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Queen's Park contributes to subway station make-overs
Charitable group to renovate three downtown stops
James Cowan, National Post
Published: Friday, June 09, 2006
The Ontario government yesterday committed $2-million toward refurbishing Toronto subway stations, beginning with a plan to brighten the platform at Museum station with fake totem poles, Greek columns and Egyptian sarcophagi.
The Toronto Community Foundation, a charitable organization, wants to renovate three downtown stations to make them reflect nearby cultural attractions.
Along with creating an air of antiquity at Museum station, the group wants to splash murals on the walls of St. Patrick station, which serves the Art Gallery of Ontario, and revitalize Osgoode station to reflect its proximity to the new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Anne Swarbrick, the foundation's president and CEO, said the make-overs will serve to link "the above-ground attractions and the below-ground platforms."
Refurbishing Museum station will take between $4-million and $5-million; the total cost for the three stations is estimated at $14-million.
The TTC has agreed to pay one-quarter of the costs, while funds are also being solicited from the private sector.
"We have been engaging private interests in public spaces in this city," Ms. Swarbrick said.
The foundation still needs to raise $250,000 to complete the Museum station renovation. However, as fundraising efforts continue, the TTC intends to begin work on Museum this year and complete the first platform makeover by November, 2007.
Howard Moscoe, the TTC's chairman, noted the Museum station desperately needs a facelift. "More than 430 million people each year ride the TTC. Most of them pass through this location, look around and see early Canadian washroom architecture," he said.
Mr. Moscoe said he hoped the beautification project would extend to other stations, noting he has already received requests for a "Casa Loma" station.
"This will be the beginning of the rebirth of our subway stations, because it is too good of an idea to keep down," Mr. Moscoe said.
William Thorsell, CEO of the Royal Ontario Museum, praised the foundation for taking an interest in deteriorating public spaces.
"We live in a city that needs to be angrier about the quality of public space," Mr. Thorsell said. "I think this project shows we are stepping out of the miasma."
jcowan@nationalpost.com
_________________________________________________
What really needs work is the entrance to some of these stations.
AoD
Charitable group to renovate three downtown stops
James Cowan, National Post
Published: Friday, June 09, 2006
The Ontario government yesterday committed $2-million toward refurbishing Toronto subway stations, beginning with a plan to brighten the platform at Museum station with fake totem poles, Greek columns and Egyptian sarcophagi.
The Toronto Community Foundation, a charitable organization, wants to renovate three downtown stations to make them reflect nearby cultural attractions.
Along with creating an air of antiquity at Museum station, the group wants to splash murals on the walls of St. Patrick station, which serves the Art Gallery of Ontario, and revitalize Osgoode station to reflect its proximity to the new Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
Anne Swarbrick, the foundation's president and CEO, said the make-overs will serve to link "the above-ground attractions and the below-ground platforms."
Refurbishing Museum station will take between $4-million and $5-million; the total cost for the three stations is estimated at $14-million.
The TTC has agreed to pay one-quarter of the costs, while funds are also being solicited from the private sector.
"We have been engaging private interests in public spaces in this city," Ms. Swarbrick said.
The foundation still needs to raise $250,000 to complete the Museum station renovation. However, as fundraising efforts continue, the TTC intends to begin work on Museum this year and complete the first platform makeover by November, 2007.
Howard Moscoe, the TTC's chairman, noted the Museum station desperately needs a facelift. "More than 430 million people each year ride the TTC. Most of them pass through this location, look around and see early Canadian washroom architecture," he said.
Mr. Moscoe said he hoped the beautification project would extend to other stations, noting he has already received requests for a "Casa Loma" station.
"This will be the beginning of the rebirth of our subway stations, because it is too good of an idea to keep down," Mr. Moscoe said.
William Thorsell, CEO of the Royal Ontario Museum, praised the foundation for taking an interest in deteriorating public spaces.
"We live in a city that needs to be angrier about the quality of public space," Mr. Thorsell said. "I think this project shows we are stepping out of the miasma."
jcowan@nationalpost.com
_________________________________________________
What really needs work is the entrance to some of these stations.
AoD