Palmerston-Little Italy
Encyclopedia
Palmerston–Little Italy is a neighbourhood in central Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Its boundaries, according to the City of Toronto, are by Bathurst Street to the east, Bloor Street
to the north, Dovercourt Road to the west and College Street
to the south. It is a mature downtown neighbourhood. Within this official neighbourhood of the City of Toronto are two neighbourhoods, Palmerston and Little Italy
and the commercial enclave of Mirvish Village.
, one of the original ethnically-Italian districts of Toronto. To the west, north-south streets include Ossington Avenue, a four-lane arterial road, mainly residential and Dovercourt Road, a four-lane road, entirely residential. In the north-east corner of the neighbourhood is "Mirvish Village", a one-block long enclave of businesses, mostly of arts, immediately west and extending south of the "Honest Ed's" discount department store at Bathurst and Bloor.
Central Commerce Collegiate
is located on Shaw Street, built in 1916.
Harbord Collegiate
Along Harbord is Harbord Collegiate Institute
, built in 1892.
King Edward Public School
King Edward is a public Junior and Intermediate school on Lippincott Street. King Edward offers Extended French and French Immersion programs that is only available by applying. In order to be eligible for the Gifted Program, students are required to pass an entrance test after grade 3. King Edward offers a wide variety of extra curricular programs, including Band, Basketball Team, Chess Club, Choir, Strings, and Volleyball Team.
Mirvish Village is a commercial enclave on Markham Street, which is one block west of Bathurst Street, and encompasses the two sides of the street for one block south of Bloor Street.
Made up of a series of Victorian
homes on Markham Street which now house independently-owned shops, art studios, cafes, bookstores, boutiques and galleries. Between 1959 and 1963, the late Ed Mirvish
of Honest Ed's
bought up the east side of the block, immediately south of his store, with the intention of tearing down the houses and building a customer parking lot. Toronto's municipal government refused to issue a building permit; therefore, Mirvish converted the buildings into art studios and galleries with the help of his wife, Anne, a sculptor. Later, he purchased the houses on the other side of the street. His son is the owner of David Mirvish
Gallery, which opened in 1963 as one of Mirvish Village's first shops; along with David Mirvish Books, the enterprises act as anchors to additional retail stores and galleries.
in the vicinity of Davenport and Dupont, south to the Gardiner Expressway. In the 1960s, opposition to the Spadina, Crosstown and Christie expressway projects led the then City of Toronto to oppose the Christie and Crosstown projects. After the cancellation of the Spadina Expressway
by the province, the Crosstown and Christie expressway projects were abandoned as well.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Its boundaries, according to the City of Toronto, are by Bathurst Street to the east, Bloor Street
Bloor Street
Bloor Street is a major east–west residential and commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, in the Canadian province of Ontario. Bloor Street runs from the Prince Edward Viaduct westward into Mississauga, where it ends at Central Parkway. East of the viaduct, Danforth Avenue continues along the same...
to the north, Dovercourt Road to the west and College Street
College Street (Toronto)
College Street is a principal arterial thoroughfare in downtown Toronto, connecting former streetcar suburbs in the west with the city centre. The street is home to an ethnically diverse population in the western residential reaches, and institutions like the Ontario Legislature and the University...
to the south. It is a mature downtown neighbourhood. Within this official neighbourhood of the City of Toronto are two neighbourhoods, Palmerston and Little Italy
Little Italy, Toronto
Little Italy, sometimes referred to as College Street West, is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is well known for its numerous Italian Canadian restaurants and businesses. There is also a significant Latin American and Portuguese community in the area...
and the commercial enclave of Mirvish Village.
Character
The neighbourhood is primarily residential, consisting mainly of residential side streets full of semi-detached homes, mostly built in the early 20th century. The major streets are Bloor Street to the north, running east-west, a four-lane arterial road commercial in nature. Bloor Street has many commercial storefronts and businesses. To the east is Bathurst Street, running north-south, another four-lane arterial road with mostly residences along both sides. Running east-west is Harbord Street, a four-lane arterial road with a mix of residences and commercial storefronts and restaurants. Also running east-west is College Street a four-lane arterial road with a vibrant commercial strip named Little ItalyLittle Italy, Toronto
Little Italy, sometimes referred to as College Street West, is a district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is well known for its numerous Italian Canadian restaurants and businesses. There is also a significant Latin American and Portuguese community in the area...
