Ombudsman and Integrity Commissioner Public information session - Thursday, November 22

Ombudsman and Integrity Commissioner

Public information session - Thursday, November 22

 

Simple thought on why the community needs the old 11 division lot

Has anyone else noticed, the amount of community happenings at the 3030 restaurant on Dundas St.W. at High Park Ave. what 2 in past week?

Which is great, but it tweaked the blog again on how much this area needs the old police lot in the Junction as a community place.

Conversion of the current building or demo and build of a new building - which is probably the least costly choice.

Frances Nunziata Councillor, Ward 11, Requests study of Junction Rd

Request for an Area Study of Junction Road

Origin

(October 25, 2012) Letter from Councillor Frances Nunziata, Ward 11 - York South-Weston

Updated: info moved from comment post from Manny Dec 1st 2012

Councillor Gord Perks gets control by-law passed to mitigate impacts of the high concentration of restaurants and bars in Queen St area

 

This post is about the Control By-law for Queen Street West, between Dufferin Street and Roncesvalles Avenue, an Interim Control By-law for a period of one year to prohibit (new) restaurants and similar uses in the study area, to prohibit these uses above the ground floor of buildings, and to prohibit rear yard and rooftop patios associated with these uses.

the motion for the study

[caption id="attachment_13641" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Click Image to view full motion[/caption]

 

Below are highlighted text outtakes from the Now Magazine article on the ban,

click image to visit their site to read the entire article.

[caption id="attachment_13642" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Text outtakes from the Now Magazine article on the ban, click image to visit their site to read the entire article.[/caption]

 

Outtake text from the Motion without Notice as passed

Similar restaurant studies conducted further east on a portion of Queen Street West, on a portion of College Street, and on a portion of Ossington Avenue all identified conflicts between restaurants and the surrounding neighbourhood areas. All of these studies resulted in zoning by-law amendments that limited restaurant and related uses to the ground floor of a building and prohibited rear yard and rooftop patios in the study areas. As a result of these studies City Planning recommended that restaurants be restricted to the ground floor of buildings and that rear yard and rooftop patios should be prohibited in commercial residential zones in the former City of Toronto south of Bloor Street and Danforth Avenue within the enacted and repealed City wide comprehensive zoning by-law.

To view complete City final report about the issue click text  below.

Queen Street West – Interim Control By-law – Final
Report

The 1B permit parking permit

Had a good experience  successful getting 30 day permit parking sticker just now.

With construction taking place in the lane used to access the yard parking normally used a trip to the parking permit office was required.

What was so interesting was the instructions of how to use and where I could park lesson was.

In addition they have a great ...old? Air tube transfer system manufactured by Lamson that transfers cash payments down to the cashier office and your change back up.

Alert: bring a credit card and or debt card, if you pay by cash you will have wait for return of the air wooshed change, which can take some time 20 mins so far.

Although the Parking permit office is entertaining, as there is no why to avoid all the "why this ..whats that parking permit conversations.


Two of the small tubes used for the transfer of cash between floors.

Air system manufacture link

Location:The West Mall,Toronto,Canada

Ward 13 Councillor Sara Doucette to hold safety update meeting

Text from.... Councillor Doucette

Dear Junction residents and friends,

In the past couple of months, a number of local crime related issues have been in the media. We will be getting together with our local police officers and safety specialists to discuss what has occurred, what results have emerged, and what we can do to protect ourselves.

Date: Thursday, March 22, 2012
Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Location: West Toronto Baptist Church (Dundas Street West)

Location:The Junction, Toronto,Canada

Free indoor skating this coming week

Bike superhighways just what Toronto needs and probably will never see.

[caption id="attachment_10508" align="aligncenter" width="499" caption="Blue painted area is bike superhighway for cyclists"][/caption]

 



The City of London just announced that because of the opening of two bike superhighways in July of 2010 bike traffic is up 70% on two major thoroughfares in London in the year following. Build to get people on bikes instead of in their cars laying down safe, straightforward  cycling paths from outer neighborhoods into the city. They plan to  install an easy to navigate cycling super numerical series of such super pathways.

