Category: Neighbourhood photowalks (Page 1 of 5)

Glen Road

October 3, 2025 / Marvin Job / 2 Comments

I’ve always loved walking down the short stretch of Glen Road from Howard Street to the Glen Road footbridge. To me it has always exuded a quasi New York feeling with its walk-up apartment buildings and Victorian houses, capped off by “Howard Village” at the south end of Glen Road:

Things here, though, weren’t always so pretty. Years ago, this stretch of Glen Road was an abandoned, decayed mess, as these shots from the 1980s demonstrate:

I remember walking down this decayed part of Glen Road many years ago, when it was at its worst, and thinking how great it would look if the whole street were restored. Well, that did actually happen – from 2005 to 2016 this section of Glen Road was restored, and now is quite beautiful.

I knew that Glen Road continued on to Rosedale the other side of the footbridge, but I didn’t know how far north of there the street actually extended. I set out to shoot Glen Road, thinking it was a small street and wouldn’t take much time to cover. As I followed it I discovered it just kept going and going, twisting and turning through Rosedale, onward north well past Summerhill Avenue, then finally ending where it encounters the Don Valley Brickworks Park. The length of this street amazed me… who knew?

I started my photowalk on the south end of Glen Road, where it begins at Howard Street. Howard Street, by the way, is currently undergoing a massive condo boom and some much-needed gentrification, but that’s another post for another day.

Number 1 and 7 Glen Road

Number 1 and number 7 Glen Road are known historically as The Roslyn Apartments. They were built in two phases, with 1 Glen Road completed in 1912 and 7 Glen Road completed in 1911. The apartment buildings were designed by architect J.A. Harvey.

These two buildings complement each other but are not identical in design. Featuring red brick cladding with brick, stone and wood detailing, both buildings are three stories in height above raised bases with window openings. The rooflines are marked with extended eaves and parapets.

Number 6 and 8 Glen Road

These Glen Road houses were in place by September 1884 according to the tax assessment rolls. The occupants in 1885 included merchants, an estate agent, and the owner of a livery stable. The properties were listed on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties in 1974, along with the other remaining buildings along this short stretch of Glen Road:

Number 10 and 12 Glen Road

These two Glen Road Houses were also in place by September 1884. The Glen Road buildings in this stretch are examples of late 19th century houses with patterned brickwork. This style of house was once prominent on Sherbourne Street and in the adjoining neighbourhood:

Looking south from the Sherbourne TTC subway entrance on Glen Road. Howard Street is at the top of the block.

The Sherbourne Subway Entrance & Glen Road Pedestrian Tunnel

The left slider is a shot from February 2023. Note that the pedestrian tunnel was completely sealed off at that time. The slider on the right is the same area, September 2025.

Here are some shots I took of the footbridge area in 2021. I much prefer the current version!:

Current Rejuvenated Tunnel and Footbridge

Tunnel entrance outside Sherbourne TTC subway station

The City’s Economic Development & Culture division carried out a public art competition in the summer of 2019 and Inuit artist Couzyn Van Heuvelen’s proposal was selected. Metal bird silhouettes on the outer tunnel walls continue the shapes and colours used in Inuit printmaking.

In The Tunnel

Inuit artist Couzyn Van Heuvelen designed the birds and animals in the Glen Road Tunnel. The project is centred around the theme of migration and travel, and references Inuit stonecut printmaking techniques and stone carving:

The New Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge

The City of Toronto has replaced the Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge (aka the Morley Callaghan Footbridge) across the Rosedale Valley Ravine. The new bridge debuted on May 30, 2025.

The design retains the core visual character of the original bridge while enhancing the above-deck user experience and safety with innovative V-shaped barriers, stainless steel webnet, and LED lighting. The bridge and tunnel have been widened to increase openness and sightlines:

Glen Road, after crossing the footbridge and entering Rosedale

Rosedale… How the Other Half Live

It was fascinating just wandering up Glen Road, observing the elaborate houses and mansions. There’s a little piece of history in so many of the houses there:

54 Glen Road
Built in 1902, designed by Architect Frederick H. Herbert

51 Glen Road
This house was built in 1903. It was the home of Ambrose Small, the hated and envied owner of theatres across the province. He disappeared in 1919 along with $10-million from his bank account. He has never been found.

