TPSI had the pleasure of participating in a design charrette hosted by the Scadding Court Community Centre (SCCC) last November exploring the potential of expanding the centre’s shipping container market—Market 707—into a full-fledged container mall. Currently, the market provides 19 small businesses (primarily food and retail, with some services) an opportunity to build their business without the financial and overhead costs associated with traditional businesses. The result is a thriving market that benefits not only the entrepreneurs with the courage and business acumen to think “out of the box” but also the community residents and visitors (particularly staff, patients, and visitors from the adjacent Toronto Western Hospital) who take advantage of the unique products and services offered at the marketplace.
From a public space aspect, the market animates this previously dark corner of the city and highlights the result of creative thought and bold action. Previously underutilized sidewalk space has been transformed, creating job opportunities and building community connections and cohesion, all without threatening walkway accessibility. If executed appropriately, the proposed container mall can build on this momentum.
In our breakout group, we focused discussion less on the business model or built form, and more on opportunities for community animation and cohesion (though we did have fantastic ideas about creating green roofs with urban gardens on all containers that could produce food for community members and residents living in the adjacent community housing complex).
We discussed strengthening community development by ensuring the following:
• provide opportunities for local business ventures
• expect existing vendors to provide new vendors with mentorship and support
• ensure businesses and services are in line with community needs
• provide space for not for profit organizations to offer free community services for clients (those not offered through Scadding Court Community Centre(SCCC)
• provide guidelines and guarantees around environmental sustainability of business
We discussed much more than this, but these were some of the points that stood out. TPSI will follow progress on the mall and provide updates as available. Until then, we wish SCCC the best of luck getting this initiative on the ground.
A full Report on th Charrette is available on http://www.scaddingcourt.org
