DANFORTH EASTSTREETCAR YARDS

IVANA DIGIROLAMO,ANNE KWAN,DANA SALAMA,ALVIN YONATAN TANOKO, STEPHANIE TUNG.

PLX 599For Dr. Ian MacBurnieNovember 16, 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS4

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Overview: Context

Overview: SWOT Analysis

Overview: Approach

Timeline

Proximity to Transportation

Amenities

Proximity to Parks

Figure-Ground Analysis

Site Images

Sun Study

Program Axonometric

Site Plan

Elevation

North-South Section

East-West Section

Conclusion

28 References & Image Citations

Land Use

Program Distribution

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Site Plan

Sun Study

This scheme Danforth East Streetcar Yards was conceived by a small group of Ryerson University Architectural Science students, in collaboration with the Danforth East Community Association (DECA), and faculty experts. This project aims to further Danforth East’s vibrant community endeavors, provide services for local residents and business owners, and to respect the heritage of the site. We hope that this will ignite an initiative to protect public interest on this valuable and historic site.

Special thanks to:

Faculty Experts Dr. Ian MacBurnie Dr. Mark Gorgolewski Hitesh Doshi, P.Eng.

Danforth East Community Association Stephen Wickens Brian Spratley

OVERVIEW

CONTEXT

A view of the site from Danforth Avenue.

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(Source: Transit Toronto) (Source: Transit Toronto)

1891 1912 1946 1954 1967 2000 20141925

1921-1922 – EXPANSION PLAN TO SERVICE NEW CAPACITY IS FORMED ($235 000)

1923-1925 – FULL CONNECTION TO WEST END OF CITY

1946 – CITY OF TORONTO RESIDENTS APPROVE SUBWAY PLAN

1891- CITY OF TORONTO GRANTS 30 YEAR FRANCHISE TO THE TORONTO RAILWAY COMPANY (TRC)

1893- ELECTRIC CARS COME TO BLOOR STREET

1912- TRC ABANDONS FRANCHISE WITH CITY OF TORONTO AND CITY BEGINS MUNICIPAL PROJECT TO EXTEND STREETCAR SERVICE TO EAST VILLAGE OF TORONTO (DANFORTH AVE)

1913-1915 – WORK BEGINS ON BUILDING DANFORTH CARHOUSE (BLDG. COST IS $25 000)

1915 (SEPTEMBER) – DANFORTH CARHOUSE BEGINS SERVICING STREETCARS

1918 – NEWLY FORMED TTC EXTENDS/CONNECTS EASTERN DANFORTH LINE TO DOWNTOWN

1954 – CARHOUSE BEGINS SERVICE AS BUS GARAGE – RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF TTC BUS FLEET

1966 – SUBWAY TRAINS BEGIN RUNNING UNDER BLOOR

1967 – CARHOUSE IS RENOVATED TO HANDLE 134 BUSSES, SPACE FOR WASH RACK, DIESEL FUELLING STATION, SIX HOISTS, 8 INSPECTION PITS

1968 (MAY 11) – FINAL DAY OF BLOOR-DANFORTH// CARHOUSE IS NOW AN ALL-BUS GARAGE

2000 – ADDITIONAL STORAGE BUILDINGS WHICH OCCUPY SOUTH SIDE OF LOT USE UP VALUABLE SPACE – NEEDED EXPANSION IS NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME

2002 – DANFORTH BUS GARAGE OFFICIALLY REPLACED AND BEGINS SERVICE AS TTC SURPLUS MATERIALS STORAGE SPACE, OFFICE SPACE FOR STATION COLLECTORS AND SUBWAY OPERATORS

WHAT DOES THEFUTURE HOLD FOR THE DANFORTHEAST STREETCARYARDS?

