The High Rise Hub

This proposal is a neighborhood plan for the Crescent Town-Secord-Dawes area in Beaches-East York (renamed "The High Rise Hub") to make streets safer, protect school children, support seniors, and bring fresh food to local apartment towers.

Here is a super simple breakdown of the 7 main ideas:

1. People First, Cars Second (Shared Streets)

• Roads will be redesigned with plants and benches so that cars must legally slow down to walking speed (under 10 km/h).

• Pedestrians, scooters, and kids will have the absolute right-of-way over vehicles.

2. Total Safety Around Schools

• These slow-speed safety rules will apply right outside Secord Public School, Crescent Town Elementary, and George Webster Public School.

• Dangerous traffic and idling cars will be banned during drop-off and pick-up times.

3. A New Community Hub

• The new Dawes Road Library will become the "living room" of the neighborhood, acting as a main gathering space with programs for both youth and seniors.

4. Green Energy and Less Waste

• The city will help local apartment buildings switch to cheaper, eco-friendly heating and solar power to lower your utility bills.

• The neighborhood will get its own composting programs and "Repair Cafés" to fix broken items instead of throwing them in the trash.

5. Grocery Markets on Wheels

• A mobile bus market will bring cheap, fresh fruit and vegetables grown by Ontario farmers directly to the doorsteps of local apartment buildings and senior towers.

6. Extra Support for Seniors (NORC)

• Since many seniors live in these high-rises, the area will get official senior-community funding.

• Health workers and recreation programs will be brought directly into apartment buildings, and streets will be made smooth for walkers and wheelchairs.

• NORC: Natural Occurring Retirement Community

7. Strict Legal Protection for Nature

• The Don River and Lake Ontario will be turned into independent, non-profit "Nature Corporations" run by environmental experts.

• This gives the water and ravines special legal rights so politicians and private developers cannot ruin them.