[Northern Light]

Of course Northern proposes new parkland lol.

Are you calling me predictable? LOL

I'm a big fan of the modernist building and hope that any plans for the site see it preserved.

I'm less excited by the building, but not offended by it, I'm simply not sure what a good alternate use might be.

My first thought, by the way, was school, seeing as the townhomes next door were once an elementary school.

But looking at the utlization rates for Westwood and Chester nearby, while they are fairly full, they're not busting at the seams in a way that demands a new school. Besides, that would require a school yard, not easily worked into the existing site.

Likewise, I always thought that the currently under-utilized East York Civic Centre down the street would be better utilized as as college satellite campus. The True Davidson Campus has a good ring to it!

I had once thought it might make a logical site for a relocated 54 division, but the cops didn't want it.

I also considered it for a relocated and much larger S. Walter Stewart in at least a portion of the building.......but that didn't work out and the latter has since been reno'ed.

As a side note, the small former hydro building on the Civic site is going to be vacated. No decision on demolition or repurposing has been made.

 

[christiesplits]

With Centennial College just announcing the suspension of dozens of programs due to enrollment cuts, I'm curious what this will mean for Centennial College's future at the Story Arts Centre at Mortimer and Carlaw.

By my estimation, nearly all of the programs currently housed at the Story Arts Centre are being suspended. This includes most of the School of Communications, Media, Arts and Design programs, as well as the Business Marketing programs.

Interesting question.

The current site is a bit over 1ha in size. It has no obvious basis for expansion into a campus of some kind, the only added space would be achieved by redeveloping what's there and going up.

As I speculated, the Story Arts Centre looks to be in jeopardy. Centennial will move all remaining programs from the facility to their Progress campus starting in the summer of 2026.

Centennial College to consolidate campuses

Ontario's colleges and universities face rising costs, fewer international students, and some of the lowest government funding in the country.

www.thestar.com

 

[christiesplits]

When I lived in East York until 1971 my family used to shop at the IGA. We did not have a car, so walked to the grocery store from our home on the corner of Hopedale and Pape. Last weekend I was just in the area for the first time in fifty years. Does anyone recall where this IGA was? My mother would have had to walk there with two children under four. What is in the store's place now?

There was an IGA at Pape and Danforth (now Foodland) and an IGA at Jones and Danforth, which closed in the mid 1990s.

Perhaps the Food Basics at Pape and Gamble was an IGA?

 

[Molybdenum]

There was an IGA at Pape and Danforth (now Foodland) and an IGA at Jones and Danforth, which closed in the mid 1990s.

Perhaps the Food Basics at Pape and Gamble was an IGA?

Looks like there were nearby IGAs at 1012 Pape (in the former SDM location currently being demolished for Ontario Line) and 405 Donlands (now Select Bakery).

Pape and Gamble Food Basics was originally a Dominion.

Info is from this source: Toronto Historical Chain Locations (Groceteria.com) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C4x43NFOf95GZILt6V-xrIKXyTFwk1th-1syQTPYb3w/htmlview#

 

[christiesplits]

Looks like there were nearby IGAs at 1012 Pape (in the former SDM location currently being demolished for Ontario Line) and 405 Donlands (now Select Bakery).

Pape and Gamble Food Basics was originally a Dominion.

Info is from this source: Toronto Historical Chain Locations (Groceteria.com) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1C4x43NFOf95GZILt6V-xrIKXyTFwk1th-1syQTPYb3w/htmlview#

Great resource. I believe the 405 Donlands location became a Valu-Mart in the 90s.