East Danforth

[Skeezix]

Thanks for the research Skeezix. It might be worth contacting Municipal Licensing. A shame it doesn't include windows and the awful window wraps terrorizing the city.

The rules I cited are for wall signs. The City's sign by-law does regulate window signs - as discussed here.

 

[Admiral Beez]

But then people used to scoff at Leslieville, too.

I never call it that, it's always been South Riverdale or just that industrial rump off Eastern Ave.

 

[Skeezix]

That payday loan store at the stately building at the corner of Greenwood and Danforth is so unfortunate. The signage on the building is so tasteless.

The payday loan store is now gone, thankfully. As someone else posted somewhere (I can't find the post), A&W has moved in. People might quibble about the merits of the new signage, but I think most would agree that it's better than the payday loan signage.

Danforth Mosaic BIA

 

[GKW]

Jerry's Supermarket on Danforth just east of Greenwood has closed after 49 years in that location. I believe the sign on the window mentioned they are retiring.

 

[AlbertC]

The St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church building at the SE corner of Danforth & Byron, one block west of Greenwood, is listed for sale as a development opportunity:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1309449404072497152

 

[Towered]

I find it interesting how the instant you pass Victoria Park into Scarborough, Danforth becomes noticeably shabbier and grittier.

 

[AlbertC]

Article on the former Empringham Hotel at Danforth & Dawes Road, which has been demolished in the 80's and is now a 1-storey retail building:

From stately hotel to strip club—the Empringham story - Streeter

The Empringham, Danforth or Play Pen — they're all the same hotel, standing at Danfoirth and Dawes from the late 1800s into the 1980s.

streeter.ca

 

[Northern Light]

Article on the former Empringham Hotel at Danforth & Dawes Road, which has been demolished in the 80's and is now a 1-storey retail building:

From stately hotel to strip club—the Empringham story - Streeter

The Empringham, Danforth or Play Pen — they're all the same hotel, standing at Danfoirth and Dawes from the late 1800s into the 1980s.

streeter.ca

I remember the building from my childhood. I don't know when the strip club started, but I believe my first memories of this building pre-date that era, or at least the name 'Play Pen'.

I don't recall ever having been inside.

I do remember thinking of the building as very grungy as a child; I lacked any appreciation of its history at that point; but of course, it wasn't kept very well and that did not help any.

 

[Geoff Olynyk]

I remember the building from my childhood. I don't know when the strip club started, but I believe my first memories of this building pre-date that era, or at least the name 'Play Pen'.

I don't recall ever having been inside.

I do remember thinking of the building as very grungy as a child; I lacked any appreciation of its history at that point; but of course, it wasn't kept very well and that did not help any.

So many versions of this story. Think of what's now the high-end Broadview Hotel; at one point Jilly's strip club. The stories you hear about the structural damage in there that they found when gutting it to become the hotel... apparently it's a wonder it didn't collapse inward.

Broadview hotel building survived because real estate values were high enough at Broadview. Not so, unfortunately, out at Dawes. Now of course we wish we had saved these gorgeous old hand-laid brick buildings, but such things sometimes do not survive sustained poverty of a geography.

 

[AlbertC]

Now Toronto with a piece on Danforth Village, the area from Vic Park to around just west of Main Street, and the changes expected along the horizon:

As Toronto real estate soars, buyers make a last dash to Danforth Village

Danforth Village is the comparatively affordable Toronto neighbourhood on the cusp of major change, and real estate prices are showing it

nowtoronto.com

 

[AlbertC]

Article on the new Comedy Bar that opened at 2800 Danforth Ave., between Main Street and Victoria Park:

Comedy Bar opens on Danforth Avenue; Second City show now on stage – Beach Metro Community News

By KIMBERLY DIAS Toronto’s Comedy Bar has expanded to the east end of the city. Located at 2800 Danforth Ave., between Main Street and Victoria Park

beachmetro.com

 

[Northern Light]

Tender out on the City website to deliver 2 new parklets for the Danny BIA; at Danforth and Caithness (just west of Greenwood)

This is what it looks like today (Streetview)

This is what's proposed:

No question that its a tangible improvement, yet I confess to being a tad underwhelmed.

The BIA Streetscape Masterplan from a few years back proposed 14 of these side street treatments and the BIA is apparently committed to the concept; though, at the current pace, it will be 42 years before they're all done! LOL

 

[Admiral Beez]

The payday loan store is now gone, thankfully. As someone else posted somewhere (I can't find the post), A&W has moved in. People might quibble about the merits of the new signage, but I think most would agree that it's better than the payday loan signage.

View attachment 142215
Danforth Mosaic BIA

The sooner we're rid of payday loan places the better. Quebec got rid of them through laws against usury.

 

[rdaner]

1419 Danforth.

 

[AlbertC]

Corso Italia style full EIFS cladding but with Santorini white building aesthetics!