Physical Environment
Davisvile Village is a unique neighbourhood with several distinct features. These features help people to understand their surroundings and navigate themselves within the neighbourhood. One of the most renowned theories of understanding these features is that of Kevin Lynch, an urban planner who outlined five elements people use to understand their surroundings:
Districts – There are 2 main districts in Davisville. The first district is at the corner of Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue, an entertainment area within the neighbourhood with several restaurants, bars, Eglinton Square Mall and several office buildings. The second is Mt. Pleasant Road between Eglinton Avenue and Davisville Avenue, a mixed-use street with independent stores, gift shops, restaurants and homes.
Nodes – The main nodes in Davisville are Yonge & Eglinton and Yonge & Davisville. These nodes are popular, recognizable meeting places for people and transportation hubs. These nodes are intersections of major streets.
Paths – The frequent paths in Davisville are Yonge Street, Bayview Avenue, Mt Pleasant Road, Davisville Avenue and Eglinton Avenue.
Edges – The edges of Davisville are Yonge Street (West), Bayview Avenue (East), Eglinton Avenue (North) and Merton Street (South)
Landmarks – Yonge-Eglinton Centre, a mid-size shopping centre with several major chain stores and restaurants, is a frequently cited landmark. Minto Midtown Quantum towers, the largest residential condominium towers in Davisville, are also landmarks in the neighbourhood. Davisville Park is a landmark located at the corner of Davisville avenue and Mt. Pleasant Road.
One of the most important physical elements of Davisville Village is the streets. Davisville is a busy neighbourhood that accommodates high-pedestrian traffic because of its streets. Jane Jacobs, a long time Toronto resident and author identified 4 elements that make good streets. The first element described by Jacobs is Various types of aged buildings. Davisville has a mix of houses built in the early half of the 20th century as well as new, modern condominium buildings, apartments and offices which creates a mix of new and old buildings in the neighbourhood. Another important element of good streets is High concentration and density uses. Davisville is a very densely populated neighbourhood. The density helps make the neighbourhood sustainable and safe. Good streets also incorporate Mixed-use areas. Mt. Pleasant is a frequent mixed-use street within Davisville. The fourth and final element of good streets is Frequent streets and very few long blocks. The streets within and surrounding Davisville are frequently spaced, with very wide sidewalks that accommodate high pedestrian traffic.
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Famous quotes containing the words physical and/or environment:
“It takes a good deal of physical courage to ride a horse. This, however, I have. I get it at about forty cents a flask, and take it as required.”
—Stephen Leacock (1869–1944)
“For those parents from lower-class and minority communities ... [who] have had minimal experience in negotiating dominant, external institutions or have had negative and hostile contact with social service agencies, their initial approaches to the school are often overwhelming and difficult. Not only does the school feel like an alien environment with incomprehensible norms and structures, but the families often do not feel entitled to make demands or force disagreements.”
—Sara Lawrence Lightfoot (20th century)