CWNA introduces new vision for Yonge St.

By Robert Fabian –

Yonge St. is special.

It was Upper Canada’s first street. It’s the longest street in Canada. It was the commercial heart of 19th century Toronto. It contains the best remaining examples of commercial architecture from that era. It’s Toronto’s street for celebrations and parades. It’s “Toronto’s Main Street.”

But Yonge St. is ripe for exploitation. Intensification is being actively supported at all levels of government.

Yonge is the principal north-south subway route, and a primary Downtown pedestrian corridor. There is an obvious commercial opportunity in developing condos on Yonge St. A stream of new developments is in the queue awaiting city approval.

Ryerson is developing its campus entrance on Yonge St. and cooperated with area councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam in a major planning study for Yonge between Dundas and Gerrard. Aura at Gerrard—in combination with College Park—are defining the future between Gerrard and College. The stretch of Yonge between College and Bloor is under intense development pressure.

The city’s Tall Buildings study recognized the “special character” of Yonge, but provided no details for what that should mean for development. There is a North Downtown Yonge Street Planning Framework under development by the City. In the work thus far published, there is no consideration of height for new buildings, or for any special retail requirements that should apply.

The neighbourhood associations on both sides of Yonge are concerned. The Lanterra proposal for the 501 block (between Alexander and Wood) will be the critical precedent setting development. Local residents feel strongly that this is the wrong use of this site. It doesn’t fit the context and would spell bad things for the future.

The Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association (CWNA) has a five-point vision for Yonge St. that was developed to provide a frame of reference against which to assess developments.

The vision includes a “great street” goal to advance Yonge St. to the ranks of the world’s great streets. It also calls for “appropriate design” and continued use of the rich design language already seen in Yonge St.’s 19th century commercial buildings. That language should be used in new buildings, with new design elements introduced which move Yonge St. towards its rightful “great” status.

The third tenet of the CWNA’s vision is more “support for retail.” Retailing along the street is a struggle. New developments should provide an environment that makes Yonge St. an important pedestrian retail destination.

The vision also calls for “better use of the street.” Newcomers to the neighbourhood need space to stroll, to shop, just to walk. There must be a more equitable use of the space of the street—pedestrians need to get their fair share.

Finally, the CWNA vision calls for “limits on building.” The height of new towers should be related to how far back from the street they step back. Step back only 10 meters and the height should not go above 20 storeys.

The CWNA’s development committee is hopeful that elements of their vision for Yonge St. will be accepted by the city and by responsible developers.

For more information about the CWNA, visit www.cwna.ca.