Friday, February 26, 2010

New Gym coming to the Junction

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At Pacific Ave and Dundas St West in the building on the north east corner which has three retail spaces on the ground floor, a new womens gym (where members spouses will be welcomed) is going in. In the past few weeks the removal of the old Scotiabank service counters has occurred.

With all the text this author puts on this blog about the Junction strip, I seem to have been remiss in promoting a gym, but the though of one coming in is great.  Yes  I know iron core is in the Junction, Yet I get the feeling it's a gym for hard-core physical fitness persons.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

The Village by High Park, the electrical rooms - photo post

Well this is just as exciting to this author as all the other photos from the blogs tour of the Village by High Park development.  In the photos below you are inside the election control and distribution rooms. These rooms are placed at the north west corner of the development at the south east corner of the Keele St underpass (subway).

[caption id="attachment_6082" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Two cases to the right (at rear) are Toronto Hydro control switches"]Two cases to the right (at rear) are Toronto Hydro control switches[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6083" align="aligncenter" width="281" caption="inside one of the step-down transformers"]inside one of the step-down transformers[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6084" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Distribution to units area"]Distribution to units area[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_6085" align="aligncenter" width="281" caption="Individual control switches"]Individual  control switches[/caption]

The Village by High Park, Retail what if?

[caption id="attachment_6078" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Looking out of the/one of the retail spaces in the building"]Looking out of the/one of the retail spaces in the building[/caption]

It's  the most obvious location for what type of  retail operation? -  a restaurant, a clothes cleaner, a convenience store, a flower store, a dollar store, a hobby store or art store.  But someone or some corporate entity probably is  planning on making a go the ground-floor space at the The Village by High Park, aka the old Canadian Tire Keele St site. what will/should it be?

As you may know, this tower is a condominium hybrid mix of affordable units and some retail  built by Deltera Construction for the Options for Homes company. For the moment the space is undivided to offer flexibility with the leasing opportunities.

Is this where the chains stores such as Starbucks will place themselves in the Junction?

Below is an image of a similar type and size retail operation at the bottom of a condo development - gives you an idea of what retail along this stretch will look like.

sim store

Readying stores St Clair Ave. West and Runnymede Road

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Just west of St Clair Ave. west and  Runnymede Road moving towards Jane St on the north side is filling out completely with  the current retail development the north side of St Clair Ave will be full.

This site for decades was home to transportation companies 1st the less than truckload division of the CPR and then Consolidated Fast Freight. then for another decade it was home to foundation of the freight building. Construction of the current new buildings all of the box type building architecture has been rapid.

30 Weston Rd. all grinding away

Priestly Demolition grinds up the concrete from  30 Weston Rd.  Bunge plant. Wondering if the clean fill they are creating will be used on site.

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http://www.priestly.ca/demolition.aspx

Monday, February 22, 2010

Lack of sign boards in the Junction causing drive & walk bys?

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The cities stringent sign board  rules and cumbersome methods of getting one and keeping one, thrusts an open walk and drive by hole in helping one sheepishly or purposely choose a place to eat and drink in the Junction.

These signs boards pictured above along King St west in the core give a quick way to get an idea of whats on todays menu. Other things such as the open roof top garden on one vendors establishment are made aware to one.  A bit of walking to and fro and up and down a street allows people to gain a wealth of food and drink knowledge upon which to make their eating and drinking choices.

So many communities have them little Italy, the Beaches, so sad we do not.

Espresso Mi Vida Inc. Sunday Feb.28/10 from 9-10am

org ex

Maple Leaf Foods subsid...Canada Bread has found a new home for it's Junction production

1st thanks to commenter A.F for alerting the blog to this

bread

lines from the article on CB Business (full article here)

Canada Bread picked Hamilton on Wednesday (FEB 17th)  as the site for its massive new bakery. pleased to be growing our presence in Hamilton through this $100-million investment to establish a world-class bakery facility," said Canada Bread president Richard Lan

The company said the bakery will be built on a 10-hectare property in North Glanbrook Industrial Park. The company and the City of Hamilton are working to complete the permitting process and expect construction to start in June.

The federal government will also provide $2 million towards pre-engineering and design activities to build the new bakery.

It's sad the Junction loses jobs and industry, although the author of this post understands the opinions of many in the community who dislike the industry, there is the issue of a balanced economy for the Junction, and new plants must meet stringent rules for emissions and noise.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Weather not to kind to ice rink

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The high temperature s have not been kind to ice rink this year for skating, but it is fun to frolic! on.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

2920 Dundas St West - Lucky you store

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The Lucky You 2920 Dundas St West adult shop (website - www.lucky-you.ca) which caused concern among many many people in the community has presented itself in a wonderful way and not in the manner that many people expected a shop such as this to to. This author and others remember the other past shops of this type over the years in the Junction which were not pleasant to say the least.

