Community hub
0 subscribers8 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to De Grassi Street.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
De Grassi Street
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
De Grassi Street is a side street located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was named after Captain Filippo "Philip" De Grassi, an Italian-born soldier who immigrated to Canada with his family in 1831 and settled in York, Upper Canada. He later became a member of the Family Compact.[1]
De Grassi Street is located in south Riverdale, and has a residential character. A number of the homes date back to the 1880s and were built in the distinctive tall, narrow bay-and-gable style. It runs one-way northbound from Queen Street East to Gerrard Street, approximately halfway between Broadview and Carlaw Avenues.[2]
It is best known in popular culture as the namesake of the teen drama television franchise Degrassi, with the first three series shot in and around the street.
Neighbourhoods
[edit]- Queen-Broadview Village – at Queen Street
- Riverside (Queen Street East from the Don Valley east to De Grassi Street)
- East Chinatown – at Gerrard Street
Attractions
[edit]- Jimmie Simpson Park – named after former Toronto mayor James Simpson
- Bruce Mackey Park – named after a Toronto District School Board educator whose house was used in The Kids of Degrassi Street.
- First Nations Public School
- Eastdale Collegiate Institute
- Site of Riverdale Station, which was demolished in 1972.
In fiction
[edit]The street was made internationally famous by the Degrassi series of television shows for youth. Producers of the show slightly altered the spelling of the street's name. The first Degrassi series, The Kids of Degrassi Street on CBC Television, was set on the street with some exterior shots in the actual neighbourhood, but was filmed elsewhere:
- Vincent Massey Public School – 68 Daisy Avenue, Mimico – Degrassi Junior High, seen on CBC Television (1987-1989) in Canada and on PBS in the United States.
- Centennial College – 951 Carlaw Ave (Centre for Creative Communication) – Degrassi High, seen on CBC Television (1989-1991) in Canada and on PBS in the United States.
- The following Degrassi series, Degrassi: The Next Generation, which was largely shot on a studio backlot, was seen on CTV (first run 2001–2009; syndication 2001–present), CTV Two (syndication), and MuchMusic (first run 2010–2015) in Canada, and on Noggin during "The N" block (first run), TeenNick (first run, 2009–2015) and MTV (syndication) in the United States.
- The most recent series Degrassi: Next Class, is shot in the same location as The Next Generation, and is seen on Family (2016–2017) in Canada, and Netflix (2016–2017) in the United States.
References
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to De Grassi Street, Toronto.
- ^ Mayers, Adam (2007-08-21). "Soldier's story forever etched in city streets". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- ^ "De Grassi Street - streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada". maps-streetview.com.
| The Kids of Degrassi Street | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Degrassi Classic |
| ||||||||||
| Degrassi: The Next Generation |
| ||||||||||
| Degrassi: Next Class | |||||||||||
| Related |
| ||||||||||
De Grassi Street
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins and Naming
De Grassi Street originated during the expansion of Toronto's east-end residential areas in the mid-19th century, as part of the subdivision of land in what is now the Riverside neighbourhood. The street was formally named after Captain Filippo "Philip" De Grassi (1793–1877), an Italian-born soldier of fortune who immigrated to Upper Canada in 1831 with his family.[1][5] Filippo De Grassi, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, sought opportunities in the British colonies after service in various European conflicts. Upon arrival in York (now Toronto), he initially worked as a teacher and surveyor before joining the colonial militia and participating in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837 on the loyalist side. His contributions to early Toronto's development, including land surveying efforts, likely influenced the naming decision by city planners during the area's urbanization in the 1850s and 1860s.[2][6] While some historical accounts attribute the naming to De Grassi's son Alfio, an engineer with the Toronto Fire Department and Masonic leader, the preponderance of evidence points to the captain himself, whose prominence as an early Italian settler and public servant aligned with the era's street-naming conventions honoring notable figures. The street's layout was established by the 1870s, with initial construction of modest workmen's cottages beginning in the 1880s to house factory workers from nearby industries.[7][1]19th-Century Development
De Grassi Street in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood was formally named in 1886 after Alfio De Grassi, a Toronto Fire Department engineer and prominent Freemason active in the city's Masonic Order during the 1870s, whose family traced descent from Captain Filippo De Grassi, an Italian immigrant who arrived in Upper Canada in 1831 and participated in the Rebellion of 1837.[8][1] The street's establishment aligned with the broader annexation of the Riverdale area by the City of Toronto in 1884, which facilitated organized suburban expansion east of the Don River amid growing industrial activity along the waterfront and rail corridors.[9][10] Residential development on De Grassi Street commenced in the mid-1880s, with many of its original structures constructed as modest workmen's cottages to house labourers from nearby manufacturing firms and the expanding Grand Trunk Railway operations.[1] These homes predominantly featured the bay-and-gable style prevalent in late-19th-century Ontario, characterized by tall, narrow facades with projecting bays and gabled roofs, reflecting economical yet durable construction for working-class residents.