Proposed park naming - “Upper Junction Park”

Birdstone Crescent is on the North east corner of St Clair Ave and Old Weston Rd on the site

of the 60's and 70's Grenadier Ford trucks Trucks site

The naming of the park situated at 85 Birdstone Crescent, a street this author cannot on Google maps so I am going out to find it to finish this post this morning.

City staff...

RECOMMENDATIONS

The General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division recommends that

Etobicoke York Community Council:

1. name the park situated at 85 Birdstone Crescent “Upper Junction Park”.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The General Manager of Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division recommends that

Etobicoke York Community Council:

1. name the park situated at 85 Birdstone Crescent “Upper Junction Park”.

Staff action report City document august 7th 2009

Dupont/Dundas/Annette nee Dupont/ Dundas/Annette/Old Weston Rd (1983) - gas tanks being removed

The changes that have been wrought on the Dupont/ Dundas/Annette/Old Weston Rd road convergence in the past half century have been huge. At one time Old Weston Rd connected to the intersection bridging the CPR tracks.

The loss of the CPR Station was also a big change at the intersection. In the past year the construction related to the West Toronto Diamond Project has already changed the area and will crate further changes as the project continues.

At the present time the gas holding tanks are being removed at the South west corner, although the building remain untouched, so is there there going to be a new station or something else?

3325 Dundas St West - owner makes excellent design choices for renovation

The building owner of 3325 Dundas St West has added an addition to the back of his building that includes extra space  on the ground and second floors. The design also includes covered parking on the site. This has all been accomplished without breaking the street façade of the surrounding buildings.  (see image below).

43 Junction Road - St Marys Cement Co - major lot clean up as West Toronto Diamond Project moves in

The silo lot at 43 Junction Road has gone though a clean up in the past few months. The cleanup  now may be complete.  Much of this cleanup has been a reuse of the lot from  the disorganized use of the lot as a parking lot for other local businesses and general property wear and tear of the west side of lot - the west side of the silos. Also the general debris of years is gone, and the silos secured to ingress :-(.

West of the silos, fewer trucks are parked at the site and those which are still there as parked in a more organized layout. The east side of the silos and between the two groups, and at the back of the lot, the Go Transit West Toronto Diamond project has used the lot for about two months. They have set up a portable office and are storing earth moving machinery on the site.

All the while the St Marys Cement Co continues its operations. St Marys Cement use of the silos for a railcar offload and distribution  operation is viewed by this author as  great adaptive use of the built infrastructure of the Junction.

The cleanup and the removal of the truck trailers is currently allowing a great view of the warehoused section of the buildings on the site.

Happy holidays to all.

For some the Christmas time, is wonderful simply because of the handwriting and note on a christmas card.

West of the Junction or part of it?

The old Rhino’s Gym Space on 3415 Dundas St.W has been leased and renovated by Taekwondo dojang (Ky Young Taekwondo) since September 8th. Nearby, on the lot of Martino Bros Car Wash there will be a senior’s residence and along with other stores the area from Runnymede west is creating more activity and at times this area can get busier than the traditional Junction strip.

"retexted" by blog reader thanks,

Diamond Taxicab Association station remnants

Inside the area of the city that most people consider the Junction, much of the history is being removed in the current reworking of the facades and structure of many buildings.

With this post the blog would like bring to notice  the remnants of the Diamond Taxi Association station at the North East corner of Dundas St West and Runnymede Rd. Remnants of the old station are  difficult to be aware of if you have no idea of the history of the corner. But at the North East corner of the intersection behind the restaurant  is a small parking lot  which still retains two artifacts of the taxi stand which was in use into the 70's.

Its survival, is probably because of,  simple economics: the gentrification of the Junction has not reached this corner yet so building owners do not  rework their buildings, not wanting the expensive.

There are classic places and architecture all over the Junction area of the old "Junction" scattered throughout the strip and the surrounding streets. But the  pieces, often viewed as  nostalgia are quickly being removed.

CTV’s W5 Kicks off season with segment on "Nightmare on Quebec Street"

From CTV News Release:

In “Nightmare on Quebec Street”, also featured in this episode, W5’s Investigative Reporter Victor Malarek examines a Toronto neighbourhood where many area residents have experienced harassment and vandalism– no one more so than Carmela Canino, an 87-year-old widow. For eight years, she was subjected to a vicious campaign that saw her windows smashed, her family threatened and even dead animals left in her yard. Malarek chronicles the community’s effort to catch the tormentors and have them banished from the neighbourhood.

