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Four projects that are about to begin may dramatically change the landscape beyond the fringes of Fort York. These improvements, if well executed, could result in bringing the Fort York Neighbourhood closer to the promise of a well planned community. All four projects are important to the National Historic Site, but it is too early yet to say with certainty whether everything will go according to plan On the east the Bathurst Bridge, renamed last September for Sir Isaac Brock, will close late in 2008 for rebuilding to permit streetcar turns where Bathurst intersects Fort York Boulevard. (See Fife & Drum, Sept. 2006). Within the next few months designs for the new structure will emerge from a consortium of engineers, architects, archaeologists and others led by McCormick Rankin. We expect the result will be a highly distinguished public work that provides safe, generous pedestrian and cycling connections under Bathurst Street, and hope we are not disappointed. South of the fort, the TTC plans to run a streetcar in a dedicated right-of-way along Fort York Boulevard. The Friends of Fort York have supported the proposal in the earliest phases of its Environmental Assessment, while reserving any final endorsement until we see detailed plans that honour two fundamental principles: Ease of Access to the site, and Respect for Its Integrity. There are only two road entrances to Fort York. The one off Fleet Street west of the Armoury is now limited by the newly-rebuilt Fleet streetcar line to right-in and right-out turns only. It is essential, therefore, that cars and buses entering or leaving by the fort’s main gate on Fort York Blvd. be allowed a full range of turns. As for the second principle, any encroachment on the site for a streetcar line will be resisted vigorously as short sighted, destructive of the fort’s integrity and prejudicial to the preservation of the city’s birthplace. The streetcar must stay in the road. Strachan Avenue to the west of Fort York is the third edge where something’s happening. A study has been commissioned to provide alternative designs for how the present level crossing of the GO rail corridor to Georgetown and Milton might be grade-separated while ensuring that Strachan continues as an important link between the Waterfront and the neighbourhoods north of King Street. The result must also be more aesthetically pleasing and pedestrianand cyclistfriendly. DuToit Allsopp Hillier have been awarded the contract for this study, to be completed by the end of 2008. Finally, an Environmental Assessment has begun on the imaginative proposal to provide a link by means of a bridge that would carry only pedestrians and cyclists across the rail corridors from the open area west of the fort to the parklands beyond (See Fife & Drum, Dec. 2007). Following a competition, the name of the successful proponent to carry out this assessment will be announced shortly.
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