A proposal to close a section of Church Street in Toronto to vehicle traffic for two months this summer has received enthusiastic support from local businesses and residents, though city officials have expressed reservations. The Toronto and East York community council unanimously endorsed the pilot project, which would restrict vehicles on Church Street just south of Wellesley Street East from June 19 to August 21. The final decision rests with Toronto City Council, which is expected to vote on the matter in May.
Local Business Optimism
Jaret Sereda, executive director of the Church-Wellesley Village Business Improvement Area (BIA), told the Toronto Sun that local shop and restaurant owners believe pedestrianization will transform the area. 'We are really thrilled and really excited about it. It's just going to bring a whole new look and excitement to the Village,' Sereda said. He noted that while Toronto has closed streets for one- or two-day events, this would be the first time a street has been closed for an extended summer period.
The proposal was introduced by City Councillor Chris Moise, who represents Toronto Centre. Although the pilot dates overlap with the FIFA World Cup, Moise explained in a letter to the community council that the soccer tournament will largely coincide with seasonal events that already keep cars off Church Street.
Community Support
At Thursday afternoon's community council meeting, a parade of Church Street locals and frequent visitors urged councillors to approve the pilot. 'I haven't heard one negative person coming today to say they don't want this,' Moise said shortly before the vote. Sereda emphasized that pedestrianization is well-suited to how people use Church Street in warmer months, noting that some bars stay open late in June and the street routinely closes for Pride Month events.
City Hall Reservations
Despite the positive sentiment, a memo from Nazzareno Capano, the city's director of street permits, warned of 'unresolved issues,' including potential congestion and a lack of resources from police and transportation services. The memo accepted the proposal but did not endorse it. Moise dismissed the concerns as 'hyper-cautious' and said the city's bureaucrats need to be pushed a little.
Giles Gherson, president of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, stressed the need for balance. 'We recognize that seasonal pedestrianization initiatives can benefit local businesses and communities by increasing foot traffic. While individual closures may have limited impact, the cumulative effect of multiple, concurrent closures, especially during a busy summer with major events like FIFA, can contribute to increased congestion and associated costs, and frustration for businesses, commuters and residents,' he said.
Details of the Pilot
Under the proposal, Church Street would be closed to vehicles between Wellesley and Alexander Streets, though intersections would remain open to allow east-west traffic along Maitland Street. 'It's not very long,' Sereda said. 'It's a pilot project, so in the future we're hoping we can expand more.' The BIA has launched a website and petition at experiencethevillage.ca to provide details and gather support.
