[getsmart-l] Jane's Walk (1) Globe and Mail

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DAY OF TRIBUTE


City honours urban vision of Jane Jacobs


JEFF GRAY 

Toronto Mayor David Miller has officially declared today Jane Jacobs Day to
honour the urban theorist who died just over a year ago at 89. Tomorrow, a
series of guided "Jane's Walks" across the city will pay tribute to her
vision of walkable, diverse neighbourhoods.

Ms. Jacobs, the Toronto activist and writer, was best known for her hugely
influential 1961 work The Life and Death of Great American Cities, and was
an adviser and supporter of the mayor.

"She taught us about eyes on the street and that walkable, dense, compact
and diverse neighbourhoods were the hallmarks of a healthy and prosperous
city," the mayor said.

Among the activists, writers, architects and others leading free walks
through Toronto neighbourhoods in Ms. Jacobs's honour is activist and former
mayor John Sewell, who will tour Cabbagetown.

"We'll talk about some of Jane's ideas and see how they play out on the
street," he said.

He says his walk will also tackle the city's renewal of the Regent Park
public housing project, which he believes is fatally flawed.

"They're doing it all wrong, which is a real pity," he said of the Regent
Park plans. The renewal will leave the area with less affordable housing and
segregate those units from the rest of the redevelopment.

"There is going to be market units over here, and poor people over here,"
Mr. Sewell said. ". . . You've got to mix people together, and then it
works."

Other guided tours include a walk along St. Clair Avenue with Margaret
Smith, who headed opposition to the city's dedicated streetcar lanes. Jane's
Walks

The walks are led by a guide who can speak knowledgeably about the
neighbourhood. No sign-up is necessary and there is no cost; organizers
advise comfortable shoes. More details can be found at
http://www.janeswalk.net.

 

 

Central 

Cabbagetown Then, and Then, and Now with urban democracy activist and former
Toronto mayor John Sewell. 9:30 a.m. at Parliament and Queen Streets. 

Summer Hill and Summer Dale with architect/planner John Van Nostrand and
Kate Wilson. 9:30 a.m., Margaret Scrivener Square (Summerhill LCBO).

Walking Tour of the Esplanade with local historian Bruce Bell. 9:45 a.m. at
Kitchen Theatre, St. Lawrence Market (Mezzanine, 92 Front St. E. at Jarvis).

Jane's Hood: The Annex with architect and TV producer (Structures) Angus
Skene. 10 a.m. at St. George subway station (St. George Street exit).

Chinatown with local resident and activist Tam Goossen. 10:30 a.m. at the
southwest corner of Spadina Avenue and St. Andrew Street, on the steps of
the Bright Pearl Restaurant.

Eb & Jane's Walk with architect Eb Zeidler. 10:30 a.m. at the Chorley Park
bus stop, Douglas Drive and Glen Road, Rosedale.

Regent Park in the Process of Revitalization with Regent Park Neighbourhood
Initiative executive director Catherine Goulet. 11 a.m. at the corner of
Parliament and Gerrard Streets.

Cabbagetown: Forsythias not Cabbages with long-time resident David Hilton.
Noon at the northeast corner of Parliament and Winchester Streets. 

Yonge Street is Flaming with CBC Sunday Edition producer Jane Farrow and
Pink Triangle Press director Gerald Hannon. 1 p.m. at the King Edward Hotel,
37 King St. E.

King and Spadina One of the Two Kings with urban redeveloper Margaret
Zeidler. 1 p.m. at The Roastery, 401 Richmond St. W.

New Ideas Spring from Old Buildings From Abbatoirs and Stables to Tong
Houses and Consulates in The Grange with local resident and veteran activist
Ceta Ramkhalawansingh. 3 p.m. in front of Yung Sing Pastry Shop, 22 Baldwin
St.

Kensington Market to Alexandra Park: Observations to Heal the "Great Divide"
with City Councillor Adam Vaughan. 3 p.m. at the Casa Acoreana coffee shop,
northeast corner of Augusta and Baldwin Streets. 

Little Italy: The Devil's Noodles with storyteller Dan Yashinsky. 3 p.m. at
the corner of Beatrice and College Streets. 

Nightlife: From Grange to Grunge with CBC Ideas producer and Jane Jacobs
student Max Allen. 8 p.m. at 100 McCaul St. 

East 

A Whimsical Walking Tour of the Beach (or is it the Beaches?) with local
historian Gene Domagala. 1 p.m. outside the Beaches Library, 2161 Queen St.
E. 

>From Ashbridges to Little India with Applegrove Community Complex Executive
Director Susan Fletcher. 4 p.m. at 60 Woodfield Rd. (north of Queen Street,
east of Greenwood Avenue).

West 

Building Community: Swansea from Rural Suburb to City Neighbourhood with
Canadian Urban Institute boss and former Toronto mayor David Crombie. 10
a.m. at High Park subway station, Quebec Street exit.

Roncesvalles: Never Mind the Polish Sausage with author and Toronto Star
columnist Joe Fiorito. 10 a.m. at Grafton Avenue Park, Roncesvalles Avenue
north of Queen Street West. 

St. Clair and the Right of Way: Is Regeneration Still Possible? with
anti-streetcar right-of-way campaigner Margaret Smith. 10:30 p.m. at Spadina
Road and St. Clair Avenue West. 

Parkdale: Eyes on the Street with Mary Lou Morgan. 11 a.m. at the Parkdale
Community Health Centre, 1299 Queen St. W.

Jane's Campfire Walk with Dufferin Grove community firebrand Jutta Mason.
Noon. Take the east exit leading out of the Lansdowne subway station (Bloor
line) and walk one block east to Susan Tibaldi Parkette, located on the
subway lands behind Duffy's Tavern, immediately north of Bloor Street
between Brock and Emerson Avenues.

Parkdale Historical Tour with Architectural Conservancy Toronto president
Alec Keefer. 1 p.m. at the south side of the intersection of Roncesvalles
Avenue and King Street West at the bridge to Sunnyside.

Interplay: The Old and New St. Clair West with former city council candidate
and St. Clair West Village Residents' Association chairwoman Alejandra
Bravo. 1 p.m. at the Oakwood Collegiate Parkette, St. Clair and Oakwood
Avenues.

West Queen West gallery and artist district tour with artist Ben Woolfitt. 2
p.m., Woolfitt's Art Supplies, 1153 Queen St. W.

 

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