Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques
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Residents or Parks? Remaking Toronto Island
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2016
Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted August, 2016
Photo Source - rudy.ca
Located at the south end of the Centre Island Bridge on the west side, this 2014 Heritage Toronto plaque has this to say:
Coordinates: 43.618647 -79.374038 |
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As early as 1880, homes and businesses lined the streets of Toronto Island from Hanlan's Point to Ward's Island. Before the Second World War, there were more than 600 leased residences. However, shortly after its establishment in 1953, the Metropolitan Toronto Council (Metro) began to expropriate land to create a new public park for the growing city, compensating for waterfront parkland lost through the construction of the Gardiner Expressway.
Metro begin bulldozing residences and businesses as Island leases expired. By 1960, one-third of all buildings had been demolished and the land cleared. In response, a coalition of residences and politicians advocated for, and won, an extension of the remaining leases, thereby delaying Metro's plans.
Toronto city council increasingly favoured the Island community and its newly formed Residents Association and voted, 1973, to preserve the remaining homes, predominately on Ward's and Algonquin Islands. Following an intense legal battle between Toronto City Council and Metro, a 1981 provincial inquiry recommended that residents be allowed to stay for 25 years, The community's permanence was secured a decade later through provincial legislation, permitting the purchase of 99-year leases from a land trust.
Related webpage
Ward's Island
Gardiner Expressway
Related Toronto plaque
Manitou Road
More plaques found on Toronto Island
Allan A. Lamport Regatta Course
Babe Ruth at Hanlan's Point
English's Boathouse
Gibraltar Point
Gibraltar Point Lighthouse
Island Filtration Plant
Island Water Treatment Plant
The Lake Light
Manitou Road
Milton Acorn and Gwendolyn MacEwen
Ned Hanlan 1855-1908
Queen City Yacht Club
The Royal Canadian Yacht Club
St. Andrew-by-the-Lake
Toronto Island
More
Parks and Recreation
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