, one of the original ethnically-Italian districts of Toronto. To the west, north-south streets include Ossington Avenue, a four-lane arterial road, mainly residential and Dovercourt Road, a four-lane road, entirely residential. In the north-east corner of the neighbourhood is "Mirvish Village", a one-block long enclave of businesses, mostly of arts, immediately west and extending south of the "Honest Ed's" discount department store at Bathurst and Bloor.
Schools
Central Commerce CollegiateCentral Commerce Collegiate
Central Commerce Collegiate
Central Commerce Collegiate is a public, semestered secondary school located in the Palmerston-Little Italy neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
is located on Shaw Street, built in 1916.
Harbord Collegiate
Along Harbord is Harbord Collegiate Institute
Harbord Collegiate Institute
Harbord Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school located in downtown Toronto, Canada. Specifically, the school is located in the Palmerston-Little Italy/The Annex neighbourhood, situated on the north side of Harbord Street, between Euclid Ave. and Manning St...
, built in 1892.
King Edward Public School
King Edward is a public Junior and Intermediate school on Lippincott Street. King Edward offers Extended French and French Immersion programs that is only available by applying. In order to be eligible for the Gifted Program, students are required to pass an entrance test after grade 3. King Edward offers a wide variety of extra curricular programs, including Band, Basketball Team, Chess Club, Choir, Strings, and Volleyball Team.
Mirvish Village
Made up of a series of Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes on Markham Street which now house independently-owned shops, art studios, cafes, bookstores, boutiques and galleries. Between 1959 and 1963, the late Ed Mirvish
Ed Mirvish
Edwin “Honest Ed” Mirvish, OC, CBE was a Canadian businessman, philanthropist and theatrical impresario who lived in Toronto, Ontario...
of Honest Ed's
Honest Ed's
Honest Ed's is a landmark discount store located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is named for its proprietor, Ed Mirvish, who opened the store in 1948 and oversaw its operations for almost sixty years, until his death in 2007.-Location:...
bought up the east side of the block, immediately south of his store, with the intention of tearing down the houses and building a customer parking lot. Toronto's municipal government refused to issue a building permit; therefore, Mirvish converted the buildings into art studios and galleries with the help of his wife, Anne, a sculptor. Later, he purchased the houses on the other side of the street. His son is the owner of David Mirvish
David Mirvish
David Mirvish, CM, O.Ont is a Canadian art collector, art dealer, theatre producer and son of the late "Honest" Ed Mirvish, Toronto discount department store-owner and artist Anne Lazare Macklin....
Gallery, which opened in 1963 as one of Mirvish Village's first shops; along with David Mirvish Books, the enterprises act as anchors to additional retail stores and galleries.
Landmarks
- Harbord Collegiate InstituteHarbord Collegiate InstituteHarbord Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school located in downtown Toronto, Canada. Specifically, the school is located in the Palmerston-Little Italy/The Annex neighbourhood, situated on the north side of Harbord Street, between Euclid Ave. and Manning St...
, built in 1892 - Honest Ed'sHonest Ed'sHonest Ed's is a landmark discount store located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is named for its proprietor, Ed Mirvish, who opened the store in 1948 and oversaw its operations for almost sixty years, until his death in 2007.-Location:...
- Bathurst Street TheatreBathurst Street TheatreThe Bathurst Street Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, that is housed in a former church. The Gothic revival building is located at 736 Bathurst Street at Lennox, one traffic light to the south of Bloor Street, Honest Ed's, the Bathurst Street Subway Station, and across Bathurst from...
- Harbord Street BridgeHarbord Street BridgeHarbord Street Bridge is one of two known bridges that once spanned Harbord Street over Garrison Creek in Toronto and was partially buried intact in the 20th Century ....
Christie Expressway
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Ontario provincial and Metropolitan Toronto governments proposed running a six-lane north-south expressway to the east of Grace Street. This was an extension of Highway 400 and would have gone from a proposed Crosstown ExpresswayCrosstown Expressway
Crosstown Expressway may refer to:* Crosstown Expressway , a proposed highway route in Chicago, Illinois, United States* Crosstown Expressway , a cancelled expressway project in Toronto, Ontario, Canada...
in the vicinity of Davenport and Dupont, south to the Gardiner Expressway. In the 1960s, opposition to the Spadina, Crosstown and Christie expressway projects led the then City of Toronto to oppose the Christie and Crosstown projects. After the cancellation of the Spadina Expressway
Spadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
by the province, the Crosstown and Christie expressway projects were abandoned as well.