McGill Street Arch

[CDL.TO]

NOTE TO MODS. As the Archway isn't at Yonge/McGill maybe a name change for the thread is in order? Yonge/Granby Arch?

As pointed out in two posts in this thread, the archway is at McGill.

The original title for this thread was "Granby Street Arch", which our diligent mods quickly corrected when the correct location was pointed out.

 

[DSC]

As pointed out in two posts in this thread, the archway is at McGill.

The original title for this thread was "Granby Street Arch", which our diligent mods quickly corrected when the correct location was pointed out.

Oh, yes! Of course I knew that and must have been suffering from some sort of delayed response. Sorry!

 

[intervention]

Maybe this is a bit in the vein of reviving a dead thread - but hey, why not.

There's been a good discussion on where the arch comes from (St. Andrew's United Church, demolished in 1981) but little has been said as to why this location.

The genesis of this archway is a design competition. In the late 1970's, the closure of McGill St and Granby St to Yonge Street posed an interesting question of what to do with this new found open space; the option to create "urban parkettes" was selected. A design competition for the parkettes (you can look up the drawings at digital archives of the City of Toronto) included purpose designed archways, but after implementation, there were cost overruns and the purpose designed archways were scrapped. When St. Andrew's United Church was demolished soon after, the City sourced the archway to supplement the original design and that is the story of why we have one arch and not two.

A plaque was installed in 2011, which says:

This stone arch is from the former St. Andrew's United Church (built in 1923) on Bloor Street East at Park Road. The City of Toronto purchased the arch when the church was demolished in 1981. The arch was then rebuilt here as a pedestrian gateway, after the intersection of McGill and Yonge Streets was closed.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

As a plug - you can see the McGill and Granby Parkette revitalization here:

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthread.php/21448-Granby-and-McGill-Parkette-Revitalization-(-)

AoD

 

[whatever]

That arch is in such an awkward spot. When they redid the park I wish they'd moved it east about ten feet, so that it would work as an actual arch.

And I didn't know about the origins of it, but I had always wondered why it was moved from Bloor to Yonge like that. It would be nice if they could retain a second arch for the Granby parkette one day.

 

[intervention]

I would also agree that moving the archway back in line with the streetwall of existing development (which will likely not change in the foreseeable future) would allow it to serve as both a gateway and a better fit considering the amount of pedestrian traffic that has to navigate it's way around it.

I would imagine that the second archway was never sourced because of the structural changes to the Planning Department that began with the 1980's took out the old boy's club that sort of did it's thing at implementation.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

I would imagine that the second archway was never sourced because of the structural changes to the Planning Department that began with the 1980's took out the old boy's club that sort of did it's thing at implementation.

Can you elaborate on this please?

AoD

 

[intervention]

Nothing too major but there as a reorganization of the local (City of Toronto) and Metro-level Planning and Works Departments around this time, with less discretionary decision making happening through Works. Following this, there was a mass exodus of "lifers" from the City and, to some degree, from Metro in the mid-1980's. One of my former bosses benefited from the 1980's reorg and began her career at the city around this time; in her case, the section she entered was filled with completely new staff who took over existing files from former staffers who were there for decades.

John Sewell touches on this a bit in "Shape of the Suburbs," as well.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

intervention:

Thanks for the info - I have read SotS but missed this bit.

AoD

 

[Silence&Motion]

Here are a few highlights from the Toronto Archives:

Plans for the original arch:

McGill prior to closure:

And after:

And Granby before:

And Granby after:

 

[whatever]

Oh, wow! That stretch looks completely different with McGill and Granby connected. It's also strange not to see the island in the middle of Yonge in those shots. And it's a bit disappointing how much nicer the parks looked back then than they do even now with the new pavers.

 

[intervention]

McGill prior to closure:
View attachment 46293

Interestingly, you can actually see work being undertaken on the former YWCA at 21 McGill Street. My neighbour, who has lived on McGill Street since the early/mid-1970's when our townhouse block went up, is the original occupant of her particular unit. She moved to the street to teach at Jarvis Collegiate and, aside from the teaching gig, was also an active member and swimming instructor at the YWCA. The YWCA was active into the early 1980's, when the facilities were deemed too decrepit and the centre closed down. I'm guessing the work shown in the photo corresponds to my neighbour's comment about the closure of the YWCA. I just wonder what it was used for until 1999 - my understanding is that Covenant House bought the 21 McGill Street property at that time to consolidate the building into a comprehensive shelter / support service centre for youth (which exists to this day).

 

[Anna]

...I just wonder what it was used for until 1999 - my understanding is that Covenant House bought the 21 McGill Street property at that time to consolidate the building into a comprehensive shelter / support service centre for youth (which exists to this day).

It was a private woman's club called - 21 McGill.

 

[intervention]

It was a private woman's club called - 21 McGill.

Thank you!

 

[stasu16]

St Andrews United Church

I am struggling to find some photos of the church that was demolished. Does anyone have any leads?