Posts Tagged ‘concrete’

What remains

Posted: July 12, 2025 in history, old buildings, transportation
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There is talk about what to do with the Scarborough Rapid Transit (SRT) line that runs from Kennedy station, north to Lawrence and Ellesmere, and then east to Scarborough Town Centre.   The SRT was built in 1985 and then closed in July 2023.  The concrete and glass infrastructure still remains.  The tracks are gone.   A few years ago, I went for a ride on the SRT (blog post is  Are you going to Scarborough? ) but I never checked out the stations themselves.  Since I am not sure how much longer they are going to exist, I thought I’d better take a look before it’s too late.

below:  Lawrence East station nestles under the bridge where Lawrence passes over railway tracks between Kennedy Road and Midland Avenue.

low flat concrete building, Lawrence East station on now defunct SRT line. It is under a bridge, under Lawrence Avenue.

looking in the windows of lawrence east rapid transit station, now empty, reflections of outside as well

below: Although the SRT tracks have been removed, other tracks remain.   These tracks continue on to Agincourt GO station and points farther north.

behind chainlink fence, train station, but with tracks removed.

below: Looking south

chainlink fence, with railway tracks behind, two sets of tracks, the ones in the foreground have been removed

below: Signs for 54A and 954 Lawrence buses

overhead signs for lawrence bus routes at old lawrence east station

below: If you wanted to cross the tracks, this was the fastest way…

stairs for underground passage to cross subway tracks at lawrence east station, round hole with stairs in the middle,

stairs down to underpass under railway tracks at lawrence east srt station, metal doors locked closed,

north side of lawrence east srt station

northwest corner of lawrence east srt station

below:  Permanently closed

poster on door of srt station, picture of old srt subway car, notice that the line is permanently closed.

below: Mike Myers Drive with Lawrence East station in the background.

below: A short distance north of the Lawrence East station is the old Ellesmere station.  It too is under a bridge (under Ellesmere of course!).  It is smaller than the Lawrence East station

south side of Ellesmere station, with tracks now removed, curved glass structure under a bridge,

below:  Ellesmere station also has the circular hole for the stairs leading to an underground passage.  The station looks like a big glass tube.

ellesmere station, east side, with blue railing around circular hole, long glass tube structure in the background that is the station, bridge overhead

 

looking in window of ellesmere srt station, reflections, sign saying southbound to kennedy

below: Someone is missing their lock.

three toronto bike lock rings, painted red, one with a rusty chain and combination lock still on it.

After Ellesmere station, the SRT turned east, diverging from the other set of tracks.  Midland station was just after the turn – on Midland between Ellesmere and Progress.  Sorry, no pictures (busier street, no parking).  Although the architecture is similar (a glass tube), Midland station is built on top of a bridge, above the road instead of below it.   From Midland the trains went directly east to Scarborough Town Centre.   For most of thee eastern section, the tracks run behind industrial or light industrial land.  I haven’t been able to find out if there is any access or if it is all fenced off.

below: East view of Scarborough Town Centre station with covered walkways from both the federal government building on the left, and the shopping center on the right.

a TTC bus passes by Scarborough Town Centre station with its now abandoned elevated tracks

below: No trains run here anymore, but the station is still used for buses with the elevated rails being used as a roof.

TTC buses loading and unloading at Scarborough Town Centre, seen from above, from the walkway between station and Scarborough Town Centre

people opening doors going into Scarborough Town Centre

below: Pillars supporting the elevated tracks still run through the parking lot of Scarborough Town Centre to McCowan.

pillar P53, and others behind it, SRT tracks at Scarborough Twn centre parking loto

below: McCowan station was the eastern end of the line.

McCowan SRT station, glass, reflections in the glass

below: McCowan station viewed from the east side. The tracks continued a short distance to the SRT yard where trains were housed and serviced.

east side of McCowan Scarborough Rapid Transit station, elevated line for transit

elevated tracks for old scarborough srt, in front of a tall condo building

below: At McCowan, Scarborough Transit Connect is partnered with Metrolinx to build the new Scarborough Extension subway from Kennedy station to a new terminus at Shepherd and McCowan. See a previous blog post, Intersections –  McCowan and Sheppard for some photos from

fence around construction site, Scarborough Transit connect, working on new Scarborough Town Centre station for Scarborough extension of line 1 of TTC subway

below: Traffic on McCowan is impacted by the subway extension construction

looking north on McCowan at Progress, by old McCowan srt station, concrete barrier narrowing the street, construction on the right

below: One more view of the construction at McCowan station

below: And last, I found evidence on a pole in the parking lot at Scarborough Town Centre that indicates that I have missed the Rapture; they left without me. I guess that I am stuck here!

graffiti sticker on a pole that says Rapture Jesus took us home

from Bay to Christie

Posted: May 20, 2025 in construction, locations, old buildings, people, stores, transportation
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… a walk along Bloor Street on one of the rare warm days in May.

  With respect to the weather, it’s been a crazy May – first cold, then warm, then cold again.  As I write this, my windows are closed and the furnace is on.  These are the coldest days in May since 1967 they say.  I was going to make jokes about Hell freezing over but the Leafs didn’t win.

smaller Bay station entrance, beside The Momo House, with people walking past

One of the Bay station exits is at Cumberland Terrace.

view from Cumberland Ave., into the glass wall of Cumberland Terrace, people sitting at tables for lunch, reflections of tall buildings behind

The lower level of Cumberland Terrace, especially along the north side, sits mostly empty.

empty fast food stalls in the basement level of cumberland terrace, korean food, and falafel places,

the basement level of cumberland terrace, with lots of mirrors and square ceiling lights, but no people, mostly closed

From Cumberland Terrace, I headed to the corner of Bay & Bloor Streets and then westward from there.  This is some of what I saw (and, for a change, I managed to keep the photos in the order that I took them).

looking down an alley downtown, with tall glass and steel buildings

mannequin in a window, with reflections, behind metal bars from scaffolding

young man carrying a ladder, under scaffolding on sidewalk

 

A woman in a green t shirt and blue shoes sits on a circular bench on Bloor Street, with a laptop, outdoors

Many people crossing Bay street on north side of Bloor. intersection of Bay and Bloor. TD bank on the southwest corner

intersection of Bay and Bloor. building on the northwest corner has cladding removed for renovations, man sitting on corner begging, other people walking by, traffic,

below: Cladding changes at Bay and Bloor.  The older concrete window frames are disappearing.  Does anyone know if this type of recessed window feature has a name?

architecture of windows and cladding, two buildings downtown

people walking past st laurent store, large black off-white coloured building with no windows

woman in beige sweater and orange pants walking abong bloor street

below: People watching from behind glass

2 white mannequins in a window, one in dark glasses and the other in tight fitting cap, looking out a window, with reflections of trees and traffic

bloor street, reflections as well as street scene,

below: From Avenue Road, looking west, where the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) dominates the south side of Bloor.

looking west on bloor from avenue road, past the front of the art gallery of ontario, crane in the distance, cement truck on street

below: Renovations now underway on part of the “crystal” structure at the front of the AGO.