55 Glen Road
Built in 1901 in the style of Second Classical Revival, with a full-height Ionic-columned entry porch.

57 Glen Road
Constructed in 1911, designed by the Designing and Drafting Company consisting of D.C. Cotton and H.G. Macklin. The house is a neat, symmetrical red-brick neo-Georgian with Craftsman porch, eaves, and dormers.

97 Glen Road
Second Classical Revival houses with full-height Mount Vernon porches were very popular during the first half of the 20th century. This house was built in 1901 by the architects Chadwick & Beckett. This beauty is currently up for sale with Harvey Kalles Real Estate Ltd. for a paltry $8,900,000.00.

105 Glen Road – “Ravine House”

Built in 2002 by architects Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg. One of the few houses in Rosedale to show modernity on its face as well as its landscaping. The house is surrounded by the fence’s dark teak slats, broad-brush expanses of groundcover, and grass facing Glen Road.

The Glen Road bridge passes over Yellow Creek and the Park Drive Reservation Trail

View from atop the Glen Road Bridge, looking east

108 Glen Road
Built in 1920, designed by Architect William B. Galbraith. The house was reconstructed in 2006.

111 Glen Road
This house was constructed in 1909 in the Tudor Revival style. It is a 6 bedroom, 7 bathroom house with 4 parking spots on a 68 x 109.17 foot lot. The house recently sold for $5,580,000.00.

134 Glen Road
Known as the Charles Davies House. This stone-veneered house was built in 1910 to plans by Curry and Spalding, architects for Charles Davies. With its novel rounded tower, it manages to look modern yet traditional, taking cues from the English Cottage style.

136 Glen Road
Known as the Burton House, built in 1928 and rendered by architect Douglas Kertland in the English Cottage style. Its rambling nature suggests a crofter’s cottage from Shakespeare’s day, especially with its regular arrangement of gables and windows, the mix of building materials, the steep roof and the plethora of primitive-style detailing inspired by medieval times.

Rosedale United Church
159 Roxborough Drive, corner of Glen Road. Rosedale United Church opened in 1914 as Northern Congregational Church. The building was completed in 1913 in the Gothic Revival style by architect John Gemmell. In 1925, when the Congregational Church merged with the Methodist Church of Canada and two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church in Canada to form the United Church of Canada, the church was renamed Rosedale United Church. In 2014, singer Gordon Lightfoot was married to Kim Hasse, his third wife, in the church.

170 Glen Road
This is a Heritage property, built in 1913

The unspectacular north end of Glen Road, beside the railway tracks

Security Overkill in Rosedale?
This owner has installed a bollard behind the SUV in their driveway

Going back across the footbridge to the south end of Glen Road

Condos on Sherbourne Street, seen from the Glen Road footbridge

New condos at Bloor Street East & Parliament Street, seen while crossing the Glen Road footbridge

Text references:

The Glen Road Village
City of Toronto, Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge & Tunnel Replacement
A Brief History of Glen Road Village
City of Toronto, Heritage Preservation Services, William Muir Houses

Water’s Edge Promenade

July 22, 2025 / Marvin Job / 1 Comment

The Water’s Edge Promenade stretches from Sugar Beach near the foot of Jarvis Street, past Sherbourne Common, ending at the foot of Parliament Street – for now. There are future plans to keep extending Water’s Edge Promenade further along the eastern waterfront.

On the way to Water’s Edge Promenade: Passing the Redpath Sugar Factory at 95 Queen’s Quay East

Sugar Beach, at the western end of the Water’s Edge Promenade

The Water’s Edge Promenade was a Waterfront Toronto initiative, envisioned by West 8 (an award-winning international office for urban design and landscape architecture) and DTAH (a landscape architecture and urban design company) as the “Green Foot” of the city at the edge of Lake Ontario.

Silva cells provide adequate soil volume for healthy tree growth of the double row of fall colouring maple cultivars, and rainwater is captured to water the trees as a passive irrigation system. The trees were selected a year ahead of planting, and were hand-picked individually at various local nurseries, as a cautionary measure due to the high profile nature of the project, and the significant quantity of trees required for the area (including for the adjacent Sugar Beach).

