Site scenarios engagement report

During spring 2023, community members provided input on how they would like to see the future West End Community Hub (WECH) buildings and spaces take shape. Community members shared their views on the strengths and challenges of three potential site scenarios. All three scenarios included the same spaces, activities and outdoor spaces, and each responded to valuable community feedback, planning research and project partner priorities. The primary difference among the scenarios was the location of spaces and activities on the site.

Feedback gathered during this phase builds on the input of hundreds of West Enders and the larger community, who helped create the WECH Vision and Principles in spring 2021 and who, in winter 2022, identified the kinds of spaces and activities they’d like to see in the future West End Community Hub.

Read our engagement report to learn about community members' feedback on the strengths, challenges and opportunities of each site scenario.

Overview of each scenario and the public’s selection of strengths

The full update post includes diagrams of each scenario.

Scenario A

Site layout of Scenario A:

1. Community centre at the corner of Denman and Haro
2. Childcare on the upper floor of the community centre with south-facing outdoor play areas
3. Social space – a lobby with a Denman Street entrance that includes a shared front desk for community centre and library spaces
4. Community plaza on Denman Street
5. Library at the corner of Denman and Haro
6. Regulation-size ice rink below ground
7. Secondary school on Barclay Street with an additional building on Denman Street
8. Secondary school outdoor education space
9. Firehall #6 integrated into the community centre on Haro Street

When asked about the strengths of Scenario A, about half of all survey respondents selected the following options:

• Denman Street location of an expanded community plaza
• Denman location of the library
• Denman location of the community centre
• Denman connection to the community centre lobby or social space

Scenario B

Site layout of Scenario B:

1. Community centre on Barclay Street
2. Childcare on the upper floor of the community centre with east- and west-facing outdoor play areas
3. Social space – a lobby with a Haro Street entrance that includes a shared front desk for community centre and library spaces
4. Community plaza along the Haro Street Greenway
5. Library on Haro Street
6. Regulation-size ice rink below ground
7. Secondary school on Denman Street
8. Secondary school outdoor education space
9. Firehall #6 integrated into the community centre with access to Barclay Street

Scenario B had lower overall levels of public support in comparison to the other scenarios. When asked about the strengths of Scenario B, survey respondents identified moderate support and approximately one quarter of survey respondents identified:

• Haro Street Greenway location of a community plaza
• Barclay Street connection to Firehall #6
• Movement of foot traffic around buildings

Scenario C

Site layout of Scenario C:

1. Community centre on Denman Street
2. Childcare on the upper floor of the community centre with east- and west-facing outdoor play areas
3. Social space – a lobby with a Denman Street entrance that includes a shared front desk for community centre and library spaces
4. Community plaza on Denman Street
5. Library on Denman Street
6. Regulation-size ice rink below ground
7. Secondary school on Barclay Street
8. Secondary school outdoor education space
9. Firehall #6 integrated into the community centre with access to Barclay Street

Scenario C had higher overall levels of public support in comparison to the other scenarios. When asked about the strengths of Scenario C, approximately two-thirds of survey respondents identified:

• Denman location of the community centre
• Denman location of the library
• Denman location of the community plaza
• Denman location of the community centre lobby or social space
• The secondary school’s location on the east side of the site

About a third of respondents supported the remaining elements of this scenario.