CHURCH STREET
WELLESLEY STREET
ALEXANDER ST
CHURCH ST. PILOT
Solo Project ​
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Type: Planning
Location: Toronto, ON
Timeline: June - September 2020
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Tools: Revit, Photoshop
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A major revitalization to the the Church and Wellesley village to bring the community together. The aim of the project is to preserve queer urbanism and uplift local shops during a Covid-19 pandemic.
As privatized buildings are taking over and local businesses are fighting to survive,
the Church and Wellesley village is losing its presence as a cherished queer space.
And YES! It is important to preserve public queer spaces!
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In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the village, like many other areas in the city, transformed part of the street into outdoor dining patios. I propose taking it further by transforming the heart of the village into a pedestrian-friendly zone with limited to no vehicle access, similar to the setup during pride week.
The revitalization project encompasses four blocks of the village, from Wellesley Street to Alexander Street. With the addition of outdoor patios, re-landscaping, public benches, and other installations. Designing an experience that encourages higher foot traffic and tourism, supports local businesses, and preserving queer spaces in our community.
The project captured the attention of the Church Street BIA and local businesses through social media, resulting in highly positive feedback and support. However, the project would face realistic logistical and cost issues, including zoning restrictions requiring extensive regulatory approvals, limited usability during winter months, and challenges in sourcing sustainable coatings for road coloring.