Buildings and Lankmarks

     Neptune Drive is a street in the Lawrence Manor neighborhood that presents the area with some high rise, low rise, and medium rise residential buildings. A significant landmark found within the neighborhood-Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care, is a hospital and a Jewish nursing home for the aged. Having this hospital in the area attracts an elderly population. 

Baycrest Hospital

Bathurst Strip Mall (Photo 7)

     As mentioned previously, stretching along Bathurst Street are several low rise buildings and strip malls. Many of the stores in the area cater to the predominately Jewish population that is found in the neighborhood. As shown in photo seven, shops selling kosher foods show no shortage along the Bathurst strip.

      Within the last decade, few luxury condominiums were built in the area, though along Bathurst Street, most of the buildings remain very old. Not much has been done to clean up the Bathurst strip, in order to match the bordering upscale, residential neighborhood just east of Lawrence Manor. Now that Lawrence Manor is slowly building newer residential homes, perhaps a good investment for developers would be to gentrify the Bathurst area, to create a more upscale neighborhood. Though the inner suburbs are not targeted in Toronto's neighborhood initiatives or citywide strategies (Noble, 2009). The disinvestment in the inner suburban areas of Toronto comes as a result of the suburbs 'un-sustainability' (Lehrer, 2009). From the perspective of Jane Jacob's (1961), the inner suburbs are the definition of poor urban form, not suited for the 'creative class' (Noble, 2009). Perhaps if the area were to undergo revitalization, the already high property values would force some of the population out of their homes, and leave store owner's unable to afford rent... It's hard to say whether or not this would benefit or hurt the area, however it is important to bring the inner suburb areas into city discussion (Noble, 2009).