Archive for January, 2017
Dangerous crossing at Sunnyside is eliminated by an overhead bridge instead of a viaduct. Feb 1094
Sunnyside railroad takeover
full text from the article.
COUNTY APPLAUDS TORONTO’S ACTION
Taking Over of Lake Shore Line is Approved.
RESOLUTION IS CARRIED
Quest1on of Building New Wing to Industrial House
Laid Over until next Session.
The York County Council yesterday afternoon Carried a resolution especially endorsing the action taken by the City Council of Toronto toward the municipalisation of that portion of the Lake Shore Division of the York Radial System lying between Sunnyside and the Humber River, as evidenced by the city’s serving of notice of its intention to take over the line on the expiry of the present franchise. The resolution was moved by Councillor Henry, Reeve of York Township. and was carried after brief discussion. all practically in favor of the motion. The draft bill laid over from the last session of the Ontario Legislature, regulating the character and size of County bridges. was laid before the council for an expression of opinion Councillor Henry moved that while the Legislature should be urged to clearly define the duties and powers of County Council in respect to County bridges. It was inadvisable to compel the counties to assume all bridges of a given length, irrespective of other circumstances.
The motion was carried. The committee on the County Industrial Home at Newmarket recommended the erection of a new wing to replace the room now used as a smoking-room. The matter was laid over till the January session, as was the application for a grant to the Society for the Treatment of Inebriates. A deputation will wait on the County Council to-day to request that the incorporation of Mimico as a village go Into effect on December 24 Instead of January I. which falls on a Sunday. Mimico’s population registers at about 1,000.
Government buildings that are becoming an absolute necessity In Toronto is very welcome. There is no big town on this continent that needs elbow room in its downtown quarter so urgently as Toronto does. When one goes to Montreal and looks at Dominion Square. or to Ottawa and watches the creation of a great group of buildings around the low plaza of the Chateau Laurier, or to Winnipeg. were the spaciousness of Main street is refreshing to the Torontonian who is daily jostled off the sidewalk on Yonge street, the conviction Is hammered home that this city is making, fool of itself by its persistent refusal to create a central open space. The Globe would like to see the Federal Government and the city act together in the acquisition of a downtown square and a site for the new Federal buildings, because In that way the cost would be less to both than would be the cost of individual action. The expropriation of all the land between the City Hall and Osgoode Hall and extending north from Queen to Louisa street would give the city and Dominion not only the land now covered by buildings In the area in question. but also the space occupied by the western end of Albert and the southerly end of Elizabeth. It would permit of the setting back of the front of the Federal building to the line of Osgoode Hall. The square that could thus be opened up would be noble in its proportions and afford opportunity for seeing to advantage the fine west front of the City Hall as well as the new Federal buildings. The south side of Queen under the conditions described would become most desirable property. At present it is no credit to Toronto. The Board of Trade should thrust the matter upon the attention of the City Council and the Government at Ottawa. There is but one valuable building on the site. the Manning office block. The property affords Toronto’s last opportunity to look like a real city. Are our people big enough to grip it?
City moves to designate the property after owner seeks demo permit I. Parkdale.
City Council include the property at 421 Roncesvalles Avenue (including the address at 61 Howard Park Avenue) on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register.
2. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 421 Roncesvalles Avenue (including the address at 61 Howard Park Avenue) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, in accordance with the Statement of Significance: 421 Roncesvalles Avenue (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment No. 3 to the report (January 20, 2017) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division.
3. If there are no objections to the designation in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bill in Council.
4. If there are objections in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council direct the City Clerk to refer the designation to the Conservation Review Board.
5. If the designation is referred to the Conservation Review Board, City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate staff to attend any hearing held by the Conservation Review Board in support of Council’s decision.
Summary:
This report recommends that City Council include the property at 421 Roncesvalles Avenue (including the address at 61 Howard Park Avenue) on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register, and state its intention to designate it under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.
The subject property is located on the southeast corner of Roncesvalles Avenue and Howard Park Avenue and contains a two-storey building that was constructed in 1914 as a Dominion Bank branch.
Following research and evaluation, it has been determined that the property at 421 Roncesvalles Avenue meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its design, associative and contextual value.
Properties on the Heritage Register will be conserved and maintained in accordance with Official Plan Heritage Policies. Designation enables City Council to review alterations to the site, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.
On October 21, 2016, the owners of the property applied for a demolition permit which is currently under review. Building permit applications for construction or demolition are reviewed for compliance against the Building Code Act, 1992, the Ontario Building Code (the “OBC”), and all applicable law, as that term is defined in the OBC.
Under the Ontario Heritage Act, initiating a designation is one way of protecting a threatened heritage property to allow more time for considering alternatives.
Parkdale LCBO store to become affordable housing, get your opinion in
11 Brock Ave. (ex-LCBO) is City-Owned land that is going to become affordable housing. The Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT) is gathering recommendations from residents on what type of affordable housing should be built. The focus of the conversation will be on the needs of senior housing, supportive housing and affordable family housing.
Speakers from the community will talk about recent planning initiatives and share stories of living in Parkdale. Residents will have a chance to discuss what type of affordable housing they would like to see in the community Parkdale.
Join the conversation!
Please register here or at the door.
