The ThunderBlogs

Six giant dumpsters were slumped against the wall, just barely concealing the heaps of garbage that festered beneath them. A broken television was stacked atop some damp furniture and had empty coffee containers perched delicately on top of it. The alleyway was fraught with bits of paper, plastic, and cigarette butts, and reeked of mould and urine.

Robert Sutherland grabbed a broom, while Varouj Gumuchian, Travis Martin and Jasiriat Somjee busied themselves with moving the dumpsters. Under the co-ordination of Sutherland, the four had taken it upon themselves to transform the alley north of Broadway, alongside Main Street, into a “Liveable Laneway,” a public space that would encourage pedestrians to linger in the space rather than flee from it.

Coinciding with the Autumn Shift car-free festival on Main Street, Liveable Laneways is an event spearheaded by Sutherland to facilitate long term change that would make the area cleaner and more people-friendly, benefiting merchants, visitors and residents. “We need more people spaces in Mount Pleasant,” said Sutherland, “I want this to be a public place with green roofs, green cafes, arts and activity”

From noon till 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, the alleyway will be converted into a vibrant public space, with a farmers market, a BBQ, cottage industry stalls, art installations, food, a skate park, pony rides and a stage for music.

Raking bits of rubbish out from the grass, Somjee said “I’m here to make the city greener and more pedestrian friendly.” She had come to help out as part of the Environmental Youth Alliance.

Gumuchian wanted to contribute his art. “My thing is sculpture – installation art. People bring their culture to the place. Lanes become alive with trades, crafts, and that relates to sustainability. Symbiotically creating micro businesses in the alley, as opposed to Main Street, which is more store-front stuff.” Gumuchian said he felt positive about the event, but that there were always some challenges and obstacles. “Cleaning is horrific. This place has been unkempt and unclean for years. The city doesn’t co-operate, cleaners don’t show up, there is red tape around licensing for the event, everything costs money.”

Chindi Varadarajulu, owner of Chutney Villa, a restaurant adjacent to the alley, said “Everybody is so nasty with their garbage. Stacks of old mattresses, paint, gardening stuff, furniture, they use it as a toilet – I’ve seen a guy taking a dump there. It is the most abused space.” She hopes that this event will help keep the alley clean, while bringing a lot more life and attitude to the city.