High Park - the native plant sale

Native Plant Sale - Sunday May 3rd
11am to 2pm in front of Greenhouse

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="290" caption="photo Credit HPCAC"][/caption]

About the native plant sale
The borders of High Park and the Oak Savannah are expanded when area residents grow native plants in their own yards

$5.00 for all wildflowers and grasses. $10.00 for trees.

List of available plants - click here to download PDF file

....all text this post from HPCAC...


High Park Native Plant Nursery
The City of Toronto Parks & Recreation Division, High Park Native Plant Nursery was established in order to address the need of propagating plants for the restoration and preservation of the High Park Black Oak Savannah and other natural areas in the Park. In addition, the nursery supports the native plant propagation program that supplies plants for use in natural areas, ornamental beds, schoolyards and community gardens throughout Toronto. The efforts of the many volunteers involved in the High Park Stewardship Program have significantly contributed to the plant collection in this nursery. Volunteer activities www.highpark.org or inquiry line: 416-392-1748 This site has developed over many years, transformed by both human design and natural processes to become a dynamic and vibrant habitat.


Advantages of Native Plants

Jane's Walk Weston - Saturday May 2nd

Vibratory Pile Driving Equipment being tested for use West Toronto Diamond project site today

The Toronto Star is reporting...

Today, contractors begin testing a computer-controlled piledriver, brought from France, which will work the steel walls partway into the ground using vibrations.

The hammer piledriver will still be needed to pound the wall the rest of the way in.

Under the agency's new rules, the community could apply to have the work stopped.

The concessions are a huge departure for GO, which has continued work on the Junction-area rail expansion despite complaints about the diesel-fed piledrivers, which have been hammering pieces of a steel interlocking wall into the ground since January.

Full article from Toronto Star (opens in new window)

Noise complaints finally bring concessions at Junction rail site

Toronto Star April 30, 2009

PDF File info manual of the best practice when using vibration pile drivers, it's written 1992 but provides a good introduction.

Symes Rd Demarcation Wall almost finished

Symes Rd is now closed to traffic about at its mid point, effectively separating the industrial apart of the area from the new residential homes. Closing this road to vehicular traffic at the rail crossing north of Viella Street and constructing a sound reducing wall, may service the new residents – but the separation it creates between the homes and the industrial district destroys the cultural and employment relationship the Junction has always had between industry and residents.

The area north of the closure in core industrial land has deemed by the city, and provided good and lasting jobs. This new closure removes the factories, their people from the community. If you seek core industrial employment in a community why dismantle their relationship from the community.

The closure is intended to address the concerns of area residents related to heavy truck traffic accessing the industrial area to the north of  St. Clair Avenue West, which needed to be addressed but could it not have been addressed by way of traffic control methods, which left the street open?



City working map for the project

Come out on the street Junction food retailers?

[caption id="attachment_3469" align="aligncenter" width="331" caption="Bloor West Village Independent Food Retailer"][/caption]

There is a difference in the street presence of the Junction food, fruit and vegetable retailers and similar stores in The Bloor West Village and the area around Jane St.  and Annette St.   Junction retailers stay off the street while the food retailers in the other areas come onto the street.

Where fruits and vegetables on offer are on the street the atmosphere and experience of choosing and purchasing such items is greatly enhanced.

Dundas St West in the Junction. would blossom with colour and have a greater activity level if these retailers made use of the streets, why they don’t is a wonder..

[caption id="attachment_3559" align="alignright" width="401" caption="Dundas west independent food retailer"][/caption]

Bermingham has two roles in the West Toronto Diamond project

Bermingham Construction Ltd.  is not only one of the contractors installing the piles at the West Toronto Diamond project,  Bermingham Construction Ltd is closely related company to Berminghammer Foundation Equipment which  manufactures the pile drivers being used on the project.

Bermingham created the manufacturing line of their business in the mid-1960s, to manufacture pile drivers to its own specifications, uses and sales to other foundation contractors.

...from the manufacturing side of company site...