The community fears founded on past experience have not panned out it seems.  any opinions out there?

Updatelucky-you appears to be a online store only now, chked link Feb 13 2013.

This address ( 2920 Dundas St West) is now occupied by Pandemonium Books.


Wednesday, February 17, 2010

post request sent in by blog reader...

[caption id="attachment_6052" align="aligncenter" width="413" caption="click on image for full size"]click on image for full size[/caption]

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The fuzzy people have chosen ten top names to rename their community

Over at the South Junction Triangle site they are having an interesting comment discussion about the process and the need (if any), well worth reading.

Heres a question for those living in the "Junction" do you want this area to keep the word Junction as part of any name they choose?




Fuzzy Boundaries voting results: Top 10 names


Top Ten Neighbourhood Names




  1. Junction Triangle

  2. South Junction Triangle

  3. East Junction

  4. Railpath

  5. Railtown

  6. Black Oak Triangle

  7. Rail District

  8. The Wedge

  9. The Triangle

  10. Perth Park

Victoria-Royce Presbyterian Church conversion photos

The Victoria-Royce Presbyterian Church which is now in full conversion mode into a condominium building appears to taking the existing building quite seriously and incorporating it's essence into the new use.

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Exploring the Tower Automotive building (nee Alcan) on Sterling Rd

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="260" caption="Photo. credit A.R."][/caption]

Vic Gedris has posted a great photo essay of the building at the South Junction Triangle. it has some good images, and brought back some memories for this author for as a 19 year old working at the factory during summer holidays i got the elevator stuck at the top of this building. It did not go over well with the foreman.

here is the link

Monday, February 15, 2010

15-02-2010 12-29-25 PM

A day for the  magical effects which change our lives in family


happy family day

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.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Converted 500


a time to remember and cherish the happiest moments of  life, we didn’t know.


fill 189 high

Friday, February 12, 2010

Gold medal winner - Vesuvio's Pizzeria & Spaghetti House

[caption id="attachment_6024" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="web clip from the Toronto Star"]v 12-02-2010 2-00-33 PM[/caption]



In the Toronto Stars

Pizza Olympics: Who does delivery the best?


Vesuvio's Pizzeria & Spaghetti House is the Gold medal winner -


link to Toronto Star article

...thanks to blog reader Stewart for alerting the blog to this article

Turning Junction houses into stores

tokyo

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.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="457" caption="Mirvish Village"][/caption]

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.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

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?

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

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.

DSC00229 with arrow

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.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

parkside drive soil sink still there

parkside drive

For over 2months the soil sink along Parkside Drive and into High Park is still these with traffic barriers redirecting traffic.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Medland Street – Traffic Calming up at council today

09-02-2010 11-04-50 AM

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.

09-02-2010 11-07-31 AM
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,

09-02-2010 11-11-28 AM

photo post:The Queensway Retail to Lake Shore Blvd W residential walk, wow

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.

queensway-mall-to-lakeshore-resd

Monday, February 8, 2010

Brooklyn Bridge Park so many ideas

pier 6 rendering 2-2010 (1)

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

New York Times -

When Parks Must Rely on Private Money

Runnymede Healthcare Centre at ground level

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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.

Friday, February 5, 2010

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.

unable to attend the Small Engine Environment talks on February 8, 2010 discussion?

green ornage leaf

Persons unable to attend the February 8, 2010 discussion can share their comments by February 19, 2010. Comments can be submitted as follows:

Call: 416-338-2848
E-mail: mmulqu@toronto.ca
Write:
Small Engine Equipment Consultations
c/o Toronto Environment Office
City Hall, 100 Queen St. W.
21st floor, East Tower
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Following the Feb 8th discussion a copy of the meeting materials (e.g. PowerPoint presentation, q and a, etc.) and a copy of the Comment Sheet distributed to consultation participants will be available on line at http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/2strokes/index.htm. Persons unable to attend the meeting are also welcome to complete the Comment Sheet and send it to the above mailing or email address by February 19, 2010.

link to orig post

Thursday, February 4, 2010

The Village by High Park, Paris ave's in The Junction

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above looking out of the south west towards Keele St just south of Vine Ave

[caption id="attachment_5920" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="The Keele St Sidewalk"]DSC00306[/caption]

Directly above this text is an image of the new expanding sidewalk area that is being created by the The Village by High Park development, just look how much added space will add the walk space, - remember the city sidewalk in still on the other side of  hoarding.