in front of the art gallery of ontario where renovations are occurring, hoardings, looking east on bloor

construction and renovations of part of the crystal structure at the entrance to the art gallery of ontario

workmen and equipment, renovations of part of the crystal structure at the entrance to the art gallery of ontario

people walking on the sidewalk, bloor street, in front of the art gallery of ontario

below: Red car….

a bright red car parked on bloor street, in front of new condo building, and a building with a black and white striped awning in the front

below:  … and red maple leaves

sign on brick wall at varsity stadium, arrow pointing right to varsity pavilion, witn lots of red maple leaves on blue background above the sign

below: The OISE building (Ontario Institute for Studies in Education) was controversial when it was built in the late 1960s but it has aged into a good example of classic late modern concrete architecture.   As an extra note – if you are interested in Toronto’s concrete architecture of this period, check out “Concrete Toronto: A Guidebook to Concrete Architecture from the Fifties to the Seventies”, edited by Michael McClelland and Graeme Stewart (many people contributed chapters to the book).

man on electric bike in bike lanes on bloor in front of OISE building

people waiting for traffic lights, before crossing St george, at bloor, by the bata shoe museum, reflections in the window of the building beside them

below: Reflections in the windows of the Bata Shoe Museum at Bloor and St. George.

people crossing bloor at st george, by the bata shoe museum, reflections in the window of the museum

reflections in the window of bata shoe museum on bloor, showing buildng across the street, blue sky, clouds, and people passing by

below: Looking west on Bloor at Huron Street where the old church on the northwest corner is being renovated and expanded.  Bloor Street United church was built in 1880 and was originally a Presbyterian church.  In 1925 it was one of about 70% of the Presbyterian churches that merged with the Methodists to form the United Church of Canada.

looking west on bloor at huron, north side of the street

below:  The Bloor street facade of the church is being retained and updated while maintaining the church itself intact.   A new condo tower is being built on the site, set back from the church building.

conversion of church into condos, northwest corner of bloor and huron

below: Looking east on Bloor Street.  This view also shows the new building to the west of the church that is also part of the same project.

looking east on Bloor street, north side of street, traffic, new construction, church being turned into condos,

below: Tartu College building – another example of concrete architecture; it was designed by Elmar Tampold.  Tartu College is a not for profit student residence and was named after the city Tartu in Estonia.

front, and entrance of, tartu college, a highrose student residence on bloor street, made of concrete in the 1970s

a group of people standing on the corner or Robert and Bloor as a red car turns right beside them

old black and white graffiti stickers on a one way arrow sign

side of a woman in a navy blue sress, god watch, and holding a phone case, as she walks along bloor street,

below: Red dress to symbolize missing and murdered Indigenous women.

red dress hanging in a garden outside a church, as a memorial to missing indigenous women

below: Heart Garden at Trinity St. Pauls church at Bloor and Major.  There are many of these gardens across the country and they are all dedicated to victims of the residential school system.

a woman in a head scarf walks past a small memorial garden, that has a large rock in the middle, heart garden

poetry, on wood, on a wood wall in a garden, heart garden,

Words on the first panel – by Katherena Vermette  An other story this country has an other story one that is not mine or yours but ours

 

below: Colourful Annex mural by Planta Muisca

shrubs and a tree in front of a mural for the annex in bright colours, houses in blues and reds, by planta muisca

below: Bloor at Bathurst, southwest corner.  This is what replaced Honest Eds – one had character and the other doesn’t and I think you know which one is which.

Mirvish village development on southwest corner of bloor and bathurst, glass and steel with some concrete, standard new condo street level design

a woman sits on a low concrete wall around a planter, on bloor, two cyclists pass by, another woman is pushing a stroller on the sidewalk

below: Markham Street is still closed as it is part of the large construction site on the old Mirvish property.

looking south on Markham street from Bloor. Still a construction site while Mirvish village makeover is underway.

below: Little wavy curled features on the roof

two storey brick building on bloor, market on lower level, language school, CCLCS, on the upper. roofline has two little wave-like curly features

below: From Sammie’s to Jimmy’s, with Real Nails in between.  Square buildings, flat rooflines.

upper levels of a row of three storey brick stores along bloor, the two in the middle are painted yellow.

below: Gold Leaf Fruit Market at Palmerston and Bloor

Gold Leaf Fruit market on the northeast corner of Palmerston and Bloor.

below: Northwest corner of Palmerston and Bloor

northwest corner of palmerston and bloor, 3 storey red brick row of buildings,

four young women standing on a street corner, al with a drink in their hand, with traffic going by and street scene behind them.

looking out the window of a coffee shop, word coffee is in window, but reversed, street scene with stores and traffic.

two women in a coffee shop, one is working at a table by the window, the other is seated at another table

below: Todays Specials

outside a book store, on a table, books for sale, with sign that says Today's Specials, prices as marked

below: Bloor Fruit Market

bloor fruit market, west side, two street art murals on the side of the building, lots of produce for sale outside, red brick building,

man in grey shirt is choosing berries from the bloor fruit market where there are lots of berries in plastic containers, blueberries, strawberries, and black berries,

below: Table for two

on the sidewalk, two small red plastic chairs wth a table between them, a man walking past, street scene in the background, Bloor Street

below: Just a little monkey sunbathing in the window!

little stuffed grey and light purple monkey sitting in the window of a store with 3 mannequin feet behind it.

pedestrians on sidewalk outside clothing store on bloor street, mannequin in the window

signs on the sidewalk for stores along bloor street in koreatown including a restaurant ad for Sapporo premium beer, pictures of plates of food in the restaurant,

below: Koreatown, mailbox

older black mailbox with lid open, on a white wall beside a door on Bloor street, also on the wall, Korean lettering in blue and red

below:  Waiting for the green light.

two cyclists in the Bloor Street bike lane, stopped and waiting for a green light, traffic on the street including a school bus.

woman walking alone on sidewalk with purse over her shoulder and wearing a navy blue sweatshirt that says talentless but connected on the front of it

below: Christie subway station

entrance to Christie subway station, TTC, sidewalk in front, blue bins,

subway stopped at Christie station, one man isgetting off, can be seen through windows, while a woman sits by another window

three men on a subway train, two are standing by the door, looking at their phones. the third is sitting with arms folded and eyes closed

And last, a shout out to Alternity Cafe where my smoothie was a fabulous pale bluish turquoise colour, thanks to the addition of “blue magic”.

fork in salad bowl with avocado dressing, drink beside bowl is a pale turquoise coloured smoothie in a glass

around Wilson station

Posted: March 4, 2025 in construction, locations, public art, transportation
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yellowish vertical cladding, interior wilson subway station, with blue sign with arrow pointing to the left for northbound trains

Wilson subway station, on the University side of  Line 1, opened in 1978 and was the end of the line until Downsview station just to the north opened in 1996.  It is not a thing of beauty.  Concrete.   Austere from the outside.  It’s entrance from under the Allen Expressway is dark, gloomy, and depressing.

below: Northwest entrance to the station, nestled up against the Allen Expressway.

northwest entrance to wilson subway station, right next to the allen expressway

below: Walkway to southwest entrance

southwest entrance to wilson station, sidewalk through grassy area to entrance

That stretch of the subway runs down the median of the Allen Expressway.