Berminghammer Foundation Equipment is closely associated with Bermingham Construction Limited, a Canadian company with over ninety-five years of pile driving experience. Years of extensive research, development, and job performance testing with Berminghammer’s own pile driving crews have gone into the production of the only diesel pile hammer designed expressly for piling contractors.

Mark V Series Diesel Pile Hammers  company page link

Location and photographer informaton Contact in the Junction

WTHS Amalgamation Celebaration

St Clair Ave West TTC extension under subway at Keele St

The St Clair Ave West TTC work continues moving along quickly - here a contractor is changing utility services

Local development apps before council this week

City community council will attend to two development applications this week (Wed), both of which are not getting much attention at the present time.

1) DUNBAR DEVELOPMENTS. 4187 Dundas Street West development plan and the issue between the developer and the city over the numbers of tress to be removed.

from the staff report...

Etobicoke York Community Council – March 26, 2009 Decision Document General Manager advised that of the remaining 7 trees, 5 could be removed subject to conditions but the General Manager refused to issue a permit to destroy Tree Nos. 4192 and 4193, being a red oak and a horse-chestnut, as: inspection of the trees by staff revealed that both are in good condition and, for the reasons set out below, the General Manager cannot support the removal of these trees.


The applicant has appealed this decision to refuse to issue permits to destroy these two trees to Etobicoke York Community Council. The applicant had requested the removal of all 9 trees (including the 2 on the abutting property) to permit the construction of a proposed residential building that was the subject of a zoning and site plan appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (the “OMB”).

The OMB has issued a decision allowing the proposed building; and, in appealing the General Managers refusal, the owner stated that: the above noted decision . . . contradicts decision PL070056 of the Ontario Municipal Board. The decision of the General Manager would not permit the construction of the 7 storey condominium development on site as approved by the Ontario Municipal Board. I believe that the decision of the General Manager cannot ignore and also contradict the decision of the Board ....

Full report PDF

 

2) Etobicoke York Community Council to recommend that City Council amend the Zoning By-law No. 1-83 in favor of  3385 Dundas Street West Zoning By-law Amendment Application –

ISSUE BACKGROUND

The applicant wishes to amend Comprehensive Zoning By-law No. 1-83 for the former City of York to permit the construction of a 6-storey, mixed use building at 3385 Dundas Street West, containing 118 residential units and ground floor retail. The development is intended to be a rental building for individuals 65 years of age and over. No government funding or ownership is proposed. It would be operated as a private, for profit enterprise.

The building is to be designed as an apartment building, in that all of the residential units will have full kitchens. No common dining facilities or nursing care are proposed. It is to be an apartment building oriented to senior citizens as opposed to being a “supported living environment” which one might usually associate with senior citizens.

On the basis that the building is to be occupied by people 65 years of age or older, Technical Services accepted a parking ratio which is less than the normal parking ratio for an apartment building under Comprehensive Zoning By-law 1-83 for the former City of York.

The concern is whether the City, through the tools available to it under this application,can guarantee that the building will only be occupied by people 65 years of age or older, thereby justifying the lower parking ratio. The draft zoning by-law amendment attached to the Final Report does not contain any definition of senior citizen’s dwelling unit.

 

Full report PDF




 

2955 Dundas St, West, The Foundation what's happening

For all of you that have emailed the blog about what is happening at 2955 Dundas St. West... here it is- with a missive from the people working to get going there. This store is in a great location in the Junction, especially for afternoon and evening sun, as well on the south side of Dundas St West, with Green P parking, and possible rear entry as well as front...is now up for a period of sublet (scroll down to the next post after reading this one or check here to see this post  on the idea of a popup store for this location temporarily)

You may have noticed the brown paper in the window and the Margaret Mead quote, and wondered who we are.   We are the Foundation, a special kind of veggie restaurant and we are located at 2955 Dundas St. West  We have been trying to open here in the Junction since last summer.  Simultaneously we begun the process of adopting our second child...the adoption was suppose to take years...the restaurant was suppose to take months...we had a plan.  Never make a plan...that should be our new quote.  The adoption has come through surprisingly fast and we need to dedicate some time to our growing family, last week we thought we were going to have to pack it in...but since, we have discovered that maybe we can simply put a hold on the project for a year.  That would be nice...perfect in fact.  In order to do that we have to sub lease our large and open space . It is full of love...and waiting.

the specs.

monthly sublet from June 2009 to March 2010.