The episode premieres on Saturday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. ET (visit CTV.ca for local listings).

submitted by blog reader

Canada Bread factory - be a nosy neighbour

Canada bread truck and driver quickly moving trailer around, next to the lot that once was the Moore Paint factory.

One capital night walk in the Junction is  along Cawthra Ave, just above the tracks and off Junction Rd. Walking down this Ave on a  evening after dark will allow you  view the action at the Canada Bread plant. On some nights  the loading area dock will be open and you can get a view inside plant. This plant get very busy overnight with all the workers working quickly and in industrious manner.

While many people perceive the Junction by viewing and drawing opinions from the retail business sector and the residential  character, viewing the  the industry in the area can provide the complete Junction picture

Inside Toronto article on the renaming of the park for community leaders in the saving of great area Ave.

Inside Toronto has an informative article by  Lisa Rainford on the renaming of a local park. If you are interested in  the history of near Bloor St apartment and condo area and how it's complete domination of the area was stopped this is good article to read.

And again it's great to see a local Councillor Bill Saundercook help the community see this effort though to success.

....up front the community has a  new parkette too, yea!

Direct link to article

link to motion by Councillor Bill Saundercook

very good article about the Junction being a very veggie-friendly neighbourhood

This sent in by another local blogger and it's a great article with wonderful images and good information about the various retail Veg Junction store.

This is a well thought out and presented post worth reading.

direct link to article

The Junction's most famous vacant lot.

The Junction's most famous vacant lot - created when the Subway Hotel building - then a rooming house after a surviving a  large gas explosion and repair finally laid down it's use - succumbing to the city's crack down on illegal apartments in the late 80's and early 90's.

This lot at the corner of Vine Ave and Keele St. which now provides only accommodation for billboard sign. An empty lot such as this, devoid of everything but the hope of what could be creates a very weak link to the community, should there finally be a break in the community and legal status inertia (some would say political - as in the parks dept, as well) that has locked up this prime piece of Junction property  for over 10 years.

approach would be to convert vacant land into mini-parks for recreational use, walking paths and bike trails, and connectors to existing green space. While this too would not produce revenue for the city, arguably it would make blighted neighborhoods more attractive to potential residents, as well as current residents.

In the past, Cleveland has assembled abandoned land (including buildings

The blog would like to suggest this approach -  to convert this vacant land into a  mini-park for recreational use, as a  connector to the surrounding residential area. While this  would not produce revenue for the city, arguably it would cost the city. - The blog asked an estate agent what the lot cost would be into present condition and was told anywhere between   285 and 400 thousand dollars. However it would make this  blighted corner more attractive to stop and talk activities and community events, as well as attract new  residents.

With the large condo development across the street being this lot in the public space would greatly benefit the community.

The Toronto parks department has purchased private land for mini-parks in the recent past so the idea to not out in space.

The Junction BIAs' santa day

This past Saturday the Junction Business Improvement Area hosted a Santa day at the Train station. The image of the carolers is wonderful and the sound must have been great.

Dundas East of Keele coming into the running as a part of the Junction strip

[caption id="attachment_5586" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="The site now Photo credit Martin L"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5587" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="The site this past summer with google maps recored it"][/caption]

New Development on Dundas East of Keele



Two new stores have been added to the Dundas streetscape East of Keele Street.



Hopefully Green Lavender and Tails & Scale (pet store?) is just the beginning and we see more community friendly development in this part of the Junction.

...submitted by Martin L. co-chair of the Junction Residents Association

200 Annette Street – Czechoslovak Church Development - Update

Junction Residents Association update on the Czechoslovak Church on the N/E corner of High Park  Photo by  Junction Resents Association co-chair Martin L.

A zoning review has been issued for the Czechoslovak Church on the N/E corner of High Park and Annette.  This property has been up for sale twice in the last year and more than a few developers have had their eye on it.

The zoning review states “convert existing church into an eight unit residential building”.

Looks like they plan to convert the church and not demo it.  Although the handyman shop is an example of how that turns out sometimes.

