Railway Lands
Railway Lands, Toronto is a large section of development of the former railway lands located in downtown Toronto. The lands was owned and maintained by the Canadian National Railway and later transferred to the federal crown corporation Canada Lands Company. Only part of the development retains the neighbourhood name.
History
The first railway, Ontario, Simcoe and Huron (OS&H) arrived in Toronto in 1853 with station locate near the current Union Station. Rivals Grand Trunk Railway and Great Western Railway arrived in Toronto to compete with OS&H. The competition placed a strain on the new station and by 1873 a new Union Station was built by the GTR.[1] In the 1880s Grand Trunk Railway acquired rival railways (GWR in 1882 and OS&H in 1888) and the Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in the city in 1888. The competition soon meant the 2nd station was strained as well and by 1900 there was a need for a newer station.[1] Delays on this station resulted in the 3rd Union Station not opening until 1927,[1] by which time the GTR was merged into the Canadian National Railway (1923).
From the 1850s to 1920s the area south of the railway lands were filled in to accommodate railway needs. From 1858 onwards the railway expanded in area as the first Union Station was built.[2] From the 1850s to 1920s, the area south of Front Street was filled in to provide more room for railways, industrial growth and harbour needs.[3]
By the 1960s, the area was being re-developed for post-railway beginning with the building of the CN Tower (and then the SkyWalk) but this slowed down between the 1970s to 1980s.[4] By the end of the 20th Century, the area began to change with entertainment and residential development changing the area's past use.
Current area
The area defined by the City of Toronto official plans are bounded by Front Street, Yonge Street, Gardiner Expressway and Bathurst Street.[5]
The area consists of three sections:[5]
- Railway Lands West is land mostly occupied by CityPlace, Toronto, a residential development built just west of Spadina Avenue, south of Front Street and north of the Gardiner Expressway.
- Railway Lands Central is mixed use land slightly east of Spadina to the area east of the CN Tower is home to Rogers Centre and CN Tower and parts of CityPlace, Toronto
- Railway Lands East is mixed used land slightly east of Rogers Centreet is home to Union Station (and Union Station Bus Terminal), Dominion Public Building, SkyWalk, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Roundhouse Park, Steam Whistle Brewing and Air Canada Centre.
Toronto Terminals Railway owns and maintains the Union Station Rail Corridor, which consists of the narrow area of trackage lead into and out of Union Station.
References
- ^ a b c http://www.trha.ca/2ndunionstation.html
- ^ http://www.trha.ca/1stunionstation.html
- ^ http://www.toronto.ca/culture/history/history-industrializing-city.htm
- ^ http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/11/a_visual_history_of_the_toronto_railway_lands/
- ^ a b http://www.toronto.ca/planning/urbdesign/pdf/29railwaylands_wescen_pt1.pdf
External links
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