In this episode of St. James Town TV, we report on the City’s revitalization plan for St. James Town.
After many committees, and numerous reports, that date back to the 1980s, the City of Toronto in 2000 approved a Community Action Plan, the aim of which is to revitalize St. James Town through initiatives such as the building of a multi-service community centre, improvements parks, and the maintenance and repair of St. James Town buildings and streets. The St. James Town Connects Framework which is the overarching title for the entire project, “builds on the 1989 Community Improvement Plan (CIP), the St. James Town 2000: A Community Action Plan and the St. James Town Open Space Study (2003)” (City of Toronto).
Among the key areas that have been identified by both the city and resident’s groups as having the most impact, the creation of improved parklands and open spaces. Known as the Open Space and Ontario Street Concept Plan, it will include:
- Wider sidewalks
- Connected and safe pedestrian walkways
- Improving open space to better meet the needs of the local community
- Enhancing the pedestrian experience through the addition of lighting, tree planting and seating
- Reorganizing solid waste and surface parking to achieve mid-block connections