Old Canada Bread factory photo grouping of opening up of formerly bricked up back windows.

1st much thanks to reader Jimi Fir alerting the blog to this.

The factory now being converted into artist studios has a wonderful transformation at its rear.

The windowed bricked up
For so long are being shod of their bricks.


Inside the northern most space.


Inside looking towards the CPR tracks at doors that once held the opening for the waste doors for the bakery.


Track side view

Silvano Colour Labs history and specs of the purpose built building currently for sale.

This  building was purposely for the professional printing  firm  Silvano Colour Lab a company that  was very big in the professional photo printing for decades. 1st in a very similar looking building just across the street from this building which the business occupied until its closing.

Silvano Venuto and John Sacilotto created a     colour processing company in Toronto’s west end just south of Roger Rd. On Old Weston Rd. Skilled engineers they built   their own processing machinery, modified equipment all to provide on of the best printing services available.

Silvano Color Labs moved forward with all the changes taking place in their industry for decades, well just over 5 decades.. The technological  sweep of  digital imaging  photography and new forms of sharing photos such as email and online photo services greatly changed the nature of the industry, yet this great company stayed open until February 3, 2012.

This blogger with really miss their SILVANO EASY CROP MASKS.



 

from their website - now down.

 

We've been serving the Photofinishing Needs of Wedding/Social, School, Sports and Industrial/Commercial Photographers, Wedding Couples and Photo Consumers since 1955. We offer a full range of FILM (including C-41, E-6 and B&W) and DIGITAL PHOTO IMAGING services. We also offer Giclée printing and Press Services. You can order on-line through our S.O.S. Order System or our FTP Server. Please visit our Showroom for a large variety of Albums, Scrapbooks, CD/DVD Holders, Folders, Easels, Mounts, Memory Mates, Folios and Photo Packaging. We are based in Toronto Ontario Canada.

 

PDF for their last downloadable price list, its more than price-list though, rather a text and pictorial model of how the professional printing business operated.

 

[caption id="attachment_11375" align="aligncenter" width="489" caption="image from: http://www.phsc.ca/journal/NEWSSHEET201202FINAL.pdf"][/caption]

The Building.

[caption id="attachment_11325" align="aligncenter" width="490" caption="http://www.metcomrealty.com/pdfs/Weston_Rd_355_Sale_Feb_10.pdf"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_11326" align="aligncenter" width="486" caption="http://www.metcomrealty.com/pdfs/Weston_Rd_355_Sale_Feb_10.pdf"][/caption]

 

Building Area: 84,000 sq ft (above grade + 28,000 sq ft lower level)
Typical Floor: 28,000 sq ft (approximately)
Total Area: 56,628 sq ft – 1.8 acres (mpac)
Frontage: 240.75‘
Depth: 235.2’
T.M.I.: $2.91/ sq ft (2009)
Shipping: 1 X truck level, 5 X drive-in
Zoning: E - General Employment
Elevators: 1 X Freight, 2 X Passenger
Parking: +/-150 surface
List Price: $7,950,000.00 - $94.64/ sq ft

[caption id="attachment_11327" align="aligncenter" width="457" caption="This image from sales flyer of http://www.metcomrealty.com/ click image to visit their site"][/caption]

 

VENDOR: Silvano and Celestina Investments.
BUILDING AREA: 28,000 sq.ft. – Lower level
28,000 sq.ft. – First floor
28,000 sq.ft – Second Floor
28,000 sq.ft. - Third Floor
112,000 sq.ft. – Total Building area
LOT DIMENSIONS: 240.75’ Frontage x 235.2’ Depth
LOT AREA: 56,628 square feet - 1.8 acres (As per MPAC)
ZONING: “E – General Employment” – allowing a variety of industrial uses, some commercial as well as office uses subject
to municipal approval.
BUILDING: Brick veneer exterior, pored concrete and I-Beam construction;
Triple thermal pane window units;
Flat tar and gravel roof;
27.7 kilo-volts Vendor owned electrical sub-station;
15 X 5/10 ton HVAC Units;
Steel, rebar and poured concrete floors,.
400 sq ft Bay size;
13’ Clear Height; and,
1 X truck level – 5 X drive in shipping doors.
ADJACENT LAND USES: To the north: Public Self-Storage facility;
To the south: Monument manufacturing and Show-Room;
To the east: CN/CP and GO Railway corridor; and
To the west: Residential dwellings and Commercial use.

