The strip of Bloor between Church and Avenue is nearing normalcy, with the
Bloor Yorkville Business Improvement Area announcing the beautification and infrastructure upgrade project is ahead of schedule and on track to be finished by the end of the year.
Envisioned as far back as the 1990s by the city, which wanted to replace the area's aged water mains, the work was delayed for about half a year in 2008-2009 as schedules got confused between the various agencies working in the area.
"Because it's city-owned property," says the BIA's general manager Briar de Lange, "they have to manage the project. That's been problematic for us, co-ordinating between them and the utility companies hasn't gone as well as we would have liked."
But now Phase I, which encompassed the area from Church to Yonge, has been mostly completed. Phase II began on March 9.
There will also be 20
bike posts installed, designed by Pittsburgh company Forms + Surfaces.
According to de Lange, the Bloor Yorkville BIA, which is responsible for all the visible changes to the strip, including the granite sidewalks and the planters, will have spent a total of $20 million by the time the project's complete.
Writer: Bert Archer
Source: Briar de Lange
Do you know of a new building going up, a business expanding or being renovated, a park in the works or even a cool new house being built in the neighbourhood? Please send your development news tips to [email protected].