The granite cobblestone “maple leaf” promenade was constructed with skilled Irish stonemasons who were brought over to teach local contractors this special technique. The project is also part of the East Bayfront District’s comprehensive stormwater management plan, which includes a future wood boardwalk over a forebay system to treat stormwater runoff as part of the ‘treatment train’ approach employed.¹

Condos… lots of ’em

Almost as noticeable as Lake Ontario are the condo developments on, and near, the Water’s Edge Promenade:

Looking north from Water’s Edge Promenade: a sea of construction cranes

I must say that the most striking building I observed on this walk was the Aqualuna Condos, located at 155 Merchants’ Wharf. This building was absolutely stunning and I was fascinated by its colour, form and architecture. Its opulent design was created by Danish architects 3XN, and apparently the building features first class amenities. I shudder to think what a unit here would cost.

The Water’s Edge Promenade is considered one of Canada’s Best Landscape Architecture Projects. It’s so nice to see our long-neglected waterfront coming to life and becoming a welcoming destination within the city.

¹ Sprucelab

Ward’s Island

May 21, 2025 / Marvin Job / 1 Comment

As most know, the Toronto Islands are comprised of three small land masses – Hanlan’s Point, Centre Island and Ward’s Island – joined in an arc.

Ward’s Island is on the east side of the Islands. Unlike Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island, which are full of picnic areas and BBQ sites, Ward’s is mostly residential, having a quiet, calm aura to it.

Exploring The Cottages

On Ward’s Island there are 262 homes and roughly 650 people living on the Island. The community has no stores, cars or public transportation, so life is very different for Islanders:

Think you want to live on Ward’s Island?

Well think again… it’s an awful long wait. There is Legislation in place for Island residents which safeguards their homes: The Toronto Islands Residential Community Stewardship Act. Under the Act, the deed to a house may be transferred only to the current owner’s child or spouse. If the house must be sold for personal reasons, and if a child or spouse will not be the new owner, the process is handled by the Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust Corporation. The house and the land lease are sold for the owner’s benefit, but the buyer must be an individual on a 500-person waiting list which was established through a lottery. A firm price is set by the Trust; no bids or negotiation are allowed. This process was intended to eliminate the risk of the homes being sold on the open market, driving up the prices, and preventing a windfall for the owner.

Down to the Beach

The Ward’s Island beach is located at the start of the boardwalk, next to a small playground and washrooms behind the soccer field. It’s the least busy of the three main beaches of the Island.

An old-fashioned boardwalk runs the length of the southern shore, starting at Ward’s Island Beach and passing the back gate of Riviera cafe with its lovely patio.

“The Anatomy of Fear” by Bruce Smith

On the north part of the island there is an interesting art instalment by artist Bruce Smith, who lives on Ward’s Island. The instalment is described by the artist:

Fear can give rise to frantic despair and also can lead to progression. This duality is represented in “The Anatomy of Fear” as the right and left wings. The terrifying right wing consists of the body of the dragon, filled with “Big Bucks” ($): a bat wing coloured red to indicate hysteria and disruption. A contemporary analogy of this wing is the denial of global warming and refusal to engage in carbon emission reduction programs. The benign left wing is filled with common sense “c”, coloured environmentally-friendly green with shape derived from a dove.

Back to the Mainland…

Hearn Generating Station

May 13, 2025 / Marvin Job / 1 Comment

Watching a suggested video on YouTube a few days ago reminded me of a fascinating urban relic in Toronto: the Hearn Generating Station:

The Hearn Generating Station (named after Richard Lankaster Hearn) is a vast decommissioned electrical generating station down in the docklands. The plant was originally fired by coal, but later converted to burn natural gas. Everything about the plant is on a massive scale and, according to sources, encompasses 650 thousand cubic metres of space. The plant opened in 1951 and closed in 1983.

The R. L. Hearn Generating Station was the site of Canada’s first 100 MW steam turbo-generator set. The station sits in what was once Ashbridge’s Bay, a shallow marsh that was filled in with rubble from downtown construction sites from 1911 to 1950s.

Located in the Toronto Docklands, the Hearn’s surrounding area has not been gentrified whatsoever. You would not know you are still within the boundaries of the City of Toronto; the location feels remote and desolate:

The Hearn Generating Station is located at 440 Unwin Avenue. Once reachable only by car or on foot, a TTC bus now has a route down Cherry Street which will take you to Unwin Avenue after passing over two of the dockland shipping channels. There are no sidewalks down Unwin Avenue, and it’s a long and dusty trek past industrial warehouses and landfill mess to get out to the Hearn.

