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A day for the magical effects which change our lives in family
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Archive for February, 2010
244 High Park Avenue – Committee of Adjustment Hearing
Junction Residents Assoiciation
A position post from the Junction Resident Association
The stately home located at 244 High Park Avenue was built in 1910. It has large principal rooms, and retains many of its original interior features, as well as sunny bay windows, solid bricks, and even a slate roof.
Recently this home was purchased by a developer, and last November they asked the city for permission to demolish it, divide the lot and squeeze in two, three-story houses, each with a garage next to the front door.
Depending on your point of view, this development could be an opportunity to rejuvenate the neighbourhood or represent potential loss of our heritage.
The large lots which drew many of us to the Junction are ideal for this type of intensification. As the Junction gentrifies, prices will rise and the equation for profitable intensification will draw many more developers, with bulldozers not far behind.
The Etobicoke York Committee of Adjustment will review this proposal on Thursday, February 18th.
I (Martin Lennox JRA co-chair) plan to attend the hearing to make my case to reinforce the existing physical character of the Junction and ask the Committee to reject this proposal.
The loss of one house is not going to change Junction life any more than new condos or railways will, but I view this project not as one step but possibly the first of many such steps.
The Committee equates silence with acceptance, so every email counts.
The association has produced a form letter to start that makes it simple to register your views
Subject line: 244 High Park Avenue – Committee of Adjustment Hearing
To Whom It May Concern:
I respectfully request that the Committee of Adjustment does not consent to sever 244 High Park Ave.
The proposed development does not comply with the City of Toronto Official Plan for established neighbourhoods in that it does not respect the existing physical character of the Junction neighbourhood.
The proposed design does not match the prevailing building type, or the size and configuration of existing lots. The prevailing rear and side yard setback patterns are also not respected.
In particular, the proposed architectural design (including the addition of a front-yard garage) does not complement the built form features that contribute to the unique physical character of the Junction and the many heritage listed buildings in the area.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
[Your Address Here]
…next JRA members meeting will be held on Thursday, March 11th at 7pm at the West Toronto Baptist Church, 3049 Dundas Street West.
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Gold medal winner – Vesuvio’s Pizzeria & Spaghetti House
web clip from the Toronto Star
In the Toronto Stars
Pizza Olympics: Who does delivery the best?
Vesuvio’s Pizzeria & Spaghetti House is the Gold medal winner –
…thanks to blog reader Stewart for alerting the blog to this article
Turning Junction houses into stores
On February 12, 2010
In City Wards, Development, Junction Retail, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park)
With 4 Comments
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Above a Tokyo store with the approx built volume of Junction row house that is a compact and pleasant store. Can Junction houses be converted into stores such as those in other parts of the city – one example being the Yorkville area.
Maybe we need some transformation like Mirvish Village along a particular street, or could the Junction residents request the city to allow retail in the lane ways (this authors preference) this would allow the a great amount of retail development in the Junction.
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Mirvish Village
Melbourne’s (Australia) city laneways and arcades are the most sought-after retail space in the city, according to a CB Richard Ellis report – a retail agent . People flock there, particularly to eat and drink, and more and more shop owners are scrambling to get in on the action. What about the Junction.
Fancy A Pint This Weekend? What is a pub in the Junction?
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Pubs… people in the Junction seem to passionate about them. Does the Junction really have pubs and bars that are different from the rest of the city, or do we simply have integrations of the many types in the city?
Questions from a tea toddler
Is there a establishment that has a sensational treat, considered their specialty in the Junction
Is chatting with the host of the particularly part of the |Junction pub experience
Do the Junction pubs have master mixologists at the helm, are we were plied with an innovative and tasty range of drinks?
and food…
is their a pub that routinely is considered to have the best food?
is their a pub that routinely has the best music?
11 police Division Relocation building use?
On February 11, 2010
In City of Toronto, Parkdale, Roncesvalles Village, South Junction Triangle, Swansea, The Junction, Ward 12 – York South-Weston, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park), West Bend, Weston
With Comments Off on 11 police Division Relocation building use?
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Over at the Junction RA site there is a discussion going on about what to do with the old police station when the building is no longer required by the police.
As to “demo-state” what can be done “within an existing structure of an old jail the blog offers this video example. ………………..where a jail is converted to a hotel.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oytWcrJYmHM&feature=player_embedded
The Village by High Park, firefighters elevator system
On February 11, 2010
In Development, Railways, The Junction, The Village by High Park, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park)
With 1 Comment
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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkTN88ANcUg
In this video Sean McCaffrey the senior site superintendent for Deltera speaks detailing the features of parts of the firefighters elevator system in the condominium development.
The above image shows the firefighters elevator system concrete forming on one floor.
Vine Ave truck and employee parking
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The Topper textile firm has begun to use the old Canadian Rogers Eastern Limited (CREL) roofing division ….come parking lot as depot for its trucks and employees cars. Increasing the traffic volume along Vine Ave.
This new activity has caused this author to wonder what the community feels about the increased industrial traffic this new use has caused, in light that many people in the community feel the age of mixed residential and industrial activity in the Junction is over.
