City-Sketch

Anthony R.S. | Development Planning Student | Toronto | Sketching the built environment around me

[city-sketch]

The Ever-Changing Views From The 6ix

It’s been a while. My apologies. It seems that the life of a graduate-level planning student (in addition to some other things) has gotten the best of me. I have adapted to this schedule by sketching quickly during my breaks. And just as I learn to draw faster and adapt to my conditions, so do the physical, social, political and economic landscapes of Downtown Toronto.

In particular, this stretch of Yonge Street (above) spanning between Gerrard and Dundas Streets will be undergoing a massive change. No longer will this stretch house the old low and mid-rise buildings (although there are plans to incorporate their facades). Instead, this corner will house a 9 storey office and retail podium rising up to two high-rise residential towers 73 and 62 storeys in height that will be connected by a sky-bridge. There will be a number of internalized amenities including terraces and a courtyard.

This change however isn’t unfamiliar to the area considering that it is home to Aura Condo (I sketched this from my balcony) and the Ryerson Student Learning Centre. These developments most likely set the precedent for the increasing amount of (extremely) high-rise development proposals here. But is this change such a bad thing? Surely there has to be positives from this development? At the same time, just as one of my professors (and my boss) Dr. Ute Lehrer always asks, “What type of urbanism is being constructed”? Will this type of development lead us to the ‘Good Society’?

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One neighbourhood that I always enjoy visiting is North York Centre. I firmly believe that this corridor of Yonge Street between Finch and Sheppard Avenues is one of the best examples of successfully achieving transit-supportive density in all of Toronto. Not only does the area excel at transit-oriented development, but it also shines in its placemaking efforts.

Set back from Yonge Street where there is direct connection to the subway and an informed mix of commercial, office, and residential uses is Mel Lastman Square. People seem to always enjoy this space in all seasons. Couples stroll through the garden court, kids skate on the frozen reflecting pool during winter, students study at the library, and families gather to experience concerts at the outdoor amphitheater.

On this day, as the rain gently fell I sketched away. Protected by the tree canopy above me, I came to the realization that urban (real estate and transit infrastructure) and natural systems (amenity space) don’t always have to be in conflict with one another. In this case they inform each other and we benefit from this synergy.

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I recently started taking a site planning course at Ryerson University.  During my short time here I have discovered the Ryerson University Quad; one of the most interesting spaces in Toronto’s downtown.

While sketching, it was interesting to see how the space functioned differently for many members of the community.  It was also exciting to experience a true “urban” green space in Toronto for the first time.  After all, the Quad is located only one block north of the (in)famous Yonge-Dundas Square.

High-rise residential and institutional developments have been introduced into the surrounding area along Yonge Street quite recently.  But as intensification is occuring all around the Quad, this space can still be regarded as an oasis of serenity amidst the bustling downtown core of Toronto.