[1][11] The street's layout, running northbound from Queen Street East toward Gerrard Street between Broadview and Carlaw Avenues, integrated into early subdivision plans that prioritized grid-based residential blocks amid the area's transition from semi-rural outskirts to urban fringe.[1][11] The opening of the Queen East railway station at De Grassi Street in 1896 marked a pivotal late-19th-century advancement, enhancing connectivity for local industries and accelerating population influx by enabling efficient goods transport and commuter access to downtown Toronto.[9] This infrastructure supported sustained housing growth, with the surrounding Riverdale Phase 1 area—encompassing De Grassi—developing as one of the earliest residential pockets east of the Don, featuring harmonious Victorian-era designs suited to modest incomes.[11] By the century's end, the street embodied Riverdale's evolution into a stable working-class enclave, bolstered by proximity to rail lines that drove economic vitality without the overt industrial dominance seen in adjacent zones.[8][10]20th-Century Residential Growth
The early 20th century marked a period of modest residential consolidation on De Grassi Street, with infill development incorporating Edwardian-style homes alongside the predominant late-19th-century Victorian workers' cottages built for nearby manufacturing employees.[1] Examples include properties like 94 De Grassi Street, reflecting the era's architectural transition toward more ornate bay windows and gabled roofs suited to the growing working-class population in south Riverdale.[12] This phase aligned with broader annexation effects post-1884 and improved infrastructure, such as the 1918 completion of the Prince Edward Viaduct, which enhanced connectivity from downtown Toronto and supported steady occupancy without large-scale subdivision.[13] By the 1920s, the elevation of the Grand Trunk Railway right-of-way and demolition of the South Riverdale station—operational until that decade—shifted the area away from heavy freight disruptions, fostering a more stable residential environment amid Toronto's industrial expansion elsewhere.[14] However, De Grassi Street saw negligible new housing construction thereafter, as the neighbourhood's established footprint limited further densification; mid-century urban renewal in adjacent Riverdale focused on social housing projects like those razed for Don Mount Court in the 1960s, but spared the street's core historic blocks.[15] Late-20th-century trends emphasized preservation over growth, with the street's housing stock—largely intact from 1880–1910—experiencing renovations rather than expansions, reflecting Riverside's evolution from industrial worker enclaves to a preserved enclave amid citywide population surges.[16] This stability contrasted with Toronto's broader suburban sprawl, maintaining De Grassi's narrow, pedestrian-scale layout bounded by Queen Street East and Gerrard Street.[1]Geography and Layout
Location and Boundaries
De Grassi Street is a residential side street in the South Riverdale neighbourhood on the east side of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, positioned approximately halfway between Broadview Avenue to the west and Carlaw Avenue to the east.[1] The street operates as a one-way thoroughfare, directing northbound traffic exclusively. Its geographic coordinates center around 43°39′48″N 79°20′50″W.[17] The street's boundaries extend from its southern terminus at Queen Street East northward to Gerrard Street East, encompassing a compact urban block primarily lined with historic homes and a small parkette.[1] [5] This layout integrates it into the dense, walkable fabric of the Riverside area, adjacent to major arterial roads like Queen Street East, which facilitates access via streetcar lines such as the 501 Queen route stopping nearby at Boulton Avenue.[18] The proximity to the Don River valley influences local topography, with the street situated on relatively flat terrain amid Toronto's east-end grid.[1]Surrounding Infrastructure
De Grassi Street, a short residential thoroughfare in Toronto's Riverside neighbourhood, primarily connects to Queen Street East at its southern end and extends northward, intersecting with local streets such as Strange Street.[19] The surrounding road network includes major east-west arterials like Queen Street East, which facilitates vehicular access and commercial activity, while the nearby Don Valley Parkway provides regional connectivity to the west.[20] Public transit access relies on the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) 501 Queen streetcar line, with the nearest stop at Queen Street East and Boulton Avenue approximately a five-minute walk away.[21] Bus routes along Gerrard Street East and other nearby corridors supplement service, though the street itself lacks direct high-capacity transit. On-street parking is available but subject to restrictions and temporary closures due to ongoing construction.[22] [23] The area features significant rail infrastructure, including GO Transit lines and existing rail bridges over Queen Street East, which have historically caused service disruptions due to mechanical issues near the De Grassi intersection.[24] Current expansions, such as the Ontario Line subway and GO Expansion projects, involve bridge replacements and new access roads adjacent to De Grassi Street, enhancing future connectivity but temporarily impacting local traffic and parking through lane closures and haul routes.[25] [26] Small-scale green infrastructure includes the De Grassi Street Parkette at 125 De Grassi Street, a community green space offering basic amenities north of Queen Street East.[27] The neighbourhood's proximity to the Don River and rail corridors underscores its integration with broader urban utilities and flood management systems, though specific local utility details remain managed by municipal services without notable disruptions reported beyond transit works.[28]Neighbourhood Context