 

below: Although the platform has a roof, it is open at the ends and in the winter it is cold.  There are a few of these pod-like waiting areas, circular glass structures with benches for those wanting a tiny reprieve from the wind.

on the platform of wilson subway station, circular pod-like structures made of glass, with benches, waiting areas

below: Inside the station a concrete wall sculpture by Ted Bieler entitled ‘Canyons’

very textural wall sculpture by artist ted bieler, called canyons, inside wilson subway station

two orange cones beside a phone booth against a concrete wall, interior, wilson subway station

What drew me here in the first place ….  To help brighten up the area, some of the concrete, both inside and out, has been covered with murals by Shalak Attack, Bruno Smoky, and Clandestinos,

below: An owl and a woman’s face at the two south entrances.

owl face, mural, around an entrance to Wilson subway station

clandestinos, or shalak attack, mural of a woman's face with butterflies and flowers, surrounding one of the double doors, entrance to wilson subway station

below: There is a lot of street art along Wilson Avenue but most of it is under the Allen Expressway and is not well lit. Some of it is also looking very dirty.

pillars painted with red and blue designs, under the allen expressway and beside wilson subway station

concrete pillar with street art, large brown fingers, people walking towards subway entrance

below: Pink flowers inside the station

part of a mural, inside wilson station, of bright pink flower

 

below: Circular “Kiss ‘n Ride” still exists.

round flat building, wilson kiss and ride, where cars can dropoff and pick up passengers

below: Exit at Wilson Heights

silhouette of man walking down hallway at wilson station, light coming through the door at the end of the passage, exit to wilson heights side of the station

below: Northeast side of the station, along with the Allen Expressway

northeast side of wilson subway station

I took most of these pictures back in the summer but I hadn’t taken the time to blog about what I had seen.  When I drove past Wilson again recently, I noticed that the parking lot on the east side (towards Wilson Heights) is now fenced off.  Now it is a snow covered vacant lot.

below: Parking lot before

bike parked outside wilson subway station

below: … and after. You can still park your bikes here, but no more cars.

vacant lot, snow covered, on the east side of wilson subway station

below: There is a City of Toronto development notice sign on the side of Wilson station.  It looks like the city may be serious about affordable housing at this site.  Apparently this has been in the works for a number of years but faced some opposition form those who wanted to keep the parking lot.   Just shy of 1500 units in six buildings are planned on the site along with community space and a public park.  The percent allotted to affordable housing varies from 35 to 48 percent, depending on the source of the information.

To the west of the station, on the north side of Wilson, is the remains of the Downsview Airport lands.

sign on chainlink fence around downsview airport that says airfield, 24 hour surveillance. it is covered with graffiti stickers,

looking through chainlink fence at old airport property, unused road with deteriorating pavement, buildings in the very distance, lots of grass and sky

below: One of the four winners of the ‘XOXO Downsview, Talking Fences’ competition of 2023, is “Aandi wenjibaayan?” which translates to “Where are you from?”  It was suggested by Lakhvir Sandhar.  The other three winners have their words displayed elsewhere on the Downsview property.

vintage photo taken from low flying airplane of bishop-barker airplane limited,

Photo credit: Toronto Public Library online digital image archive

The south side of Wilson is retail and is now Wilson Village.   It is also where you will find Billy Bishop Way named for Canadian pilot.  It is nowhere near Billy Bishop Airport (that’s WAAAAY south, on the island, or the other one in Owen Sound) but is a nod to Downsview’s history as an airfield and its role in airplane manufacturing.

William Avery Bishop was born in Owen Sound in 1894.  He was a Canadian flying ace during WW1.

toronto street sign for billy bishop way in wilson village, on wilson ave

side of home depot store, parking lot, wilson avenue

below: Looking southeast past the old metal fence that surrounds the parking on the northwest side of Wilson station.  Big box retail on the other side of Wilson, and newer midrise to highrise residential development on the other side of the Allen.

standing in parking lot on west side of wilson station, looking southeast towards allen expressway, retail big box stores on west of allen, new residential highrise on the east side

Very close to the planned “affordable housing” but on the south side of Wilson, there is already a new community being built.


There are many older single family homes to the east, in a quiet neighbourhood squeezed in between Wilson and the 401.

I even discovered an old moose hiding in the bushes!  The “Moose in the City” project goes way back to 2000 when 326 life-sized moose sculptures found homes around the city.  Each one was decorated by a local artist.   I am not sure how many still exist but it can’t be more than a fraction of the original.

Other moose: Scarborough moose near Kennedy and 401, moose at St. Clair and Bayview. Any others?

To the east, Wilson is becoming a canyon of midrise buildings, replacing the older residences, often fourplexes and sixplexes.

The development is more intensive as you get closer to the Allen and the subway line…

… on both the north and south side of Wilson

tiles, interior walls of wilson subway station, design of vertical and horizontal lines in pale yellow on rust coloured background

from a few alleys north of the Danforth

Posted: August 25, 2024 in alleys, doors, graffiti and street art, windows and walls
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cracks in the pavement,
weeds, shrubs, trees and other green things,
windows and walls, stairs and balconies,
infill housing and new structures, rooflines,
old textures and rusty hinges,
colours, graffiti, and peeling paint.
solitude

These are a few of the photos that I took as I walked alleys and lanes north of the Danforth, shown in no particular order.

Starting with, Hey Gwan!

behind a store on the Danforth, a green compost garbage bin and a pile of 6 concrete blocks

rusty hinge on a gate in an alley

old Mercury Grand Marquis car from the early 1990s, pale yellow, parked in alley beside yellow garage

view from lane to back of red brick house, wood fence and two garages in the foreground

weeds growing in the cracks of the pavement in an alley, sewer grate too,

blue sky with a few clouds, a hydro pole with a street light on top, many wires attached to it, also a no parking sign

at the end of an alley, blue car parked behind red wood garage, houses on street facing the lane

looking down a lane towards a 2 storey house with green upper storey, row of garage, midrise brick apartment building in the background

three red chairs, outside, by a black wall with white drawing that is either angel wings or eyes,

infill housing, new residence, in alley

rear of store, 2 storeys, alley view, stairs to upper level, small balcony, wood pallets stacked beside stairs, back of billboard on the roof, pink graffiti on wall on right side, also vine growing up that wall

wood gates and greenery, behind houses, view from the alley

graffiti stickers on pole including a large eye with a pink tear drop and text that says boys don't cry....much Also a black and white sticker with crying cat and words kirby, zaku

large trees in a backyard, alley view

two black cars parked behind a building, by alley

alley view, open garage door, kids toys outside

a Tims coffee cup and a box of Heineken beer bottles, on the ground, against a wall with a mural, a pair of bare legs standing on rocks in the water