It is 1700 square feet on the main floor with an equal unfinished basement.

The rent is 1850.00.

It will keep the dream alive.

My name is Amy.  You can contact me at ttawoods2@hotmail.com.

op for a pop up store in the Junction

The people behind the  Foundation Restaurant need to bypass the rest of the year and a bit before returning to build out their restaurant. Can this  provide someone with an great opportunity to bring a quick retail idea they had into reality?  Or test out on a limb concept without the need to sign a long lease or take on considerable risk.

As we have written before the Junction retail strip needs diversity in store types, something it lacks now, compare the  Junction strip to Bloor West village or Queen West - both areas have a much greater variety of stores.  The risk in testing out a opportunity is huge, which is why many people and large companies are turning to popup store to test out concepts or simply to run a effort for sales gains.  Could this sublet provide the opening...more info on the concept below and by the link... also the guy in the pop store video provides a great feeling of how exciting a popup can be.

...whats a popup store?

If new products can come and go, why can't the stores that display them do the same? Well, you guessed it, retail outlets increasingly do. From gallery-like shopping spaces with one-off exhibitions to mobile units bringing innercity-chic to rural areas,

TRENDWATCHING.COM has a complete article on this subject click this line to view it in a new window.

view a popup store video

exceptional website for a popup store in the EU... The 750-square-foot Berlin store, located in a remote neighborhood in former East Berlin, is more or less raw space: just clothing racks and merchandise, no architectural wonders, which sits well with the USD 700 a month rent

(source: NYT).

yes.. yes.... the blog has been hoping of the opportunity for popups in the Junction

...the junctioneer blog does not have a financial interest in the sublet of 2955 Dundas St West

City calls to inform.. about Mayor's clean up day in the Junction

The City of Toronto called Robert P, the local JRA member who with Ruth Y.  did the leg work in the setup and hosting for Mayor David Miller's Community Clean-up Day in the Junction .  They called to inform him that 4 pickup trucks of waste was picked up from the community and  JRA effort with the campaign. It was great work by all the people who came and got a few bags and went around to clean up.

Roof- wind damaged in Saturday storm

Saturday's wind storm heavy affected a apartment building at Dundas St. West. at Gilmore Ave Toronto. Removing part of the roof.

Weston-Mount Dennis Industry Toronto Star article

Last chance for Weston, Toronto's rustbelt - Toronto Star article

from the article...

Forty years of economic boom and bust have shattered the industrial foundation of Weston-Mount Dennis.

For decades, these neighbouring communities northwest of downtown Toronto flourished, with their Victorian and post-war homes, small shops and a major rail line that fed one of the most industrious parts of the city.. continied at Toronto Star

Image - Inside the building they want to save, the KODAK EMPLOYEE building.

....from the Ryerson Kodak Canada Collection, In 1912, Canadian Kodak purchased 25 acres of farmland near Weston Road and Eglinton Avenue to build a major manufacturing facility known as “Kodak Heights.” By 1925, there were over 900 employees working in seven buildings at Kodak Heights. Over the years, the company earned a reputation for having a cooperative and supportive relationship with its employees, adopting many of the successful practices in place at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York. In 1940, an Employee’s Building was constructed at Kodak Heights to accommodate the activities of the flourishing Recreation Club, the Department Managers’ Club, and of course, the Kodak Heights Camera Club.

How To Get Rid of Roadkill

If your wondering who to call when there is roadkill on your residential street, just call the number on the van.  Thanks to Patrick and Toronto Animal Services for disposing of this raccoon that was hit by a car.  They will cremate it, but only test it for diseases if it's attacked someone.