Silvano 2011 website image.

 

 

130 Cawthra Ave old Canada Bread facility ...nu artist range!

Finally after a few decades of non existent artist and designer  space in the Junction after many decades an abundance of space before the lull the Junction area is getting a purpose renovated building for the purpose. Some interesting changes are taking place with loading docks becoming entryways.

 

Are we getting our 400 Duffern  Ave. Block?

hope so...

 



 



 



 

 

 

Two men who are barrel recyclers in the Junction

This image indicates their were still traditional forms of recycling practised in among the industries throughout the Junction in 1990

Barrels like the must have been easily found at the meat packers, paint factories, starch processors and rendering companies.

We still have a drum manufacturing coming on Glen Scarlett Rd. We are so lucky.

 

Digital Image Number: I0021492.JPG
Title: Two men who are barrel recyclers in the Junction area of Toronto
Date: 1990
Place: TORONTO (ONT.)
Creator: Robert Teteruck
Format: Black and white print
Reference Code: F 4445-3
Item Reference Code: F 4445-3-0-0-7
Subject: RECYCLING,LABORERS

Long established technical roofing company has left the Greater Junction Area -ouch-

Well this I should have known awhile back as this author drove by a Bothwell-Accurate facility not in the Junction a few weeks ago.

Mistakenly my mind pull it down to a business expansion. Although no doubt a business as unique and profession as this is expanding.

But it was a move, as evidenced by the empty building and lot at their long time Junction location at 160 Symes Rd.














- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Symes Rd,Toronto,Canada

Wowie Wowie Wowie 130 Cawthra Ave being marketed as mixed use light indiustrial and artist studios

Maple Leaf Foods subsid…Canada Bread has found a new home for it’s Junction production in Hamilton. Now its appears they are setting up their old Junction building for sectionalized and demised leasing for art and design studios.

Maybe a building like 400 Dufferin Ave has been for so many years.

This makes this blog author so happy artist space is do needed so badly in the area, there was a time in the deep dark ages of the Junction in the 80's til mid 90's that there were good spaces for artists in the Junction. Even Keele Centre had some at great rates and a do what you want ways when the building was owned by the CPR division Marathon Realty, this author worked out of there for a long time.

Couple this with a possible condo on the on the old plant site could really enliven the area.





130_Cawthra_Ave_-_LEASE_-Jan_2012 download flyer



[caption id="attachment_10351" align="aligncenter" width="995" caption="buildoing plan"][/caption]

d

[caption id="attachment_10354" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Saturday Feb 11 2012 taken down Flour? Tower"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_10355" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Saturday Feb 11 2012 plant interior during equipment removal"][/caption]

Look back - the industrial legacy of the Junction, CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., warehouse was on what now is the No frills site

 

[caption id="attachment_10180" align="aligncenter" width="326" caption="View after Fire"][/caption]

[ CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., warehouse, Pacific Ave., w. side, betw. Annette & Dundas Sts.; aftermath of fire of 4 January 1952; looking s.e. from rear. ]

Creator:

Salmon, James Victor (Canadian, 1911-1958)

Creator Role:

Photographer

Format:

Picture - Photograph

Description:

Negative.