window in wall with street art that has been tagged over

exterior metal stairs run diagonally in front of a window made of glass tiles

alley view, metal exterior stairs, window in red brick building, old brick smokestack, balconies on upper level, archway over lane to exit to street

a very small window in a garage clad in fake brick shingles,

in an alley, view of back of houses, different depth of buildings, wood fence, cement block garage with red door, balcony with bright green railing,

teal coloured garage door with eyes spray painted on it

garages in alley

painting of a blur bird on pink and yellow background, on a concrete garage in alley

red brick wall with white spray paint question marks and some words written in white or black

red shovel leaning agains a concrete wall with blue graffiti

jumble of wire shapes in a gap in the fence

a laneway with wood fences, large trees, and a couple of garages

drawing with black marker on electrical boxes on outside of a building

laneway view, exterior metal stairs, garages with graffiti, trees,

text above street art says percy watters

concrete wall with street art, patched over parts of it with grey concrete

green vine growing in front of street art on garage door

paper paste -up graffiti in alley

Uptown Yonge as the sun goes down

Posted: June 27, 2024 in construction, locations, old buildings, people, stores
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Were you an Edmonton Oilers fan?  Did you jump on that bandwagon?  On the night of the 7th game of the Stanley Cup playoffs were you glued to the TV?  Or are you wondering what I’m talking about?!

I usually watch hockey games now and again, especially during the playoffs but I found that watching the Edmonton-Florida series was just too stressful.  Instead, these long June evenings are great for walking!  A little bit of Yonge Street, Uptown Yonge, was my stomping grounds the evening of the last game.

banner for uptown yonge on a hydro pole, stores and new condo in the background, says eat up. street sign for st. Clements avenue as well

A few scenes from Yonge between Eglinton and Sherwood, in no particular order…

evening, coffee shop on Yonge street, also poke bar,

below: Old and new. I like the way the evening light catches the architectural details along the rooflines.

roofline, old brick buildings with architectural details in front of a newer high rise residential building

below: Playing peek-a-boo.  The new pushes from behind.

stores on Yonge street, prism hair salon, vape studio, goa hair salon,


below: Seating!

late evening, getting dark outside, looking at store front, cobbler's corner shoe repair,

ceiling art, white and green cubes with lights inside

round exterior wall of part of rio can yonge eglinton centre, short glass tower,

metal grille gate covers glass doors of now empty and closed store on yonge street

below: Northwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton, Yonge- Eglinton Centre with its updated glass facade.

yonge eglinton centre entrance

When the Yonge Eglinton Centre was built in 1968, Eglinton was the last station on the TTC subway line.  The Y-E Centre was a large development, and was the tallest building in the neighbourhood.   There was a shopping centre, a cinema, an office tower, two tall residential towers, most of which still remain.   Eglinton is no longer a gateway to suburbia; it is Midtown.  The Y-E Centre is just another tall building in a sea of them.

side of concrete building from the 1970s, Yonge Eglinton centre

tall concrete building

below: The new entrance to the Eglinton LRT (unopened of course)  with the Canadian Tire headquarters behind.  Southwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton.

southwest corner of Yonge and Eglinton, new entrance to Eglinton LRT (unopened), Canadian Tire head quarters building, 1970s concrete, new condo behind

Lament for the Eglinton LRT.  Metal fences and torn cloth.  In tatters and disarray.   Still not opened.

front glass of eglinton LRT station, behind metal construction fence and torn green cloth

stores on yonge street

sidewalk tunnel under scaffolding to protect from adjacent construction site

restaurant window, night time, sidewalk

Maybe one day I will be able to walk somewhere in this city and not run into another hole in the ground.  Note the usual – facades being saved, single houses that stubbornly remain.

construction hole in the ground

gravel roadway down into construction hole in the ground

Bus stop all tied up in knots.

TTC bus stop on yonge street behind orange and black cones and yellow caution tape

mural on the side of bmo bank on yonge, flowers, male face, female face, child face, dog, and lot lots of flowers

white car parked in front of a mural with flowers with many petals, and a woman's face

artwork on glass above subway entrance at canada square, corner of yonge and eglinton, a woman is carrying a potted plant, a man in green shirt with tattooed arm is looking at her

three plants in flower pots on a shelf in a room with a blue light, on the left is an orchid,

below: With some paparazzi stalker vibes I’m afraid.

… Back home in time for most of the third period…. Sad to see Edmonton lose, but why is there hockey this late in June?

of king and queen and in between

Posted: June 11, 2024 in construction, galleries, graffiti and street art, locations, old buildings, public art, windows and walls
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Also could be called, “Of bricks and stones and a lot of glass.”

I was recently telling a relative that one of the best ways to explore Toronto, especially downtown,  is just to get off at a subway station or streetcar stop and start walking.  There is always something to see.   This walk is the result of taking my own advice and just getting off at Queen station and seeing where my feet took me.   First stop was the Eaton Centre where Michael Snow’s birds still fly.  “Flightstop”.

interior of eaton centre shopping mall, south end by queen street exit, escalators and stairs, glass ceiling

below: Interior, Eaton Centre where all the benches have been removed.  Sadistic?  Gone are the days when you could take pictures of the men sitting outside Victorias Secret.

inter eaton centre shopping mall, people walking, others on walkway above,

interior of eaton centre shopping mall, large dream catcher shaped decoration hanging from the ceiling, with gold, silver, and white, ribbons, people on stairs beside it

below: As I walk around the city, I see more and more of this – the glass wall.   This view is south on James Street as I walk between the Eaton Centre and Old City Hall.

looking south on James street with old city hall on the right and eaton centre on the left, looking towards queen street with lots of glass towers in the background

below: Approaching City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square from the east you now encounter a conundrum.  Did people hit their heads on the low ramps?  Or were people camping out here?  A poor, and I hope temporary, solution.

barricades under a ramp with two signs saying this way, with red arrows, pointing opposite directions from each other

below:  A few images from “The Red Chair Sessions”, photography by Nadya Kwandibens  A series of 9 large photos is on display in the ground floor windows of City Hall (viewed from outside).  On the right, Sage Paul, designer and artist, originally from English River; on the left, Mushkegowuk Iskwew from Peetabeck (Fort Albany Ontario).

red chair photography at toronto city hall

below: Portrait of Ogimaa Kwe Bnes (aka Chief Lady Bird, her Spirit name) from Mnjikaning and Aura from Onyota’a:ka, posing under a mural that the two of them painted at Underpass Park.

red chair photography at toronto city hall

below: The backside of Sir Winston Churchill as he walks away from City Hall – something to think about?  The new court house is in the background.

man standing beside backside of statue of winston churchill

below: New court house from the corner of Chestnut and Armoury.

new court house, tall glass and steel building

below: Reflections in the glass of the new court house

very blue sky with white puffy clouds, reflected in windows of new court house on armoury

below:  Across Chestnut from the court house is an old hotel that is now part of U of T.  Its older brick and concrete facade contrasts with the glass and steel of the newer building.