Read more: London's Bike Superhighways Help Bike Traffic Increase by 70% | Inhabitat - Green Design Will Save the World

Read More: concerning the input of cyclists in the design of the Bike superhighways

Other cities have built such roadways for decades such that they are a normal part of the transportation choices for people in the  Netherlands - which didn't get its extensive network of separated bicycle facilities overnight—it took decades [1.source]

Another city - Portland—which may spend $600 million on bicycle infrastructure over the next 20 years, with a goal of upping the cycling rate to 25 percent of all trips by 2030—that has most energetically taken on the bicycle boulevard concept...[1.source]

And further...

Sweden Plans A New Superhighway For Cyclists

Those Scandinavians are so cutting edge and bike friendly. Now they’re going a step further, connecting two cities with a major artery that’s for bikes only. [2.source]

 

Chicago has a series of  protected bike lanes which probably would be a good idea for your Toronto with its car non-centrism around the rights of people moving and people driving.

 

[caption id="attachment_10504" align="aligncenter" width="469" caption="Protected bike lanes are designed with all kinds of people in mind, Chicago,  Click image to visit source of image site, livininthebikelane.blogspot.com"][/caption]

 

 

Transport for London's Cycle Superhighways site click here to view.

While Toronto dithers over allowing homeowners to keep a few chickens - Britain's Last Battery Hen Is Released

[caption id="attachment_10254" align="aligncenter" width="426" caption="(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) click on image to visit British Hen Welfare Trust"][/caption]

 

Jane Howorth from national charity the British Hen Welfare Trust holds Liberty the last ex-battery hen to be rehomed on December 29, 2011 in Chulmleigh, England. The rehoming of Liberty signifies the end of the small battery hen cage, which has been phased out and replaced by enriched cages in preparation of the European Union directive banning the smaller cages from January 1, 2012

Budget issues affecting the Greater Junction Area by Toronto Council Jan 17 2012

 



 

 



 



 

 

 

Imagining Toronto’s better future Tuesday, February 7 at 7PM at the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre

 

 

 

 

 

Join the Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre
and Small Wooden Shoe in
Imagining Toronto’s better future.

What kind of city would you want to live in, if we could make a city from scratch?

Upper Toronto starts with a terrible idea. We want to build a new city in the sky above the current Toronto.

It’s a terrible idea that allows us to ask what would happen if, knowing what we now know, we could start fresh.

We are meeting with people from all across Toronto to ask them about the city that they live in now. What do you love about it? What do you hate about it? What would you change?

Spend an evening with other people from your community and help us dream of a better city for everyone.

Tuesday, February 7 at 7PM at the
Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre
1499 Queen Street West
Free (with snacks)

WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect a quick introduction to the ideas that drive Upper Toronto. Expect guided brainstorming and playful design work. Expect time to think about city planning with a freedom and depth rarely permitted to even the experts. Expect to laugh. Expect to examine your own ideas about what’s most important in city life.
By opening this process to people across Toronto we hope to learn about your civic dreams and imaginations while giving you an experience of civic engagement and the challenges of planning.

WHO WE ARE
Small Wooden Shoe is an award winning arts company that uses current and effective consultation practices, mixed with our own innovative and idiosyncratic performance style. We bring experience with conferences, unconferences, keynote presentations, debating workshops, online collaboration, and 10 years of events in which groups come together to make the world a more interesting and engaged place. We are bent on proving that good ideas are entertaining and that pleasure and thinking require each other.

 

–
Michael Burtt
Artistic Director
Making Room
416-876-5951
http://making-room.org

City council January 10th Traffic Calming - Quebec Ave. between Dundas St. W. and Annette St.

 

Speed limit on Quebec Ave. between Dundas St. W. and Annette St. to be reduced to 30  km/? 

from city STAFF REPORT...

The purpose of this report is to describe the results of an investigation into a request for speed humps on Quebec Avenue. A staff assessment concludes that the criteria for installing speed humps are met on Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street.