Not the most uplifting neighbourhood…

Is this where old City Sightseeing buses go to die?

Approaching the Hearn

At any rate, my goal is now in sight:

The architecture and former use of the structure of the Hearn reminds of the Battersea Power Station in London, UK. The Battersea, though, has been restored and transformed into a very hip and modern venue with a mixture of over 150 shops, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment venues. The Battersea has thrived but the Hearn currently remains decayed and abandoned.

BlogTO recently called the Hearn Generating Station the most dangerous site in the City of Toronto… with good reason. The site is a favourite with urban explorers and photographers, and there has been more than one death of these intrepid people on the site:

I was able to get these shots by sticking my camera lens through the fence (security is quite serious here, and the rolled barbed wire at the top proves a point). I was being closely watched by the Security there, but had no nefarious or illegal intent other than grabbing a few shots for the blog:

Taken through the steel webbing of the gates

Here is the excellent YouTube video which triggered my interest in the Hearn Generating Station:

A Rebirth… Sort of

On June 5, 2014, the building was partially cleaned up and used for the Toronto Luminato Festival Big Bang Bash, their 2nd annual fundraising gala. It also featured the Yves Saint Laurent Opening Night Party later that evening. In 2015 the building was used for UNSOUND hosted by Luminato Festival. In 2016 Luminato Festival used the building for its festival.

There is Hope for its Future, Though…

There are future plans, though, for this behemoth and the portlands area in general. According to the development site:

A massive redevelopment proposal is planned for the historic Richard L. Hearn Generating Station in Toronto’s Port Lands. Dubbed The Hearn District, the redevelopment would incorporate the shuttered power station into a multi-use district to be built over 30 acres by the Cortel Group. With the conceptual design for the masterplan by PARTISANS, SvN, and public realm design by CCxA, the proposal envisions thousands of residential units and extensive cultural and commercial spaces.

Click here to read the full details of this redevelopment proposal.

Let’s hope this comes to pass. It would be wonderful to see this amazing building and the desolate area of Toronto come alive.

Richmond Street East

April 23, 2025 / Marvin Job / 0 Comments

The sun was actually shining for more than three minutes last weekend, so I set out for another photowalk in the city. It had been a few years since I’d walked along Richmond Street East, so I thought I’d give that street a try with my trusty camera in tow.

Richmond Street East runs from Yonge Street to just east of Parliament Street, where it crosses the Don River and becomes known as Eastern Avenue. As you walk along Richmond Street East, you can tell its had a long history of hard labour and warehouses. In the 20th century, the area saw the rise of large-scale warehouses, factories, and office buildings, many of which replaced earlier low-rise structures.

These days Richmond Street East is definitely – and literally – on the rise: there are condo projects everywhere you look. The street is a vibrant part of Toronto’s downtown core, with a mix of commercial, residential, and entertainment spaces.

Walking from the start of the street at Yonge, and finishing at Parliament, here’s a bit of what I encountered:

The Confederation Life Building, a seven-floor Romanesque Revival office building, is a historic structure in Toronto. Completed in 1892, it was designated a historic property by the City of Toronto under the Ontario Heritage Act on November 26, 1975.

Condos everywhere! Looking upwards from the corner of Richmond Street East and Yonge Street.

This is currently a fully tenanted office building owned by the City of Toronto. In future it may be required for the Toronto Parking Authority.

Toronto EMS Station #40, located at 58 Richmond Street East

This is a housing co-op located at 60 Richmond Street East. It was designed by Teeple Architects and completed in March 2010. This 11-story, 85-unit mixed use building is among the first new housing co-ops to be built in Toronto in recent years. It won the Ontario Association of Architects Design Excellence Award (2010) and the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence (2007).

Another Wild Wing location meets a sad end. Located at 107 Church Street, northeast corner of Richmond Street East and Church Street.

Dwarfed and surrounded by highrise condos, McVeigh’s Irish Pub looks very out of place. The pub was founded in 1962.

The Canadian Venture Building, 82 Richmond Street East. This company provides outfitted office spaces for daily, weekly, monthly or long-term occupancy.