grey brick and concrete wall

below: More concrete, the back of City Hall (completed 1965).  This is not a view that is typically shown but I find it fascinating that there are no windows at all on the outer sides.  As it turns out the back walls are made from 18 inches of reinforced concrete that allow for cantilevered floors which in turn make it possible to have an inner structure with few structural elements.

back side of toronto city hall, curved buildings, concrete

below: Also on Centre Ave is the Textile Museum. At the moment one of their exhibits is about quilts, “The Secret Codes: African Nova Scotian Quilts.  Some of the quilts are older ones like this pair by Susan Lawrence (1931-2008) which is a variation of “square in square” pattern.

two quilts by Nova Scotia resident Susan Lawrence, hanging in the textile museum

below: Other quilts are more contemporary such as these three by Myla Borden from New Glasgow NS

three quilts by Myla Borden on exhibit at textile museum, black line applique of daily scenes

quilt by Myla Borden on exhibit at textile museum, black line applique of daily scenes

I first read about these quilts on a blog, junkboattravels.blogspot.com  She has a more thorough description of the exhibit along with some pictures. I will add a few more of my photos at the bottom of this post, but if you are interested in seeing others, I recommend checking out the link above (and then scroll down a bit).

below: Looking north on Centre Ave to Dundas and beyond.  The facade of the old brick building on the northwest corner is being saved. It was built in 1928 as an extension to McLean Hunter which was on University Ave. This Beaux-Arts style building has five storeys of offices and four storeys for a printing plant.

looking north on centre avenue towards dundas

below: A closer look at the facade.

dundas and centre, northwest corner, facade of old brick building is being saved during redevelopment

below: Also Centre and Dundas, but the eastside of Centre, a colourful spot… and a trendy way to liven the street appeal of a parking garage.

east side of Centre and Dundas inersection with colourful abstract geometric mural on the corner of a parking garage, and turquoise upper level of Hong Shing restaurant

below: “The world is a little bitter. I want to give you a little sweet.” written on the inside.  Tiles in a marvelous tessellation by the front door.

looking in the window of a restaurant or coffee shop, with tiles in grey black and white pattern by the front door

below: Reflections in the glass at the northwest corner of University and Dundas.

glass building with lots of reflections, northwest corner of dundas and university

below: Crossing University Ave. while looking west on Dundas.  There’s a curvy new building underway.

looking west along dundas from university

below: The old court house, or Toronto Courthouse, which was built in 1966 is on University Ave just north of Osgoode Hall.  It is a 20th Century Modern building clad in Queenston limestone, a stone that you can also see on many other Toronto civic buildings such as the ROM and the .  It is quarried in Queenston, near Niagara Falls, and at one point was the largest quarry operation in Ontario.  You’d easily mistake it for concrete.

old court house building, or Toronto Courthouse, 361 University Ave., 8 storeys, clad with Queenston limestone, Canadian flag flying beside.

below: Cannons and yellow umbrellas

two cannons behind a black wrought iron fence by a patio with yellow umbrellas

below: Behind the yellow umbrellas

below: A narrow passageway between buildings.

two people at the end of a narrow lane that has a tall black wall on the left. 4 lamp posts along the wall

below: Old City Hall clock tower

a woman on her phone walks north on university ave past the canada life building where a man is sitting on the steps

below: The CN Tower sneaks into the photo.  At Osgoode, Metrolinx has taken over part of University Avenue for construction of the Ontario Line across Queen Street.

a man walks south on university, past the entrance to osgoode subway station on the northwest corner of university and queen west

below: Even Campbell House is behind scaffolding.

below: Just another Toronto street corner.

workmen in orange safety clothing standing around and talking or watching others work, construction site at Queen and Simcoe

below: Another facade saved. This one is at Queen and Simcoe where a bank once stood.

construction on Queen West and Simcoe

below: The wide open mouth of the green monster reaches upward as it tries to grasp the red balcony between its jaws.

below: This is the bank in question, The Canadian Bank of Commerce, built in 1930 just after the beginning of the Depression.  The photo was taken in 1931.  Take a close look at the other buildings in the picture, the stores to the right.   The structure with the Coleman Oil Burners billboard is gone but take a  look at the next couple photos which are of this stretch of Queen West today.

old black and white photo of bank of commerce on southwest corner of queen and simcoe, black and white, taken 1931

Queen street west, new condo with red glass on balconies, older stores like Adrenaline Tattoo, a Barbershop, Hollywood Hi, south side of the street

below: Queen West struggles to maintain its character.  The store in the middle is definitely in sad shape.  It looks like it would collapse if the others weren’t there to support it.

three stores on Queen West

two stores on Queen West

three stores on Queen West

below: There’s a little white “ceremonial” street sign, just below the blue and white Queen St. West sign, that let’s you know that this stretch of road was also named Moses Znaimer Way.  Znaimer had a long career in the entertainment industry in Toronto including co-founding CITY-TV, MuchMusic, and more.  In Toronto, a ceremonial street name is secondary to the legal name.  I am not sure how many there are in the city and I haven’t gone down that rabbit hole to find out.  Interesting idea though.

two people crossing the street by Queen West, with stores in the background, Civello, Stag Shop and another

below: Queen and McCaul, looking west

below: Gelber Brothers ghost sign on Richmond Street.

below: The CN Tower… again!  and Hooters (do they still exist?)

below: Murals in a parking lot.  Both were painted by Alex Bacon.

below:  Blue marine life, sharks circling.  An ominous hook.  This one of many Pangea Seed Foundation sponsored murals in the city.  Some of the others appear in a much earlier blog post, “love letters in paint” (2016).  Pangea Seed’s original mission was to use science, art and creativity to “inspire positive change around pressing ocean environmental issues”. This campaign has now branched out to increase awareness of the issues involving out fresh water lakes and rivers as well.

mural, blues, aquatic, marine animals, sharks swimming in the water

below: Restaurants on John Street.

restaurants in old brick houses on John street, with tall glass and steel condos rising above them

below: A vacant building longing to be another restaurant. In the meantime it’s been painted black… and as I type those words I am reminded of the Rolling Stones song, “Paint it Black”.  The song is a bit depressing and negative but then again, so is a blackened building.

older three storey building with mansour roof and upper gable windows, painted black, vacant, ad posters on it

The last stanza is “I wanna see it painted Painted black
Black as night
Black as coal
I wanna see the sun Blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted,
painted Painted black, yeah

below: “We See You” shout out to the doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals that worked throughout Covid.  “Thank you”.  Painted by Elicser Elliott.

mural by elicser elliott on the side of a Tim Hortons, small lane, with text that says we see you. it's a thank you mural to the healthcare professionals that worked throughout covid

below: Variety on Adelaide.  Bricks and stone and a lot of glass.

older brick building, with sign Variety on Adelaide, in front of newer glass and steel condos

below: Looking east along Adelaide (a one way street with bike lanes and newly rebuilt streetcar tracks).

looking east along adelaide from john

below: Looking down the middle of the glass and metal sculpture in Grasett Park.  If you were to step back a bit, the sculpture takes on the shape of sails of a ship.

