[slicecom]

The fencing is up!

 

[Dinamo5]

We need better retail, restaurants etc on that street as well, I find it's pretty dead for the most part.

 

[DSCToronto]

We need better retail, restaurants etc on that street as well, I find it's pretty dead for the most part.

It was designed as, and has always been, primarily a residential area.

 

[AlexBozikovic]

We need better retail, restaurants etc on that street as well, I find it's pretty dead for the most part.

I was touring the area with the late George Baird and I made the same comment. I said, perhaps it’s not dense enough. His reply: “You have to remember, Alex, in those days ‘density’ was a dirty word.”

 

[Northern Light]

It was designed as, and has always been, primarily a residential area.

I was touring the area with the late George Baird and I made the same comment. I said, perhaps it’s not dense enough. His reply: “You have to remember, Alex, in those days ‘density’ was a dirty word.”

I think Front Street serves as the retail 'high street' for the area, it's a mere 1 block away. The retail has a couple of patches on Front, but is mostly continuous from Scott to Berkley

The Esplanade also has a showy restaurant row west of Market, and, of course, the St Lawrence market on top of that.

I'm not sure how much more retail the area could support, or needs to.

I could see the virtue of adding a second, small, restaurant row, with patios facing the Esplanade/Park. But do we really need much more than that?

I also have to say, the density of St. Lawrence is generally quite pleasant, it's by no means empty, it's predominantly midrise, with a few hirise forms at the edge, and a smattering of townhomes.

No need to make it St.Jamestown.

 

[DSCToronto]

I think Front Street serves as the retail 'high street' for the area, it's a mere 1 block away. The retail has a couple of patches on Front, but is mostly continuous from Scott to Berkley

The Esplanade also has a showy restaurant row west of Market, and, of course, the St Lawrence market on top of that.

I'm not sure how much more retail the area could support, or needs to.

I could see the virtue of adding a second, small, restaurant row, with patios facing the Esplanade/Park. But do we really need much more than that?

I also have to say, the density of St. Lawrence is generally quite pleasant, it's by no means empty, it's predominantly midrise, with a few hirise forms at the edge, and a smattering of townhomes.

No need to make it St.Jamestown.

Yes there are two distinct parts of The Esplanade. The eastern section between Lower Jarvis and Parliament Square Park - the section with the Park on the south side - which has a few small retail and eating facilities (primarily aimed at locals) and the section between Lower Jarvis and Yonge which has a (once thriving?) much larger restaurant/bar and retail scene (primarily aimed at both locals and 'visitors') . When Time & Space was being built there were expectations that the retail at its south end would bring a bit more 'life' to the eastern section but to date we only have an (as yet unopened) golf place and an unrented space at corner of Lower Sherbourne which was designed for a cafe spreading into the POPS courtyard.

 

[AlexBozikovic]

I also have to say, the density of St. Lawrence is generally quite pleasant, it's by no means empty, it's predominantly midrise, with a few hirise forms at the edge, and a smattering of townhomes.

In fact there are more like 300 townhouses, which occupy a significant area of the original plan, and there is also a lot of open space.

One can argue numbers all day (I won't), but that place feels dead almost all of the time, except for school recess.

It's an interesting lesson.

 

[Northern Light]

One can argue numbers all day (I won't), but that place feels dead almost all of the time, except for school recess.

It's an interesting lesson.

I won't extend this unduly either, except to say, I sincerely disagree w/the characterization of the area 'feeling dead'. I spend a fair bit of time in the area for a non-resident, and I've found it consistently busy. The parks are well patronized, lots of people out walking and biking. It's not crowded; but I think that's fine.

 

[chrishurley15]

Agreed with Northern Light. As someone who lives just east of here and walks through this section of the esplanade (every single day). This area is not dead and I always find it a bit ridiculous to generalize an entire area or neighbourhood based off (seemingly) a single walk around it.

The St. Lawrence/Distillery area is already full of life and it is only improving year after year as the area fills out. There will be plenty of additional density in the areas surrounding David Crombie park (and I welcome that) but even in its current state, “dead” is not a fair characterization.

I won't extend this unduly either, except to say, I sincerely disagree w/the characterization of the area 'feeling dead'. I spend a fair bit of time in the area for a non-resident, and I've found it consistently busy. The parks are well patronized, lots of people out walking and biking. It’s not crowded; but I think that's fine.

 

[DSCToronto]

In fact there are more like 300 townhouses, which occupy a significant area of the original plan, and there is also a lot of open space.

One can argue numbers all day (I won't), but that place feels dead almost all of the time, except for school recess.

It's an interesting lesson.

As someone who lives in the area and probably walks along some portions of the David Crombie section of The Esplanade almost daily and at different hours I must disagree with you. Not that I would not like a decent coffee place with tables on the sidewalks but the only real place for that is in Time & Space and they seem to have nobody interested in renting the planned-for cafe space which has POPs adjacency.

 

[NextBlockOver]

I live in the area - also agree with Northern Light and the above. I can see your point and would be great to have an extra wine bar/cafe along the east side of the STL Market on The Esplanade, but the park is far from 'dead', even during evening times.

 

[nightstreak]

What's happening in that middle lot?

I looked it up on a map and it's bare. Is this privately owned?

 

[Tuscani01]

What's happening in that middle lot?

I looked it up on a map and it's bare. Is this privately owned?

View attachment 722453

I think theres a Toronto Hydro project happening on that site right now, so no point doing anything with it yet.

 

[tripwire]

Yeah to say the stretch of Esplanade between Jarvis and Parliament as dead is strange to me. I think it works great as a "pass through" from St. Lawrence Market and Distillery. It's a very pleasant walk with some shops and the community centre on the north side, and the park lining the south side. The state of the current park is not great, but it is fairly well used IMHO.

Not every street needs to be super lively / busy. I'm good with Front street taking that role.

 

[DSCToronto]

What's happening in that middle lot?

I looked it up on a map and it's bare. Is this privately owned?

View attachment 722453

The 'middle block" - Block 4 (baseball and dog area) and the first block (Block 1) Market Tent are the final phase of the park rehab. They are not yet designed and do not yet have funding. The Hydro work is underground and accessed from the Hydro One Station and is nothing to do with the park work.