While this author believes the Junction needs mixed residential and industrial activity, I really would like to know what the people living close-by feel the impact of this activity is.
parkside drive soil sink still there
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For over 2months the soil sink along Parkside Drive and into High Park is still these with traffic barriers redirecting traffic.
Medland Street – Traffic Calming up at council today
On February 9, 2010
In City of Toronto, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park)
With Comments Off on Medland Street – Traffic Calming up at council today
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From city reports,
Transportation Services recommends to Etobicoke York Community Council that:
1. Traffic calming not be installed on Medland Street, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street.
This report summarises the results of an investigation into installing speed humps on Medland Street, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street. The staff review shows that the criteria for installing speed humps are not satisfied.
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ISSUE BACKGROUND
Councillor Bill Saundercook, on behalf of area residents, asked Transportation staff to
review installing physical traffic calming measures on Medland Street, between Dundas
Street West and Annette Street, to address concerns with current traffic operations,
particularly a concern about taxis and delivery vehicles “short cutting” through the
neighbourhood.
COMMENTS
Medland Street is a north-south local road that operates both ways between Dundas Street
West and Annette Street, and has a pavement width of 7.6 metres. Curb side sidewalks
exist on both sides of the road. The posted speed limit is 40 km/h; however, this is not
considered a warranted speed limit as it does meet the City’s existing 40km/h speed limit
warrant. Parking is prohibited on the east side of the street at all times with a one hour
limit on a portion of the west side.
We assessed the subject location according to the City of Toronto’s Traffic Calming
Policy. The principal criteria for installing of speed humps are vehicle operating speeds
and volume. Other environmental factors are also examined, such as road width,
pedestrian facilities and grade. The proposal was evaluated under each of the three
criteria (Warrants 1, 2 and 3), with the results summarized in Appendix A.
Based on our assessment, Medland Street does not satisfy Warrant 3.1 “Minimum Speed”
which is required to satisfy the entire warrant. The following table summarises traffic
volume and speed data:
Location: Medland Avenue,
ISSUE BACKGROUND
Councillor Bill Saundercook, on behalf of area residents, asked Transportation staff to review installing physical traffic calming measures on Medland Street, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street, to address concerns with current traffic operations, particularly a concern about taxis and delivery vehicles “short cutting” through the neighbourhood.
COMMENTS
Medland Street is a north-south local road that operates both ways between Dundas Street West and Annette Street, and has a pavement width of 7.6 metres. Curb side sidewalks exist on both sides of the road. The posted speed limit is 40 km/h; however, this is not considered a warranted speed limit as it does meet the City’s existing 40km/h speed limit warrant. Parking is prohibited on the east side of the street at all times with a one hour limit on a portion of the west side.
We assessed the subject location according to the City of Toronto’s Traffic Calming Policy. The principal criteria for installing of speed humps are vehicle operating speeds and volume. Other environmental factors are also examined, such as road width, pedestrian facilities and grade. The proposal was evaluated under each of the three criteria (Warrants 1, 2 and 3), with the results summarized in Appendix A.
Based on our assessment, Medland Street does not satisfy Warrant 3.1 “Minimum Speed” which is required to satisfy the entire warrant. The following table summarises traffic volume and speed data:
Location: Medland Avenue,
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photo post:The Queensway Retail to Lake Shore Blvd W residential walk, wow
On February 9, 2010
In Ward 5 Etobicoke-Lakeshore, Ward 6 Etobicoke-Lakeshore
With 3 Comments
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Along the Queensway just west of the South Kingsway on South side a thriving and very busy retail centre has emerged, containing among other stores a Shoppers Drug Mart, a Flight Centre travel agency and a Sobeys Store.
Perfect for the needs of the people living in the condominiums south of the expressway.
Choosing to walk between these two locations is real difficult, it is a car route if there ever was one.
Brooklyn Bridge Park so many ideas
On February 8, 2010
In Junction Public Space Initiative, Natural Urban Living, The Junction, Toronto Parks, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park)
With Comments Off on Brooklyn Bridge Park so many ideas
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Why a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge Park rendering? Ideas! and oh so many…. yes many of you reading this may be thinking the junction has no available land area for a park and public space for development such as this, and the author of this post understands that fact. We can however take hope and ideas from such a large project for our own community.
Local parks could with community input be transformed with some of the ideas expressed here, also a public space project involving the partial closer of a street could crate something such as the wonderland above.
related article around the web today of parks and community
When Parks Must Rely on Private Money
Runnymede Healthcare Centre at ground level
On February 8, 2010
In buildings, Heritage, High park, The Junction, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park)
With 2 Comments
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Images from this past weekend of the Runnymede Healthcare Centre old building demo
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Sure looks different St Johns Rd, and it all happened so fast.
Junction seems to be a magnet for large drilling machines
On February 5, 2010
In Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park), Ward 14 – (Parkdale-High Park)
With Comments Off on Junction seems to be a magnet for large drilling machines
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This drilling rig which by the blogs guess is part of the tool set for the Keele St Subway renovation is nicely parked on Keele st just north of the subway.
IMG_0537
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