Content Type:

Pictures

Scale / Dimensions:

15,129 KB

Date Created:   1/6/1952 1

Assigned Page No:

0001

Collection or Series:

Toronto Reference Library Canadian Historical Picture Collection/J. V. Salmon Collection

Language:

English

Notes:

1952 Jan 06

Record Type:

Representation

Source:

Original: Salmon, James Victor (Canadian, 1911-1958), [ CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., warehouse, Pacific Ave., w. side, betw. Annette & Dundas Sts.; aftermath of fire of 4 January 1952; looking s.e. from rear. ] 1952 Jan 06

Source Credit:

[Cite Source] Reproduced from the Toronto Public Library website http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca

Institution:

Toronto Public Library

Rights:

Copyright Toronto Public Library

CN and CPR history book a great railroad community read

 

Rails Across Canada: The History of Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railways  by Tom MurrayVoyageur Press | 2011 | ISBN: 0760340080 | 320 Pages | PDF | 155 MB

$22.50 Flexibound  and ebook edition

Publishers text

Few stories in the annals of railroading are as compelling as the construction, evolution, and astounding successes of the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways. This sprawling volume combines two of Voyageur Press' most successful Railroad Color History titles into one volume taking in the grand scope of both railroads. Author Tom Murray presents fastidiously researched and concisely presented histories of each railroad, along with more than 300 photographs, including rare archival black-and-white images and modern and period color photography sourced from national archives and private collections.

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,

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

Junction commercial bakery businesses going going

Just 20 years ago the Junction had numerous commercial bakeries and related businesses. Keele Centre at 500 Keele St had a huge Weston bakery on the north side of the building.

There was Seven Star Bakery on Jackson Place. The build has now been converted to mews homes.

Maple leaf mills was a huge flour processor with two silo building, one of which is now gone.

Now with Canada bread leaving the Junction Rd area the last of the bakery businesses are gone.

CPR Railroad holiday-train Tuesday, November 29 6:15 p.m., 750 Runnymede Rd,

 

 



 



The CPR Railroad holiday-train is returning to the Junction this year, at a new place.

Past Councillor Bill Saundercook worked with the CPR Railroad to bring the train visits to the Junction, from the downtown where they once were, now new Councillor Sarah Doucette  is continuing to support this event.

about the train...

At each event, the Holiday Train provides a box car stage, a line up of great musical talent and a corporate contribution to the local food bank. The community, in turn, is encouraged to donate food.

This is the 13th year that the Canadian Pacific (CP) Holiday Train has been raising food,  and awareness for food banks in communities across Canada and the U.S. 

The Canadian Holiday Train will be in the Junction

Tuesday, November 29

6:15 p.m., 750 Runnymede Rd,

in front of CP Lambton yard office,

parking only in Walmart lot

 

 

Architect Richard Rogers states city development was the best way to build new homes today

 

With 4 condo development sites, and currently building retail site and one  more large possible large retail site available in the greater Junction area (GJA) for development, is it not time for the community to start gaining better traction to work out a model from for this development.

The report below provides a very interesting overview of the re-urbanization of inner city areas.

Lord Rogers has authored a report that states that city development was the best way to build new homes because of their jobs, infrastructure and public transport systems with garden cities and new towns far more car-based.

“Cities are the most efficient thing,” he said

From the introduction...

The vision of the Urban Task Force remains an integrated

and multifaceted one founded on the creation of urban

communities that:

• are well designed, compact and connected

• support a diverse range of uses in a sustainable

urban environment

• are well-integrated with public transport

• are adaptable to change.

True to that vision, and in keeping with the original mission

of the Urban Task Force, we make recommendations in this

report based on the principles of:

• design excellence

• social wellbeing, and

• environmental responsibility

set within a viable and sustainable economic, legislative

and delivery framework.

Full report

 

Stockyard traffic jams which used to block many streets in the Junction are not all gone yet.

This image taken this week on Glen Scarlet Rd, is a good old Junction traffic jam. At one time these trucks turning blocked Vine Ave, Ryding Ave, St Clair Ave. West, and West Toronto St. all day.

 

WTJHS meeting Historical Walking Tour: Sunday, October 23 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

 



and

Historical Walking Tour: Sunday, October 23 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Tickling the Keys: the Heintzman Piano Company. One of the world’s most famous piano manufacturers was based in the Junction. Follow in the footsteps of the Heintzman family and company employees during this two-hour guided walking tour led by members of the West Toronto Junction Historical Society.
Starts at Annette Street Public Library at 2:00 p.m.Tickets $20.
For Heintzman tour tickets, call 416-763-3161or e-mail: junctionhistorical@gmail.com
Tickets are also available from:
Annette Street Public Library, 145 Annette Street
Ice Cream Junction, 3103 Dundas Street West
Pandemonium, 2862 Dundas Street West
Wise Daughters Craft Market, 3079B Dundas Street West

Toronto’s core losing jobs to condos, catches up with the Junction terms of commercial loss?