Hopefully the planers take the time to integrate the church structure and strike a balance of old and new similar to the Victory Lofts down the street.

A Short History of Haida Gwaii - West Toronto Junction Historical Society talk

Join us Thursday, January 7, 2010 7:30 p.m at the Annette Public Library  for A Short History of Haida Gwaii (which only recently changed its name from the Queen Charlotte Islands). Gib Goodfellow will illustrate his talk with images recorded by Phyllis Goodfellow and Lynn Wiggan on their excursion to these isolated and scenic islands north of Vancouver Island in June of 2009. Haida Gwaii is composed of two principal islands. The southern most has a small community, an airport and numerous historic Haida sites which have been vacated since the small pox epidemics of the 19th century. Some are open to the public and exist within a unique partnership between Parks Canada and the Haida people. The north island contains most of the current population and economic activity, as well at the six larger communities.

GIVE THE GIFT OF HISTORY THIS CHRISTMAS


Someone you love would love to get connected to their roots in the historic Junction.
Join the West Toronto Junction Historical Society and share the most exciting story in Toronto. Receive four issues of our award winning historical quarterly, the Leader and Recorder. Join now and get five issues of the L&R as copies of our fall 2009 edition are still available featuring the remarkable story of the Dundas Mosque: Malcolm X in the Junction, Louise Fein Corblum's reminisces celebrating the Centennial of West Toronto Paint and Wallpaper and David Wencer's full and riotous account of Wild, Wild, Junction Historical Mystery Tour.  Individual memberships $20, family memberships $30.
Your membership fees support the WTJHS archives, our efforts to preserve historic buildings and our monthly speaking series in the Annette Street Library.

Go to wtjhs.ca for details.

Victorian Carolers in the Kingsway

Victorian Carolers in the Kingsway
From Saturday, 05 December 2009 To Saturday, 19 December 2009 1:00pm - 3:00pm Saturday of each week
VICTORIAN CAROLERS in the Kingsway Our Victorian Carolers will once again be strolling the Kingsway filling the air with traditional Yuletime favourites December 5th, 12th and 19th 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. On the 12th and 19th they will be strolling in the evening from 5:30 to 7:30pm as well! Satisfy everyone’s wish list requests from the many unique shops And enjoy a meal at any of the fine restaurants in the Kingsway ! Visit our website for additional information www.thekingswaytoronto.ca

Major Development on St Clair Ave West and Runnymede Rd

The development on the south side St Clair between Runnymede and Jane is kicking into high gear.  The Old Mill Pontiac dealership has just opened a huge showroom which spans both sides of Jane Street along the rail line.

West of Wal-Mart a new plaza with about a half dozen outlets is being built.  The only advertised tenant is TD Canada Trust, which is pictured here.  I’m optimistic they won’t close the Dundas Street location about 100m south of this site but I’m sure they will.

The city was planning an avenues study for this area but with this development, the new shopping centre and the big blocks they won’t have much left to study.

submitted by Martin L

Village of West Toronto Junction T-shirts

Revised OPA/rezoning application for 195 & 203 Oakmount Road, 200 Keele Street

The revised OPA/rezoning application received by the City on August 27, 2009 proposes to retain 14 of the 15 townhouse units (since there is considerable protection for mid-range and affordable rental housing). The new plan is to build 13 townhouse units in the rear yards of 195-203 Oakmount (some of the new building might be 200 Keele Street) and to access these by a private road along the north side of 200 Keele Street.

All of the concerns outlined in the City’s preliminary report are still valid, including rental concerns since the proposal amounts to an intensification of a rental site.


The matter comes before York Etobicoke Community Council on the morning of Tuesday January 12, 2010 (agenda pending).

From there it goes to the full City Council on January 26 and 27. Next comes the OMB prehearing scheduled for Tuesday, February 23 at 9:00 in the morning. The OMB hearing itself is scheduled for three weeks starting Monday April 12 at 10:00 am.

Ontario Municipal Board document PDF document download. (hosted here at the blog)

Ontario Municipal Board document PDF document download. (hosted at the OMB)


At Community Council the issue will be whether to release City staff to defend the City’s position at the OMB appeal. The councillors will hear deputations (maximum length 5 minutes each), so it’s important to attend this meeting (that’s Tuesday, January 12) if you possibly can.    City Council does not hear deputations.


