towards the Rogers Centre, which of course everyone still calls the SkyDome. The very east end of Bremner is also known as Raptors Way in celebration of the Toronto Raptors NBA Championship win in 2019 (that’s basketball for those of you who don’t follow such things).

Bremner street scene, Longos, people, Rogers Centre in the background

below: Maple Leaf Square.  The three rusted metal cones form  “Search Light, Star Light, Spot Light” (1998) by John McEwen.  At night, light shines through the thousand star shaped holes in the metal.

3 large conical structures as public art, with star shaped holes in them, in front of Union Station

below: South entrance to Union Station.

south entrance of Union Station, at Maple Leaf Square, with tall office buildings behind,

below:  More public art with lights can be seen in the foyer at 25 York Street (enter at Union Station in photo above and turn left). Thirty thousand lights suspended from the ceiling and they are constantly changing colour.   This is David Rokeby’s “Pixel Cube”.

 

light art installation suspended from high ceiling, titled pixel cube,

below: If you had turned right instead of left into 25 York,  you would find yourself in the foyer of Scotiabank Arena, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Pictured, larger than life on the wall, are 90 Ryan O’Reilly, 16 Mitch Marner, and 88 William Nylander.

picture on interior wall at one of the entrances to Scotiabank arena, showing portraits of 3 maple leaf hockey players

west entrance to scotiabank arena, interior shot, Canadian flags hanging from ceiling, reflections in polished floor, people,

a family of four with suitcases passes through entrance to Union station from scotiabank arena, with large picture of a Maple Leaf hockey player watching them

below: Russell Peters gives directions?

sign inside Union Station, on a large picture of comedian Russell Peters, directional signs showing York and Bay concourses as well as GO station and TTC

below: Although much of the Union Station renovation is complete, there are still mystery parts behind temporary walls and plastic barriers.

man walking with a cane, inside hallways of union station where there is still construction and renovation going on

people inside union station, at top of escalator for GO regional trains

union station, escalator, upper level with clear railing, advert on pillar

below: The walk from the railway side of the station to the TTC portion is now covered.  No more dodging the elements!

covered space between railway station at union station and entrance to TTC subway

construction and maintenence equipment like a wheelbarrow kept behind a green mesh fence, with danger due to construction signs on it

people walking down exterior stairs, union station

two men outside union station one in black pants, white shirt, and black tie standing and a construction worker in orange and yellow vest sitting on railing with back to camera

below: Construction on Bay Street, immediately north of the railway tracks.

construction of a tall building, steel frame of lower floors completed, tall crane, Bay street

below: A typical day in downtown Toronto?  Construction vehicles caught in the gridlock.

flatbed truck loaded with metal pipes, n Bay street, in traffic, with pedestrians waiting beside the road to cross over

pasteups and sticker graffiti on a red newspaper box with the word free on it

below: Intersection of Bay and Front (that truck is still there!).

a man on a scooter and other traffic at bay and front streets

below: At street level, something is happening with the gold tinted glass windows on the Royal Bank building.  No opportunities to play with reflections in the angled glass walls.   As an aside, if you want to discover how many plainclothes security people are lurking in the area, put your camera over the wall and aim it at the building.  Then smile.

construction zone around the base of the royal bank building at bay and front, a gold tinted glass building

below: Heading north, Bay and Wellington

people crossing wellington street on bay, pedestrians, tall buildings on either side of the street

teo men hugging each other in greeting as another man with bright blue sunglasses and pink shorts walks past

a workman repairs the large wide stairs on bay with passersby looking at him

a man in an orange and yellow work vests rests against a billboard sign for tangerine

a couple walk their bike on king street

Finch West

Posted: July 21, 2023 in construction, public art, transportation
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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I have blogged a few times about the new Eglinton LRT/subway line that may or may not ever get finished in our life time.  As well, I have shared some pictures of the construction that is the beginning of the work on the Ontario line through downtown.  But apparently, that’s not all that Metrolinx is up to – I have heard rumours of another LRT line under construction in Toronto, the Finch West line.  So I went to investigate.

