The Junction Neighborhood Rejoices as City Plans to Connect Divided Community
Residents in The Junction neighborhood are eagerly anticipating a long-awaited city project that aims to unite their community after years of division. Metrolinx’s abandoned plan to remove a fence separating Lappin Avenue and Antler Street has left residents facing a frustrating 20-minute detour instead of a two-minute walk.
Barry Stevens, a local resident, expressed the disappointment felt by many in the neighborhood, stating, “You have hundreds of people in this complex and thousands over there, all of whom are taxpayers, who were promised this link and didn’t get it.”
The unresolved project has been a sore point for residents who endured years of construction as the Barrie GO line tracks were raised, with the promised pathway serving as a reward for their patience. The proximity of Lappin and Antler Streets, only 20 meters apart, highlights the unnecessary barrier preventing easy access to the park, schools, and other amenities.
Jeff Packman, another resident, shared how the fence has impacted daily life, from altering school choices to disrupting convenient routes: “The way it was set up, that detour to get all the way down to Perth [Avenue Junior Public School], because of this, would have cost us a fair bit of time.”
Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon for The Junction community. City Councillor Alejandra Bravo, deeply invested in the project due to her personal ties to the neighborhood, announced the allocation of $2.5 million in the capital budget to move the project forward. Despite setbacks from Metrolinx and the provincial government, the City of Toronto has taken the initiative to fulfill the long-overdue promise.
Bravo emphasized the significance of community cohesion and accessibility, stating, “This is really important for community safety, for people to live in a walkable neighborhood, for people to get to school, to a park, to a library in their community.”
While the project funds may not be accessible until 2027 or 2028, the commitment from city officials and residents alike signifies a positive step towards bridging the gap in The Junction neighborhood.