{"id":62933,"date":"2020-12-09T11:19:32","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T16:19:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/?p=62933"},"modified":"2020-12-14T13:24:50","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T18:24:50","slug":"weston-road-as-my-main-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spacing.ca\/toronto\/2020\/12\/09\/weston-road-as-my-main-street\/","title":{"rendered":"Weston Road as my main street"},"content":{"rendered":"

This selection of photographs by<\/em> Peter MacCallum<\/a> documenting Weston Road is published in conjunction with Spacing’s new issue themed around main streets.<\/em><\/p>\n

In July, 2020, after searching in vain for new subjects to photograph in my Queen and Spadina neighbourhood, I decided to travel by TTC to a less popular part of Toronto, Weston Road north of St. Clair Avenue, where picturesque rows of houses in a wide range of shapes line the heavily travelled roadway.<\/span><\/p>\n

Curiosity drove me to look farther north, and the outline of a new project quickly asserted itself. I decided I would\u00a0 <\/span>photograph the 7 kilometres of urban fabric along Weston Road between St. Clair Avenue and St. Phillips Road at the northern edge of the former town of Weston.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cutting diagonally across Toronto\u2019s street grid, lower Weston Road is a major traffic artery but also the spinal column that connects a series of distinct neighbourhoods. As my photos show, the communities of Weston and Mount Dennis, which were originally outside the city, still have an architectural presence on their main street and have retained some of their small town character. <\/span><\/p>\n

Other parts of Weston Road reflect the haphazard expansion of the City of Toronto into its near suburbs during the 20th century.\u00a0 <\/span>The notorious 40 acre wrecking yard of Levy Auto Parts formerly fronted an entire block north of Jane Street. The site of its workshops is now a brownfield, dug out in the middle to a depth of 30 feet. Directly opposite sits the gleaming, steam-emitting industrial complex of Irving Tissue.<\/span><\/p>\n

Used car lots, independent garages, body shops, and other auto related businesses still represent a substantial share of the economic activity along Weston Road, and high speed traffic streams through the area without a break. The completion of the Crosstown LRT at Eglinton Avenue could bring about a rapid transformation of the streetscape.
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Along the street, I recorded many signs of adaptation. In Mount Dennis, storefronts left vacant after the closing of the Kodak plant had been converted to apartments. Various commercial and industrial buildings had become churches, some hosting multiple evangelical congregations, and dignified old houses had become used car dealerships.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was fortunate to be able to represent our current social history by showing pedestrians wearing protective masks. Despite the dangers of COVID-19, residents I encountered proved very friendly and enthusiastic about having me record their neighbourhoods. In the process, the No.89 Weston Road bus has become my favourite TTC route.<\/span><\/p>\n

For a pop-up gallery view, scroll to the end of the post.
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Intersection of Gunns Road and Weston Road, Looking North East, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Historic Row Housing, 184\u2013188 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Detail of Glass Facade, All Canadian Storage, 207 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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TTC Oak Loop, Weston Road at Rogers Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bench and Billboard, TTC Oak Loop, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Weston Road, Looking North at Black Creek Drive, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Oblique Storefront, 1010 Weston Road South of Dennis Avenue, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Storefronts, 1037\u20131045 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Rocco Auto Electric, 1140 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Moment of Grace Storefront Church, 1192 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Festive Streamers, Royal Fine Motors, 1080 Weston Road, Mount Dennis, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Scott Funeral Home, 1273 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Excavated Brownfield, 1400 Weston Road, Looking Toward Irving Tissue, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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G. W. Motors, 1359 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Storefronts, 1872-1874 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Entrance Pavilion, Weston GO Station, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Weston GO Station Walkway, Lawrence Avenue West, Looking South, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Rear Facades, 1876-1882 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Weston Road, Streetscape, East Side North of Lawrence, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Weston Road, Looking North from South East Corner of Lawrence Avenue West, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Historic House, 2154 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Townhouse Construction Site, 2177 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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East Side of Weston Road at St. Phillips Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Entranceway, 2400 Weston Road, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Abandoned House, 2402 Weston Road, View from Humberview Crescent, 2020<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

All photos\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a9 P. MacCallum, 2020 (petermaccallum.com<\/a>)
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For pop-up gallery view, click on a photo below.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t