A bit of Junction News!
Public square planned for the Junction
Community space lacking say residents
full story here: http://www.insidetoronto.com/article/64767
Junction Public Space group on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=67069349600
When Marek Rozkowski's daughter was a teenager, she and her friends would agree to meet at the fountain on the corner of Bloor West and Jane streets for lack of a more suitable place closer to her Junction area home, according to her father.
"Over here, where do you meet? There's nothing on the main strip," said Rozkowski, sitting in his High Park Architects office on the north side of Dundas Street West, just east of Pacific Avenue.
About five years ago Rozkowski, an architect, and his neighbour Robert Hilts, an artist who discovered they had similar interests, began toying with the idea of creating a 'Junction Square,' a multi-purpose yet permanent public space that could be used not only for special occasions with a temporary de-mountable stage, but also simply as a place for people to congregate.
Hilts cited New York City's Seagram Building on Park Avenue with its open granite plaza as a great example of an area that developed into a popular gathering place. In fact, it was the Seagram Building that led to the city's revision of its zoning resolution to include incentives for developers to create public spaces.
"Community spaces, other than parks, did not develop in Toronto," Hilts said. "We want to make a space for people to walk on, sit, where people could play chess, checkers, or gather to play music."
The goal is to convert Pacific Avenue north of Dundas not quite to Vine Avenue into a public square, Hilts said. Armed with architectural drawings by Rozkowski, he and Hilts presented their initial concept to the Junction Residents Association (JRA) first in November and followed up in January. While they have provided a jumping off point, the local community would participate in the design of the space from the use to its structures, Hilts said. JRA members have been receptive to the idea.
"A project like this, it's something real. It gives people optimism about what's happening on a local level," said Co-Chair Louis Marrone, who stressed that the JRA is only a partnering sponsor in this larger community project. "It can be a centre for information for the community."
The area is central to the Junction; it's a place that's accessible and the street is wide, said Hilts. Additionally, it offers business owners the opportunity to create side entrances to their shops. Acting Chair of the Junction Business Improvement Area, Emanuel Calleja, said he supports the idea of a Junction Square.
Over the past two months, Hilts and Rozkowski have been in talks with different city departments to ensure such a project can be technically done. The consensus is, 'it's a great idea, but it's going to be tough.'
"If residents, who play an important role here, are prepared to find another route to their house, we're over hurdle number one," said Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park) Councillor Bill Saundercook. "If we can get over that hurdle, then I think it's exciting."
The current 'Junction Train Station,' which was set up last year to celebrate the neighbourhood's Centennial Anniversary and has since provided a place for various seasonal activities, has given the community a taste of what's to come, said the councillor.
Hilts grew up in the Junction. As a teen in the mid-'70s, he was a stock boy at Kresgees on Dundas Street West. He recalled the volume of people on the street was so great that he needed the support of a co-worker to make sure he didn't get pushed over accidentally as he put up the awning.
"I sure hope this project will bring people back," he said. "It's about community development, community cohesion and revitalization."
Said Rozkowski, "We're not going to attract people if we don't provide this kind of streetscape. We need to provide a destination."
The two would like the community to help build the square. Already, enthusiasm for the project is mounting. Those who don't even live in the immediate area have offered their support.
"People as far as The Queensway want to help with this," said Hilts. "Residents are overwhelmingly behind this."
A public meeting is scheduled for May. City staff will be on hand at the meeting to provide input and to answer questions.
For further details, visit
http://junctionps.blogspot.com
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