ISSUE BACKGROUND
In response to a petition submitted to the former Ward 13 Councillor, from residents on
Quebec Avenue, Transportation Services staff investigated the need for traffic calming on
Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street. The request for traffic
calming was due to residents concerns with vehicular speeds on this section of
Quebec Avenue. Subsequently, Transportation Services staff attended a public meeting
with the present Ward Councillor and area residents to discuss options, including
installing precast concrete islands. However, the consensus of the meeting was that the
residents still prefer the installation of speed humps.
COMMENTS
Quebec Avenue, between Annette Street and Dundas Street West, is classified as a twoway local road located in the residential community west of Keele Street and south of
Dundas Street West. Sidewalk exists on both sides of the street. The posted speed limit
on Quebec Avenue is 40 km/h. Stop controls are located on Quebec Avenue at Dundas
Street West and at Annette Street.
Parking within the subject area is prohibited on the west side of Quebec Avenue while
parking is allowed for a maximum of one hour between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the
east side of Quebec Avenue within the subject area. In addition, permit parking is
allowed overnight on the east side.


To address the petition for traffic calming, speed and volume studies were conducted
mid-block on Quebec Avenue between Dundas Street West and Annette Street, during
the week of September 18, 2010.
We applied this data to the City of Toronto Traffic Calming Policy. According to the
policy, the principle criteria for installing speed humps are vehicle speed and volume.
Other environmental factors are considered, such as road width, pedestrian facilities and
grade. The proposal was evaluated under these technical criteria, with the results
summarized in Appendix B. Applying the study data to the Traffic Claming Warrant
shows that Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and Annette Street, satisfies the
criteria for speed humps.Quebec Avenue between Annette Street and Dundas Street West – Traffic Calming
We emphasise that installing speed humps results in slower operating speeds for all
vehicles, including emergency service vehicles, and can result in increased response
times in the event of an emergency.
The City of Toronto Traffic Calming Policy requires that the City Clerk formally survey
residents directly affected by installing speed humps on Quebec Avenue. Under the
policy, we must receive a minimum response rate of 51 per cent, of which at least 60 per
cent of respondents must respond in favour of installing speed humps.
Subject to approval by Community Council of the recommendations outlined above, the
City Clerk will survey residents on Quebec Avenue, between Dundas Street West and
Annette Street. If the survey shows support for installing speed humps, Transportation
Services will schedule installation according to relative need and competing priorities.
No alterations to parking regulations are required. The number of existing on-street
parking spaces is not affected by the installation, with no significant negative impact on
winter services, street cleaning or garbage collection; however, as indicated previously, it
will reduce emergency vehicle speeds on a street designated as a primary response route.
Consultation with emergency services (Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services) is
required to ensure that the design and layout of traffic calming proposals do not
negatively affect their operations. Although we generally advise emergency services of
our intentions, we do not always receive a formal response; however, in the past Toronto
Fire Services has provided the following general statement regarding speed hump
installation.
“…Toronto Fire Service is supportive of initiatives that improve the life safety of
our citizens. Our concern is that the physical calming measures being proposed
may negatively impact emergency response to the area.
The vertical restrictions imposed by speed humps have a much greater affect on
large fire vehicles than smaller passenger vehicles. Response time increases with
every obstacle a fire vehicle encounters en route from the fire station to the
incident. Although the increase at each hump may only be seconds, the
cumulative effect can be a significant amount of time that could result in
increased property damage, unnecessary injury or loss of life.
Speed humps are generally hard on large, heavy vehicles (fire vehicles) and
increase the potential to suffer mechanical damage. This in turn can lead to a
vehicle being placed out of service for considerable periods of time. Aside from
the costs associated with repairs, there is a decrease in the resources available to
respond to other emergency situations.”

Police arrest Mr Scalla of the Junction — again - bleeding heart liberal view updated 12:41am Friday 06/2012

Update 1: Mr Ralph Scala has been granted bail Thursdat jan 05 2012 on 78 charges, including threatening damage and mischief, he must obey a curfew of 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. and continue to stay away from the Quebec Ave.

thanks to blog reader Karen for posting the Toronto Star piece about this in the comments.

Update 2: the why so angry blog has a article on this click image below to read it

[caption id="attachment_9913" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Click image to go to site"][/caption]

 

Mr Ralph Scala now sometimes of Quebec Ave was arrested again Wednesday morning the 4th 0f January 2012. How sad for both the community and the man himself.

This arrest will provide the community with some distance  once again in feeling safe from this man actions but only for a time.   But does nothing to solve the problem, the cause of the both the accused anger and his fathers cannot be discovered and re-mediated in the process of the courts it seems, as after a 3 year court imposed exclusion from the area., the behavior still exists.