The Mess Never Gets Better

There was light at the end of the tunnel when a crew and dumpster showed up to clear the garbage piling up in the back from a potential squatter throwing it out the backdoor, after a concerned citizen called the city.  But, romour has it, that this new pile of garbage is the owner's solution to keeping people from parking in the driveway.  Since this photo was taken yesterday, the pile is already bigger from other people adding to it.

We are currently compiling a list of the properties owned by this neglectful holdings company.  Any info would be welcome.

David Crighton Annette St. Library on Monday evening Apr 27th, has been canceled.

The JRA lecture to held in the basement of the Annette St. Library on Monday evening Apr 27th, has been posted. When it is replanned the JRA will let us know and we will post  it.

Jackson Place Mews tree being felled

Jackson Place click text to  view map

, it looks like the tree will be totally gone this Monday

One of the few lane-way trees in the Junction has been felled today :-(

Sitting on private property at the rear of Dundas St West, building next to the Junction City Square, this wonderful tree provided a lot of nature and a lot of character to the area.

Annette St receives new flower and tree containers

Annette St continues to gets upgrades as new planters are installed by breaking apart the old one, leaving the tree in situ. They then  form a new container around the bedding area of the new living tree.

Junction Historical Society Amalgamation Celebration

Junction Historical Society has been planning a big Amalgamation Celebration

AMALGAMATION SPECIAL: Favourite Canadian Songs of the Junction

On Friday, May 1, between 6-11pm at Humberside Collegiate Institute, the Junction is reliving one of the best parties in its history with the Amalgamation Celebration, 2009.  Join the Junction Historical Society and our sponsors West Toronto Paint and Wallpaper as we count down the greatest Canadian songs of the past hundred years chosen by residents and friends of the Junction.  Samantha Martin and the Boom Times Band will perform a set of classic and original Canadian songs as we'll be playing your choices.  Today we begin with ten songs written before the 1950's and we're starting way back beyond a hundred years.  Pick your fave and help us make up our playlist.  The Art of Democracy returns to the Junction!

A Huron Carole (Jean de Brébeuf, 1640)

Un Canadien Errant (Antoine Gérin-Lajoie, 1838)

Red River Valley (Unknown, 1870)

Some of These Days (Shelton Brooks, 1910)

Peg O' My Heart (Alfred Bryan/Fred Fisher, 1913)

The World Is Waiting for Sunrise (Eugene Lockhart/Ernest Seitz, 1918)

My Swiss Moonlight Lullaby (Wilf Carter, 1933)

Ain't We Got Fun (Raymond Egan with Gus Khan/Richard Whiting, 1921)

I'll Never Smile Again (Ruth Lowe, 1939)

Black Fly Song  (Wade Hemsworth, 1949)

Do you have a favorite?  Write it in as a comment and we will play as many as we can during the evening!

For more on Canadian song visit the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame at cansong.ca

TOMORROW: The 1950's

We'll see you on May 1.  Bring your dancing shoes!

Cleanup day tomorrow April 25th Saturday

Members of the Junction Residents Association have registered to participate in the Mayor David Miller's Community Clean-up Day.... meeting at the Green P Parking lot on Pacific Ave. just south of Dundas ST West.

It's this Saturday April 25th  10 am to 2 pm

Update  Thursday evening - We have picked up the weird yellow bags from the city

How should I prepare for this event?

Don’t forget to wear appropriate clothing for the day such as gloves, boots and perhaps a hat. Items such as bug repellant, bottled water, sunscreen and a pail for sharp objects can be useful.

What do I do with recyclables collected with the litter?
If possible, the City encourages you to put any recyclables collected in their institutional or residential recycling containers/carts/bins.

Submited by Robert P.

Design Not for the community

These three houses just below Annette St, near Jane Ave. seem to struggle and fight with  one another, with the older dark brick house losing. The two houses indicated by the red arrows were smaller houses "up-scaled" by some entity, while the smaller brick - very interesting brick - the older of the three is in near original exterior built state.

Closer up the house with the green second story when viewed from the sidewalk clearly shows many signs of it's former self completely giving it no composure at all.  The question that can be asked here is -  is it  necessary to deconstruct the community built form just to get a large house, or could each of these conversions have been adaptable to the community milieu created by the built stock.

