All over downtown, signs are going up designating districts

All over downtown, signs are going up designating districts. I can understand some, such as Little Italy and Greektown, but Toronto’s Discovery District at University and Dundas? What’s that about?—Elsie Moolgaokar, Grange Park

Toronto has the fourth-largest medical community in North America, the soul of which is the uniquely dense cluster of research hospitals along University Avenue, south of U of T. That cluster is about to be augmented by the massive new MaRS (Medical and Related Sciences) Centre at College and University—a 1.3-million-square-foot facility housing everything from biotech companies to investment firms—scheduled to open in March 2005. The Discovery District handle is but the beginning of the city’s plan to brand the area an R&D mecca. Schemes currently on the table include changing the name of University Avenue to Avenue of Arts and Sciences, and creating a medical walk of fame.