Domenico
Active Member
Fantastic project. Skeleton just about complete and clothing being added.
Great idea, but a tough sell in car-centric Toronto.I think Front St here, between the North and South Markets, needs a re-think. Get rid of the median, paint large diamonds on the roadway and install retractable bollards at Jarvis and Market St/Lane. This spot should function as a public square on special and frequent occasions, with venders and other activities and gatherings.
You'd have to close Front Street up to Church as Market isn't really set up to absorb any traffic. Given its current configuration I'd shut it down before Front, and I believe simplified closures was the intention with the Market Street redesign a few years ago. That being said I can't recall such a closure ever happening.I think Front St here, between the North and South Markets, needs a re-think. Get rid of the median, paint large diamonds on the roadway and install retractable bollards at Jarvis and Market St/Lane. This spot should function as a public square on special and frequent occasions, with venders and other activities and gatherings.
There are certainly discussions going on about how to improve the Front Street connection between the two Market buildings. There are also more serious (or more advanced) discussions about completely closing Market Street to traffic from Front to The Esplanade. This came to Council last year and City staff are supposed to be reporting back on it. (Last year the route from westbound Front into southbound Market was blocked and that greatly reduced traffic. (The planters are a temporary impediment until something more permanent is done.) I really doubt Front could be closed to traffic as it is, unfortunately, a major route but the idea of a better road surface and maybe more bump-outs at the Markets is certainly very much in mind.I think Front St here, between the North and South Markets, needs a re-think. Get rid of the median, paint large diamonds on the roadway and install retractable bollards at Jarvis and Market St/Lane. This spot should function as a public square on special and frequent occasions, with venders and other activities and gatherings.
The glass on the top floor does not have closely spaced enamelled lines on it (frit or fritting) like the floors below it do, and it may be clearer as well… but for sure the lack of frit is a major difference.This might be a silly question but is the glass in the top arched portion actually clearer or does it simply look that way because the background is open to the sky as opposed to levels 2 - 4?
Some things maybe to consider on Front, between the North and South Markets:There are certainly discussions going on about how to improve the Front Street connection between the two Market buildings. There are also more serious (or more advanced) discussions about completely closing Market Street to traffic from Front to The Esplanade. This came to Council last year and City staff are supposed to be reporting back on it. (Last year the route from westbound Front into southbound Market was blocked and that greatly reduced traffic. (The planters are a temporary impediment until something more permanent is done.) I really doubt Front could be closed to traffic as it is, unfortunately, a major route but the idea of a better road surface and maybe more bump-outs at the Markets is certainly very much in mind.
Some things maybe to consider on Front, between the North and South Markets:
* Get rid of the centre median/island
* Raise the roadway to the level of the sidewalk
* Replace the asphalt with pavers
* Paint bold markings on the pavers
* Install bollards at the sidewalks edges
At the very least, all of this would slow down cars, trucks and other vehicles, which be great too.
Maybe this could be done between Church and Jarvis. Whatever works.
Yonge to Jarvis, including Front and Wellington. The area in front of Meridian Centre (or whatever it's called these days) should be friendly for gatherings too. And it would be nice if Berczy Park spilled out onto Wellington and Front more, especially in front of the St. Lawrence Centre. Actually, the whole sidewalk on the south side of Front, from Scott to Church needs to be at least twice as wide.I would look at this across a greater distance. Wellington (if the City doesn't mess it up again) is getting a road diet west of Church. I think Front should get the same. (the curb lane next to the heritage retail should be widened to allow pedestrian space, patio space and better growing conditions for trees.)
Once this is done, I would be inclined to consistently shave 1 lane in each direction off Front in favour of wider sidewalks.