19591915 1964

1891 1912 1946 1954 1967 2000 20141925

1921-1922 – EXPANSION PLAN TO SERVICE NEW CAPACITY IS FORMED ($235 000)

1923-1925 – FULL CONNECTION TO WEST END OF CITY

1946 – CITY OF TORONTO RESIDENTS APPROVE SUBWAY PLAN

1891- CITY OF TORONTO GRANTS 30 YEAR FRANCHISE TO THE TORONTO RAILWAY COMPANY (TRC)

1893- ELECTRIC CARS COME TO BLOOR STREET

1912- TRC ABANDONS FRANCHISE WITH CITY OF TORONTO AND CITY BEGINS MUNICIPAL PROJECT TO EXTEND STREETCAR SERVICE TO EAST VILLAGE OF TORONTO (DANFORTH AVE)

1913-1915 – WORK BEGINS ON BUILDING DANFORTH CARHOUSE (BLDG. COST IS $25 000)

1915 (SEPTEMBER) – DANFORTH CARHOUSE BEGINS SERVICING STREETCARS

1918 – NEWLY FORMED TTC EXTENDS/CONNECTS EASTERN DANFORTH LINE TO DOWNTOWN

1954 – CARHOUSE BEGINS SERVICE AS BUS GARAGE – RESPONSIBLE FOR HANDLING SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF TTC BUS FLEET

1966 – SUBWAY TRAINS BEGIN RUNNING UNDER BLOOR

1967 – CARHOUSE IS RENOVATED TO HANDLE 134 BUSSES, SPACE FOR WASH RACK, DIESEL FUELLING STATION, SIX HOISTS, 8 INSPECTION PITS

1968 (MAY 11) – FINAL DAY OF BLOOR-DANFORTH// CARHOUSE IS NOW AN ALL-BUS GARAGE

2000 – ADDITIONAL STORAGE BUILDINGS WHICH OCCUPY SOUTH SIDE OF LOT USE UP VALUABLE SPACE – NEEDED EXPANSION IS NOT POSSIBLE AT THIS TIME

2002 – DANFORTH BUS GARAGE OFFICIALLY REPLACED AND BEGINS SERVICE AS TTC SURPLUS MATERIALS STORAGE SPACE, OFFICE SPACE FOR STATION COLLECTORS AND SUBWAY OPERATORS

WHAT DOES THEFUTURE HOLD FOR THE DANFORTHEAST STREETCARYARDS?

19591915 1964

(Source: Transit Toronto)

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PROXIMITY TO TRANSPORATION

COXWELL STATION

WOODBINESTATION

DONLANDS STATION

GREENWOOD STATION

PAPE STATION

CHESTER STATION

MAIN STATION

SUBWAY STATION

STREETCAR LINE

DANFORTH GO STATION RAIL

5 MIN WALK

10 MIN WALK

0 50

100

200

500 m

N

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LAND USE

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1. Holy Trinity Eastern Ortodox Church

3. Earl Beatty Jr and Senior Public School4. St Brigid Catholic School, Childspace Daycare5. Toronto Public Library6. Earl Haig Jr Public School7. Monarch Park Collegiate Institute8. Robertson Parkette9. Monarch Park10. East Lynn Park11. Merrill Bridge Road Park12. Williamson Park Ravine13. TTC Subway Danforth Station14. Monach Park Stadium15. Shoppers Drug Mart16. TD Canada Trust17. McDonalds19. Ethiopian Association in Toronto

ParkingRecreationMarketCommunalCommercial, BankRestaurant, CafeHealth-related, ClinicTransportationParkSportsInstitutionalHousingRails

2. Pegasus Studios, Kimbourne Church , East End Children Center

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100

500 m 9

PROXIMITY TO PARKS

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B

C

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A : 1555 Danforth Road Park

C : Merrill Bridge Road ParkD : Williamson Park RavineE : Monarch Park

B : East Lynn Park

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500 m10

FIGURE-GROUND ANALYSIS

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500 m

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DANFORTH & COXWELL - looking East DANFORTH & HILLINDON - looking South

1920’s Commercial Strip Buildings - North Danforth

Existing Mid-Rise - South Danforth Garage Elevation - South Danforth Library Elevation - South Danforth

Coxwell Subway Station & Shoppers - North Danforth

SITE IMAGES

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SWOT ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS1. The ‘bones’ of the building are historically and aesthetically important.2. DECA has been playing an active role in generating public interest for this site.3. The size of the site allows for a myriad of schemes which could benefit the community.

WEAKNESSES1. Poor structural integrity of existing building—there are many solutions to this. 2. Site contaminated with diesel fuel—site remediation is required 3. Connection to Coxwell TTC station across the street is indirect . 4. Lack of street crossings to the North side of Danforth Avenue. 5. Length of residential blocks on the north side of Danforth Avenue are too long. This is not

conducive to pedestrian activity. 6. Vacant storefronts on Danforth Avenue.