Date: Thursday, February 9th
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., doors open at 6:30pm
Place: 20 West Lodge Ave. – May Robinson Auditorium
John Howard story of romantic who donated High Park from lost Toronto Public Library sketchbooks
The Toronto Public Library sketchbooks had staff produce scrapbooks of news items for a period, the total amount of time the blog has been unable to ascertain. There are four volumes listed in the Microfilm files, but only two in the drawers. Staff at the Toronto Public Reference Library were kind enough to search for a roll of the film that was seemingly a backup if judged by the box. The approx 45 mins wait was worth it, the roll contained a huge amount of interesting Junction information, detailing the infrastructure development.
This post is the posting a PDF scan of one page of one sketchbook in volume 9, of John Howard the person donated High Park, entitled, John Howard story of romantic who donated High Park” A bit of a opinion here, but the research the blog has done on Mr Howard and his wife, clearly indicates she was involved as much as him in the decision to donate the park. The news accounts of the day give Mr Howard the credit.
1st are two screen shots of the articles headlines and the first two paragraphs, followed by a link to the one pdf PDF of the article framed for printing.
link below to PDF
John Howard story of romantic who donated High Park
Christopher Wren designed railings in High Park
The Railings surrounding the Howard Monument in High Park, where designed by Christopher Wren and were part of those enclosing St Paul”s from 1714 to 1874.
Images sources, undated page Toronto Public Library sketchbooks.
Petition launched to save McLaughlin Planetarium from demolition
1st part of the story from The Star,
A campaign to save the McLaughlin Planetarium, slated for demolition on the University of Toronto campus, is gaining momentum.
In its prime, the planetarium was a standard field trip for generations of Toronto school kids to learn about the magic of the universe. Others fondly recall the laser shows in the 1980s, featuring music from Led Zeppelin, U2, Rush and Pink Floyd.
“It is absolutely one of the most significant works of architecture built in the 20th century in Toronto, not only for its own formal esthetic merits but because of the cultural role that it played and the history of that building as a public venue,” said Jeff Balmer, associate professor at the School of Architecture at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
and
BlogTo’s take and a bit of their article with some other info.
The Ontario Science Centre has a planetarium but it pales in size compared to McLaughlin, which served an educational purpose first and foremost (stoner trips to see the Pink Floyd laser light show were secondary, though fun). That purpose, argues Balmer, has never been more important.
“In a post-fact world, where the fundamental principals of scientific knowledge is being undermined, public planetariums like those in New York, Chicago, L.A., (and once upon a time, Toronto) are significant standard bearers for science education and a bulwark against attempts to undermine public confidence in science.”
Tory rightly angers at no tolls decision from province
1st few lines of the story
Speaking to the media in his city hall office following an announcement from Wynne in Richmond Hill, Tory called Wynne’s move “short-sighted.”
“By denying this regulatory change, the province has severely impacted the city’s ability to solve its own fiscal challenges and invest in its priorities,” he said. “This is the latest in a series of paternalistic responses that undervalue municipal autonomy and the priorities of Toronto’s nearly three million residents.”
He went further, in a fiery speech not typical of the normally mild-mannered mayor, frustrated in his inability to take control of the city’s own “destiny.”
Should artists spend there own money on pubic art, an example of 2 who do.
Image info.
A sketch of Christo’s proposed artwork “Over the River,” depicting a view from the Arkansas River.
CHRISTO OVER THE RIVER, PROJECT FOR THE ARKANSAS RIVER, COLORADO
An excerpt from the NYT story ,
But Christo said this week that he had decided to walk away from the Colorado project — a silvery canopy suspended temporarily over 42 miles of the Arkansas River — because the terrain, federally owned, has a new landlord he refuses to have anything to do with: President Trump.
His decision is by far the most visible — and costly — protest of the new administration from within the art world, whose dependence on ultra-wealthy and sometimes politically conservative collectors has tended to inhibit galleries, museums and artists from the kind of full-throated public disavowal of Mr. Trump expressed by some other segments of the creative world. Last week, the artist Richard Prince fired an opening salvo, returning a $36,000 payment for an artwork depicting Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, owned by her family.
- Full story https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/01/25/arts/design/christo-protest-donald-trump-colorado-artwork.html
City considering to support Family Caregiver Day
Recognizing Family Caregiver Day
Committee Recommendations
The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:
1. City Council recognize the first Tuesday in April each year as Family Caregiver Day and request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A, to report back to the Community Development and Recreation Committee on a strategy to support family caregivers and commence an awareness and educational campaign of such through all divisions and community stakeholders.
Summary:
Family caregivers provide unpaid, compassionate care to a person or persons who need assistance due to a disability, a physical, neurological or mental condition, a chronic illness, frailty or age. Caregivers must balance their personal lives and careers with their caregiving duties. For many caregivers, assisting the person in need can be a full-time job in itself but they must also continue working in order to support their families financially.
The City of Toronto has a responsibility and a leadership role to play to recognize and bring awareness to the incredibly vital social and economic contributions made by family caregivers and also to ensure that the city provides the necessary support and assistance to caregivers. This has become even more urgent as our society ages and the City of Toronto commits itself to implementing the Toronto Seniors Strategy.
Both the provincial and federal governments have taken steps to recognize and support the importance of family caregivers and provide new energy into awareness campaigns.
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