West Toronto Diamond Go Transit PT piles being transported down Annette St.

This truck and others like it,  transporting piles to the West Toronto Diamond project (from Junction rd to Annette St. and Dupont Ave. ) seem to use this route as it allows a no turn entry to the site at Annette St. and Dupont Ave.

Although you can hear the pile drivers in this area pictured above, they are not greatly affected, by the noise or vibrations.  But the heavy trucks are rolling down the newly paved Annette St.

A Clean Train Coalition has been quickly set up in response to the Go Transit growth plans

The Domain name:  cleantrain.ca was purchased on Apr 13, and quickly a well produced web site  was put up to organize opposition to the Go Transit growth plans in Ontario.  Reading thought the site with it's well defined information layout, one can accept the concerns of the residents about the great amount of increased train passages thorough the inner city sections. 50 trains to 300 or 500 trains a day will even surpass the amount of passage trains that occurred during the the operation of the West Toronto and Lambton yards in the 50's thought  mid 80's.

Converting the line to electric locomotives would greatly reduce the disturbance to the community - yet offload the pollution to another area where the electrical power would be generated. The current power units are diesel-electric locomotives.

The balance of the possible solutions is going to be real difficult in this situation, as the regional transit plan of Go's expansion is well intentioned for the greater good, yet those along the line will suffer,and it can be difficult. A Lot of this blog is written 25 meters from the CPR tracks and the new GO Transit locomotives are vastly nosier, with a new shrill and longer lasting wave of sound.

The  sound reasoning  for the extensive use  of the lines and Go's  growth needed in the province dictates a balance of careful sound and vibration avoidance design by the railroads and Go Transit,  built with  community input and third party oversight. This is gong to take some diligent work of community members and the elected persons.

 

Dundas St. West fire damaged store starts repairs

 

 Work has begun to repair the damaged caused by a deadly fire last October.

This former storefront on Dundas St W. was beings used as a residence on the first and second floor when the fire struck.  Unfortunately one of the main floor renters r didn’t make it out and was killed in the fire.

No word about what this site will become but let’s hope this is a first step towards recovery.

West Toronto Junction Literary Walking Tour and Pub Crawl Recap

By way of the West Toronto Junction Hisortial Society we have been able to post this article by Joseph Romain



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Annette Street Branch was the host and point of departure for the West Toronto Junction Literary Walking Tour and Pub Crawl with ONE BOOK author Glen Downie on Saturday, April 19 from 2 - 5 pm.


 About 85 people gathered in the basement of the library where librarian Pam Mountain introduced, through a trick of quantum metaphysics, Elizabeth McCallum (AKA: Madeleine Mcdowell ) the first librarian of the Annette Street branch. McCallum recounted highlights of her tenure in the late 1800's and early 1900's . and she introduce A.B. Rice, (AKA actor and historian Neil Ross) the chair of the library board, local newspaper editor, and social notable. Rice explained the plan for the afternoon (literary sidelights along the quickest route to the pub...) and introduced the late, local poet  'Gwendolyn McEwan' (aka: Kristen Buckley). McEwan read "Magical Cats", and Ross led the group out to the street where more people were lingering and waiting for the tour.


 The crowd shuffled through the neighbourhood, stopping to listen to historical literary and architectural highlights, and wound up in the back patio of the Troubador Pub on Dundas street, where Downie held court, reading from Loyalty Management. When Downie had finished, community poets took the stage, and we heard three rounds of really excellent poetry.

 In all, more than 95 people took in the event, (far more than the pub's patio could hold!) and a good time was had by all.

Madeleine Mcdowell,Pam Mountain

 Our partner in this ONE BOOK program, the West Toronto Junction Historical Society, did a fantastic job putting on the program without a hitch. The actors, especially Neil Ross were amazing, and avoided the possible 'corny' affect of historical characterizations. Pam Mountain and the staff at Annette Street were very successful in promoting the program, and provided yeoman networking and infosharing among all the partners in the project.