..a stop and talk sidewalk this will be - looking back over many images of area from the past indicates to this author that never before has the sidewalk area been as walkable as it will be now.

Evangeline's/Mainstay Art Groups art materials reguest

webflyer

Federal court denies GO/Metrolinx the ability to bypass a federal CTA decision

DSC00447


Toronto Star article








Court upholds order for GO to halt heavy hammer use - thestar.com
Court upholds order for GO to halt heavy hammer use: Ruling is a victory for residents of the West Toronto Diamond..


February 4, 2010


DiNovo Congratulates Local Residents over Pile-driving Victory


Parkdale-High Park—NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo is sending her heartfelt congratulations to the citizens of the West Toronto Diamond in Toronto’s historic Junction neighborhood.



Last night, the federal court denied GO/Metrolinx the ability to bypass a federal CTA decision stating that Metrolinx’s pile-driving project was causing undue harm to residents of the West Toronto Diamond.

“This is a clear victory for the West Diamond citizens,” said DiNovo.

“The federal court has stated clearly that Metrolinx must listen to the legitimate demands of citizens. Metrolinx has lost their game of using tax dollars to go after tax payers," added DiNovo.

DiNovo is now calling on GO/Metrolinx and Minister of Transportation Kathleen Wynne to stop the noise up the line and to settle damage claims without wasting more tax dollars.

– 30 –




Media Inquiries:
Charles Smith (647) 405-1425

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Feb. 8: Help Green the Future of Lawn & Garden Care

grass

Join the city as they  investigate challenging issues of reducing  emissions from Small Engine Equipment

Background info


Small Engines are Big Polluters

Most people do not associate air pollution with mowing the lawn. Yet emissions

from lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, leaf vacuums, and similar outdoor

power equipment are a significant source of pollution. Today’s small engines emit

high levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. They also

emit hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, pollutants that contribute to the formation

of ozone. While ozone occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere and shields

the earth from harmful radiation, ozone at ground level is a noxious pollutant.

Ground-level ozone impairs

Small Engines are Big Polluters

Most people do not associate air pollution with mowing the lawn. Yet emissions from lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, leaf vacuums, and similar outdoor power equipment are a significant source of pollution. Today’s small engines emit high levels of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. They also emit hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, pollutants that contribute to the formation of ozone. While ozone occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere and shields the earth from harmful radiation, ozone at ground level is a noxious pollutant. Ground-level ozone impairs from the city site on the subject

In may May 2009, City Council adopted the “Greening Small Engine Equipment Strategy”. This multi-faceted approach enables the City to accelerate the replacement of its older, inefficient lawn and garden equipment, and to explore alternative landscaping practices. The strategy also led to the creation of “Cut it Out Toronto”, a public education and equipment disposal program for older equipment held at Toronto’s Community Environment Days.lawnmower_new


The next step is to explore additional options and measures to advance the phase out of older, inefficient small-engine equipment across Toronto, including potential regulatory options. Residents and members of the landscaping community are invited to share their thoughts on what we can do to build a plan that is fair and equitable to all.

Small two-stroke engines found in older lawn and garden equipment, such as leaf and snow blowers, lawnmowers and trimmers, emit a high level of pollutants into the air.

Join us to address this challenge as we investigate

actions to reduce these emissions, including potential regulatory measures.

Date: Monday, February 8, 2010

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Location: Meeting Room 1, Etobicoke Civic Centre,

399 The West Mall ( http://www.toronto.ca/involved/projects/2strokes/index.htm )

To register, call 416-338-2848 or 416-397-0831 (TTY)

Take TTC:
Bloor/Danforth subway to Islington.
Take Burnhamthorpe bus #50 west to The West Mall
Automobile and bicycle parking available.

[email_link]

Did you know that running an older, gas-powered lawnmower for one hour creates the same amount of pollution as driving a new car from Toronto to Ottawa?

Toronto West Diamond grade separation enters onto changing industrial streets

DSC00449DSC00450Monarch Road and Old Weston Road

Monarch Road at Junction Rd as it is now, ripped up and fading from view the roadpath of Weston Rd to the road had been closed for years yet the sidewalk was there so you legally walk along it to the Monarch Rd.  Now with the sidewalk ripped up and the pile driving crew  working right up to side of old flour mill offices the change is permanent and drastic.