The armpitization of neighborhoods and streets

[MolsonExport]

I was thinking about Wharncliffe Rd the other day...how once Wonderland became the main drag (reflected officially now by its designation as Highway 4, replacing Wharncliffe).

By most measures, Wharncliffe has become a real armpit of a road. The uglification has intensified over the past two decades, as prosperity moved and was replaced by dodgy businesses and abandoned shopfronts.

Dundas Street East has also been a victim of armpitization. Maybe it was bound to be that way once pedestrian traffic (aside from the junkies) largely dried up?

I have noticed that parts of the bottom end of Wellington are becoming armpitty...that shitty plaza on the southwest corner of Exeter/Wellington being a good example. Also the forlorn former superstore mall on the other side of the 401 on Wellington.

When the city opens up new areas for development on the fringes, it seems to exacerbate this donut effect. Another way to think about it is that this is like scraping finite layer of butter over an expanding piece of bread: the quality thins out until it becomes very patchy or undetectable.

What other areas of the city are prone to armpitization? What can be done to minimize this inefficiency?