Winning Carlaw + Dundas signature marker design to be revealed

Courtesy: Pierre Poussin

The concept for Leslieville's newest public art feature will be unveiled at a public open house on Nov. 22.

The City of Toronto will be officially presenting the winning Signature Marker Design and preliminary design concept for the Carlaw-Dundas triangle, which is a fancy name for what's to become of the city-owned dusty lot west of Carlaw Ave. and north of Dundas St. E.

A towering 9.2-metre "Brick Obelisk" (say that five times fast) will be the centrepiece of the public realm project. It's the winner after a call went out for a signature marker, a vertical streetscape element that can be seen from all directions and embodies the industrial character and vibrancy of the district.

Internationally acclaimed artist Pierre Poussin, who specializes in large-scale public art installations, will create the sculpture after his design was chosen by an eight-member jury. 

The idea is for the Dundas-Carlaw corridor to be transformed into an urban gathering space —featuring the winning monument design at the nucleus. 

The marker is part of the larger project, approved by City Council in 2014, which will also result in public realm improvements in Jimmie Simpson Park, Badgerow Parkette and Boston Ave. 

Construction will begin in the summer of 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2018. The approved capital budget is $750,000. 

On Nov. 22, the second public open house — hosted by councillor Paula Fletcher and other city staff — will provide project updates for the Carlaw + Dundas Community Initiative and public realm Improvements,  present and gather feedback on revised concept designs for three of the project sites and present Poussin's winning marker design.  

The open house will also be used to gather feedback on the preliminary design concepts from the local community and provide an update on the next steps in the process.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 22
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (drop-in format)
Location: Morse Junior Public School gymnasium, 180 Carlaw Ave.

Visit carlawdundas.ca for more information.