The decade-long transformation of Toronto's historic Maple Leaf Gardens into a new centerpiece for its neighborhood may serve as a model for one of the trickiest types of adaptive reuse, reports Mark Byrnes.
From Detroit's Tiger Stadium to Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, cities have struggled with how to repurpose the hallowed grounds once home to championship sports franchises and countless civic memories. The fact that Toronto chose to reuse, rather than demolish, its famed Maple Leaf Gardens when the city's hockey team decamped for a new arena was a victory in itself. However, now that the arena has begun its second act as a grocery store and collegiate athletic center, among other things, it is benefiting its neighborhood in entirely different ways.
"When the Toronto hockey team played there, 'the building was less of an anchor for the neighborhood because it was generally only in use in the evenings,' says Toronto blogger Derek Flack."
"Now," explains Byrnes, "the 85,000-square foot grocery store (as well as a liquor store, clothing outlet, and health clinic) give a part of downtown a much needed supermarket, one the neighborhood had been waiting for since Loblaw Companies first purchased the building in 2004."
"Almost untouched for a decade, the engineering and legal complications are no longer. Now, the Gardens is back to being an important part of the everyday life in Toronto."
"'It’s evident when you walk along Carlton Street," says Flack. "Pedestrian traffic has increased greatly thanks to the sprawling site being in nearly constant use. Now with a steady stream of students heading to the gym and shoppers going about their daily business, the area feels like it's never been healthier.'"
FULL STORY: Toronto's Reimagined Maple Leaf Gardens Fulfills its Destiny (at Long Last)

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts
Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.

Why Bike Lanes Are Good: An Explainer for the US Transportation Secretary
Sean Duffy says there’s no evidence that bike lanes have benefits. Streetsblog — and federal agencies’ own data — beg to differ.

California Invests Additional $5M in Electric School Buses
The state wants to electrify all of its school bus fleets by 2035.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Ada County Highway District
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service