 Please find some pictures of this really great event! (Two librarians, no waiting: McCallum and Mountain, Crowd Walking around Junction, Downie at the pub, etc.)

 Joseph.

Just sold building has the last vernacular detail of the three - what will happen?

This building,  one of  three that appear to built by the same firm and  built with the same designers has just been sold.  This leaves one to wonder ... will one of the last vernacular ornamental  details in the Junction survive, as many new owners in the Junction are transforming their building front?

The building has what appears to be some orginal vernacular detail on the out-cropped window, while the buildings on either side of this one have the material  removed and/or covered over.  

The orange points to the material of interest on the sold building while the red arrow points to the building next door which has been removed and/or covered over.

Toronto health officials to study fumes along airport link

 

Thanks to Commenter Helen for alerting us to a report in the Globe and Mail.  It reports that City health officials plan to study the fumes along the airport link.

The complete in brief article

Health official to study fumes along airport link

JEFF GRAY

April 21, 2009

Toronto's medical officer of health will study the potential dangers from increased diesel fumes along the route of the proposed rail link to Pearson Airport after a vote at a board of health meeting yesterday.

Activists fighting the project say express diesel trains from Union Station to Pearson, along with a planned massive increase in GO Transit service, could create a cloud of new pollution for residents along the Georgetown rail corridor in west Toronto.

link to the article at the Globe and Mail newspaper.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090421.TORBRIEFS21ART2259-2/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/

 

Trees and open natural space - are some of the issues at 200 Keele St

                                          This development goes before council Thursday

Excerpts from various city reports...

Urban Forestry Ravine and Natural Feature Protection (RNFP)

Urban Forestry RNFP does not support the proposal to consolidate the portions of the properties at 195 – 203 Oakmount Road with the property at 200 Keele Street

the regulations affecting said properties....


The entire property at 200 Keele Street and the rear portions of the properties at 195 – 203 Oakmount Road are subject to provisions of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 658 – Ravine and Natural Feature Protection

The plans of the developer that relate to the above regulations

The proposed development would result in removal of at least 115 trees and the loss of approximately 1900m² (20451 ft²) of available growing space.

STAFF REPORT ACTION  200 Keele Street, 195 & 203 Oakmount Rd.

2009 CONTACT Photography festival in the Junction

 

From the JBIA press release

 

“The Junction Business Improvement Area (BIA) is proud to be presenting more photographers in the 2009 CONTACT Photography festival than before.”

 

The 13th annual CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival—the largest photography event in the world—throughout May more than 1,000 Canadian and international image artists and photographers are showcased at more than 210 venues. The Junction, one of Toronto’s major arts communities, has more venues in six short blocks than anywhere in Toronto (25 venues and 38 photographers).

 

On Saturday, May 2, 2009, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., all 25 venues will be holding opening night receptions. The entire Junction will be like one large gallery with viewers bustling up and down the streets between venues. Augmenting this exciting festival, the Junction BIA is honoured to present a free outdoor screening on May 2 at 9 p.m. of Jennifer Baichwal’s 2006 documentary “Edward Burtynsky: Manufactured Landscapes”. This visually stunning film follows the world renowned Toronto photographer showing his spectacular photographic depictions of global industrial landscapes, specifically China’s massive industrial revolution. Burtynsky’s photographs are treasured in museums around the world: National Gallery of Canada, the Bibliotèque Nationale in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum in New York. This internationally published photographer currently sits on the Board of CONTACT.

A Preliminary Project Review has been taken out for 3030 Dundas St West.

A zoning review has been taken out for this onetime restaurant equipment supply store.  Its location at the foot of High Park  Ave. puts is right in the middle of what is becoming the centre of dinning and entertainment in the Junction.

St. Clair Avenue West Widening open house tonight

St. Clair Avenue West Widening

 The City of Toronto is holding an open house tonight (April 20^th) to review the widening of St. Clair between Cobalt Avenue and Mondovi Gate.

 The plan is to widen the road to improve transportation and hopefully add a dedicated streetcar lane.