This blog does not know if the father and son have taken any anger management courses, such courses our often used by defense lawyers and the crown prosecution to remedy minor assault (if any assault can be considered minor - but Ontario courts do distinguish)  and cases such as the Scalas.

The program can be really - really successful, assisting all sorts of anti social behavior individuals engage in allowing them  to understand why they behave how they do, and the real direct their anger is pushing them which most often in very much to a greater understanding of themselves - which can cause a stoppage to the behavior. Consisting of 16 weeks of discovery and teaching often in a group of like-minded and charged individuals.

Reported in the Toronto Star - police said

“He wouldn’t come out of his house. He’s been holed up for a month and a half,” Hall said.

When police arrived, Scala was “putting on his pants, watching the security monitor,” he said. “He just doesn't care.”

Rather than ... just not caring, which my be the opinion of many,  does Mr Scala just not understand that his needs can be better served by better actions on his part, allowing him to see this ill mother when he wants and live where he wants. It is clear the both the father and son feel connected to their street and community, the Junction has that ability to bring that out in people.

The police seem to have a relationship with him, speaking to him on the phone, and having such knowledge as to keep him at bay from going back to the egregious acts he has been convicted of doing, without a thought out plan of action they seem to be taking (my guessing) things could have gotten worse than verbal statements again.

Addressing his situation with the Justice system, accepting its terms and living by them. Setting boundaries of how he will let the situations that annoy him, govern his actions would serve him well, and the community he is part of.

 

Development Watch entries from the Toronto Building Application Status site

3218 DUNDAS ST W
Proposal to construct three storey rear addition to existing apartment building to propose 5 new dwelling units in new, and interior alteration to ground floor to an existing 2 bedroom apartment, to create one 1 bedroom apartment and 1 bachelor unit.







572 ANNETTE ST











Description: proposed new three storey detached single family dwelling with attached garage as approved by committee of adjustment

Bridge link over the tracks always wanted in the Junction ...another close by west end community gets one.

[caption id="attachment_9802" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="King Liberty Pedestrian/Cyclist Link location map...click on image to go to the cities site on this project"][/caption]

 

One of the 1st items many people who come to live in the Junction wish for is a bridge over the tracks to connect the two areas north and south of  Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. This has been an always ongoing discussion in the Junction and while there are some locations for the ground fall of the bridge on the north side of the tracks there are few if any on the south side.

This want/need? in bound to get even more community interest as development on the north side of tracks increases. Although this author can see such as bridge, ...which the author is not so interested in having but wonders if it would be a good community addition... would service a very small section of the the community.

A railroad bridge in the Junction would probably be well used residents just north of Annette St. Would those people living south of Annette St. walk or ride over the bridge enough to justify building a bridge, and would northern residents come south over the bridge?

 

..well here the info on the King Liberty area Railroad topping bridge....

full study link at City of Toronto site

full study link at this blog

 

 

The City of Toronto undertook the

 “Toronto West-Central Area Strategic

Transportation

Network Review” in 2006 and identified

 the need to better integrate the communities
north and south of the CN/GO railway corridor

between Atlantic Avenue and Strachan
Avenue. At its meeting of February 13, 2007,

 Toronto and East York Community Council
in considering a further report on a proposed

 pedestrian link at this location (TE3.45)
recommended that Transportation Services

 undertake an Environmental Assessment (EA)
study for a Pedestrian Link between King

 Street West and Liberty Village.

This item was considered by Public Works and Infrastructure Committee

 on November 3, 2011 and was adopted with amendments.

It will be considered by City Council on November 29, 2011.

further in package  Reference Drawings / Plans / Profiles appendix_e_reference_drawings and Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment appendix_d_arch_assessment

same files as package hosted at this blog

Blog post about the Symes Rd waste building

 

Following a link in a comment by A.R.  this blog found a very interesting article on the Symes Road Incinerator.

It is quite detailed and interesting.