Mural in Green P parking lot #219, at 99 Richmond Street East

Lots of colour on the Tangerine bikes, 99 Richmond Street East

The George Street Diner, 129 George Street, northeast corner of George Street and Richmond Street East. Comfort food at a classic diner.

At 121 George Street, Alterra’s Celeste Condominiums are currently under construction. That company recently collaborated with J. Hutton, a Toronto-based multimedia artist and musician, who has brought the construction hoarding to life. Inspired by vintage cinematography and live music, his mural “Ballet & Granite”, invites the viewer to appreciate the beauty of movement, the skill of the performers, and the ephemeral nature of artistic expression. It celebrates the universal language of dance and encourages viewers to reflect on the fleeting moments that make up the tapestry of life and art.

354 Richmond Street East is the former home of the Downtown Ford Service Centre. It looks like it’s now slated for condo conversion.

384 Richmond Street East. The City of Toronto has passed a by-law designating this building as being of cultural heritage value or interest. This is the site of a future, massive condo development. The upcoming project will retain facades from the buildings at 263-265 Queen Street East, 90 Ontario Street, 410 Richmond Street, and 384 Richmond Street. All of these buildings are listed on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Registry.

The Turco-Persian Rug Co. at 354 Richmond Street East looks quite out of place amongst all the upcoming condos in the area.

These painted curbs are a nice diversion from the somewhat dreary neighbourhood. The painted curbs, seen in several areas of downtown Toronto, are an initiative of the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto program. The program aims to make streets more vibrant, animate the paths, and showcase the work of diverse Toronto Artists.

The end of Richmond Street East. Beyond this Parliament Street intersection, the one-way Richmond Street East passes over the Don River and becomes Eastern Avenue.

Chester Hill Lookout

November 25, 2024 / Marvin Job / 2 Comments

blogTO calls the Chester Hill Lookout “Toronto’s secret observation deck” and, after visiting the location, I would have to agree with them.

Sitting at the end of a quiet residential road off Broadview Avenue, the Lookout is a semi-circular concrete observation deck jutting out at the end of a cul-de-sac on Chester Hill Road:

The Lookout offers a view that spans west across the city, with the Don Valley and the whizzing of cars on the highway below, Evergreen Brick Works sit beyond the trees to the right and the towering financial buildings to the left.

Finding the Lookout

From the Danforth, walking a few minutes north on Broadview Avenue will bring you to Chester Hill Road:

Chester Hill Road is a very quiet, upscale neighbourhood with some beautiful homes:

At the end of the block you will encounter a cul-de-sac:

The Lookout is just behind the trees/roadblock. These trees are an experiment to see if they will reduce speeding issues on the street.

Painted on the pavement of the roundabout is an astrology wheel. This chalk-work is by local artist Victor Fraser, a sidewalk artist and poet based in Toronto. He has been painting paved surfaces for the past 20 years, and has painted in six different countries. The wheel was repainted in October 2022.

Stepping to the edge of the roundabout yields an incredible urban view:

The Chester Hill Lookout was built in the late 1950’s for the construction of the Don Valley Parkway. Chester Hill Road was shortened to create the Lookout and the hillside down to the DVP. The land over the edge of the Lookout down to the DVP is owned by the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority, but leased by the City of Toronto.

Residents of Chester Hill Road report a downside to the location, though. There have been many negative issues occurring lately including speeding, drug use and dealing, impaired driving, garbage, vandalism, late night noise/partying and parking violations.

On a happier note, while the Lookout is beautiful at any time of the day, sunset and nighttime offer the most spectacular experiences. As the sun sets, the sky takes on hues of orange and purple with the city’s lights twinkling below. At night, the Luminous Veil of the Prince Edward Viaduct adds a purple touch to the view. I’m planning a revisit to the site next spring to capture some of this.

Post-Halloween Walk Through Cabbagetown

November 17, 2024 / Marvin Job / 1 Comment

A few days after Halloween I took a walk through Cabbagetown on a beautiful, crisp fall day. The houses and streets were a weird and eclectic mix of post-Halloween gore, front yard kitsch, Autumn colours and falling leaves:

Wellesley Avenue

Wellesley Park

Kitty trapped on rooftop

On the northeast corner of Parliament and Carlton Streets

Mural on southeast corner of Parliament and Carlton Streets

A Little Spin Around Downtown

November 15, 2024 / Marvin Job / 1 Comment

I took a little walk around the York Street-Bremner Blvd. area one sunny Sunday last month, randomly shooting the city as it went about its business. I had to curtail my walk, though, as there were masses of people heading to the Rogers Centre for a Blue Jays game and things were getting more than a little crowded. Regardless, I grabbed a few random shots before leaving the area.

