The spatial elements and conditions shaped by the street and neighbourhood's block and road patterns contribute to spatial exclusion. Inaccessible block patterns, road networks, and property sizes affect primary access to public spaces, such as greenery, pedestrian walkways, and transportation. This illustrates how social exclusion can be deeply embedded in a neighbourhood's formal and spatial configurations.

.Archival Research
Using photography, maps, and colonial paintings, I developed an archive to understand Weston Road's morphology and its relationship to the Indigenous Carrying Place Trail. 

.On-Site Analysis
I then visited the site twice, first freely exploring, and then applying Jan Gehl's principles on public spaces by photographing, counting, and tracking.

.Iterative Map-Making
Finally, I created base maps of the neighborhood, later developing more critical, argumentative maps, detailed below based on Dana Cuffs thick mapping process.

More on the theories and methods of this research  

Weston Road's block and road patterns reflect necessary adjustments to colonial town planning, shaped by the contour of the Humber River. This has resulted in uniquely large blocks with reduced connectivity due to a lack of through streets.

Weston Road has a long history of diverse uses, including connections to the fur, auto, and manufacturing industries. These industries historically coexisted with local businesses serving factory workers and their communities. 

However, as these industries declined, private developers began consolidating smaller properties into larger lots. This shift has increased the separation between private and public spaces, with larger blocks now dominated by private developments rather than public amenities. 

The neighborhood's industrial decline has led to a unique building edge characterized by three key features: buildings directly on the edge, green spaces creating significant setbacks for "tower in the park" developments, and parking lots.

The neighbourhood's industrial decline has led to a unique building edge characterized by three key features: 
buildings directly on edge, green spaces creating significant setbacks for "tower in the park" developments, 
and parking lots.

       2. Parking Lot Map

Car infrastructure extends beyond the street, affecting the building edge. 
These parking lots reflect the site's industrial past and provide access to the railway and Humber River trail.

          3. Public Network Map 

While it is often reiterated that Weston Road lacks public space, the street is quite walkable and situated next to a beautiful public park. 
However, it needs proper connectivity between its resources. The neighbourhood is well-equipped with essential amenities such as schools, access to green space, 
and a leading commercial street. As new developments rise and the cost of living increases, residents increasingly rely on resources outside their neighbourhood.