Each Tuesday, Spacing Montreal will share some posts from our sister blog, Spacing Toronto. We hope it will fuel constructive dialogue on the urban issues faced by both cities.
This week features three snapshots into civic history and urban preservation:
Mathew Borrett digs into the City of Toronto Archives and discusses a buried neighbourhood from the late 1800s. Ravines and creek beds were filled, and houses were removed to allow for development; partially-filled waterways are now storm drains and sewers, part of the city’s subterranean infrastructure.
Trash bins on subway platforms
Matthew Blackett looks into the fate of Toronto’s subway garbage bins. The Transit Commission recently removed older cement-and-tile garbage bins from its platforms, and replaced them with clear plastic bag bins. While this change meant recycling options for the first time, the older, often beautiful cans were discarded instead of being available for reuse.
Sean Marshall talks about the heritage designation of a grocery store in suburban Scarborough. The designation will protect the store’s distinctive curved roof, a neighbourhood landmark that has survived in light of the mall having been expanded, enclosed, and remodelled.