[Ed note: this post has been brought forward to remind those interested about this event.]
Ryerson University students have called a rally for Thursday, January 24 at noon to build support for making Gould St. between Victoria and Church Sts. car-free.
Ryerson Students’ Union vice-president Chris Drew (pictured) says it is expected that the university’s master plan, due out later in the year, will support closing off the two block stretch as a way of creating a safer and more connected campus. Drew was also quick to point out that their representative at city hall, Councillor Kyle Rae, has shown support for this pedestrian-friendly initiative so the rally is really about bringing the downtown neighbourhood together to show a united front and encourage speedy action from decision-makers.
Closing part of Gould St. has been a point of discussion for many years. However, because of the construction of Toronto Life Square, which brought lane restrictions to Gould and Victoria Sts., the City of Toronto put a halt to the plans. Now that construction is completed, the Ryerson community is hoping their campus-building initiative will be given the green light.
Close Gould Street Rally
Who: Ryerson students, community members and supporters of pedestrian-friendly initiatives
Where: Corner of Gould and Victoria Sts. (One block north of Dundas St., one block east of Yonge St.)
When: Thursday, January 24, 12:00-2:00PM
For more information, visit the Close Gould Street Facebook group.
Photo provided by Chris Drew.
16 comments
If this street is closed, how will I illegally park to pick up Salad King? I guess I’ll have to illegally park on Yonge.
Signed,
All the people who park illegally to pick up Salad King.
They haven’t forgotten you, David. What Ryerson is looking for is the closure of Gould from the east side of Victoria to the west side of Church. That’ll leave the block in front of Salad King free for continued use and you’ll be able to turn south on Victoria to leave the campus area.
There should really be no opposition to this anymore. The construction is basically done, and the section of Gould that Ryerson wants closed has no loading docks or parking lots. It will be an inconvenience for some to have to drive around, but once it’s all redesigned and landscaped, you won’t be able to stroll through it and honestly wish they had kept it a road. It’d be like lamenting the partial loss of James Street as you walk through the Eaton Centre.
I think this is a great idea and the students of ryerson should be commended for their effort.But I think every street near the campus should be closed.If you want salad you should have no problem walking to Salad King.
PS note to Adam: still no rebate in sight, so much for your so called city hall democracy!!!Just doesnt exist.
George, if you think you’re being treated unfairly then file a complaint with the integrity commissioner. Simply groaning about it on a blog doesn’t help anyone.
They should close it right up to Yonge, and open up a north-end Dundas station subway portal right into the pedestrian zone. Btw, Ryerson has bought Sam’s according to the radio this AM.
George, you can’t make friends with Salad. But with the knowledge that Salad King makes some of the best Thai food in the city (4 chilies please), and not salad, you’d be a happier man. I promise.
I liked Salad King more before the renovations and when it was cheaper. It is still pretty good though, it just doesn’t have the same character as in the old days.
They’ve been talking about closing Gould for so long… I hope they make it this time.
As someone who lived for a year at Gould and Bond, right on the Ryerson campus, I oppose the complete closure of the street. The character of this street changes after all the commuting and CE students have all gone home for the night. The eyes on the street, and movement of vehicles through the neighbourhood is a positive thing. If removed, what we can expect to see instead is a harsh, lifeless zone filled with high-intensity lighting installed to try and create a sense of “safety” (look at the former Victoria street between Gould and Gerrard as an example).
The only section of Gould that should be closed is from Victoria to Bond, with Victoria-Gould and Bond-Gould becoming one-ways, providing space for sidewalk widenings. If Gould is closed from Victoria to Church, Bond (a street that already can be fairly deserted at night) would become a cul-de-sac, out of character with its downtown setting.
Gould, Bond, and Victoria all require improvements to reflect their great potential as university streets. I truly believe that with a proper plan, Bond could become a real gem. It’s home to beautiful buildings, almost all of which will soon be owned by Ryerson (the main exceptions being a couple of lovely churches). Simply closing these streets to traffic or making them in to dead-ends will not accomplish these goals.
Bored you should try the avodcado salad, delicious!
Adam: I just posted that because you kept on about how the democratic process was alive and well at city hall.You seemed to imply that I was a liar and that the situation that I speak about wasn’t true.Well it is true and the integrity commisioner isn’t the only route that I would have to go through to make things right.But why does it have to be that way?Why is it not made public that these type of occurences happen?Yes I know the truth would be embarrassing to the present government and that just wouldn’t do.Don’t worry I will keep you posted as soon as Greg Essensa will ever answer my email.
George: That your rebate was rejected may or may not indicate that there has been an administrative error. But a reasonable person wouldn’t conflate a relatively minor administrative error and the well-being of democracy in Toronto.
The fact is, in an $8 billion corporation (public or private), mistakes happen. Even terrible mistakes occur. Should they be accepted? No, they should be fixed as quickly as possible. The way to fix it is to follow up with the bureaucrats responsible for it and, failing that, lodge a complaint with the appopriate office. I have done that more times than some people — most notably the Toronto Police Service — find comfortable but that’s the way to get things done.
That said, if you find that there was a systemic problem in the issuance of rebates, that would be a major issue that is a threat to local democracy. However, a single mistake shouldn’t give anyone the impression that that is the case.
well the systematic problems will never be known without an inquiry.I wonder how many people didn’t receive their rebate,possibly not even knowing they are entitled.
I also have taken steps to investigate government inaction and cover up.If only the public really knew what is going on.The media doesn’t help and in this case the media will never be allowed to know.
Thanks Adam
Dear Chris Drew,
Thank you for supplying your own photo of yourself. It has proven the long held suspicion that university student union people are the sleazy photo-op hungry city councilors of tomorrow. This single shameless publicity photo is enough to make me want to hate the whole idea of closing Gould Street (which I don’t). Which brings up a whole political conundrum concerning pedestrian streets. They can be such blatant political maneouvres that they blindside nuanced and innovative urban design thinking already mentioned in some of these comments above.
“The eyes on the street, and movement of vehicles through the neighbourhood is a positive thing.”
Utter nonsense. Equating vehicle traffic with Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street” is just twisted.
“If removed, what we can expect to see instead is a harsh, lifeless zone filled with high-intensity lighting installed to try and create a sense of “safety†(look at the former Victoria street between Gould and Gerrard as an example).”
Ridiculous. Victoria between Gerrard and Gould is a lovely, quiet, shaded and cool (in summer), green refuge with sculpture and a waterfall. It’s what we need more of. It should have been extended a block south alongside the skating rink/fountain to Dundas Square .
Thanks for your comments Christophe L. The position of the Campaign to Close Gould Street is to close the street only from Victoria and Church Street. I hope that helps.
Nik, I disagree with your comments, but rest assured this campaign is for all students at Ryerson, and there will be lots of pictures soon of not just me involved in the campaign, but many students, staff, and faculty of the Ryerson community.
Nik, I have to disagree with you in regards to the photo shoot.
Although there may be many people, aside from the politicos who desire a better way when it comes to urban planning, their actual involvement seems to be limited to around a table at the local coffee shop.
Only a few people will move beyond words and get involved with the often tedious background work that moves ideas into being actualized, and for this you feel offended?
What are you doing to help out here, aside from casting aspersions at the goals of the above photo?
Now, in regards to the innovative urban design thinking, which were you referring to? Salad King, or the argument going on between George and Adam regarding some rebate which has nothing to do with the actual article?