Queen West Market and the trend for craft maker run spaces

From their site

Queen West Market is intended to provide an opportunity for Vendors to showcase their
products to the general public. Whether it be art, fashion designs, collectibles or food creations.

about...For the west side of Toronto this space where makers/designers can rent space and sell their works is great especially for people who wish to have something of greater connection to the area where they live as many craft people tend to place a lot of community into their work. The works available in such a setting our going to be out of the normal fare of the large retail store or even most small chains, or independents with all the goodness that creates.

But one of the most interesting items concerning this space is that it appears to be operated by a craft person Karen Kawarsky and a person who runs a vintage clothing retail space Kealan Sullivan.  This is exceptionally great as it somewhat brings back the West Toronto craft tradition to the craft side of town. Although Toronto never had a craft movement as strong as the Roycrofters (wikipedia) in Upstate New York it did have a strong grouping of people in the High Park and Junction area, who worked out of small shops and many from their homes.

New real estate transaction rules

New regulations that come into effect today, require realtors to collect personal information from property buyers & sellers , such as their name, address, date of birth and occupation, backed up by identification and confidentially retain such information for 5 years. They will be required to provide the information to  the Financial Transaction and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada if asked.

Backgrounder on Bill C-25

PDF of above link download junctioneer -  Backgrounder on Bill C-25

Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta – July 5 & 6, 2008

One thing about this local west end festival is the food.

The Toronto Fiesta is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to experience the food and culture of Toronto's own Corso Italia. Over 30 bands will perform live on street corners, patios and balconies. We feature a variety of music from Classical to Salsa. In addition, food and beverage retailers will offer a mouth-watering selection of tastes and flavours, with promotions and samples of their cuisine.

2981 Dundas St W for sale

2981 Dundas St W at Pacific Ave has been placed for sale.

The listing states the building has/can support 2 Retail Stores And 3 second floor offices (8,060 Sq Ft) with a sale price of $1,349,000 and taxes of $38,804.22/2008/Annual. They also state it's an great location for a  restaurant with patio, yet where the patio would go other than on the roof is a question.

posted by Robert

Tarragona Blvd with meat processing building at far

This is quite a simple post, to highlight how much the stockyards area has changed and is changing further. Tarragona Blvd runs from Symes Road a street that was once one of the main through-ways into the meat processing area above St Clair Ave., and is still used by some meat packers thankfully. (keeping the junction's ways and means alive) Looking east form Tarragona Blvd you see in the distance the current BUNGE plant (brick coloured in middle of road on horizon) on the site of the Swift meat packing company. The loss of this plant to a new development (non-industrial) will remove one of the last important parts of the junctions industry. By the way, the entire length of Tarragona Blvd you see in the above picture was a meat packing plant 12 years ago.

New York Pork 2306 St. Clair Avenue West

In November 2006, there was a fire at New York Pork and Food Exchange Limited, located at 2306 St. Clair Avenue West. Residents are left with a vacant building that is in disrepair: A portion of the roof has collapsed and rubble is piled on the property. While this building currently an eyesore for the community many people are glad to see the pork processing company not operating. After all the issues with the fire and the fact that New York Pork in is no longer in business the site may be lost to industrial uses for good. Hopefully this will not happen and the land can be re-purposed for light industrial uses fulfilling  the need for the community to retain job making industrial premises. Can the city create and design bylaws and zoning requirements that can save the junctions industrial strength and satisfy  the new residents in the houses to the east? Now is the time to contact the your local councilor's to voice support for retaining job making industrial land.

http://www.billsaundercook.ca/ Bill Saundercook

http://www.toronto.ca/councillors/nunziata1.htm Frances Nunziata

interesting house of the day 3

A new spec house is being built on 46 Nottingham Dr, a street that seems to be making a quick jump from small houses converted into large houses and now huge houses. At 4000 sq. feet this house will be very big indeed for it's lot size. Although in a very nice area of winding streets the price may? be somewhat high.

Interesting house of the day 2

184 Dowling Ave - Queen/Roncesvalles is a large house with lots of verandas to sit and view from and as it appears anyone who purchases this house will have no problems with Toronto's tough parking space issues.



Description from Link to the site Gianni Melchiorre

Totally Restored Historical Gem . Large 3 Storey Det. Brick With 6 Grand Suites With Electric F/Ps And W/O To Balconies. A Victorian Masterpiece Of This Calibre Is Rarely Available On The Market.Ceiling Heights In Excess Of 10Feet Massive Principal Rooms.

This Architectural Marvel Sits On 57X135Foot Lot,Double Drive Totally Finished With Quality Interlocking Briks And Leading To 5 Solid Built Car Garages.



The listed price is  $1,199,000.00 - it all comes down to what those huge room interiors and the huge lot and the area. Such a large lot and house size is only available in a few places in West Toronto, further west in Etobicoke for example -  for this price you just would not get the house or lot size.

Posted by Robert

2295 St Clair ave West

The building at 2295 St Clair Ave West which appears to now be completed is a wonder in the old stockyards area. Everyone who passes it should really take a good walk around the building to see it's strong yet balanced design and enduring construction methods and the excellent use of materials. This building also should receive the distinction of being the only building built for many years in the traditional design of industrial and public buildings in the junction. Look at the back of the building, the canopy provides welcoming cover from water and sun. This is welcome strong and nice looking building in an area of ST. Clair West. that needs cleaning up..

Society Of Portuguese & Disabled Persons Building

The objective of this organization is to build a centre for all disabled persons irrespective of ethnicity. Its primary mission is to integrate and support all community members in need of social recreation and rehabilitation. The goal of this organization is to provide skills to enable
independence. Programs are intended to foster sharing and learning of
new ideas and skills that facilitate the daily activities of the
disabled.