glass and metal sculpture in a park that looks like sails on a ship

below: Looking through the netting/glass, same sculpture as above.  The park is named after Dr. George Robert Grasett, a medical doctor (1814-1847).  The park stands on the site of the Emigrant Hospital built in 1847 to treat “ship fever” (typhoid) and other sicknesses in the Irish immigrants who started arriving in greater numbers that year.  Many died on the journey and many more were sick when they arrived.  Dr. Grasett was appointed as Medical Superintendent of the hospital but he died of typhoid fever about a month afterwards.   His name, as well as the names of the other doctors, nurses, and orderlies, (and one priest) are engraved on the benches in the park.

looking through etched glass on a sculpture to street scene on other side of adelaide street

below: Designs in the pavement – etched into the granite is an 1842 map of Toronto.

pavement designs in a small park, grasett park, dedicated to robert grasett and irish immigrants of the 1840s

below: Widmer Street, where a row of old houses has been preserved, but are dwarfed by the developments around them.

below: King Street, looking east from John Street.

barriers on King Street that were initially part of King street pilot for streetcars but infrastructure never made permanent, King street looking east from JOhn

below: It’s always there!  The CN Tower again.

below: Southeast corner of King and John.  Another glass wall.

below: Another row of preserved brick facades.  This time on King West.

preserved row of brick buildings on king street, with glass and steel condo rising above and behind

below: Rising above the Royal Alex Theatre

top part of Royal Alexandra Theatre building on King Street, with new glass condo towering above it

a couple standing on sidewalk and talking, a red and white crane in a construction site rises behind them, condo building in the background

below: This is “The Poet, The Fever Hospital” (1992) by Bernie Miller in David Pecaut Square

Bernie Miller sculpture in David Pecaut Square, title of The Poet, The Fever Hospital

below: Nearby is a new sculpture by Gillie and Marc and it has a very long title: “He was on a Wild Ride to a Safer Place with Rabbitwoman and a Dogman” (not the Dogman from the childrens books!). There is an empty seat at the back of the bike and it’s waiting for you to join them on their wild ride!

sculpture in david pecaut square, a four seater bicycle with a large rhino in the front seat, then a dog and then a rabbit. the back seat is empty for photo ops, this is by Gillie and Mac and is called He was on a wild ride to a safer place
Rabbitwoman and Dogman from a Gillie and Mac sculpture

black door at number 122, with white words painted on door that say who taught you to love

black and white slap graffiti on a metal box on sidewalk

This post has grown. It’s longer than I had envisioned it when I started putting ideas together a few days ago. I am not sure whether to thank you or to congratulate you for getting this far! Maybe both. Anyhow, I hope that you’ve seen a few new things, or interesting bits, as you’ve scrolled through this post.  Perhaps the pictures have brought back some memories?  In the meantime…..

As promised earlier, more quilts to end the post.

quilt in a museum

 

quilt in textile museum, the cotton pickers

quilt in a museum with a poem on it as well as black and white photos

“Sing poets of this beauty
Sing choirs of this inviolate pride
Make these moments precious to history
Let these scenes live in every eye”

Just what the doctor ordered?

Posted: April 23, 2024 in construction, locations, public art, reflections
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below: I’d heard that the old Coach Terminal was no longer in use (since mid 2021) but I hadn’t heard anything about its present status.  Now I know: Empty.  Abandoned.

old Toronto coach station, now empty with metal fence blocking entrances

below: Apparently the land is owned by the city. There is talk of redevelopment that includes affordable housing, office space, etc. I am not sure where the plans are at (does anyone?) at the moment.

old Toronto coach station, now empty with metal fence blocking entrances, Elizabeth street view, newer high rises in the background

below: Concrete.  Just a concrete wall…  But an interesting use of concrete.

decorative concrete wall, with vertical geometric designs

below: The sign says “weather” and the weather this day is miserable.  Wet. Grey. Luckily I had a rainy day plan….

plastic coated wire bundled up and inserted between brass plaque and wood pole, lots of staples and bits of old paper in pole, artwork scratched onto the brass, including the word weather

I was meeting friends at Starbucks at Sick Kids.

a woman enters through the large glass doors of Sick Kids newer building on east side of Elizabeth street

below: This is when I learned that Sick Kids Hospital is in two buildings that are across Elizabeth Street from each other.  Only one has a Starbucks!

Elizabeth street, bench on sidewalk, bridge over the street connecting two sick kids hospital buildings

below: Inside the bridge with its zigzagging light

interior of pedestrian bridge, glass walls, a zigzag shaped light in the ceiling, white floor,

below: A white goose

a white goose (not real) on a ledge by a fake orange door on a wall between real windows

below: One side of the atrium, 8 storeys high, in the older building on the west side of Elizabeth

large multi storey atrium of Sick kids hospital, with elevator and stairs and window to rooms on the sides

below: On the east side of Elizabeth Street is the new Sick Kids’ Patient Support Centre – we didn’t venture too far past the main entrance and bridge to the other building, but there was a lot to see just in this space!

coloured lights, glass walls, stairs, atrium of Sick kids

interior at Sick Kids, glass walls, painted murals on interior walls, chairs, coloured lights

blue stair case, hanging public art beside it,

a security guard sits in a chair by a door, a large mobile, or hanging public art installation with hundreds of metal bits floating in the space,

below: Swirly squiggly LED lights turn an ordinary ceiling into something more.

squiggly LED ceiling lights at Sick kids

below: Gerrard Street entrance to Toronto General Hospital (TGH)

Gerrard street entrance to Toronto General Hospital

below: Part of a conference room door.

fractal like design on door to conference room in hospital

below: There aren’t as many photos from TGH for a couple of reasons. First, regrettably (in hindsight) we didn’t explore much of it and second, although hospitals are generally public spaces they are also places where people expect privacy. So you’ll have to settle for some empty chairs and artwork in a waiting area. I suspect that a wander around all of TGH would provide ample material for its own blog post, just not today.

artwork on wood paneled wall and above three blue chairs

below: After TGH we entered MaRS – they call themselves “North America’s largest urban innovation hub”.  A modern building that incorporated part of an older stone structure that was built in 1913 as the original home of Toronto General Hospital.   Ooops, it’s not a building, it’s a “Discovery District”.

interior of mars tower, large escalator

below: 1923 view of Toronto General Hospital with College Street in the immediate foreground and University Avenue on the right.  There weren’t many tall buildings 100 years ago!

1923 colour postcard of Toronto General Hospital, a brick building on College Street

photo credit: Photo found on Wikimedia Commons, image is in the public domain.

