City Life Assignment #1

Faculty of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Humber College

City Life - SOCI 3010

Kate Anderson

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Toronto is a melting pot of different cultures, with each neighbourhood and area having

different architecture, places of worship, restaurants, businesses, and so on, based on the

diversity of its inhabitants. Each area within the city caters to the people who live within it,

and effort has been put in to develop and improve them to be more accommodating for

people as they go through stages in their lives. Kotkin reveals thats “successful cities … have

to achieve two things: a better way of life for their residents and a degree of transcendence

critical to their identities” (2016, pg. 21). Toronto neighbourhoods are an example of that and

throughout this paper, we’ll reflect and take a deep dive into a neighbourhood within the

West-Side of the city, Bathurst and Finch in North York, and see how it's grown to adapt to

their community.

The Toronto community surrounding 625 Finch Avenue is busy and diverse. It has a

combination of buildings such as commercial, residential and housing, and green areas such

as local parks for recreation. One of the prominent parks is Robert Hicks Park: a small metal-

built and train-themed playground that is easily accessible from the Robert Hicks

neighbourhood; it is gently nestled into being seen subtly from the main road of Finch

Avenue. Discreetly hidden behind the neighbourhood across Robert Hicks Park is an even

bigger park called G Ross Lord, linking at least 2 major Finch intersections (Finch &

Bathurst and Finch & Dufferin). There are many entryways into this Toronto park,

demonstrating the intentional connectivity, merging social interaction and urban green space.

Embedding a green space in a densely populated urban environment is vital for residents as it

provides a respite from the fast-paced, noisy, busyness of concrete urban reality.

The area has several types of buildings present for housing such as apartment buildings,

townhouses and single-family households. The location also has daycares, community

centres, parks, a retirement home, a local hospital and schools around. Since most of the

people in the area are working, having all these amenities close is convenient and helpful.
Also, locals have access to daily needs since a variety of stores, eateries and services such as

Tim Hortons, Subway, CIBC, and Dollarama can be found in the Finchurst Plaza nearby.

Overall, it is a busy urban setting that combines residential areas and businesses.

Residential areas: There are different types of households surrounding the Silver Springs

apartment complex at 625 Finch Ave West. Along the same side of the road as 625 Finch

Ave West neighbours similar high-rise apartments, invitingly accommodating larger family

households and a growing population. Evidence of concentrating similar high-rise housing

complexes on one side of the road allows for more efficient land use where space could be

limited. On the other hand, the neighbourhood directly across invites a different form of

living, wherein there is a consistent and cohesive construction of houses. A development of

structure designation and zone separation is a means of preserving and adding character as

one walks up and down the neighbourhood. Overall, the area consists of a wide range of

housing options, for example, detached and semi-detached homes, townhouses,

condominiums, apartment buildings, etc.

There is a diverse demographic of people living around the 625 Finch Ave West area such as

families, young professionals, students, and old and middle-aged individuals. Observed most

during the day are young professionals and students, mainly waiting for the school bus or

public transportation, even walking to and from the elementary and high schools a couple

blocks away. A concentration of mainly young people in the neighbourhood brings a lively,

energetic, and dynamic vibrancy to the community. This energy from a young demographic

shows that the 625 Finch Ave neighbourhood is meant and built for families, oriented to the

possible amenities, services and opportunities for social interactions. The community is calm

and friendly where people usually say hello and acknowledge each other while out on the

streets, being actively involved in local activities and initiatives. This enhances the

neighbourhood's overall appeal and desirability as it generates a sense of belonging within the
community. Collectively, these opportunities not only strengthen social bonds but also

contribute to a safe and more supportive environment for all residents. Living in the

apartment building of 625 Finch Ave West and locally around feels like a desirable and

inclusive neighbourhood to call home.

Streets: Finch Ave West is an essential area that links several Toronto neighbourhoods and

offers simple access to the city's other main roads and highways. Surrounding streets like

Yonge Street, Dufferin Street, and Bathurst Street further complement Finch Ave West by

providing additional access to facilities and transportation alternatives. The streets are usually

busy, bursting with activity throughout the day. The area comprises residential housing,

commercial businesses and green spaces. Also, the streets are safe for pedestrian use with

crosswalks, sidewalks, and traffic signals which promotes a friendly environment for locals.

The streets also have bicycle lanes, encouraging sustainable modes of transportation.

Local Stores and Business: The neighbourhood offers a wide range of establishments that

serve local requirements and tastes. There is a nearby square called The Finchurst Plaza at the

intersection of The Finch and Bathurst. The plaza is clustered with food places and services

like healthcare, dentist, barber, drug mart, play it again sports, bakeries and food shops,

ethnic grocery stores, convenience stores, Tim Hortons, Subway, a florist store etc. Small

businesses play an important part in the local economy and contribute to the distinct character

and charm of the neighbourhood. The popular mall, Yorkdale Shopping Center is located at a

15-minute drive from my place offering a large selection of shopping and dining options. All

these businesses, ranging from high-end boutique stores to locally owned add to the diversity

and desirability of the area.

Public Transport: Whether urban dwellers live within the high-rise complex zones or the

housing district, movement by foot and arrangement of traffic flow are demonstrated as top

priorities. This arrangement involves incorporating dedicated pedestrian crossings, bus stops,
crosswalk signals, and paved walkways to accommodate a higher density of residents,

especially wide enough for student groupings and families travelling together with young

kids. As Brown & Shortell explain, walking will provide a well-rounded “sensory intake” of

urban space. While there are distinct walkways, the Finch Ave road is critical for

connectivity, linking 2 major intersections: Finch & Bathurst and Finch & Dufferin. During

peak hours, there is evidence that urban dwellers rely on this road. Unfortunately, due to its

size of 2 lanes both ways and the presence of road reconstruction, it's a major road of

congestion and constant traffic before drivers can exit. For the most part, the area is easily

commutable by public transit through the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), with easily

accessible bus routes and subway stations like Finch Station and Sheppard West Station.

Also, the TTC makes it easy to commute to the Toronto Public Library, Humber College,

Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Downtown Toronto etc. places which are hard to reach by foot.

All these amenities enhance the quality of life, ensuring that daily life runs smoothly.

The city form that we live in now is different from the historical urban forms in terms of

materials used for the construction of the buildings, shape and size of the buildings,

transportation facilities, etc. For instance, in the ancient and medieval eras, the buildings and

houses were mostly made of wood, stones, mud bricks or logs. However, modern

construction mainly makes use of concrete, steel, glass etc. These materials enhance the

strength and quality of the buildings making them a cost-effective option for construction.

Shapes and sizes of houses differ a lot as well, urbanisation has led to the densification of the

cities resulting in maximum use of land by constructing apartment buildings, condominiums,

and high-rise towers. In terms of transportation options, in historic times while people must

have relied on foot or animal carriages as means of transport, modern urban areas like

Toronto have a vast number of options (TTC) like Subways, Go Bus, Trams, electric scooters

which are both cost-effective and comfortable. Furthermore, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks,

bike lanes and crosswalks are all part of urban design in modern times maximizing seamless

coordination and organization.

Friday, February 16, 2024 at 3:45 pm