Faizaan Khan

Over the past decade, traveling this stretch of Lawrence has occupied so much of my life. For years, it was a slog, whether I was trudging to the grocery store or cramming onto the bus to school or work. It's been almost three years now since I moved away from Scarborough. It feels different now. I don't know how to explain it. There’s a visceral sense of calm and safety when I get on the 54 bus. The usual discordant racket of the TTC instead sounds like a sweet chorus. Still loud, but warm and comforting.

Sure, there’s been change. I remember going to the Dollarama at Markham 15 years ago when I’d visit over the summer. Once we immigrated, I would go to Ajmir to get pizza for dinner when my brother and I were home alone. The corner unit at Susan, that was once Ajmir, has now cycled through four different stores in ten years. Businesses come and go, I guess. The Dollarama’s still standing, though.

I see changes for the better too. Nasir’s has really put down roots in his little corner. The food vendors in the Markham parking lot are new. There have always been fruits being sold out of vans in parking lots, but now there are whole fruit stalls too! They’re asserting that they're here. They’re taking up real space; space designed for cars. That’s why the streetlight in the middle of the plaza across from Cedarbrae Mall intrigues me. It’s rare to see a plaza here that’s paved for people and not cars. It represents so much potential.

I'm an urban planner, so allow me to nerd out for a sec. Recently, there has been a shift in how Scarborough is perceived in the cultural zeitgeist, and more so, a shift in how the urbanism sphere recognizes the value of places like this. The PlazaPOV study being done by the city is a great example. This stretch has recently been designated almost entirely as an ‘Avenue,’ so there's more change to come. I welcome it. We need to improve our urban form and make it more people-friendly.

But will Nasir's survive? The fruit stall? The coconut stand? Will I still be able to get Rooh Afza? Will the plaza with the streetlight last long enough to be anything interesting? Will the histories of these lands be considered as futures are mapped and designed? The original stewards of these lands? The waves of immigrants? When we do finally get more human-centered urban design, will any of the people who already live here get to experience it? Will their kids be here to walk across a street rather than sprint across a seven-lane road? Will they be able to afford to stay? Will they be welcome? Or will Dollarama be the only survivor of the decade to come?