It is worth the read, he states the need to preserve  the building,  something which this blog agrees with. Now the building is being transferred to Build Toronto for sale or lease.



here the link,

Police Liaison meeting Dec 13th 2011

Topper Linen Supply comments on community value and being a good neighbour

Posted below is a comment by Tim Topornicki Owner Topper Linen Supply concerning primarily his firms parking of trucks on the sidewalk.  (original post click here)

As some readers of this blog state I often push just too much for industrial and residential mixed uses in the greater Junction area,  something I feel is necessary for the complete success of of the community.

Well this author offers the comment posted by Mr Topornicki as a particularly good description and of just how beneficial to the greater Junction area this mix is.

From Mr Topornicki's  Topper Linen Supply  and St Helens Meats - another family business, this works for the Junction, and his concern for the truck parking is great.

Yet I guess in my earlier post I should have thought (and added to the 1st post - sorry) that his lot would be used by residents for off business hours parking, after all I see it all the time at Canadian Eastern Rogers Ltd on Vine Ave.

He is also right in his indication that the Junction cannot afford to lose any more commercial or industrial business efforts and with it the local good paying jobs.

In his comment he writes...

If there is anything else I can do, just let me know. I will be glad to help

just great eh!

Thanks for the comment.



 

Posted in the comments by Tim Topornicki Owner Topper Linen Supply, moved up to a post to so it gains a wider readership.
I apologize for blocking the sidewalks. I speak to my drivers EVERY Tuesday about being aware of our situation. Also I ask them to be very careful, and watch for the elderly, especially the two German lady’s who have been on Mulock for many many years. The option for us to move is not available since an acre of land is about 750,000.00 to 1,000,000.00. We would require 2-3 acres, plus the building of a 25 million plant. We are a 56 year old family business, and simply cannot afford that kind of money. I like the Junction, since we are able to get workers to come to our plant easily. When my Dad opened his 5000 sq foot plant in 1968, he was allowed outside storage. Maple Leaf Mills across from us employed 750 plus people, but were driven crazy with there flour mill by residents and city officials. They left and went to Ingersol. So did the jobs. Benjamin Moore also had many problems with residents and the city. They left and went to Kitchener, with 300 plus jobs. Canada Bread is leaving for the same reasons, and going to Hamilton with 650 jobs. Topper Linen and National Rubber are the only ones left of any size in this area. I like the Junction area, and want to stay. Cleaning the streets and snow plowing is easy, and just the way I am. I like to see everything nice and neat. If there is anything else I can do, just let me know. I will be glad to help. We are neighbours, and I also never complain when my lot is used for residents parking after hours and on the weekend. I do not need it on the weekend, so parking is OK. I have also called the city on many occasions to have speed bumps put in, so the auto shops do not speed down our street. There are kids playing. Thanks for listening, Merry Christmas, Tim Topornicki

 

Topper linen

Budget with Councillors Perks and Doucette Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 7 pm - 9 pm at the Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School (1515 Bloor Street West)

 

Councillors Perks and Doucette (Ward 1) are holding roundtable meetings hosting on the upcoming City of Toronto Budget.

The Councillors are saying the meeting is a workshop with residents and community leaders about how to protect and build the essential services which make Toronto great. Topics to include city services and delivering and funding same.

Date: Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 from 7 pm - 9 pm

Place: Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton School (1515 Bloor Street West), in the 3rd floor staff room.

They want people register though Councillor Perks' Office. by e-mailing councillor_perks@toronto.ca or calling 416-392-7919.

Monster LED Boards - Public Consultation Wednesday December 14th, at Toronto City Hall

 

Monster LED Boards - Public Consultation
Wednesday December 14th, at Toronto City Hall
6:30 to 9:30pm

Additional information:
Sign Bylaw Unit
416-392-8000
signbylawunit@toronto.ca

The ad industry will argue that the proposal results in a net reduction in signage. This is not true. The new signs are much much more intrusive, brighter, and larger than anything we've ever seen in these neighbourhoods. Advertising is not measured in square feet alone. It's measured by effectiveness, obtrusiveness, brightness, etc. There is no gain for residents, in this proposal. Many of us have learned how to ignore or 'tune out' the old paper billboards. But the new LED Boards are impossible to ignore.

Also note:

1) The LED Boards pose a danger to all road-users, as they are designed to distract drivers.

2) The LED Boards consume enormous amounts of energy - far more than the ones they are removing.

Please make sure your voice is heard. Please attend the public consultation meeting