This guy was having a great time with his karaoke machine, serenading pedestrians from atop the underground parking stairway at the intersection of York Street and University Avenue. I guess I’d call this “elevated busking”:

This retired old Dodge police car went thundering past me on Front Street West:

Reflections while walking along Bremner Blvd.:

Looking up, Maple Leaf Square, behind the Scotiabank Arena:

For some time I’d known this sculpture was just behind the Scotiabank Arena, but not being a hockey fan, I couldn’t have cared less. I did find out, though, that the piece is entitled Legends Row, created by Erik Blome from 2013 to 2017:

At 110% the size of their likeness, the “Legends Row” sculpture is truly larger than life. The sculpture depicts 14 of Toronto’s greatest hockey legends outside the current home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Scotiabank Arena (formerly the Air Canada Centre). Commissioned by the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club. There are fourteen figures in total including: Wendel Clark, Turk Broda, Charlie Conacher, Syl Apps, Darryl Sittler, Johnny Bower, Mats Sundin, Borje Salming, Teeder Kennedy, Dave Keon, Tim Horton, Frank Mahovlich, Red Kelly, and George Armstrong. With the addition of these last four in 2017, Legends Row was declared full for the foreseeable future.

In & Around The Esplanade

August 15, 2024 / Marvin Job / 2 Comments

The last time I walked down The Esplanade, I was struck by how many new condos have sprung up in that neighbourhood. I thought it may be interesting to put together a little photo journal of the structures I encountered that day.

In behind Meridian Hall (aka The Okeefe Centre/Hummingbird Centre/Sony Centre… take your pick)

“Eagle V. 1” by Dean Drever, 2018. 1 The Esplanade, southeast corner of The Esplanade and Yonge Street. I had not noticed this remarkable sculpture until I turned around and looked behind me.

A Yorkville-Annex Walk

May 18, 2024 / Marvin Job / 1 Comment

The Annex is one of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods. It has an old world feel to it and is somewhat diverse, including U of T, trendy eateries, art galleries and one-of-a-kind shops. On its side-streets are gorgeous residential homes — many built around 1880.

For this walk I started at Bay Street, crossed Scollard Street, went down Hazelton Avenue, then on to Yorkville Avenue. From there I completed the rectangular route of Avenue Road, Prince Arthur Avenue, Huron Street, Lowther Avenue, returning to Avenue Road.

Scollard Street

Let’s start out with some beautiful spring tulips on Scollard Street:

Table of Love

At 120 Scollard Street there is this absolutely delightful sculpture called Table of Love by the artists Gillie & Marc.

The text accompanying the work reads:

Even though it was their first date he asked her to marry him. And she said YES. They say when you know, you know, and Dogman and Rabbitwoman both did after just one date. They met, they had dinner, he asked, she said yes. And within a week of first meeting each other they were in Nepal getting married in the foothills of Mount Everest. They still love going on dates together, sharing food, laughter and conversation. And after all this time – to adventure, to chance, to each other – they always say yes.

Hazelton Avenue

Outside Gallery Gevik at 12 Hazelton Avenue I encountered The Chorus, a 1966 sculpture by the Canadian artist Sylvia Lefkovitz:

I’ve always thought this sculpture dark, depressing, foreboding; it fills me with a sense of dread, à la the Dementors in the Harry Potter movies…

Time to move on to something a little cheerier…

Prince Arthur Avenue

Prince Arthur Avenue was named for the Duke of Connaught (1850-1942) who became Governor-General of Canada from 1911 to 1916. He first visited Canada in 1869 and this street name appeared on the Toronto registered plan in 1870.

I’ve been wanting to revisit Prince Arthur Avenue for a while. I’ve always admired the historic homes and buildings on this relatively upscale street:

**15 Prince Arthur Avenue**
“This dwelling dates to the 1870s. Its side entrance is innovative for the time, but the general tone is conservative as symmetry prevails under a conventional gable roof. Of special interest are the pairs of semicircular arched windows across the façade”.