 

This is a rather interesting article, although it focuses  on the issue as related to office space and not the loss  light engineering, food processing and manufacturing that has devastated the the Junction for 3 decades. The loss of the manuservise corein teh Junction decimated the retail strip of Dundas St. west from which it has not recovered as of yet. Yes its interesting and local now the strip but its not the crowded bustling strip it was from the turn of the century to the late 70's.

Interesting though the loss of the manuservise core really did little to affect the residential societal styles and modes of home ownership, still cannot figure that out.

 (Toronto Star article)

Toronto’s core losing jobs to condos

 

When Iain Dobson sees another condo or condo-hotel springing up on prime downtown land just steps from the subway, he becomes more convinced than ever that Toronto is risking its own future by trading off jobs for people.

Toronto is reaching a tipping point — a shortage of development-ready land for new office towers at the same time thousands of new financial services jobs are projected for downtown and more companies are looking to return to the city core from the suburbs, says Dobson.

The former commercial brokerage executive and co-author of a report for the Canadian Urban Institute warns that Toronto has allowed construction of so many condo towers on what were meant to be office building sites, there is only enough development-ready land for about 4 million square feet of new office space left in the downtown.

Even the old converted “brick-and-beam” buildings to the west and east of the core, now home to some 18 million square feet of commercial development, are close to being full, says Dobson.

“The area within 500 metres of the subway is prime get yourself to work and back again space and when it gets eaten up by a lot of residential development, you have to wonder where will the new offices go?,” says Dobson.

He points to buildings like the 70-storey Trump Tower and 65-storey Shangri-La Hotel, both hotel and condo developments on land once slated for offices. They are among twelve new highrise condos, with 5,707 new units, under construction in the downtown core right now.

One-third of all jobs in the GTA are office jobs, notes the report, The New Geography of Office Location and the Consequences of Business as Usual in the GTA.

Thirty years ago, 63 per cent of office space was located in the downtown financial district or directly along subway lines. But so many businesses have flocked to the suburbs, as of 2010, 54 per cent of office space was located in the road-dependent 905 regions.

That dramatic shift, thanks to plentiful land and cheap taxes, not only clogged major roads, it turned the core into a one-horse town dominated by the financial services sector.

“The 416 region has become the bedroom community for the 905 regions,” says Dobson.

There is some evidence that’s starting to shift as environmentally conscious companies such as Coke and Telus consolidate suburban operations in the core to ease long commutes and be close to where employees live.

But governments need to do more to ease commercial taxes, integrate transit to growth areas and review land use policies for any developable land within a five-minute walk of subways with a focus on office rather than more condo development.

Commercial realtors say they are managing to find sufficient office space for companies that are looking. Colliers International says, in fact, a number of financial district tenants are moving into new offices on the Railways Lands, which is freeing up hundreds of thousands of feet of prime space in the financial district.

Realtor Cushman & Wakefield notes that almost 4 million square feet of office space has come on stream downtown since 2009 and 5.2 million more is planned. It estimates that’s enough, given current demand, for about nine more years of growth.

 

source

Topper linen trucks on sidewalk

A commenter noted this practice the other day on the blog, and while I am a firm advocate of integrated residential and industry this practice should have a better solution that what is happening now.

This author has personal seen such technical difficulties solved using sidewalk and traffic repositioning, yet I wonder if the respective parties such as the business, the city and the community are all willing to put the hard work into such solution.

Mulock Ave and area industrial concurrent activities on any morning

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="643" caption="Milk delivery to the cheese firm"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="643" caption="Textile delivery to Topper Linens"][/caption]

CPR maintenance of way train in west Toronto yard north of Junction

CPR