Our Mission:
To build and promote an attractive, inclusive, safe and sustainable community
To build and promote an attractive, inclusive, safe and sustainable community
Our Goals:
To be a non-partisan voice for residents of the Garment District
To be guardians of the District's historic and cultural character
To work with municipal, provincial and federal representatives, developers and businesses to resolve issues and enrich our community
To be a non-partisan voice for residents of the Garment District
To be guardians of the District's historic and cultural character
To work with municipal, provincial and federal representatives, developers and businesses to resolve issues and enrich our community
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Our History:
Officially the section of Spadina between Queen and King Streets, the Garment District (or Fashion District) derives its name from the area’s role in the garment industry or “rag trade”. In the early 20th century, numerous textile and fabric factories and warehouses were located here due to the proximity and easy access to shipping and rail lines. Garment enterprise owners commissioned the construction of multi-story buildings to house their manufacturing operations. In the 1970s and accelerating in the 1980s and 1990s, these factories and warehouses entered a period of decline as manufacturing activity migrated to the suburbs or other countries. Prevailing zoning regulations for the area specified industrial use only and property owners, not permitted to lease to non-industrial tenants and facing high vacancy rates, began demolishing buildings with heritage value in order to reduce realty taxes. Then in the mid-1990s it became obvious that land use restrictions needed to be loosened. In 1996 a zoning change resulted in the elimination of traditional land use restrictions and re-designation of these districts as "regeneration areas" to encourage re-investment, create housing opportunities and offer creative spaces for new businesses. Two “heroes” behind this innovative legislation were then-Mayor Barbara Hall and urban activist Jane Jacobs. From 945 people resident in the wider King-Spadina area in 1996, today residents have increased at least twenty-fold and are expected to double (or more) even that by 2025. The GDNA is part of the “west” precinct which constitutes 32% of those numbers. |
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3 pictures showing our neighbourhood (left) thriving, (middle) in decline, and (right) enjoying rebirth
Our Community:
Our neighbourhood (demarcated in red) is incorporated in the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District.
On October 4, 2017 Toronto City Council enacted By-law 1111-2017 which designates the K-S HCD under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
On October 4, 2017 Toronto City Council enacted By-law 1111-2017 which designates the K-S HCD under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
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And what an amazing neighbourhood we live in!
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505 Richmond Street WestWalker’s Paradise   |
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Our Constituents:
The GDNA represents residents, both owners and renters, living in the area bounded by Spadina to Bathurst and Queen to King. The GDNA neighbourhood is an important component of the larger King-Spadina area, which will witness some of the largest development growth and population gains in North America:
For more amazing statistics and demographics about the King-Spadina area and about the City as a whole, access this report prepared for the City of Toronto in 2016. |
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Our Association: The Garment District Neighbourhood Association was federally incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act in 2016. Members of the GDNA fall into two categories: Voting Members and (non-voting) Associate Members. Voting Members must be residents in the Spadina/Bathurst/Queen/King catchment. Associated Members are vital contributors to the mission and goals of the GDNA. Take the "CONNECT" link to "Join as a Voting Member" or "Join as an Associated Member". There are no conditions for subscribing to our mailing list. Take the "CONNECT" link to "Subscribe". And the GDNA never refuses donations. Take the "CONNECT" link to "Donate". As of the last AGM, held November 8, 2023 the four Directors are:
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Standing Committees and Chairs:
Membership |
Rick Green |
membership@gdnatoronto.org |
Public Safety & Security |
Curtis Priest |
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Online |
Richard Eriksson |
online@gdnatoronto.org |
Parks |
Catherine Mitchell |