OPPORTUNITIES 1. Large open space in a low-density residential neighborhood2. Bringing vitality and pedestrian activity to the Danforth strip 3. Bring public amenities to the Danforth strip 4. DECA: community in need of a “fish market, really good supermarket, places to purchase

clothing, bike infrastructure”

THREATS1. Securing funding to develop the site as a public amenity

An image of the scaffolding garden (phytoremediation site) looking north.

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APPROACH

1. MINIMAL INTERVENTIONMinimal intervention has a two-fold benefit. Firstly, it allows for a light approach which strategically brings as much benefit onto the site as possible while maintaining the bones of a valuable heritage building. Secondly, by deploying a sustainable process of phytoremediation on the site, we provide a fantastic vegetated public space while allowing the site to rejuvenate naturally. 2. MIXED-USE BLOCKBy supplying a mixed-use block, the Danforth East Streetcar Yard becomes a vibrant community hub. Catering to different user groups and bringing spaces where these occupants may meet brings vitality to the Danforth Avenue strip—positively influencing community spaces, businesses, and bringing intellectual capital to the Danforth East neighborhood. The variety of users within this block will allow for a wider range of pedestrian activity at different times of day.

3. PUBLIC INTERESTThe crux of these efforts is to create a community space—where varying interests and collective goals mix. A site which contributes to a healthy neighborhood becomes a valuable amenity—one which people will want to protect and develop over time. This plan intentionally leaves room for growth; a back garden with temporary structures which can become anything once the soil is remediated, and large flexible open spaces wrapped by an envelope which references old industry and collective effort.

4. CAPITAL FUNDRAISINGWe suggest that the community consider the Build Toronto financing model for this site. Build Toronto lists its strategic priorities as “Engagement, Livable Neighborhoods, Sustainability, Employment and Transit-Oriented Development (Build Toronto.)” These values are in line with the development of the Danforth East Streetcar Yards as a community hub.

A view of the street adjacent to the community cafe looking south at the live/work units.

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SITE PLAN

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PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION

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SUN STUDYSUN STUDY

SUMMER 6 PM

WINTER 5 PM

SUMMER 1 PM

WINTER 1 PM

SUMMER 9 AM

WINTER 9 AM

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ELEVATION 0 5

10

20 m

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NORTH-SOUTH SITE SECTION

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EAST-WEST SITE SECTION

PHYTOREMEDIATION ON SITEModular assembly of lightweight steel scaffolding in the site allows for various configurations of temporary sculptural walkways.

An elevated boardwalk allows for pedestrians and users of the site to cross its expanse. This also allows for the uninterrupted continuation and first-hand observation of the phytoremediation process to occur.

Hordeum Spontaneum (a barley species of vegetation) will be used for the phytoremediation of this portion of the deisel-contaminated site. This species of plant has demonstrated a notable resilience to deisel-contaminated soils, and an ability to germinated within them (Saadoum).

Several growing seasons may be required for the full remediation of these soils depending on their specific level of toxicity. (Saadoum). Once vegetation has taken root in the soil and has germinated results should begin to appear (Saadoum).

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CONCLUSIONDanforth East Streetcar Yards will be a crucial revitalization project for the Danforth East community. The site holds tremendous value for the neighborhood, and should be developed to promote collective needs and values. This is not a new model for the City of Toronto—Wychwood Barns, Artscape projects, 401 Richmond, and Evergreen Brickworks have demonstrated that existing industrial or institutional buildings can become invaluable social and cultural facilities.

Our scheme for Danforth East Streetcar Yards sees the opportunity to create playful gathering spaces and bring vitality back to Danforth Avenue. On a site that has been directly tied to the growth and decline of the neighborhood, a new trajectory can be initiated.

This site should incorporate program which brings revenue, density, and innovation to Danforth East. The building becomes a mixer for different demographics, activities and collaborative projects, bringing latent community activities to the public realm.

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REFERENCES

IMAGE CITATIONS

Build Toronto. "A New Model for City Building." Build Toronto. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.Saadoun, Ismail, and Ziad Al-Ghazawi. American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci. Rep. no. 1818-6769. N.p., 2010. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.

Mallion, Godfrey. “Transit Toronto.” Danforth Carhouse and Garage. N.p., 15 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.

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