Held on April 6, 2019 at the downtown YMCA in Toronto, ACO Toronto's 2019 Heritage Symposium, engaged and expanded the theme Toronto’s Disappearing Main Streets: Buildings and Businesses.
Covering the period from the end of the 19th century to present day, John Lorinc’s presentation, “Evolution of Retail: From Streetcar Suburbs to Strip Malls,” examined how transportation shaped Toronto’s urban form. Chronicling the evolution of Toronto’s St. Clair West streetcar line, Lorinc pointed out that mass transportation predated both residential and commercial growth. Laying tracks long before it was necessary, the streetcar has proven to be beneficial for main streets as it promotes efficient and compact density. Delaying the need for individual vehicles, streetcar and pedestrian traffic sustained diverse retailers along the street. Generous sidewalks, shorter blocks, retail on both sides of the street, and a typology of buildings with retail at grade, apartments above, and rear alley access all support successful main streets. Lorinc drew parallels between older streetcar-based main streets and contemporary strip malls, both of which offer affordable spaces for independent business owners today.
The Architectural Conservancy Ontario, Toronto Branch (ACO Toronto) is a not-for-profit, incorporated organization governed by a local executive team. ACO Toronto advocates for the conservation of Toronto's physical cultural heritage, buildings, and landscapes through education and action.
