Entertainment District Poised To Undergo Major Transformation

The city’s Entertainment District is already a happening spot most nights, but the area is poised to undergo a major transformation that would make it friendlier to pedestrians and businesses alike.

Unveiled by the local business improvement association on Tuesday, the plan uses John Street as an anchor for the new-look Entertainment District, which would include wider, tree-lined sidewalks from the foot of the CN Tower all the way up to the Ontario College of Art And Design, north of Queen St.

John Street itself would remain open to cars through the week but could easily be turned into a pedestrian-only walkway on weekends or for special events.

“The John Street corridor is going to happen because it’s not just the City that is putting up the bill, it’s going to happen because the private sector has stepped up and is making changes along the street. So those parts of the street will already get done,” notes Harold Madi of the Entertainment District Business Improvement Association. “It’s really about filling in the gaps.”

The cash for this change would be put forward not just by the city but from area developers and businesses. It’s unknown just how much the whole project would cost, and there’s no clear timeline on when they’d be implemented.

“Like London’s West End, and New York’s Broadway, Toronto’s Entertainment District will now be able to take its rightful place among the world’s leading tourist and urban destinations,” said Toronto Mayor David Miller in a statement.

“The Entertainment District BIA has done a tremendous job of working with all members of the community to ensure that this remarkable area remains a key economic and cultural engine within the City of Toronto.”

Part of the plan includes changing Richmond and Adelaide Sts. to two-way streets from Bathurst to University.

“The reality is that we can turn these streets into two-way streets and you don’t lose traffic capacity in fact what you do is you facilitate the movement of cars and delivery vehicles through the neighbourhood in a much more rational way,” city councillor Adam Vaughan explains.

Not all motorists agree.

“Traffic won’t flow at all, barely moving down here now,” one driver said.

Another remarked, “Working in the area, one-way streets are actually helpful for parking, for getting to certain addresses.”

To see more about the proposed changes, check out the photos below, or click on the Master Plan presentation PDF here.