By the February 23rd OMB prehearing, the City will have determined its position, and the newly formed Lithuania Ravine Residents and Ratepayers Association, a party to the OMB appeal, will have done the same. Residents have until 10:00 am February 23 to decide if they wish to shelter under the Ravine Association or if they wish to be participants and to inform the OMB of their decision.


At present, the city’s response to the new proposal is not posted. The issues (Neighbourhoods, Ravine protection, the Built envionment ie road access, and Rental housing), however, have not changed.
See you on January 12.

...submitted in comment by reader Leslie, links and images added by the  blog

Junction related articles in other media today

1)

Toronto Star article by Joe Fiorito

Fiorito: Metrolinx diesels are dirty,

ugly and NOISY

 full story link

2)

Residents have say on day nurseries

Toronto City Council enacted the bylaw in May of this year, which will remain

in effect until May 2010. During this time, city staff is conducting a study

 of the area bound by Glenlake Avenue to the south, Dundas Street West to the

 north, the rear lot lines of properties fronting the west side of High Park Avenue

 to the west and the rear lot lines of properties fronting the east side of High Park Avenue to the east. The study's purpose is to evaluate appropriate standards and regulations for transforming residential homes into day nurseries.

The purpose of Monday night's meeting at Annette Recreation Centre,

 said Senior Planner Philip Carvalino, was to get feedback from community members 

"so we have a better understanding of the impacts felt or perceived."

full story link

Guffin's hardware a model for Junction businesses?

As many readers of this blog may remember this author saddens when walking thorough the Junction by the lack of "street merchandising" conducted by the Junction retail business.  Guffin's Hardware  just blocks away does a great job in this area. AT one time the Junction had 3 hardware stores conducting their enterprise in this manner. Bloor West Village has a number of fresh fruits and vegetable retailers doing the same.

With similar sidewalk widths this author still wonders why this is so lacking in the Junction.

Highlights from the most recent Junction Triangle Community newsletter

One of the best resident groups communication newsletters is the Junction Triangle Community newsletter. Below are a number of articles from their most recent issue with links to their site.

Also another effort and group from this area has been doing some interesting work around creating a commonly respected name for the the area http://www.fuzzyboundaries.ca/

3) HELP THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AND ART STARTS

A click of your mouse could help a couple of local neighbourhood
groups who are trying to raise some money through the Aviva Community
Fund. The Perth Outreach location of the Dovercourt Boys and Girls
Club and the award winning Art Starts group who did the fabulous mural
on the Dupont underpass are both in the second round of the Aviva fund
raising process. You could help them by simply logging onto the Aviva
site and voting for the projects. The process to register to vote is
very simple and you won't be swamped with junk mail. You can vote once
every day and vote for as many projects as you like. Your effort could
go a long way in helping both groups reach their goals. The links for
each project are included below and we want to say thank you on their
behalf for voting.

* Boys & Girls Club Perth Ave. Outreach Facility:
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1771
* Art Starts "Rack'n'Roll" bike racks:
http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf1573

4) GLIDDEN PAINT SITE - REMEDIATION IS COMPLETE

Environmental and soil remediation at the 370 Wallace lands (former
Glidden Paint site) is now complete.  If you have been past the site
in the last few weeks, you may have noticed that the land is now
flattened and seeded with plants.  It is ready to be sold to a
developer.  Thanks to Scott Dobson for the update on this site.  A
letter from Biogene is posted here:
http://www.southjunctiontriangle.ca/node/440

Junction BIA - Santa in the Junction Event

Santa in the Junction Event

The Junction BIA invites you and your family to the

“Santa in the Junction Event”

at the Train Platform

Dundas Street West and Pacific Avenue

Saturday, December 12^th from 11 - 1 pm

The Junction has become one of West Toronto’s most child friendly neighbourhoods. Joining Santa Claus at the “Santa in the Junction Event”, we will have The Baker Street Victorian Carollers, directed by Richard Crossman, The Creative Children’s Dance Centre, the Junction Fire Department, and hot chocolate. Please bring a donation for the Firefighter’s Toy Drive and join us to celebrate this holiday season with your friendly neighbourhood businesses of the Junction. Stroll the area and vote for the best decorated Christmas window. Don’t forget your cameras!