Monday, April 28, 2008

old Benjamin Moore & Co on Lloyd Ave.

LLoyd Ave redevelopment from paint plant to housing

Picture credit - junctioneer 2008

[Revised] After reading the application status and directions report from the city, (posted by the 1st commenter below) we decided to enlarge this post. It showcases some of the problems associated with redevelopment that if allowed to continue, with some considered thought, could hurt the mixed use benefits of living in the Toronto's west urban core.

In the past year, much has changed on Lloyd Avenue, due to the complete demolition of the original Benjamin Moore Toronto plant. We were surprised to see the recent boarding up of the row of houses on the north side of Mulock Avenue, which backed onto the Benjamin Moore plant. (Really we should not have been surprised.) The zoning sign indicates the developer intends to put up three buildings which differ from what was originally stated on the sign. With the developer’s second proposal one of the buildings will have an employment use, (great) while the others will be residential. Ok, this area needs both additional residential and more industrial employment buildings, but just as important it needs to retain the viability of the current industrial employers such the NRI factory and the Canada Bread bakery. These companies are really important to the community, not only for the hundreds of jobs they provide, but also for the goods they produce, and in the case NRI the materials they recycle. They also, and this may seem of little importance to some you, they provide a continued manufacturing presence in a community that has always benefited from a strong industrial and residential mix.

Maybe what is needed here is the equivalent of the signs placed on the streets around developments near airports indicating that there will be noise if you choose to buy your house here. We would suggest a sign stating something like - there are industries that may affect the way you live here, and that it's part of an urban lifestyle. Isn't it the responsibility of the province and the city to seek to solve the problems surrounding this area? This can be done by looking to put by-laws into place that would protect industry, and assist the developer in regenerating the area. A neighborhood that, although having had a continued and much needed industrial presence, has had its residential area wind up in bad shape, both in the condition of the housing and of the community.

Thanks to the commenter for pointing us to the city's development PDF, see the 1st comment for the link.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Who's trapped... the two on the sides or the one in the middle?

73 Station Rd

Picture credit - David 2008

This house at 73 Station Rd. M8V 2R2 has an MLS listing MLS®: W117332. From the listing...

General Description $598,900

Totally Gutted & Renovated Using Only The Best Of Material,Gorgeous Home With Everything You Would Expect To Fine In A Quality Renovation.High Ceilings,Hardwood Floors,High End Quality Cherrywood Kitchen And Much More,Some Finishing Still Required. No Showing For Now.**** EXTRAS **** Gb&E,Hwt(R),Broadloom Where Laid,Basement Is 2 Apartments, (SIC)

This house which is right in the middle of two small, one family brick houses, (or really it's re-builder) seems to not have taken any cues from the traditional building styles in the neighborhood. While we acknowledge that people have a right to enlarge and re-purpose their houses to their own needs, it would be kinder and maybe a bit easier to recoup the investment if the resulting house was more at ease in it's location.

Sears Catalogue store - Dundas St. West @ Keele

I just saw the most amazing thing on Dundas. The Sears Catalogue store- that has been at 2876  since I moved here 3 years ago, and which I'm sure has been here for a lot longer, and which I've been in once to purchase I can't remember what (that they didn't have), that I'm sure has been very useful to many people for a long time, though I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone go there, and the existence of which has always flabbergasted me because a Sears Catalogue store, it seems to me, should be obsolete- this Sears Catalogue store was all papered up and obviously closed down. Then, I saw the sign in the window: 'we have moved to 2868 '. And , sure enough, the racks of clothes and housewares and various items were all transported and restocked just two doors down. I think we should all make a point of stopping in and welcoming them to their new location.

Posted by Louis

Friday, April 25, 2008

Mimico rowhouse infill on Royal York

Mimco-towhouses

Picture credit - David 2008

On the shoulder of the 2nd last GO train stop heading east into Toronto's core, this infill development also overlooks the lonely looking graveyard of a displaced church, on south Royal York.

Post sent in by David

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

West Toronto councilors’ websites

The Junctioneer aims to post regular information about each community in West Toronto.

Today we began to look at the elected councilors’ websites, in hopes of finding an ongoing account of what they are up to in each of their communities. Some provide this information and some don't. We know they are busy, but knowing what they are busy with is of interest to us.

One councilor, Frank Di Giorgio, has a simple but impressive site -- although a bit out of date. Look at his Ingram transfer Station green space effort. His PDF "get involved” newsletter is great! He even provides a prepared letter to the mayor.
Frank Di Giorgio Ingram Transfer Station site page

Below are the west-end councilor website listings. Have a look yourself.

http://www.billsaundercook.ca/ Bill Saundercook
www.mariaaugimeri.com Maria Augimeri
http://www.fdigiorgio.ca/ Frank Di Giorgio
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/hall1.htm Suzan Hall
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/holyday1.htm Doug Holyday
www.adamgiambrone.ca Adam Giambrone
www.markgrimes.ca Mark Grimes
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/lindsay_luby1.htm Gloria Lindsay Luby
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/mammoliti1.htm Giorgio Mammoliti
www.petermilczyn.com Peter Milczyn
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/nunziata1.htm Frances Nunziata
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/palacio1.htm Cesar Palacio
www.joepantalone.org Joe Pantalone
www.gordperks.ca Gord Perks
http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/perruzza1.htm Anthony Perruzza
www.karenstintz.com Karen Stintz


Wondering who your councillor is? click here to link to the city's find your councillor site

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Blockbuster Video - old Kresge's store

Blockbuster video located in the old Kresge's store was one of the first of the "regeneration" stores in the strip of Dundas St. West from Annette St. to Islington Ave. Yet while it served it's purpose, only now are others retailers appearing to fulfill the complete package of services provided by the Kresge Company.

Kresge image 1991 by Robert Johnson

Picture Credit - Robert Johnston 1991

Thursday, April 17, 2008