As it turns out, MaRS doesn’t like cameras.  It was the only building that morning where security approached us.  Apparently you can take all the photos you want if you use your phone but cameras are not allowed.  Snuck in a few before we got told off.

interior of mars building

a man sits at a wood table, in front of a room with red sofas and chairs, with a glass wall between them

inside atrium of MaRS discovery district, large multi storey space with glass ceiling

below: Here’s the tunnel leading to Queens Park subway station.   Brightly lit but with the minimum of planning and imagination.

people walking through an all white tunnel connecting to the subway, well lit,

below: Back at ground level it’s a bit more interesting.

glass wall and large doors, university avenue entrance to mars building,

below: In front of MaRS is a sculpture of two men talking.

outside mars building on college street, two people are talking, also two bronze statues, buildings on college street

below: Dr. James Till (left) and Dr. Ernest McCulloch (right) having a discussion in the rain (with an onlooker).  There are lots of seats available so if you are passing by you can join the conversation.   The two men were involved in stem cell research at the Ontario Cancer Institute and at Princess Margaret Hospital in the 1960s.  They were pioneers in the field.

Doctors Till and McCulloch, bronze statues

below: Dr. McCulloch needed some help keeping dry!

statue of a man, bronze, holding a real red umbrella

below: Pardon the raindrop – across College Street from MaRS is (the first phase of?) the new Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus (part of the University of Toronto).

below:  When I saw it, my first reaction was, “This looks familiar” … i.e. the recessed glass withing the window frame is reminiscent some concrete buildings used back in the 1960s such as the Clarke Institute just down the street (built in 1964).  There is also a similar “modernist” building from the same era at Yonge & Roehampton (just north of Eglinton).  I thought that it was interesting to see an older architectural “detail” show up in a modern building.  It’s a nice change.

closer look at cladding features, Schwartz Reisman building, new building on College St

below: Walking on University Ave… which is a mess on the southbound side between College and Queen Street West because of infrastructure upgrades.  Apparently the water mains here were 150 years old.

people walking in the rain on University ave where there is construction, yellow fence, Queens park building is in the background

below: Campbell Family Building, part of the front facade and doorway.  This building was constructed in 1935 for the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario (later Ontario Hydro).  In the 1990s it became part of Princess Margaret Hospital.  Audrey Campbell was the daughter of Roy Thomson and it is her family that the building was named for (because of donations obviously).

front door of Campbell Family Building, an old stone building with large decorative glass rectangle above the door, but behind yellow construction fence because of work being done on University Avenue

below: Across the street from Princess Margaret Hospital, part of TGH.

Toronto General Hospital on University Ave., Robert McEwen Atrium, glass,

below: South on University Ave

looking south along the west side of university avenuse, from princess margaret hospital, on a rainy april day

below: Digging up the street in front of Mt Sinai Hospital

workman standing on sidewalk watching red digger dig up the street in front of him

a person stands under a small porch, beside stone columns, with Canadian flag behind

below: In a small space between two buildings on University Ave are a few small sculptures.  The building on the left is Mount Sinai Hospital where there is now an art gallery. The building on the right is Princess Margaret Hospital.

bronze sculpture outside, human like figure walking upright, greenish tinges

below:   This is a small part of the interior of the Hennick Family Wellness Gallery at Mount Sinai Hospital. All of the pieces are the work of Sorel Etrog (1933-2014, Canadian).

red sculpture in a gallery, human like shape made of two large screws

There is a plaque in Mt. Sinai that tells the story of The Ezras Noshem Society (Ladies Aid in Yiddish) led by four Jewish women who started raising money in 1913 for a new hospital. By 1922 they had raised $12,000 and in 1923 the Hebrew Maternity and Convalescent Hospital was opened at 100 Yorkville. They seem to be known only as Mrs. Cohn, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Spiegel, and Mrs. Adler (and others).  They also opened a Jewish Old Folks’ Home in 1917.
Contrast that to the “Hall of Chairs” – a hallway with the portraits of all the past “Chairs” of the hospital, all men.

below: Large mural on the side of the parking garage behind Mount Sinai Hospital

large colourful abstract mural on the side of parking garage behind Mount Sinai Hospital

below: Love Locks

large heart shape grid of metal wires with some filled with locks, in artwork called heart locks, on wall of parking garage

It would have been nice to get a break in the weather but the rain just kept coming.

a group of people huddled together in a bus shelter on dundas, a cyclist going past them, other people on the sidewalk

a man runs along dundas, on the street, cars there too

So a warm, dry place with coffee – with a shout out to Carbonic Coffee on Baldwin as well as thanks to Jeff, Paul and Perry who walked with me today.

taking pictures of cups of flat white coffee in a coffee shop

three people walking in the rain, on dundas street, one man has a black and white striped umbrella with a red border

swirling around the Science Centre

Posted: April 30, 2023 in construction, landmarks, locations, transportation
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Ontario Science centre from the south

Rumours swirling that is…. because the Ontario Science Centre has been in the news lately.  Doug Ford (and the Provincial PC’s) have said that they are going to move it from its Don Mills and Eglinton location to Ontario Place down by the Exhibition Grounds.  What then becomes of the Science Centre LRT station?  It hasn’t even opened yet and its already obsolete?  And needs a new name?  …..that’s assuming that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT ever gets done.  But hush, no one is talking about that, that’s a secret……

below: Behind fences, the new Science Centre LRT station and transit hub remains unfinished.  It is a very quiet construction site.  Not a soul to be seen.

metal construction fence in front of the science centre lrt station that is being built at Don Mills and Eglinton,

One of the arguments for moving the Science Centre is to open up the land for housing.  Let’s ring some bells and say ‘housing’.   Who can oppose housing, right?

below: This is southeast corner of Don Mills and Eglinton where a development notice stands.  Apparently two towers are planned for this location – 26 and 48 storeys high. (The Science Centre is on the west side of Don Mills Road).

In fact, on the east side of Don Mills Road, south of Eglinton (i.e. across the street from the Science Centre), there are two other properties with development notice signs.

brick townhouse row with a blue and white development notice in front, Don Mills Road, St. Dennis Drive

Four new towers, as infill, have been proposed for these sites.

brick highrise apartment building on Don Mills Road with development notice sign in front of it

AND

What is now the upper parking lot for the Science Centre is already on the books as new housing.  This is at the southwest corner of Don Mills and Eglinton.   The sign may have been flattened but that doesn’t make the plan disappear!

blue and white development notice sign lying on the ground in the shade under some trees, trash around it

below: Blocked sidewalk on the south side of Eglinton, upper parking lot is on the left side in the picture

orange signs on sidewalk saying sidewalk closed ahead

below: View looking south from the upper parking lot towards the Science Centre

view from upper parking lot of science centre which is empty, past line of tall evergreens, to lower parking lot and buildings

green exit sign with an arrow pointing to the right on which someone has written there's no, sign now says there's no exit

AND (Yes, there’s more)

There is a 60 acre development on the northwest corner of Don Mills and Eglinton (the old IBM/Celestica site) that is in the midst of being transformed into the Crosstown neighbourhood.

new construction at Aspenridge crosstown development

below:  This is a picture that I found (and have blatantly swiped from) on an Urban Toronto web page – It shows the development and infill at Flemingdon Park  among the existing structures. The planned buildings are slightly transparent – perhaps 14 of them?? (and that doesn’t include all of Crosstown)  The Science Centre is bottom centre.

image taken from urban toronto site showing development at Don Mills an Eglinton

So which developer whispered sweet nothings in Doug Ford’s ear?

