North York Centre (TTC)
Encyclopedia
North York Centre is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT
. It is located at 5152 Yonge Street
, where Yonge is intersected by Park Home Avenue and Empress Avenue. This is within North York Centre
, a high density area of the Willowdale neighbourhood. This community formerly consisted of single family homes and small businesses, and the coming of the subway has served as a stimulus for high-rise residential and commercial development.
as a single station addition to the Yonge-University-Spadina line.
This station was added by excavating alongside the existing tracks, on a level section of route provided for this purpose when the line was built. The view across the tracks between platforms is not as open as most stations, as the solid concrete wall had to retain its load-bearing strength, and smaller openings were cut.
The historic place names shown above each of the murals are names of historic communities near an imaginary line from the northwest to the southeast through the historic Lansing.
building's elevators and then proceed to the station to make use of the new TTC elevators.
Nearby landmarks include Mel Lastman Square
and the North York Civic Centre
, the North York Central Library
, Empress Walk
, Earl Haig Secondary School
, Gibson House
, the Toronto Centre for the Arts
, and York Cemetery
.
Toronto subway and RT
The Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
. It is located at 5152 Yonge Street
Yonge Street
Yonge Street is a major arterial route connecting the shores of Lake Ontario in Toronto to Lake Simcoe, a gateway to the Upper Great Lakes. It was formerly listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest street in the world at , and the construction of Yonge Street is designated an "Event of...
, where Yonge is intersected by Park Home Avenue and Empress Avenue. This is within North York Centre
North York Centre
North York Centre is a town centre in North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Prior to the Amalgamation of Toronto in 1998, it was considered the central business district of the former city of North York...
, a high density area of the Willowdale neighbourhood. This community formerly consisted of single family homes and small businesses, and the coming of the subway has served as a stimulus for high-rise residential and commercial development.
History
North York Centre opened in 1987 in what was then the City of North YorkNorth York, Ontario
North York is a dissolved municipality within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the central part of the northern section of Toronto. As of the 2006 Census, it has a population of 635,370. The official 2001 census count was 608,288...
as a single station addition to the Yonge-University-Spadina line.
This station was added by excavating alongside the existing tracks, on a level section of route provided for this purpose when the line was built. The view across the tracks between platforms is not as open as most stations, as the solid concrete wall had to retain its load-bearing strength, and smaller openings were cut.
Public art
Artwork in the station consists of North York Heritage Murals by North York artists Nicholas and Susana Graven, located at the platform level. The two murals, each made of over 5000 pieces of glazed ceramic tiles using a process invented by Artessa Studios of North York, depict scenes of North York in the 19th century in an abstract way and are titled:- Top of the North Hill—1850’s on the northbound platform (surtitled with the historic place names “Don Mills, Flynntown, L'AmoreauxL'AmoreauxL'Amoreaux is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated east of Victoria Park Avenue, south of McNicoll Avenue, west of Kennedy Road and north of Huntingwood Drive. L'Amoreaux is named after Josue L'Amoreaux , a French Huguenot loyalist who settled in the area...
, Lansing, Milneford, Newtonbrook, Oriole, O’Sullivan’s Corners, Willowdale”), and - Traffic at Yonge and Sheppard—1860’s on the southbound platform (surtitled with the historic place names “Downsview, Dublin, EglintonEglinton (electoral district)Eglinton was a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1935 to 1979. This riding was created in 1933 from parts of Toronto Northeast riding....
, Elia, EmeryHumbermedeHumbermede, often called Emery, is a neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humbermede, like many of the "Humber" neighbourhoods in the city, gets its name from the Humber River...
, Fairbank, Fisherville, Humber Summit, Kaiserville, York MillsYork MillsYork Mills is the name of an affluent neighbourhood around Yonge Street and York Mills Road located in the district of North York in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
, Weston”).
The historic place names shown above each of the murals are names of historic communities near an imaginary line from the northwest to the southeast through the historic Lansing.
Accessibility improvements
In late 2007 the TTC began work to make the station accessible to those with limited mobility, and in November 2009 the work was completed. Two elevators were installed to take passengers from mezzanine level to the subway platforms. Persons in wheelchairs or with other mobility restrictions are now able to enter the station from street level via the Empress WalkEmpress Walk
Empress Walk is a large condominum and retail complex at the intersection of Yonge Street and Empress Avenue in the North York Centre area of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Developed by Menkes Development, Phase 1 was completed in 1997 and Phase 2 by 2000...
building's elevators and then proceed to the station to make use of the new TTC elevators.
Nearby landmarks
Mel Lastman Square
Mel Lastman Square is a public square at North York Civic Centre in the North York, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is named for former North York mayor Mel Lastman....
and the North York Civic Centre
North York Civic Centre
The North York Civic Centre is a building that once served as the city hall for the former City of North York, Ontario, Canada.Designed by Adamson Associates Architects, the building is located on Yonge Street north of Sheppard Avenue, and features Mel Lastman Square along the Yonge Street frontage...
, the North York Central Library
North York Central Library
North York Central Library is located in northern Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the intersection of Yonge Street and Park Home Avenue, north of Sheppard Avenue. The library is located on the west side of Yonge Street beside Mel Lastman Square in the mall of the North York Civic Centre, which until...
, Empress Walk
Empress Walk
Empress Walk is a large condominum and retail complex at the intersection of Yonge Street and Empress Avenue in the North York Centre area of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Developed by Menkes Development, Phase 1 was completed in 1997 and Phase 2 by 2000...
, Earl Haig Secondary School
Earl Haig Secondary School
Earl Haig Secondary School is a public high school with a student body of about 2,300 students in Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The school's principal is Renata Gonsalves.-History:...
, Gibson House
Gibson House
Gibson House is a museum in the North York Centre neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History:This historic property was built in 1851 by David Gibson, a Scottish immigrant, land surveyor and participant of the Rebellion of 1837...
, the Toronto Centre for the Arts
Toronto Centre for the Arts
The Toronto Centre for the Arts, previously known as the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts, opened in 1993 as the North York Performing Arts Centre and was designed by Canadian architect Eberhard Zeidler for musicals, theatre productions and other performing arts...
, and York Cemetery
York Cemetery, Toronto
York Cemetery is a cemetery located in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The property of York Cemetery was originally farmed by Joseph Shepard who bought the property in 1805. The brick farm house on the property was constructed by Joseph's son, Michael in 1837...
.
Surface connections
- 97 Yonge - Transfer required
- GO TransitGO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
Newmarket B
External links
- http://transit.toronto.on.ca/subway/5108.shtml Transit Toronto—North York Centre Station has a detailed history and photos of the station