CHARISSA PAULINE MEDRANO • VINCENT MA • KELVIN HOANG • LALA LEUNG • TAK LUNG STEVEN CHEUNG • CYNTHIA HUA • AUSTIN CHRISTOPHER HENDY • ADEEB MUNAS

Parkdale Produce Initiative

Supporting Food-Security Initiatives + Social Connectivity

Question posed: Do you think the integration of technology allows for a further reach of users?

PROCESS

Key Themes (Most important -> least important)

Opportunities

• Potential to reshape the identity of Parkdale
  
• First urban 'farming' on an impactful scale (Toronto)
  
• Intervention for food security, which could greatly positively impacts the local community
  
• Opportunity for a foothold for the existing culture
  
• A chance to create an opportunity for greater integration and connection within the people of Parkdale
  
• Drives economic activity within the local community
  
• Youth education which mutually benefits the cause as well

Challenges

• Building infrastructure requires upfront capital investment
  
• Differences between cultures could be too great (conflict)
  
• Issues of farming proximity to urban infrastructure (pollution)
  
• Agricultural activity at its nature consumes large amounts of area
  
• Risk of little to no crop yields, depending on climate (assuming no greenhouse), staff/personnel, and funding

Beside the Local Market which is an organic food store - relation in program corner condition: traffic

Beside Parkdale Collegiate Institute (potential to act as social space for students)

USE OF PARKING LOTS

• Adjacent to an art gallery
  
• Close to the public library which is an existing community gathering space
  
• On Queens St W: lots of traffic
  
• Dollarama being one of the largest stores in the surrounding area would be somewhere that attracts youth

USE OF EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE

Building upon the existing infrastructure of the site and revitalizing spaces
Consider sidewalk paving, lighting, greenery, etc.

• Strong programming: library, ESL classes, home to Milky Way Garden
  
• Building doesn't seem suitable to fit these needs, lacking an inviting feeling
  
• Could be revitalized

• Social gathering space