Who thought that moving the Science Centre was a good idea?

Who owns the land now? Did you know that 81 acres of the land that the Science Centre is on is owned by the TRCA?  That’s the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority.  The rest of the land (a tiny sliver along Eglinton & Don Mills) is owned by the city of Toronto.  TRCA  and the City of Toronto jointly leased the property to the Ontario Science Centre for a 99-year term, expiring on June 30, 2064.

The TRCA owns the land because of the terrain – steep slopes, ravines, and waterways – i.e. not land suitable for housing.  Doug Ford’s announcement came as a surprise to the TRCA – but does that surprise anyone?

below: Another image that I found online that describes the area better than any words that I could write.  This is a map of the area showing who owns what.  Source: TRCA website

map of Don Mills and Eglinton showing ownership of the land by TRCA and city of toronto

BUT

What else is happening here?

The new subway/LRT line, the Ontario Line, Doug Ford’s favorite line, is also being built here.  It is the transit line that runs south from the Science Centre to close to the lakeshore before turning west through downtown (Queen Street closed for 4 years for construction!!) and ending at Ontario Place.

Work has already started in the ravine south of the Science Centre where there will be stops for both Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park.  The whole north section of the Ontario Line will be elevated.  Between the Science Centre and Flemingdon stations it will run above the street and sidewalk (Don Mills Rd).  At some point between Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park there will have to be a bridge over the West Don River.

pink sign on construction fence in park that is for Ontario line, transit construction

signs around a construction site, ravine erosion mitigation work, as well as drilling for new subway line

below: Where the Science Centre meets the West Don Trail

two men walk across the grass where the West Don Trail meets the Science Centre south entrance, spring, green grass, some buds on trees

Some other photos from the area

science centre exterior

view from entrance of science centre, curved outdoor stairs, apartment building in background

below: The Science Centre has interesting trash bins on its grounds.  Maybe they could teach the city a thing or two?

trash bin, metal, with colourful picture on the side

Ontario Science Centre banner on a pole on Don Mills Road with traffic and larger buildings in the background

below: West side of Don Mills Road

west side of Don Mills Road at Eglinton, new glass covered building on north side is partially completed, new science centre station entrance behind metal fence on south side

below: The southwest entrance to the Science Centre station from another angle

new entrance to Science Centre LRT station at Eglinton and Don Mills

below: Looking west on Eglinton towards Don Mills

looking east on Eglinton Ave towards Don Mills Road and new science centre station on the south side

below: Walking home after school

a small group of boys walking along the grass beside Eglinton Ave on the east side of Don Mills

It was four years ago that demolition of the old IBM buildings began.  On the surface it doesn’t look like much is happening.

fence, dirt, and weeds in front of crosstown redevelopment

construction site, steel girders slightly rusted upright into the ground, some water puddles, sand and dirt, start of a new street

construction site

Crosstown neighbourhood construction site

people waiting for traffic light to turn green at corner of Don Mills and Eglinton, two young women and an Asian woman with a black and white umbrella

Out of Service.  Nothing happening here.

sign that says out of service

Sorry, but I have a few more questions and comments about this thing I encountered at Don Mills & Eglinton ….

What is this?  A phallic rock in a concrete circle …. or Doug Ford giving the city the finger?  To those who design and build public art (if that’s what it is)…. that concrete circle is just a large garbage can.  It will collect trash.  It will fill with rain water.  It will be an unsightly mess.  It’s too low for a bench and it blocks the sidewalk.  There’s no sign and no explanation.  I can’t find anything about it online either.

a rock pillar stands upright, in the center of a concrete circle

Bloor over Rosedale Valley

Posted: May 26, 2021 in graffiti and street art, locations
Tags: , , , , , , ,
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Bloor Street East passes high above Rosedale Valley Road. There is access from the southeast corner of Bloor and Parliament to a path that leads down into the valley but it doesn’t go anywhere. It doesn’t connect to any other ravine trails.  These photos were taken early in April before there were leaves on the trees, and before anyone cleaned it up.

path down a hill, through the trees

bloor street east bridge over Rosedale Valley Road

graffiti on the concrete walls of a bridge

looking back up the hill beside a concrete bridge with graffiti on the bottom sections

a man taking pictures of the graffiti on a concrete bridge

bridge, all concrete on left side but with metal girders across the larger middle span

looking up hill through the trees to a new condo tower being built at Bloor and Parliament

below: St. James cemetery

looking uphill through trees to cemetery markers in the cemetery on the other side of a chainlink fence

below: The covered bridge for the subway (built 1966) runs parallel.

looking through arch in bridge to another bridge. the one in the background is the covered bridge for the TTC subway between Sherbourne and Castle Frank stations

two bridges, Bloor street east on the left and covered subway bridge on the right, in the distance, condos and tall buildings on Bloor Street

TTC subway bridge from below on Rosedale Valley Road

below: No vaccine passports

graffiti under bridge, no vaccine passports

broken pipe, missing a piece, no connection, under a bridge

garbage left on the ground, an old newspaper, empty pop can, empty spools for cables or wires

garbage on the ground, an old piece of clothing and some paper, looks like has been partially burned

another wall installment

Posted: March 20, 2021 in doors, windows and walls
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Just a few more pictures of walls, with or without doors and windows.  Some are from familiar places and others are more obscure.

beige wall with diagonal shadow. Faded red door leaning against the wall (off hinges) so door is half covered by the shadow

below: Sad grey door on a grey concrete wall

grey concrete block wall with a grey metal door, two small metal steps lead up to the door, 10 B Dawes Road on a sign

below: Textures and patterns in paint on brick.

bluish grey paint on an exterior wall that is peeling to reveal the bricks below, tags and graffiti along the bottom part of the wall, parking signs too

below: Parking for hot dogs

a black car is parked in a parking lot beside a wall that is orange on the bottom and beige on top. on the beige part is a large arrow pointing right with the words hot dogs

below: Ryerson University blues

blue glass on the exterior of Ryerson student building, with a downtown yonge sign on a street light beside the building

below: Red and purple, the now closed Love Cafe at Dundas and Sherbourne

part of a purple wall with a red rectangle, edge of a window with a succulent plant in the window, also part of a gate in front of a door

below: Customer parking only

brick wall with a wood sign, all painted over in red, in the middle is black paint on white words that say customer parking only
below: Strong verticals in metal

silver metal wall in vertical stripes, ridges, with a small window in the wall, with a small metal red bars

below: Another ridged metallic wall… this one with no standing in front.

a grey utility pole and a small pole with a no standing sign in front of a light grey metal building with a window in it

below: blocked in

a blue oil drum, barrel, in front of a concrete block wall which has had a window bricked in with blocks of grey, brown, and yellow

below: Paint slowly peeling away to reveal more underneath

brick wall painted blue with a large window, air conditioner in the window, lower panes covered with grey plywood, reflections in the window, old sign above the window that is fading and paint peeling

previous wall posts:

  1. drawn to walls
  2. white walls
  3. walls, more walls 
  4. wall compositions
  5. walls, in the abstract

 

 

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