It is illuminating for us to look back over 30 years of our architectural practice and review problems, goals and outcomes. In the 1960s this immigrant neighbourhood was designated for redevelopment. Although not a slum, it had degenerated over the uncertainty of its future. Then agreements between the federal, provincial, and municipal governments opened up new possibilities for rejuvenation.

All parties were interviewed and reasonable objectives identified: a small scale; minimal conflict between cars and people; straightforward units; cohesiveness and viability of the neighbourhood; play spaces for children; tough landscaping; retention of trees; a nursery; and smaller commercial spaces.

An 18-acre pedestrian precinct was created to separate people from vehicles, parking was placed at the perimeter of the neighbourhood, and provision was made for emergency vehicles to operate through the site.

Of the 627 housing units, 200 are elderly persons’ apartments, 40 are for singles and small families, and the remaining units are in new row houses. These moderate-scale buildings line a winding “north-south main street” spine with branches which encourage cross and through circulation. All family units are at or near grade and have access to gardens. There are a small number of renovated apartments and houses. A serious attempt was made to conserve certain strings of houses, but there were no financial provisions for doing so.

On completion, our team felt that Alexandra Park had been imposed from above and that the residents had insufficient input. We believe that a more gradual and less disruptive process of physical renewal and more rehabilitation of existing buildings would have achieved better results. We wonder whether we should have continued the grid system of roads. Perhaps today we might have added more detail and playfulness to our elevations.

In September 1969, the Canadian Architect described Alexandra Park as “a living environment of reasonable density and a high child count, inserted into the worn fabric of the city.” Certainly it is identifiable as a project, but anything new inserted into something old is identifiable.”

Jerome Markson