Highlights

Celebrate Yonge

Celebrate Yonge was a transformative pilot event on Yonge Street between Queen and Gerrard from August 17 to September 16, 2012. The goal of the event was to further connect people with the diverse, unique and vibrant range of urban experiences in Downtown Yonge. During this four week period, new public spaces for pedestrians were created right on the street with bump-outs onto two vehicle lanes.

Beautiful wooden planters served as temporary barriers separating the new pedestrian spaces from vehicle traffic and strategically placed laybys allowed for deliveries and drop-offs. The event spaces offered a vibrant urban experience to visitors with public seating zones, restaurant and pub patios and programmed areas.

This temporary re-design of downtown Yonge Street was an innovative, pedestrian-friendly project designed and run by the Downtown Yonge BIA in partnership with members, community and city partners and sponsors. The use of temporary bump-outs created more space for people than the sidewalks offered, but still allowed for vehicle traffic to flow northbound and southbound. As well as temporarily reconfiguring the street, the event brought the Downtown Yonge community together to offer visitors a new experience on Yonge Street. www.celebrateyonge.com

Public Realm Strategy Approval

The Downtown Yonge Public Realm Strategy was approved by the City of Toronto in October 2012 with a directive to identify project leads among City Staff to coordinate and consult on the implementation of the plan. Our Public Realm Strategy proposes 36 projects throughout our neighbourhood that will improve people’s experience with our public spaces.

Bike Parking Strategy

This capital improvement project addresses the demand for increased bicycle parking in our district. By Spring 2013 we will install 156 new bike parking units in 8 locations throughout the BIA: Grosvenor, Yonge, Elm, Edward, Victoria, Richmond and Dundas streets. The sleek, new units (in black and grey) are in keeping with our streetscape guidelines and offer cyclists ample space to park while not blocking pedestrian access to sidewalks.

2012 OBIAA Award Winner

Downtown Yonge was the proud winner of the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association award for the BIA with the best Business Retention and Recruitment program. Our Retail Recruitment connects landlords with retailers offering a unique service that informs the real estate sector within our neighbourhood.