The Value of Investing in Canadian Downtowns - International ...

Safety
Crime indicators for the City of Toronto as a whole show a decline in crime. 14
However, like many large cities, Toronto face challenges with safety and
perceptions of safety across the core. In response to this challenge on a local
scale, the Toronto Police Service added 20 additional foot patrol officers along the
Yonge-Church-Bay corridors. This ongoing police presence has helped reduce
street crime in the downtown core. 15
Public Realm
The decisions to halt the Spadina and Scarborough Expressways had an indelible
impact on downtown Toronto’s public realm. The decision helped support
neighbourhood preservation as the highest priority in downtown city building and
maintained the historic, fine grained and human scale neighbourhoods on both the
east and the west sides of core. Moreover the decision kept the downtown’s
network of ‘main streets’ intact, which allowed for community building and
connectivity between neighbourhoods. For example, these shopping strips led to
the ‘BIA movement,’ (beginning in Bloor West Village) and more recently have
supported downtown intensification efforts by providing goods and services to the
growing residential population.
The City, in partnership with downtown merchants and Ryerson University, also led
the Yonge-Dundas Square revitalization in the late nineties. This project
transformed the heart of the core and has emerged as a prominent landmark and
destination for tourists of Toronto. Many people go to the Square to relax or spend
time with friends.
Bustling Chinatown neighbourhood, Toronto
Map of violent crime across the Downtown
http://www.thestar.com/staticcontent/793448
Additionally, Waterfront Toronto (a tripartite organization) is undertaking major
public realm upgrades along the shores of Lake Ontario. For example, Waterfront
Toronto has invested in 17 public spaces across the City, including key downtown
projects such as Sugar Beach, Sherbourne Common, the water’s edge promenade
and the Wavedecks. 16
Overall downtown Toronto’s public realm is perceived to be a positive place where
people enjoy spending time. However, in the opinion of those interviewed, the
public realm is an area that would benefit from a stronger and more coherent vision
to guide development.
Yonge-Dundas Square, before and after
14
Toronto Police Service. (2012). TPS Crime Statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/statistics/crime_indicators.php. Accessed 2012 January
16.
15
Downtown Yonge (2012). Safety. Retrieved from http://www.downtownyonge.com/node/75. Accessed 2012 January 16.
16
Waterfront Toronto. (2012). Waterfront Toronto. Retrieved from: http://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/. Accessed 2012 February 3.
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