Danforth Avenue

With the example of Danforth Avenue, between Westlake and Victoria Park, we will show you how simple and easy it is to create an urban space that stands out and creates an unique sense of belonging, something you can truly call your own.

We believe we can create sense of fun and excitement in our urban spaces? Our solution is simple. We are offering the following “Urban Renewal Kit”, consisting of several basic components/ideas (soon to be available in your local Urban Depot store?!), designed to improve your local square, street, block, or neighbourhood, and to create an irresistible urban “package” where tourists and locals alike would love to congregate.

The parts of the “Urban Renewal Kit” are listed in no particular order, with brief explanations of how they might work. Some of them are illustrated in more detail in accompanying panels, where the possible areas of implementation are shown, and others are almost self-explanatory. None of them are extraordinary or even complicated; while the creation of extraordinary architectural spaces requires feats of heroic proportions (and larger than life architects), great urban spaces need only a common will, time and perseverance.



Here are the “parts”:

Sidewalk Canopies Cost: Medium Installation: Medium
Install sidewalk canopies along both sides of the main street, connecting and unifying various styles and sizes of buildings. Canopies to be made of light steel construction, covered with semi-transparent white plastic.

Street Canopies Cost: Low Installation: Easy
Install fabric canopies across the main and side streets, at varying intervals, stretching the light gage cables from second or third storey opposing buildings.

Raised Crossroads Cost: Low Installation: Medium
All side street crossing to be raised to the same level as sidewalks and paved in the same way. It adds to the security of pedestrians and slows down motorized traffic.

Sidewalk Patterns Cost: Low Installation: Medium
Install pavement pathways in dark brick laid in a simple fish-bone pattern, in contrast to the white canopies above. Define edges of streets with flower planters, in white or very light grey concrete, similar to those existing throughout Toronto.

Movable Parks Cost: High Installation: Difficult

Movable Piazzas Cost: High Installation: Difficult

Water Features Cost: Medium Installation: Medium

Public Art Cost: Low Installation: Low
Anywhere, even in the smallest places (think of Alexander the Great in the Greek part of Danforth), including murals on underutilized facades.

Coloured Facades Cost: Low Installation: Easy
Paint building facades in similar colours (blue to green, or red to orange to yellow) in order to distinguish the blocks and unify various building styles. Tread lightly here and offer façade improvement grants; you’re dealing with private property and public pride.

Kiosks Cost: Low Installation: Easy
Install kiosks and lockable vendor stands on available empty areas between buildings and at parking lots along the property lines (new piazzettas and squares), to add content and life to the neighbourhood. Create possibilities for lower income families (present in large numbers in this community) to start their small business.

Parking Trellises Cost: Low Installation: Low
A parking lot without urban furniture is a crime. Allow for the replacement of certain percentage of parking spots with planters, tree islands and information booths, require some parking spaces and walkways to be covered with trellises, encourage change of levels to create dynamic spaces.

Green Walls Cost: Low Installation: Medium
Plant shrubs and climbers along streets between sidewalks and roadways. Climbers to be supported by wires stretched on light steel frames installed parallel to the street. This can be installed with or instead of sidewalk canopies.

Public Washrooms Cost: Medium Installation: Medium
To create truly memorable local attractions, install free-standing public washrooms. Sponsor design competition to select the most daring and exciting ones; possibilities are so much greater than with the bus shelters.

Where to start?

Create a central focal point, ceremonial, social, public square. Proposed location is the intersection of Main Street and Danforth Avenue, appropriately renamed "Danforth Main Square". Sociability is the basis of activities in a neighbourhood. Events in a square make social life joyful and meaningful; people interact not in terms of specific roles in life but as complete human beings.

What to do after?

Purchase a number of parts, based on the budget available. Install. Enjoy. Repeat whenever money becomes available.

Danforth Team, 2006 Orphan Spaces Initiative, organized by DX and City of Toronto, reinterpretation of underutilized public spaces throughout the city of Toronto.