**20 Prince Arthur Avenue**
Across the street is one of Uno Prii’s architectural masterpieces. Uno Prii claimed 20 Prince Arthur Avenue, built in 1965, was his favourite building, and it’s easy to understand why: the tower captures space age excitement with a rocket-like profile that flares outward at the base, then soars 22 storeys to scalloped peaks.

If you’d like to read my post dedicated to Uno Prii’s architectural creations in the Annex, click here.

Painted utility box outside 20 Prince Arthur Avenue

**The Duke of York – 39 Prince Arthur Avenue**
The Duke of York Pub is a Toronto landmark restaurant with a long history. It opened in 1976 and has been in successful operation since.

**36A Prince Arthur Avenue**
Outside the restaurant Trattoria Fieramosca

**“Rosamund” by Frances Gage (1968) – 50 Prince Arthur Avenue**
“Able to work in a variety of media (wood, plastic, terracotta, plaster and cast stone) and execute a number of techniques (carving, modeling, commercial bas-relief, garden sculpture and portraiture), Frances Gage is one of Canada’s most prolific sculptors. After studying at Oshawa Collegiate and Technical Institute (1943), the Ontario College of Art in Toronto (1951), and the Art Students’ League in New York (1953-55), she received a scholarship from the Royal Society of Canada to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where she remained for two years.

Frances Gage’s numerous commissions include a twice-life-sized sculpture and four walnut relief panels for Fanshaw College in London, Ontario (1962), a portrait relief of Dr. Bertram Collip for the University of Western Ontario (1963), crests for the Metro bridges in Toronto, a fountain for the rose garden of Mrs. F.S. Albright of London, Ontario, “Woman,” a marble sculpture for the Women’s College Hospital in Toronto, and many others. A member of the Council of the Royal Canadian Academy, and teacher at the Artists’ Workshop in Toronto, her other accomplishments include the Rothman purchase award (1965) and the development, with the help of her engineer father, of a new durable material called epoxy-resin. Her work has been shown in several group exhibitions, perhaps most notably at the International Congress of Medallic Arts in Florence, Italy (1984), but also in Colorado City, Colorado (1987), Helsinki, Finland (1990), and London, England (1992).”

**Thomas W. Horn House – Corner of Prince Arthur Avenue & St. George Street**
The actual address here is 180 St. George Street.
“President of a specialty glass company, Thomas Horn pulled out all the stops in creating his dream home in 1898. Employing the skills of Frederick H. Herbert, an architect with several Annex houses to his credit, he chose the Richardsonian Romanesque style. With a conical tower marking the corner site, the house also sports that other hallmark of the genre: the broad arcaded arch, here used to enhance the recessed front door and second storey loggia. The house stands out as one of the few of its type entirely faced in stone”.

Lowther Avenue

Construction of permanent dwellings began on Lowther Avenue around 1875, and shifted to the semi-detached houses that are so characteristic of the 1880s.

**82 Lowther Avenue**
“Architect Frederick H. Herbert designed this 1896 house, which is part of an attractive group of houses lining Lowther Avenue. This home’s hallmark is a circular tower with terra cotta stylings accompanying the dormer. The requisite arches and recessed entryway mark a Romanesque inspiration”.

**80 Lowther Avenue**
This home is a City of Toronto Heritage Property, built in 1900 by architect F.H. Herbert.

**78 Lowther Avenue**
This heritage Eaton Coach House was originally built in 1899. It was converted into luxury three-unit condos in 1985. Suite sizes range from 1800 square feet to 3500 square feet. One of the units is currently on the market for a mere $4.295 million. Alternately, one can rent the townhomes – in 2017 they were renting for $14,000.00 per month. The listing agent says Ryan Reynolds once lived here for a little while.

**“The Vessel” by Ilan Sandler (2011) – Taddle Creek Park**
Commissioned by the City of Toronto.
“This sculpture of a water-carrying vessel is made from 4 kilometers of stainless-steel rod. The rod measures the approximate length of Taddle Creek, which ran from Taddle Creek Park through downtown Toronto to Lake Ontario. The piece reconstitutes a memory of the buried creek by referencing its length and by bending the steel rod into water-carrying arteries. The sculpture’s surface is porous, allowing one to see light slicing through the stainless-steel rods that create its volume. Water flows from the top of the rim of the vessel over its surface and then cascades onto the ground, creating sound that drowns out the noise of traffic. The piece is like an over-flowing pitcher, evoking the creek’s long history as a source of sustenance.

