Ossington Avenue
Encyclopedia
Ossington Avenue is a main or arterial street in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
, west of downtown. Originally part of a pioneer road built in 1812, it became an arterial road. Today it is becoming a night-life district with numerous bars and restaurants.
The first section of Ossington from Queen Street
to Dundas Street
was surveyed not long after the establishment of York in 1793. It was part of the original Dundas road, leading to London, Ontario
. It was not until the War of 1812, that the road was built, after the Battle of York
. During the 19th century, this section was developed as a commercial street. The Ontario Provincial Lunatic Asylum was opened at the foot of Dundas and Queen Street in 1850.
By 1906, Ossington Avenue was built north from Dundas to St. Clair, as can be seen in the 1906 Canada Atlas. The street north of Dundas was built after the burying of the Garrison Creek
which crossed Ossington north of Dundas, and the creek's route can still be seen in a lower area of land between Dundas and College. In the 20th century, Dundas Street was extended east to downtown Toronto, and the section of Dundas north of Queen was renamed Ossington. The section north of Davenport was eventually renamed to Oakwood Avenue, and the street currently ends at Davenport.
As Toronto expanded west and other retail facilities opened, the commercial section of Ossington south of Dundas became an area of industrial uses, including automotive repairs and storage facilities. By 2003, this area became known for crime and the known presence of Vietnamese criminal gangs and street drug peddlers. A double murder in a karaoke bar that year sparked neighbourhood action in concert with the police to cut down on crime.
By 2007, the low rents of stores along Ossington became attractive after rents along the Queen Street West increased. This led to an influx of bars, restaurants and stores. By 2009, the number of bars and restaurants created tension with residents of the surrounding neighbourhood, and licensing controls were imposed to stop the opening of more businesses of the same kind.
From this intersection north to Dundas, Ossington is lined with low-rise retail storefronts, typically with apartments on upper floors. The businesses along here are mixed with older businesses such as automotive repairs and newer bars and restaurants. Many buildings along this stretch date to the 19th century, and many have been renovated in their conversion into restaurants and trendy stores. A number of bars, pubs and restaurants have opened up along this section of Ossington, which have attracted the hipsters subculture to the area.
North of Dundas, the street changes to a primarily residential street. The road slopes down here as it goes into the Garrison Creek ravine, (the creek is buried nowadays) then starts a gradual slope up to its terminus at Davenport. The homes are typically two-story detached or semi-detached homes. This stretch has streetcar tracks and is used by the TTC often for short-turns by the 504 Dundas and 505 College streetcar routes.
North of College, on the west side is Dewson Street public school. One block east on Shaw Street is Central Commerce Collegiate
high school. The next street to connect is Harbord Street which goes east from Ossington to Queen's Park Circle. The area is residential on both sides of the street.
North of Bloor Street, the street rises gently until just before Davenport where it reaches the old shoreline and the street rises rapidly to meet Davenport. Except for some businesses around the railway bridge north of Dupont, both sides of the street are two-storey residences.
subway station of the Bloor-Danforth subway line
. Route 63 was a trolleybus
route from December 1947 until January 1992, but since then has been served by conventional buses.
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...
, west of downtown. Originally part of a pioneer road built in 1812, it became an arterial road. Today it is becoming a night-life district with numerous bars and restaurants.
History
Ossington Avenue is named after the ancestral Nottingham home of the Denison family, early land-owners in the Ossington area. John Denison's 'Brookfield House' used to stand at the northwest corner of Ossington and Queen Street. Area streets Brookfield Street, Denison Avenue, Dovercourt Road, Heydon Park Road and Rusholme Road are all attributed to the Denison family.The first section of Ossington from Queen Street
Queen Street
Queen Street is a popular street name in English-speaking countries . Examples include:-Asia:* Queen Street, Hong Kong in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong* Queen Street, Singapore in Singapore...
to Dundas Street
Dundas Street
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
was surveyed not long after the establishment of York in 1793. It was part of the original Dundas road, leading to London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. It was not until the War of 1812, that the road was built, after the Battle of York
Battle of York
The Battle of York was a battle of the War of 1812 fought on 27 April 1813, at York, Upper Canada . An American force supported by a naval flotilla landed on the lake shore to the west, defeated the defending British force and captured the town and dockyard...
. During the 19th century, this section was developed as a commercial street. The Ontario Provincial Lunatic Asylum was opened at the foot of Dundas and Queen Street in 1850.
By 1906, Ossington Avenue was built north from Dundas to St. Clair, as can be seen in the 1906 Canada Atlas. The street north of Dundas was built after the burying of the Garrison Creek
Garrison Creek
Garrison Creek was a short stream about long that flowed southeast into the west side of Toronto Harbour in Ontario, Canada.It has been largely covered over and filled in, but geographical traces of the creek can still be found. The natural amphitheatre known as Christie Pits is one such remnant;...
which crossed Ossington north of Dundas, and the creek's route can still be seen in a lower area of land between Dundas and College. In the 20th century, Dundas Street was extended east to downtown Toronto, and the section of Dundas north of Queen was renamed Ossington. The section north of Davenport was eventually renamed to Oakwood Avenue, and the street currently ends at Davenport.
As Toronto expanded west and other retail facilities opened, the commercial section of Ossington south of Dundas became an area of industrial uses, including automotive repairs and storage facilities. By 2003, this area became known for crime and the known presence of Vietnamese criminal gangs and street drug peddlers. A double murder in a karaoke bar that year sparked neighbourhood action in concert with the police to cut down on crime.
By 2007, the low rents of stores along Ossington became attractive after rents along the Queen Street West increased. This led to an influx of bars, restaurants and stores. By 2009, the number of bars and restaurants created tension with residents of the surrounding neighbourhood, and licensing controls were imposed to stop the opening of more businesses of the same kind.
Character
Ossington starts at Queen Street and goes north, up a hill to Dundas Street. South of Queen is the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's (CAMH) Queen Street Health Centre complex. From Shaw Street west to Dovercourt, the south side of Queen street is used for CAMH facilities. CAMH proposes to extend Ossington south into the complex.From this intersection north to Dundas, Ossington is lined with low-rise retail storefronts, typically with apartments on upper floors. The businesses along here are mixed with older businesses such as automotive repairs and newer bars and restaurants. Many buildings along this stretch date to the 19th century, and many have been renovated in their conversion into restaurants and trendy stores. A number of bars, pubs and restaurants have opened up along this section of Ossington, which have attracted the hipsters subculture to the area.
North of Dundas, the street changes to a primarily residential street. The road slopes down here as it goes into the Garrison Creek ravine, (the creek is buried nowadays) then starts a gradual slope up to its terminus at Davenport. The homes are typically two-story detached or semi-detached homes. This stretch has streetcar tracks and is used by the TTC often for short-turns by the 504 Dundas and 505 College streetcar routes.
North of College, on the west side is Dewson Street public school. One block east on Shaw Street is Central 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....
high school. The next street to connect is Harbord Street which goes east from Ossington to Queen's Park Circle. The area is residential on both sides of the street.
North of Bloor Street, the street rises gently until just before Davenport where it reaches the old shoreline and the street rises rapidly to meet Davenport. Except for some businesses around the railway bridge north of Dupont, both sides of the street are two-storey residences.
Transportation
Ossington Avenue is served by the 63 Ossington TTC bus route. The bus route connects to the OssingtonOssington (TTC)
Ossington is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 883 Bloor Street West at Ossington Avenue. It was opened in 1966.-Entrances:...
subway station of the Bloor-Danforth subway line
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...
. Route 63 was a trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
route from December 1947 until January 1992, but since then has been served by conventional buses.