Work continues on the makeover of Bloor Street through the Bloor-Yorkville shopping area. Drab concrete sidewalks and a wide street are giving way to widened black granite sidewalks and planters and a narrowed street. Designed by Peter Clewes of architects Alliance, the work is being funded by the City and by the merchants of the Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Area. While construction is still a distance from completion, much progress has been made over the summer months. 

East of Yonge some delayed work still continues.

South side of Bloor street east of Yonge

Laying of the black granite sidewalk tiles outside of the Bloor-Yonge subway exit was delayed so that work could be completed on the hydro vault below.

South side of Bloor street east of Yonge

While work on the hydro vault outside of Peridot and The Spotted Dick is finished, the sidewalk still has not been completed here. The restaurants have missed having a patio this summer.

West of Bay, north side, outside of Banana Republic. Granite tiles go down on a level bed of sand.

North side of Bloor west of Bay, laying of granite tiles

Further west, in front of Roots, work is only as advanced as the excavation stage.

Sidewalk excavation on Bloor

Vault installation on Bloor Street west of Bay

Ready for sand and granite in front of the Pottery Barn.

North side of Bloor west of Bay

Bridges connect pedestrians to shops.

Temporary pedestrian bridge on Bloor

Silva cells will maintain the height of the space under the sidewalk and prevent the compaction of soil once trees are planted.

Exposed silva cell under new sidewalk

Concrete substrate ready for the finishing layers outside of the Church of the Redeemer at Avenue Road.

Concrete sidwalk at Avenue and Bloor awaiting granite finishing

Work is continuing west of Avenue Road in front of the Park Hyatt.

North side of Bloor west of Avenue

Looking east down Bloor from the Park Hyatt

Sidewalk and planter construction is closer to completion on the south side of Bloor. These images are from out front of the Colonnade.

South side of Bloor east of Avenue, new planters installed

Washing the new granite planters on Bloor, looking west towards Avenue Road

Preparing the planters for soil, looking east towards Bay on Bloor

Each planter includes 4 inch diameter irrigation pipes and is wired for tree uplighting.

Planter equipment detail, irrigation and lighting

Planter equipment detail, irrigation and lighting

This tree pit is also wired for uplighting, with space for pot lights sunk into the sidewalk on either side. A 1 inch diameter irrigation tube awaits the day water will flow through it.

Tree planter detail, awaiting soil and lighting

East of Bay the new planters await the fall when transplantation of the London Plane trees will be least stressful on them, and the spring when tulips will colour the street.

Bay and Bloor looking east

Related Companies:  architects—Alliance