The **Junction Public Space Initiative** blog, hosted at https://junctionps.blogspot.com/, is a platform dedicated to promoting the creation of a community-governed public space in the Junction neighborhood of Toronto, Canada. The blog, which appears to have been active primarily between 2010 and 2019, focuses on fostering a public space on Pacific Street that serves the cultural, social, and event needs of the Junction community. Below is a detailed description of the blog’s purpose, content, key themes, and context, based on the provided document and related web information.
### Overview and Purpose
The blog was established to support the **Junction Public Space Initiative**, which aims to create a central, community-driven public space in the Junction, a vibrant and historically significant neighborhood in Toronto. The initiative envisions this space as a focal point for cultural activities, everyday community interactions, and events such as farmers' markets and art shows. The blog serves as a communication tool to rally community support, share updates on the initiative, and discuss related urban development and revitalization efforts in the Junction. It emphasizes the importance of a public space that enhances the neighborhood’s identity and fosters community engagement.[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/)[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-post-reason-this-blog-was-created-to.html)
### Key Content and Posts
The blog contains a small number of posts, with the provided document highlighting three key entries from 2015 to 2019, alongside references to earlier content. Here’s a breakdown of the main posts and themes:
2025 catchup
1. **April 19, 2019: Support for a Public Space on Pacific Street**
- This post reaffirms the blog’s core mission, linking to an earlier 2010 article (http://junctionps.blogspot.com/2010/04/junction-public-space-article.html) that outlines the vision for a public space on Pacific Street. It emphasizes the initiative’s goal of creating a community-governed space to serve the Junction’s cultural and event needs. The post likely serves as a reminder of the initiative’s ongoing relevance and a call to action for community involvement.[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/)
2. **August 11, 2018: Oldstonehenge and Urban Development**
- This post provides a detailed overview of **Oldstonehenge Development Corporation**, a key player in the Junction’s redevelopment landscape. It describes Oldstonehenge’s focus on gentrifying neighborhoods in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) since 2009, led by Michael Dobrijevic, a developer with a background in real estate investment and leasing. The post outlines Oldstonehenge’s **4D Model** (Discover, Design, Develop, Deliver), which guides their approach to creating mixed-use developments that integrate with and enhance existing neighborhoods.
- **Previous Projects by Oldstonehenge**:
- **433-435 Parliament Street (Cabbagetown, 2011)**: A redevelopment project that preserved the historical Victorian facade while modernizing interiors with hardwood floors and stainless steel appliances.
- **549 College Street (2010)**: A 4,500-square-foot retail development for the LCBO, enhancing urban retail in a busy downtown area.
- **Proposed Development at 2946-2986 Dundas Street West**: A mixed-use development including commercial and residential uses, discussed at a pre-application meeting on April 5, 2018, at West Toronto Baptist Church. This project involves the Junction Train Platform site.
- **2706-2730 Dundas Street West**: A zoning amendment application discussed in a 2018 Toronto City Council report, indicating community and council engagement with Oldstonehenge’s plans.
