BELTLINE TRAIL LOST STATIONS February 2018 Victor Ford and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Victor Ford and Associates Inc Landscape Architects February 2018 North

EXISTING CONDITIONS

Davisville Yard

BELTLINE TRAIL “LOST STATIONS”

approximate location of former train station beltline trail area under consideration for trail “station” improvements (actual station size is fairly small)

• Mt. Pleasant

Cemetery Upper Canada College Robert Bateman Parkette

MAP LEGEND Yonge Street Station 1 km Eglinton Station Y

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g e S t r e e t A v e n u e R

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e P a r k w a y Eglinton Ave West Davisville Ave S p a d i n a R

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d L a t i m e r A v e n u e Background Objectives Design Brief

• The Belt Line Railway started operation as a commuter rail service in 1892. It ran in a loop through 21 train stations,

connecting new suburban neighbourhoods to Union Station. The railway was in full operation for only two years.

• In 1988, spearheaded by City Councillor Kay Gardner, the City bought the land that would become the Beltline Trail.
• Celebrate the history of the Beltline Trail and the many people involved over the years.
• Create a sense of identity for the different neighbourhoods along the way.
• Improve wayfjnding and placemaking along the way.
• Develop modest interventions to mark each of the original 3 stations in Ward 12.
• Each “station” would be of a similar design/material and would offer similar programming (i.e. rest area, wayfjnding,

possible public art, etc.).

• If successful, similar “stations” could be developed at other former train station locations.

Upper Canada College Station

Victor Ford and Associates Inc Landscape Architects February 2018

BELTLINE TRAIL “LOST STATIONS”

OPTION A

MATERIALS FEATURES + INSPIRATIONS

PLATFORM STATION

A raised deck stands between formal planting beds creating a contemporary space for rest along the Beltline Trail. Its right angles and clean edges are fjnished in weathered steel which is echoed in the vertical rail elements and the neighbourhood marker. Seating is focused toward a public art feature inlaid in the deck.

PLANT MATERIALS

PUBLIC ART PRECEDENT

vertical rail elements steel signage with station name raised deck inspired by railway station platform in-ground public art element related to site history self-weathering steel (edging, vertical elements, bench) multi-stem fmowering shrubs such as serviceberry shade-tolerant native grasses such as prairie dropseed native pollinator perennials such as coreopsis wood or wood-composite (tier deck, bench, guard) custom timber and self- weathering steel bench

C C D E E D A A B B G G F F

Victor Ford and Associates Inc Landscape Architects February 2018

OPTION B

MATERIALS

SIDING STATION

PLANT MATERIALS

wayfjnding ‘milepost’ raised seating area inspired by railway sidings guard inspired by historic railway trestles self-weathering steel (milepost, edging, trestle guard) shade tolerant

• rnamental plants such

as hosta heritage plants such as Agnes rose native pollinator perennials such as black-eyed susan wood or wood-composite (deck, benches) trap rock surface matching existing trail surface traditional bench

A seating area on a raised deck with curved forms inspired by rail sidings. The lush planting in front of the seating platform creates separation from activities of the Beltline Trail. Wayfjnding takes the form of a tall ‘milepost’ that features the station name.

FEATURES + INSPIRATIONS

A A C C F F G G E D E D B B

BELTLINE TRAIL “LOST STATIONS”

Victor Ford and Associates Inc Landscape Architects February 2018

OPTION C

MATERIALS

ABANDONED STATION

PLANT MATERIALS

self-weathering steel (gateway and columns) wood or wood-composite (seating platform and benches) columns with laser-cut artistic pattern contemporary bench design neighbourhood gateway inspired by railway structures concrete unit paving vigorous native vine such as Clematis virginiana

• rnamental heritage

specimen plants such as spiraea native pollinator perennials such as echinacea seating platform with wooden slat surface

At an access point to the Beltline Trail, the gateway recalls a former function of the train stations and creates a welcoming sense of

• place. The use of self-weathering steel and extensive vine planting

give the impression of age. Seating is integrated throughout.

FEATURES + INSPIRATIONS

E E A A B B C D D C

BELTLINE TRAIL “LOST STATIONS”