The Gladstone Analysis

The corner of Queen Street West and Gladstone Avenue has been, for the past four years, under major re-development. Before then, this area known as Parkdale was often thought of as one of Toronto's "seedier" locations. Often referred to as "Crackdale," it became known for its crime and run-down appearance. Conversely, it was also known for its artistic and working-class residents which prevented the area from being regarded as an out-right "slum."Over the past few years, however, with renovations having been done to such run-down establishments as the Gladstone and Drake Hotel, this reputation has slowly started to dissipate. Since then, most of the small businesses that once occupied a majority of the retail shops have sold their businesses and been replaced by trendy art galleries, cafes, bars, and other independent retailers. The area, being an almost balanced mix of business and residential, has become a popular target for large developers and many new developments are under way to create more residences by way of condos, townhomes, and "lofts." While these changes have been taking place, the rest of the city has become increasingly interested in this area. While many of these changes have been an improvement to the neighbourhoods appearance and reputation, there is a fear that too much change will rob the area of what it is most known for - cultural and artistic diversity.

Queen Street West, on an early Monday afternoon, was fairly quiet given that it has been dubbed one of Toronto's trendiest new "hotspots." In observing the people walking past, it was hard not to notice that most of them were not dressed in business suits or formal attire. Rather they sported more fashionable street-clothes suggesting that these were not individuals with typical Bay Street office jobs. Most of the individuals I observed were in their early 20's and were in keeping with Queen and Gladstone's reputation as being a "haven" for young artists and trendy "hipsters." Along with artists and young adults, there was also a prevalence of lower-income residents, such as old men sitting outside the Country Site donut shop in the Queen Village Plaza, the last vestige of how the area used to look. Their presence suggests that, while gentrification of the area is on the rise it has not yet succeeded in completely pushing out the less affluent residents that have been there for years.

Queen Street West has always been known as a working class neighbourhood replete with artists and lower-income bracket residents as is evident from some of the smaller businesses that have managed to stay open along Queen. Walking toward the Gladstone it was interesting to note that nestled between a trendy art gallery and one of the many bars was a small pharmacy called ACME DRUGS. Judging by the depletion of the sign outside and the out-dated products on-display in the window, it is fair to assume that this business has survived for more than 15 years. Close by was an Animal Clinic that also seemed to have been in business for well over 10 years. Both businesses offer services that reflect the needs of neighbourhoods with a strong residential population. It was interesting to note then, in this instance, that of the 20 or so businesses I passed only four were operating outside of the bar/restaurant industry. It is easy to understand why Misha Glouberman argues that this influx of bars is destroying the neighbourhood quality of the area. "In a city that celebrates mixed use...why should neighbourhoods be over-run with bars as a single use?" Glouberman, who founded the Queen-Beaconsfield Residents Association, actively speaks out against new developments in the