Water from “The Vessel” is stored in an underground cistern and used to irrigate the park. Vessels have accompanied all peoples for millennia, and are often seen as a surrogate for the body; the desire of all civilizations to anthropomorphize these water-carrying vessels is evidence of their importance to our survival as a species. The ability to harness the flow of water both for physical and imaginative nourishment has been an inseparable part of the evolution of all societies. The Anishinaabe Nation or Ojibway-speaking people of the region would have drawn water for sustenance from many sources, including Taddle Creek. They also drew inspiration from water in the development of their creation myths, one of which says, “the rivers that run underground are the veins of Mother Earth and water is her blood, purifying her and bringing her food. Mother Earth implies reproduction, fertility and life.” Although “The Vessel” represents a container, it also acts as a fountain, relating the creek’s historical significance as a life-sustaining water source to the future pleasure of the community.”
– Ilan Sandler 2011

**Carriageway Houses: 25-29 Lowther Avenue**
“The Georgian style had come and gone and not quite come back again when this singular duo was constructed in 1875. Although not much older than their neighbours, the twin units recall an earlier urban type far removed from high-Victorian eclecticism. Restrained in detail and guided by symmetry, the houses follow the standard Georgian rules. Curiously, however, the central focus is a shared carriageway (which led to the backyard stables), topped by a gingerbreaded gable. The latter contains an oriel window, the only eccentricity in an otherwise tempered composition. Number 25 (the left side) gets the oriel”.

**31 Lowther Avenue**
This cute little house is a Heritage Property, built in 1877.

**6-8 Lowther Avenue**
This double house is a Heritage Property, built in 1892. It exhibits the Bay-n-Gable architecture theme of that era, embracing a Romanesque arch.

Avenue Road

Returning to my starting place of Avenue Road, I noticed this intriguing sculpture entitled Figure Catching a Fly by David Altmejd (2019).

Made of bronze, the sculpture sits in front of the Yorkville Private Estates at 200 Cumberland Street; the front of the sculpture faces Avenue Road.

“Altmejd’s bronze statue, standing more than eight feet in height, fancifully updates the traditional bronze figurative monument. Clad in billowing, flowing robes, the sculpture’s striding female figure arrives like a deity, simultaneously gesturing downward to earth and skyward triumphantly. With arresting appeal, Almejd’s animated bronze figure conjures the history of the Yorkville neighbourhood that in the 1960s became Toronto’s epicenter of fashion, fine art, and nightlife, signalling the city’s sophistication and cultural aspirations.” – storeys.com

That’s it for today! Thanks for joining me on this mini-tour of Toronto’s Yorkville-Annex neighbourhood.

References:
Old Toronto Houses by Tom Cruickshank
storeys.com
waymarking.com

Number 1 and 7 Glen Road

Number 6 and 8 Glen Road

Number 10 and 12 Glen Road

The Sherbourne Subway Entrance & Glen Road Pedestrian Tunnel

Current Rejuvenated Tunnel and Footbridge

In The Tunnel

The New Glen Road Pedestrian Bridge

Rosedale… How the Other Half Live

105 Glen Road – “Ravine House”

Condos… lots of ’em

Exploring The Cottages

Think you want to live on Ward’s Island?

Down to the Beach

“The Anatomy of Fear” by Bruce Smith

Back to the Mainland…

Approaching the Hearn

A Rebirth… Sort of

There is Hope for its Future, Though…

Finding the Lookout

Scollard Street

Table of Love

Hazelton Avenue

Prince Arthur Avenue

Lowther Avenue

Avenue Road

Latest Posts

Search Site

Previous Searches

Top Searches

Latest Comments

Subscribe to TO Cityscapes

You have successfully subscribed! Check your email for further info.

Categories

Tags

Archives

Any Requests?

Site Map

Search Site

Social Media

My Other Sites

Subscribe to TO Cityscapes

You have successfully subscribed! Check your email for further info.

Subscribe to TO Cityscapes

You have successfully subscribed! Check your email for further info.

Pin It on Pinterest