Toronto Evergreen Brick Works | ?m | ?s | Evergreen | DTAH

[HHC]

Looks great, hopefully it stays true to the render though.

 

[Tewder]

I find it odd that this is such a 'green' project yet seems to go out of its way to accommodate cars (as far as I can tell from the renderings at least). I'm not against cars or anything but the lots do seem a bit suburban. Given the proximity to the city I would have thought they'd have planned it to be more accessible by transit and to preserve the greenery of the valley even more.

 

[Tulse]

Given the proximity to the city I would have thought they'd have planned it to be more accessible by transit

I initially thought that as well, but they have instituted free bus service every half hour from Broadview station seven days a week, which is pretty darned good. The site is also served by a TTC bus on Saturdays from Davisville station. I'd really like better transit service and much better pedestrian/bike access, especially from the east side of the valley, but given the location, I imagine there is only so much that can practically be done.

 

[Parkdalian]

Trust me, they don't want to have the parking there. Parking lots are terrible from an environmental standpoint, particularly in regards to water runoff. They are working on getting a shuttle running from Union as well as the bus from Broadview station. But since they are going to have school groups, they can't be too fussy about parking. I think they are also working on improving the bike access. It's currently a bit treacherous. The project is really amazing - I recommend that anyone who is interested in sustainable design/heritage should visit. Everyone gets worked up about wacky skyscrapers and aquariums, but its places like these that will really put Toronto on the map.

 

[Torontovibe]

Toronto seems to have a lot of new things opening recently. (Lightbox, Sugar Beach, Brickworks, Sherbourne Commons) And I thought Toronto was in serious decline? Well, that's what the Sun tells us and I'm sure they wouldn't spin anything for political gain. ;-)

 

[DKsan]

In addition to the greenways that run through the parking lots, I do believe that one of the architects of the site (my class went on a tour there back in May) said that the parking lots on the south side are made of permeable materials, though I could be wrong.

The only reason they didn't do it in the north parking lot is because of that bridge that has supports in it.

 

[Landscape design ftw]

Theres a brilliant woodland trail very bike friendly, that runs from Moore Ave south east through one of the tributary ravines. if you start from st.clair station you go east to Mt.pleasant then 3 blocks north and continue east. you will soon find yourself with Mtpleasant cemetary on your left to the north and a kind pavement path heading into the ravine, it doesnt stay pavement, can be muddy and sometime has trees fallen across it, but I feel that adds to the wild allure.

 

[Jasonzed]

from today...great place to spend an hour or two...

 

[taal]

I discovered it a couple years ago, its a great place !

But it looks like you missed the giant building where they have the brick making machine somewhat intact ! You have to go back just to see it !

The fountain is really a map of the gta with water representing the rivers.

 

[ponyboy]

I recently learned about an interesting and bold scheme to transform the entire Don Valley into a contiguous park, requiring consolidating two rail lines into one, opening the Don river by turning the rail line between Bayview and the river into a bike path. I'm not certain, but I believe that the rail line along the river from Brickworks north to Lawrence will be moved to the rail corridor that goes through Thorncliffe park. South of Brickworks, the rail line would be shoehorned in on the east side of the river, opening up the banks on the west side of the river. It will be a tight squeeze south of Gerrard, and a couple of lanes of the DVP will have to be shifted east to accommodate the expanded rail line, and overpasses extended, but it can be done apparently. Sound walls along the DVP/rail would be installed.

[Edit 10:30pm: I learned that another possibility would be to remove the rail line from the Don Valley entirely. Instead, the Richmond Hill Go line would terminate at Eglinton at a multi-modal station with links to a DRL-subway and the Eglinton Crosstown LRT.]


The plan would also dramatically simplify the Bloor exits from the DVP and remove a city depot to open up the space. Bike lanes on Bayview will be installed. I'm not certain, but I think that the Rosedale Valley Road will be removed in favor of alternative access to Bayview. It is a pretty amazing scheme, and it would be great to see such a bold plan put into action, assuming that issues of congestion and access are addressed with the plan.

The proposal is being discussed on Thursday night at the Brickworks.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ley-waiting-to-be-discovered/article29648565/

 

[junctionist]

The Don Valley would make for an amazing central park if it were a blank slate today. Rethinking the transportation corridors that marginalize the space presently would allow us to move towards that goal.

 

[Armour]

The Don Valley would make for an amazing central park if it were a blank slate today. Rethinking the transportation corridors that marginalize the space presently would allow us to move towards that goal.

It must have been something when the valley wasn't marred with the DVP and Bayview Extension. Miles of unimpeded forest. If only there was a way to remove the roadways and relocate them elsewhere...I wish I was alive during the time it was relatively virgin, so I could have hiked it without the sound and barriers that are now extant.

 

[salsa]

It must have been something when the valley wasn't marred with the DVP and Bayview Extension. Miles of unimpeded forest. If only there was a way to remove the roadways and relocate them elsewhere...I wish I was alive during the time it was relatively virgin, so I could have hiked it without the sound and barriers that are now extant.

I feel the same way about Niagara Falls. Imagine how amazing it could have been if it wasn't turned into a concrete tourist trap lined with casinos and gaudy retail strips.

 

[P23]

It's a great idea but moving rail lines and shifting the DVP sounds like a significant undertaking, I'm not sure there's the political will to see it done.

 

[Edward Skira]

It must have been something when the valley wasn't marred with the DVP and Bayview Extension. Miles of unimpeded forest. If only there was a way to remove the roadways and relocate them elsewhere...I wish I was alive during the time it was relatively virgin, so I could have hiked it without the sound and barriers that are now extant.

Go to the Rouge and you'll basically see what it looked like.