Photo by David Megia Monico on cornercommons

Corner Commons: Creative placemaking on a suburban scale

This past summer, the Jane and Finch neighbourhood got a glimpse of what a community-driven public space could look and feel like. It was a striking example of how underused spaces can act as resilient hubs for all.

The pandemic has reminded us that public spaces are valuable first responders for communities. Corner Commons transformed a small corner of the Jane-Finch Mall into a vibrant pop-up public space that hosted a range of programming, including grassroots community events, educational workshops, vaccine clinics, artist residencies, local vendors, and live music. But more than that, it was also a 24/7 corner for informal community use – a place to rest until your bus arrives, meet up with a friend, take a phone call, eat lunch, or just tie your shoe.

By Community, for Community

For years before its conception, local residents, community organizations, and other neighbourhood stakeholders and supporters have used the parking lot. And while it’s been used by many, it lacked the resources to properly activate the space. This was the impetus for Corner Commons – through conversations with community members, we realized there was a real opportunity to improve this space and create the temporary infrastructure that added to the vibrant character of the neighbourhood. With this same collective, we formed our working group, developing the initial concepts and programming ideas that formed the basis of Corner Commons.


Read the full article on spacingToronto

Authors: Clara Stewart-Robertson, Ernestine Aying, Eunice Wong

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