Browsing “Building Blocks Series”

Building Blocks delves into all the great developments that are happening in Toronto that make it a better place to live. So many new projects are popping up from condos to community infrastructure. We will examine the positive influences on the community, and the city, that these building blocks produce.

Tower Renewal is a City of Toronto program that works to improve Toronto’s high-rise apartment’s and surrounding neighbourhoods. The group focuses on the concrete towers that are so heavily used in Toronto. The concentration of these towers is second highest in North America with neighbourhoods like St. James Town in downtown Toronto providing residence for the densest population in Canada at around 17,500 in the area from Bloor St. to the north, Wellesley St. to the south, Sherbourne St. to the west, and Parliament to the East.

Tower Renewal makes improvements by adding additional features to areas as well as modifying existing spaces to better accomodate the residences as well as promoting more use of the space and connecting neighbouring apartments and communities.

Photo: St. James Town by Joel Levy

I got a chance to chat with them about what they do and what is coming up in the near future.

What year were most of the buildings made in that you deal with? What neighbourhoods?

There are more than 1,000 residential apartment towers (more than 5 stories high) found all across Toronto that were built between 1945 and 1984.

The buildings are located in many neighbourhoods throughout Toronto.

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Building Blocks delves into all the great developments that are happening in Toronto that make it a better place to live. So many new projects are popping up from condos to community infrastructure. We will examine the positive influences on the community, and the city, that these building blocks produce.

Four years of collaboration with project partners Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and members of the Regent Park community have led to the construction and opening of the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre in Downtown Toronto.

With the Regent Park neighbourhood undergoing a revitalization the new centre provides a safe and educational environment for youth and residents with many programs and organizations now calling the building home.

Photo: Sketch of the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre

We got a chance to check out the centre before opening and explore some of the organizations and infrastructure that have been implemented.

The design and thought put into the building was top notch. From music studios to dance studios to hallway galleries and communal gathering spots the centre is going to be a huge hot spot and culture hub for the city not only the neighbourhood. We wanted to show you some of the things to expect from the centre.

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