Messy Urbanisms

Condo v. Church: A story of Toronto on the steps of Sanctuary The people of Sanctuary believe they are doing the Lord's work on Charles Street East. More and more of their neighbours think the church has become part of the problem.

The sharp edge of messy urbanism

www.thestar.com/news/gta/con...

The world’s longest rainbow path. The 600 metre “Long Walk to Equality” by artist Travis Myers at Hanlan’s Point on Toronto Island … the location of Canada’s first Pride in 1971.

My friend Geoff wouldn’t stop complaining about this abandoned motorcycle, so this morning I decided it should become a garden and this afternoon me and his girlfriend Eva created this Motorcycle Garden Pocket! Thanks to the bike’s neighbour for the broken bike basket—it made for a nice planter.

In 1980 there is car parking alongside the canal, today this has been replaced with cafe outdoor seating

Kloveniersburgwal, Amsterdam in 1980 and today. Canal side car parking replaced by canal side dining

This iconic Kensington Market mural is finally complete — 43 years after it was painted on a dare The artist behind one of market’s oldest murals has returned to restore it, with help from a city grant and a local land trust.

This iconic Kensington Market mural is finally complete — 43 years after it was painted on a dare

www.thestar.com/entertainmen...

this dissonance is most pronounced in Koreatown, where so many of the working class in restaurants, grocery stores, small shops, etc. do not drive but the #1 political issue that makes residents and visitors go crazy alike is the lack of (free street) parking thanks to its high density

People near a brightly coloured wall of street art on MacLaren

People gathering in the Florence pop up space

Our pop-up spaces on MacLaren, Frank and Florence hosted more than 160 events and drew 2,500 people to downtown Ottawa. Dance lessons, yoga classes, craft nights, street art tours, and chess tournaments — the creativity was endless.

Opinion: Soulless ‘big box’ storefronts are erasing downtowns’ character. But there’s still time to save our cities New retail developments are replacing small storefronts in downtown areas, leading to a kind of suburbanization of urban cores

On the vibrancy of mixed, small size independent street retail and the uninviting monotony of large scale "clean and utilitarian" new developments.

www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Sidewalk chalk pink flower

School streets give life. We need repair and nurturing and life-giving initiatives in our cities. We can do this, NYC. We can be a place that is building communities up instead of tearing them down and apart.

We’ve launched! 🚀 The new Churchill Park Rocketship Playground is complete!

Plan your next visit to Churchill Park (did we mention the weather this weekend looks beautiful?!) and climb, slide, swing and explore this exciting new play space! 🛝

People want to have kids and live downtown. Can they? - Western City Magazine For decades, planners focused on attracting young singles to dense urban cores. That dynamic has shifted, in part because ...

“Some still insist ‘downtowns will never attract kids and shouldn’t try.’ Then they design downtown to virtually repel kids, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Vancouver proves the opposite can be true...”

Canadians @johnlorinc.bsky.social & @brenttoderian.bsky.social in this Cali article!

How this neglected laneway’s revitalization united an East Toronto neighbourhood Through murals, play spaces, and a shared vision, residents in Taylor-Massey turned a forgotten laneway into a vibrant community hub.

How this neglected laneway’s revitalization united an East Toronto neighbourhood www.thestar.com/news/gta/how...

Neighbourhood retail is coming back to the Planning and Housing Committee October 30. Looks like a watered down form, which is annoying but let's win it this time. Send up the urbanist bat signal. @anotherglassbox.bsky.social @shawnmicallef.bsky.social @dylanreid.bsky.social @seanyyz.bsky.social

Kitchen chair inside a bus shelter.

Kitchen chair inside a bus shelter.

Kitchen chair inside a bus shelter.

When one needs to wait for a bus, there is sometimes a chair available. #TTC #topoli

Cabbagetown snaps

7. The most banal thing you can say about NYC, but so true: the diversity -- of races, ethnicities, hair & dress, attitude, gender presentation, behavior -- is just spectacular. I guess this is precisely what scares conservatives about cities, but it fills me with energy & life. Cities, man!

Messy Cities is coming to Queen Books! @zahraeb.bsky.social will be hosting a discussion with contributors Tura Cousins Wilson and Shane Laptiste, and the east-end based editors of the book (@shebuildscities.bsky.social and @dylanreid.bsky.social). www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-messy...

Decorative bike lockups, Cleveland.

Canada Dry sign on a variety store at Queen and Logan

I love the reverse angle of this sign, with the faded painted advertisement on the brick. Seen this morning

Ein Stromkasten, bemalt mit einem Segelboot, welches als schwarzer Schatten vor einem Sonnenuntergang zu sehen ist.

#Streetart in Schwerin.

In 2012, architect May al-Ibrashy founded the Built Environment Collective-Mogawra organisation, meaning 'adjacent' in Arabic, referring to life alongside long-neglected Islamic monuments that many had come to see as burdens.

Matt Elliott: A Toronto councillor is experimenting with direct democracy for residents. Doug Ford may have put an end to it A website run by local city councillor Chris Moise allows residents in his ward to submit ideas, discuss them, and ultimately vote on whether they should be funded.

Participatory budgeting in Toronto - good to see councillor Moise joining councillor Carroll in trying it out. www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

Messy Cities: A Panel Discussion Join editors and contributors as they discuss a new book about the role of messy urbanism in enabling creativity and enterprise.

The "Messy Cities" gang is getting back together at the Toronto Reference Library next week to talk about the book. Come and join us! www.eventbrite.ca/e/messy-citi...

Protected construction detour lane for cyclists … nicely done!

Stylish old school convenience store hanging sign. (Hanging signs were once considered "messy" by urban reformers who tried to ban them - see the @spacing.bsky.social book "The Signs that Define Toronto").

Let's give this a try!

Another Daniel 5:5 graffiti

long tables covered in white tablecloths with chairs along both sides of them. They are in the middle of the street.

HOLY CATS. Look at all this free public seating on Nicollet Mall right now!!!! I thought it wasn't possible.

Front yard bench provided by homeowner for passersby #sitTO