Image source: Knox, T. (n.d.). [Photograph of community development activities]. Jane Finch Centre.
https://www.janefinchcentre.org/community-development
Jane and Finch Centre Corner Commons
Background
Located in northwest Toronto, the Jane and Finch neighbourhood was developed on greenfield farmland during the 1960s and 1970s used a modernist ‘towers-in the-park’ typology. The neighbourhood is considered one of the most diverse both in Toronto and in Canada. It has become a ‘place of arrival’ for many newcomers and ethno-cultural
communities with a mix of income levels and cultural backgrounds. The neighbourhood, however, has experienced decades of underinvestment in community
facilities and services, like parks, employment services, food access, and sufficient schools.
The Jane and Finch Centre (JFC) is a community-based organisation in the neighbourhood with a residents ‘ led board of directors. It delivers multiple services to reduce poverty and works with residents to build capacity and opportunity. The organisation has operated for more than 50
years to develop practices that response to immediate community needs and priorities and it has won numerous best practice awards.
The JFC has led and supported a range of community-led initiatives, including youth leadership programmes, food security projects, arts and culture events and advocacy campaigns that seek to address systemic inequities. Notably, the Corner Commons Initiative transformed part of a private parking lot into a vibrant hub for culture and connection. Working alongside Toronto City Council, the JFC has also helped shape a community development plan that ensures local perspectives are reflected in ambitious plans for a mall redevelopment.
Location:
Toronto, Canada
Typology:
Community-led Public Space Activation
Time frame:
Initiated in 2019
Challenges
Despite its diversity, the Jane and Finch neighbourhood faces major socioeconomic challenges that are rooted in a long history of systemic inequities that disproportionately affect low-income and minority communities. Over time, this has contributed to a strong feeling of distrust towards Toronto City Council which the
communities believe has overlooked established low-income residents in favour of middle-class interests under the guise of
‘revitalisation’. In addition, the Corner Commons project, which is run by JFC, currently has a free lease agreement with Jane and Finch Mall that leaves its long-term access to the space uncertain.
The ongoing relationship with the mall management company requires a continuous effort, with no guarantee that the project will be annually renewed.
The neighbourhood’s original ‘towers-in-the-park’ design, which includes isolated high-rises surrounded by disconnected green spaces, has also contributed to insecurity and social isolation. In addition, the Finch West LRT project, built by the Province of Ontario’s regional transportation authority, Metrolinx, has generated new development to the area. This has intensified fears about gentrification within the community.
Limited transparency during the planning process for the LRT, as well as the emerging proposals for the Mall, have left residents uncertain about the long-term impacts on their community.
One the JFC’s current aims is thus to ensure that community assets are retained during this period of change and that displacement is avoided. The JFC are also advocating for retrofitted blocks and new buildings in the area to be built in a way that is inclusive and interconnected.
Image source: Stewart-Robertson, C., Aying, E., & Wong, E. (2022, January 24) Corner Commons: Creative placemaking on a suburban scale
Implementation
The JFC collaborates with diverse partners to identify and revitalise underused community spaces. Guided by the City of Toronto’s 2018 Resilience Strategy, and supported by partner funding, JFC launched Corner Commons in 2019 as a pilot project that aimed to formalise an informal gathering spot in the Jane and Finch Mall parking lot.
Corner Commons was a collaborative effort by the JFC and a local architectural firm called Perkins&Will, with support from the Jane and Finch Mall, to enhance a historic community gathering spot. The meeting place was transformed into a colourful public pop-up and a hub for cultural exchange and connection. A small prototype, built with simple materials, like milk crates and plywood, was later expanded into a complete building constructed by local volunteers trained in carpentry and maintenance.
Corner Commons also influenced development planning initiatives by helping to secure commitments from the City of Toronto for a permanent public square in the new development. JFC and community leaders also played a key role in the development of a 10-year Community
Development Plan that was shaped through a comprehensive two-year community engagement process. The plan was adopted by Toronto City Council in 2024.
Results
The JFC secured $250,000 of municipal funding for cultural programming and the formalisation and long-term dedication of Corner Commons as a public square in the City of Toronto’s Secondary Plan for the area – a detailed neighbourhood -based statutory plan that supports the city’s
wider official plan.
Policies in the Secondary Plan encourage fine-grained retail and culturally sensitive offerings in the mall redevelopment, while the Community Development Plan identifies eight targeted action areas, including climate justice and improved service accessibility
Corner Commons successfully transformed a privately owned, informally-used space into a recognised public asset.
Although the preparation of the Community Development Plan involved extensive community engagement, fears of gentrification persist within the neighbourhood. Many residents remain uncertain and lack trust with planning and local government officials
Lessons learned
Bottom-up Organic Planning
The success of both the Corner Commons and the Community Development Plan illustrate the power of resident-led initiatives in shaping equitable urban redevelopment
Starting Small
Incremental community planning efforts that advance pilot-to-permanent interventions demonstrate the staying power of small-scale retrofitting efforts and reveals how they can be sustained in subsequent larger-scale urban redevelopment.
Trust-building Takes Time
The history of neglect and systemic barriers in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood required sustained engagement and trust-building with residents.
Tangible Policy Integration
Embedding community priorities into legislative frameworks ensures accountability and enhances community trust.