Community farming
Precedent
Eglinton Flats
Before the arrival of Kodak, farming was the backbone industry of Mount Dennis since the mid-1800s. Even late in the mid-1960s, the neighborhood still boasts the largest urban farm in Toronto at Eglinton Flats, providing fresh fruit and vegetables to the wider York community. Despite fierce local opposition, the area was turned into parklands in 1965 citing the importance of floodplains after the 1955 hurricane Hazel. There are many interesting stories of Eglinton Flats: at one time, it is called the Chinese market due to the rise of Asian immigrant farming communities. The most famous of them all is probably Chiang Kai Sek’s distant cousins who were eventually forced out by a controlled fire! It’s another piece of history you don’t learn at school.
Before the arrival of Kodak, farming was the backbone industry of Mount Dennis since the mid-1800s. Even late in the mid-1960s, the neighborhood still boasts the largest urban farm in Toronto at Eglinton Flats, providing fresh fruit and vegetables to the wider York community. Despite fierce local opposition, the area was turned into parklands in 1965 citing the importance of floodplains after the 1955 hurricane Hazel. There are many interesting stories of Eglinton Flats: at one time, it is called the Chinese market due to the rise of Asian immigrant farming communities. The most famous of them all is probably Chiang Kai Sek’s distant cousins who were eventually forced out by a controlled fire! It’s another piece of history you don’t learn at school.
Pordage greenhouse
The three-generation Pordage Greenhouse opened in the 1920s and operated until 1985 when it was demolished to make way for apartment buildings. At its heights, it has four green houses.
The three-generation Pordage Greenhouse opened in the 1920s and operated until 1985 when it was demolished to make way for apartment buildings. At its heights, it has four green houses.
Eglinton Flats
Pordage greenhouse
Design
Site 1: 1295 Weston Rd.
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Site 2: 1345 Weston Rd.
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Site 2: 1345 Weston Rd.
The triangular complex
Apart from their inherent virtues, the community gardens solve an important spatial challenge: the triangular corner lots. Throughout the urban history of Mt. Dennis, the only two programs ever occupy these lots are parks/wild grasslands and automobile salon. Currently, two used auto dealers occupy the spaces. Normally, during redevelopment, these spaces are acquired for condominiums but they have proved to be problematic in this case. With a long culture of farming as well as great local support, these undesirable plots can become extremely valuable for the neighborhood social and economic life.
Mt. Dennis Eco-Iniative
Kristine Lorzano was actually the first person I contacted when I began my research. She was the initiator of the Mt. Dennis Eco-neighborhood Iniative which seeks to become the first neighborhood in Toronto to reach carbon-neutrality. She highlighted the needs to create food security and reduce the carbon footprint in the neighborhood.
Apart from their inherent virtues, the community gardens solve an important spatial challenge: the triangular corner lots. Throughout the urban history of Mt. Dennis, the only two programs ever occupy these lots are parks/wild grasslands and automobile salon. Currently, two used auto dealers occupy the spaces. Normally, during redevelopment, these spaces are acquired for condominiums but they have proved to be problematic in this case. With a long culture of farming as well as great local support, these undesirable plots can become extremely valuable for the neighborhood social and economic life.
Mt. Dennis Eco-Iniative
Kristine Lorzano was actually the first person I contacted when I began my research. She was the initiator of the Mt. Dennis Eco-neighborhood Iniative which seeks to become the first neighborhood in Toronto to reach carbon-neutrality. She highlighted the needs to create food security and reduce the carbon footprint in the neighborhood.
Black Creek farm![]()
The idea of a community garden stems directly from the works Christina Hoang and the Black Creek Farm are working on. To me, this represents a continuation in the neighborhood’s cultural heritage and Mount Dennis will surely benefit massively from their innovation and experience if a form of community garden is materialized. We are both very interested in the idea of vertical farm and will hopefully have some fruitful conversation with the city’s urban planners.
Location
While a community garden at site 1 serves as an extension of UrbanArts, the one on site 2 has immense potential due to its walking proximity to the commercial plaza and the Bala Secondary School. Along with its economonic, psychological and Inter-neighborhood and inter-generational social circles
The idea of a community garden stems directly from the works Christina Hoang and the Black Creek Farm are working on. To me, this represents a continuation in the neighborhood’s cultural heritage and Mount Dennis will surely benefit massively from their innovation and experience if a form of community garden is materialized. We are both very interested in the idea of vertical farm and will hopefully have some fruitful conversation with the city’s urban planners.Location
While a community garden at site 1 serves as an extension of UrbanArts, the one on site 2 has immense potential due to its walking proximity to the commercial plaza and the Bala Secondary School. Along with its economonic, psychological and Inter-neighborhood and inter-generational social circles
The Urban Palimpsest of Mount Dennis - Thesis statement