 Date: Monday, April 20 2009

Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Location: George Syme Community School (Gymnasium)

                    69 Pritchard Avenue

 

Public Meeting tonight 7 pm at Indian Rd. Crescent Public School

 

       

Photo Credit, Lado Soudek atelierone(at)yahoo.ca

 

Public Meeting  of the Hookavepiledrivers community group tonight  Monday at 7 p.m. at Indian Rd. Crescent Public School to discuss the activities of the six pieces of equipment in this photo and the result noise and disruption to the community.

It has been reported that Gerard Kennedy, Cheri DiNovo and Gord Perks — the areas federal, provincial and municipal representatives …will attend the meeting.



The next local  Metrolinx Open House occurs on Tuesday, April 21 at Lithuania House, 1573 Bloor Street West.

 

and 

GO TRANSIT "DAVENPORT DIAMOND GRADE SEPARATION" OPEN HOUSE #1
When: Wednesday April 22 2009, 5:30 to 8:30pm
Where: St. Josaphat's School, 55 Pelham Ave.

GO Transit is planning another rail grade separation project in our
neighbourhood. The current "West Toronto Diamond" grade separation
near Dupont and Osler is ongoing, but GO Transit want to do a similar
project at the "Davenport Diamond" near Dupont and Campbell.

...a comment from the South Junction Triangle Residents Association site

According to Councillor Adam Giambrone's office, GO Transit is
planning to create a massive railway overpass structure along the east
side of our neighbourhood.  Although we do not have any details about
this project yet, there will likely be significant short-term and
long-term impact.  In the short-term, there will be more railway
construction (potentially very loud), and in the long term, this may
even require the closure of the Wallace Ave. railway crossing, with
elevated trains passing by the eastern edge of our neighbourhood.

 

 

 

30 Weston Rd. railroad track removal -- Bunge post 8 Trinity Development

[caption id="attachment_3419" align="aligncenter" width="473" caption="Orange line indicates the path of tracks - travel was in both directions as there was only one track"][/caption]

 

Photo: The removed rails awaiting cartage off the site

Priestly Demolition has removed the spur tracks from  the 30 Weston Rd. Bunge plant.  The  track  ran from outside the lot into to the meat packing plant that existed on the site before Bunge used the buildings and the site as a oil seed pressing plant. The rest of the spur towards Symes Road and Ryding Ave is for sale presently as two different lots.

The entire site is to be transformed into a large shopping centre, by Trinity Development and it's partners.

200 Keele Street 195 & 203 Oakmount Road community meeting this Thursday

Trees and reduction of landscaped areas and the weakening of the  backyard lot requirements are issues that should be addressed by the community council at the Apr 23, 2009 meeting.

 

Link to the staff action report on this development

Hookavepiledrivers group meeting to discuss the West Toronto Diamond contractors methods

[caption id="attachment_3400" align="aligncenter" width="397" caption="Photo Credit, Lado Soudek atelierone(at)yahoo.ca"][/caption]

Public Meeting  of the Hookavepiledrivers community group this coming   Monday at 7 p.m. at Indian Rd. Crescent public school to discuss the activities of the six pieces of equipment in this photo and the result noise and disruption to the community.

it has been reported that Gerard Kennedy, Cheri DiNovo and Gord Perks -- the areas federal, provincial and municipal representatives ...will attend the meeting.

Flowers upon my and your tables

[caption id="attachment_3396" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Photo Credit legassie44s Flicker "][/caption]

There are many Junction residents that make a weekly or occasional trek down to Bloor West Village or elsewhere. The reason that many venture out of the Junction are for fresh cut flowers for the dining room table. 

What Bloor West Village and other many other local retail areas have that the Junction doesn't are the great little (cheap) flower shops or shops which sell flower bunches in addition to their other offerings. 

Yes, the Junction has Martin's http://martinflowers.com/ which is an incredible florist that has been around since 1898 when the sidewalks were still wooden planks, but this is the place to go for special occasions.  For day to day sprucing up of the house, people want a casual bunch of inexpensive  flowers and this is when we make the jaunt to Bloor West Village.