below: Waiting on the platform at Finch West subway station.

looking down from above, people sitting on benches on platform at Finch West subway station

Like so many transit projects in the city, the history of the Finch LRT has not followed a straight path.  In 2009 the provincial government announced a new subway/LRT line along Finch from Don Mills to Humber College.  But that promise was shortlived – the eastern end was removed a year later.  Next, mayor Rob Ford cancelled the whole project after taking office at the end of 2010.  City Council reinstated it (the western portion)  in 2012 and construction was to begin in 2015 for a 2020 completion date.  Work began a little later than planned but at least it actually started.  The new LRT line goes from Finch West station at Keele to Humber College, 10.3 kilometres in total.  It’s behind schedule but I don’t think that that surprises anyone.

man with a backpack riding escalator at subway station, going up, reflections in metal sides of the escalator

My walking plan was to take a Finch bus westward along the new route and then walk back….  Traffic, of course, was horrible and by the time we got to hwy 400 I was ready to get off the bus.  It didn’t help that they were repaving parts of Finch Avenue.

traffic and TTC bus on finch as approaching ramp to highway 400 north.

below:  Like many plans, changes had to be made along the way since the sidewalk kept coming to an abrupt end….

Finch avenue, construction new LRT line, sidewalk comes to an end, orange barricades

below: .. and intersections weren’t always easy to navigate.

a man on a motorbike rides past orange barricades at construction site, policeman patrolling the traffic at the intersection, Keele and Finch, LRT construction, stores on other corner of intersection in the background

below: At the eastern end of the new LRT, on the east side of the intersection of Keele and Finch is a new public art installation.  This steel structure is 40 feet high and represents Elia Public School which once stood at this intersection.  It was designed by Brandon Vickerd.  In the photo below, the building behind seems to be another Metrolinx building – that T symbol is on the new LRT stations as well.

new steel public art installation at keele and finch, by Brandon Vickerd, outline of building shape to remember the school that was once there

below: Also at Keele and Finch – there are already two buildings to access the subway.  It seems to suggest that TTC and Metrolinx have structures on three of the four corners of that intersection.  Finch West station is on the section of Line 1 (Yonge-University) that opened late in 2017.  Pictures from those days can be found at “to the end of the line”

Keele street, looking north from Finch, Finch West subway station sign and striped buildings

below: Most of the LRT runs above ground.  In order to provide easy access with the existing subway line, the LRT goes underground just west of Keele.

just west of Keele Street, on Finch, where tracks for new LRT go underground as they approach Finch west subway station, new construction,

below: New LRT trains parked at the new Finch West Maintenance and Storage Facility just west of Jane and Finch.

new LRT trains, black and grey, parked in TTC lot,

below: No one will be able to say that they can’t find the stations along Finch.  This is Driftwood station.

black structures as new lrt station on finch avenue, with apartment buildings behind

a woman in white looks to the other side of the street as she waits for traffic light to turn green, a couple wait on the other side

danger signs, active tracks, on new lrt rail tracks, at Jane and Finch

large sign for Norfinch Shopping Centre, two women on the sidewalk walking past it, KFC,

traffic directional signs, no right turn for large trucks, no left turn,

yellow and orange traffic barricades at construction site, finch avenue west

below: Walking past Norfinch Oakdale station.

to people walking along sidewalk, with orange barricades on both sides, new LRT station to the left, high rise apartments in the background, Finch Avenue west

construction of tracks and station, new lrt on finch

below: Track work at Tobermory station.

two workmen working on new tracks along finch ave lrt route

below: Looking west from Romfield

finch avenue west lrt construction

finch avenue west lrt construction

hidden behind long grass and weeds, an old sign that says congratulations class of 2020

reflections in red hexagonal tiles at finch wst station, along with the green light coming through the green glass on the windows of the station

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