- The post highlights the Junction’s revitalization, describing it as a “legendary” transformation in Toronto, with stylish homes, loft conversions, boutique condos, and a vibrant commercial scene attracting young professionals and families. It also notes community concerns about development, as evidenced by the Architectural Conservancy Ontario’s (ACO) letter advocating for a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) to protect the Junction’s historic fabric.[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-post-reason-this-blog-was-created-to.html)[](https://medium.com/junctioneer-2008-2017/junction-public-space-in-full-swing-88e8c0ac10c5)
3. **December 21, 2015: How to Build a Better Greenbelt**
- This post, written by Josh Kohler and dated May 27, 2014, discusses Ontario’s **Greenbelt Plan**, a 2005 policy protecting 1.8 million acres of green space, agricultural land, and natural heritage in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH). It frames the Greenbelt as a critical component of Ontario’s growth management strategy, directing development away from ecologically sensitive areas. The post is part of a series on “The Big Review,” likely referring to a broader evaluation of regional planning policies. While not directly tied to the Junction Public Space Initiative, it reflects the blog’s broader interest in urban planning and sustainable development.[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/)
### Themes and Context
The blog reflects several key themes relevant to the Junction neighborhood and urban development in Toronto:
1. **Community-Driven Public Space**:
- The core mission is to establish a public space that serves as a cultural and social hub. The initiative emphasizes community governance, ensuring the space reflects the needs and identity of Junction residents. The blog references community meetings, such as one planned for May 14 at the Keele Street Community Centre, to gauge support and influence city officials and funders.[](https://www.junctioneer.ca/2009/03/12/junction-public-space-in-full-swing/)[](https://www.junctioneer.ca/2009/05/11/reminder-junction-public-space-meeting/)
2. **Urban Revitalization and Gentrification**:
- The Junction is portrayed as a neighborhood undergoing significant transformation, from an industrial hub to a mixed-use, vibrant community with residential, commercial, and cultural elements. Oldstonehenge’s projects, such as those on Dundas Street West, exemplify this shift, but they also raise concerns about preserving the area’s historic and cultural character. The blog acknowledges the tension between development and heritage preservation, as seen in the ACO’s advocacy for an HCD.[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-post-reason-this-blog-was-created-to.html)[](https://freshersjunction.blogspot.com/)
3. **Heritage Conservation**:
- The July 3, 2018, letter from Catherine Nasmith of the Architectural Conservancy Ontario highlights the Junction’s unique architectural and historical significance as a former independent municipality. The letter urges the city to implement a holding bylaw under the Ontario Heritage Act to protect the area’s fine-grained, rhythmic architectural fabric from large-scale developments that could erode its character. This reflects community resistance to rapid redevelopment and a desire to maintain the Junction’s distinct identity.[](https://freshersjunction.blogspot.com/)
4. **Sustainable Urban Planning**:
- The Greenbelt post connects the Junction’s local efforts to broader regional planning initiatives, emphasizing sustainable growth and the protection of green spaces. This suggests the blog’s interest in balancing development with environmental and community priorities.
### Blog Structure and Activity
- **Platform**: The blog is hosted on Blogger, a platform noted for its ease of use in sharing community-driven content.[](https://www.blogger.com/start?utm)
- **Activity Level**: The blog has limited activity, with only a few posts between 2010 and 2019. The sparsity of updates suggests it was primarily used to document key milestones or share relevant information rather than as a regularly updated platform.
- **Tone and Audience**: The tone is informative and advocacy-oriented, targeting Junction residents, local stakeholders, and policymakers. It seeks to mobilize community support and provide context for development proposals affecting the neighborhood.
### Broader Context
The Junction Public Space Initiative operates within the context of Toronto’s evolving urban landscape. The Junction, known for its historic buildings and vibrant independent businesses, has become a desirable area for young professionals and families due to its “hip” vibe, as described in the blog. However, rapid development, exemplified by Oldstonehenge’s projects, has sparked debates about preserving the neighborhood’s character. The blog’s reference to community meetings and council reports indicates active resident engagement and a push for participatory planning. The mention of the Greenbelt Plan further ties the initiative to regional efforts to manage growth sustainably, highlighting the interplay between local and regional priorities.
### Limitations and Observations
- **Limited Updates**: The blog’s infrequent posts suggest it may not be the primary platform for the initiative’s ongoing activities, which may have shifted to other channels (e.g., community meetings or social media).
- **Development Tensions**: The blog captures a critical moment in the Junction’s evolution, where community advocacy for public space and heritage preservation intersects with private development interests. The ACO’s letter underscores the risk of losing the neighborhood’s unique character to large-scale projects.
- **External Links**: The blog references external sources, such as the 2010 article and city council documents, indicating it serves as a hub for aggregating relevant information rather than generating extensive original content.
### Conclusion
The **Junction Public Space Initiative** blog is a focused platform advocating for a community-governed public space in Toronto’s Junction neighborhood. It documents efforts to create a cultural and social hub on Pacific Street, contextualizes the neighborhood’s revitalization, and engages with broader urban planning issues like heritage conservation and sustainable growth. While the blog itself is not highly active, it reflects a critical dialogue about balancing development with community identity, supported by references to local meetings, development proposals, and regional policies. For further details on the initiative or specific projects, readers are directed to community meetings or official city resources, such as those linked in the blog.[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/)[](https://www.junctioneer.ca/2009/03/12/junction-public-space-in-full-swing/)[](https://junctionps.blogspot.com/2019/04/a-post-reason-this-blog-was-created-to.html)
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