︎




Conspicuous Justice: Revitalizing the Agriculture Street Landfill



Erika Richmond
University of Toronto, 2011

Problem
The Agriculture Street Site, located at the confluence of two canals, was used as a city landfill until 1965. Soon after it's closure, two housing projects were built on adjacent land. Soil tests in the 80's showed high levels of lead and poly aromatic hydrocarbons, and the site was listed as an EPA Superfund site. However, clean up has been slow and somewhat inadequate and residents are involved in legal battles for compensation. Currently all rainwater from the site drains directly into the canals and is discharged without remediation.

Proposal
A five Phase plan to remediate the soil, clean and contain rainwater and create a livable neighbourhood. Phase one involves compensation for those affected, including help in finding property elsewhere if the residents wish. Phase involves in situ remediation, which will be made visible with brightly coloured operations. Phase three uses phytoremediation to clean up the heavy metals in the soil. Finally, as the soil is remediated, it can be shaped into a landscape that holds and cleans rainwater, an residents can feel safe in their neighbourhood once again.