Riverside and Leslieville Integration
De Grassi Street lies within the Riverside neighborhood of Toronto, bounded approximately by Gerrard Street East to the north, Eastern Avenue to the south, the Don Valley Parkway to the west, and Logan Avenue to the east, positioning it as a core residential artery south of the Queen Street East commercial strip.[20] This placement facilitates seamless integration with adjacent Leslieville, which extends eastward from Empire Avenue to Coxwell Avenue, sharing the vibrant Queen East corridor for retail, dining, and services that serve both communities.[29] The street's north-south orientation connects the bustling urban amenities of Queen Street directly to quieter residential zones, exemplifying the blended urban-residential fabric common to Riverside and Leslieville. Economically and demographically, De Grassi Street reflects the parallel gentrification trajectories of Riverside and Leslieville since the late 20th century, transitioning from working-class roots to a mix of renovated Victorian-era homes attracting young professionals and families drawn to proximity to downtown Toronto, just 2.5 kilometers away.[30] Properties on the street, many dating to the 1880s, have seen significant upgrades, mirroring broader neighborhood revitalization efforts that preserve historic architecture while enhancing modern livability.[31] This shared evolution fosters community cohesion, with residents accessing unified local amenities like the Riverside business district extending to De Grassi Street.[32] Infrastructure developments further underscore this integration, notably the planned Riverside-Leslieville Station on the Ontario Line subway, featuring an entrance at Queen Street East and De Grassi/Strange Streets, which will improve transit links and reinforce the area's connectivity as a unified East End hub.[33] The station's design emphasizes pedestrian-friendly plazas, aligning with the walkable, neighborhood-scale integration that defines the Riverside-Leslieville expanse.[33]
Demographic and Economic Profile
De Grassi Street is situated within Toronto's South Riverdale neighbourhood, a mixed-income area encompassing Riverside and Leslieville districts that has undergone significant gentrification since the late 20th century. As of the 2016 census, South Riverdale had a population of 27,876 residents, reflecting an 8.7% increase from 2011, driven by urban renewal and proximity to downtown amenities.[34] The neighbourhood's demographic composition features a working-age majority, with 57.3% of residents between 25 and 54 years old, 14.6% aged 0-14, and 10.7% over 65, indicating a family-oriented yet vibrant urban profile conducive to residential stability.[34] Visible minorities constituted 29.1% of the population in 2016, underscoring moderate ethnic diversity relative to Toronto's overall 51.5% visible minority share in the same census period.[34] [35] Economically, South Riverdale maintains a profile of upward mobility amid ongoing gentrification, with a 2015 median household income of $76,172—above the citywide median of $65,829 at the time but indicative of a transitional phase from industrial roots to professional residency.[34] Recent estimates place average individual incomes in the neighbourhood around $129,000, reflecting influxes of higher-earning professionals attracted by renovated Victorian housing and commercial vibrancy along Queen Street East.[36] Employment rates stood at 66.8% in 2016, with an unemployment rate of 6.5% and a labour force participation rate of 71.5%, supported by sectors like arts, services, and proximity to employment hubs in the east end.[34] Housing economics emphasize owner-occupancy, with rising property values—median home prices exceeding $1 million by 2023—exacerbating affordability challenges for lower-income households despite the area's mixed tenure (predominantly single-detached and semi-detached dwellings).[37] This economic stratification aligns with causal patterns of urban revitalization, where historical working-class demographics yield to wealthier in-migrants, preserving some diversity while elevating overall prosperity.[38]Architecture and Housing
Historic Homes and Styles
De Grassi Street is characterized by modest working-class homes built primarily from the mid-1880s to the period surrounding World War I, serving as residences for workers in nearby manufacturing industries.[39] Many structures date to the 1880s, exemplifying early suburban development east of the Don River in Toronto's Riverside neighbourhood.[1] The dominant architectural style is Victorian bay-and-gable, featuring tall, narrow semi-detached or row houses with projecting front bays, gabled roofs incorporating Gothic or Italianate elements, and functional designs suited to modest incomes.[1] [39] These workmen's cottages, such as the example at 52 De Grassi Street, typically include one-storey layouts with gabled roofs, dedicated bedrooms, and early indoor sanitation features inspired by mid-19th-century innovations like the Crystal Palace Exhibition model.[40] Repetitive forms along the street create a cohesive streetscape, with limited demolitions preserving much of the original built fabric.[39] Edwardian influences appear in later homes, often as modified four-square designs with simplified classical detailing and modest scaling, as seen in properties like 94 De Grassi Street, which retains period charm through symmetrical facades and traditional materials.[41] [39] Less prevalent but present are Second Empire elements, including mansard roofs on some row houses, reflecting styles popular until the 1880s.[39] [42] The uniformity of these styles underscores the street's role in planned subdivisions from the 1880s, such as those extending adjacent avenues.[39]