New cafe at 2173 Dundas St west

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Junction still has some it's old flavor in people

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Inside Toronto Junction Residents Association hosts Ward 13 all-candidates debate

Inside Toronto has a good article on the Junction Residents candidate meeting

LISA RAINFORD|Oct 07, 2010 - 5:45 PM| 0
Neighbourhood heritage preservation a key issue debated in Junction meeting

Junction Residents Association hosts Ward 13 all-candidates debate

Questions on preserving neighbourhood heritage, improving Toronto's large spaces and accessibility to the local councillor were put to Ward 13 councillor candidates by the Junction Residents Association members at a meeting Wednesday, Oct. 6.
Questions were given to candidates in advance and names were drawn to determine speaking order.

"I'm all for preservation," said first speaker, candidate Nick Pavlov, in the sanctuary of West Toronto Baptist Church on Dundas Street West at High Park Avenue.

While he said he supports saving the historical significance of the community, Pavlov said a balance between new construction and restoration must be found.

"Development has to be to scale," he said. "It has to reflect the size of the neighbourhood. We have to consider 'what is it adding to the neighbourhood.'"

Bill Saundercook said heritage of the Junction is extremely important. He pointed out that already several properties, namely churches, along Annette Street between Quebec Avenue and Keele Street, are protected. He said he has been in talks with the owner of the retail property on Dundas, just east of Pacific Avenue where the replica of the train platform is and has asked him to take into account the surrounding buildings that have been restored to their former glory when he chooses to start construction.

"When it comes to preservation," said Redmond Weissenberger, "the problem is we don't notice that a building is historic until it's about to be demolished. The problem is, the bylaws deal with structure. The building's owner doesn't have to bring anyone into the process of design."

Weissenberger said he would like to work with local architects in order to recognize which buildings need a heritage designation.

"You need to be proactive and not reactive and I think that's what I'd like to do," said Weissenberger.

Candidate Sarah Doucette said that as councillor, one must represent the majority of constituents.

"Historical preservation is important in certain areas. The Junction is one of them," she said. "I know that the Junction Residents Association is working to designate High Park Avenue."

Doucette said she followed the plight of 244 High Park Ave., whose owners wanted to sever the lot, tear down the house to make room for two new houses.

"I was really pleased to find out the new owner is going to restore it," she said.

Asked if they thought the city's large public spaces, such as the waterfront, should be improved, candidates were on the same page on this topic.

"Certainly, our waterfront is extremely important as we move towards the Pan/Am Games in 2015," said Saundercook.

He credited the new 'curtain' at Sunnyside Beach for improving the water quality and making it swimmable.

Weissenberger replied simply, yes.

"The only answer could be yes. We have to look at our existing public spaces," he said, attacking Saundercook for the "$100,000" gazebo in front of his constituency office. Saundercook later clarified and said the price tag was about $10,000.

Weissenberger wondered why the city doesn't clean up the goose droppings on the waterfront as well as the syringes he said he has seen floating in the water. He called Bloor West Village's sidewalks "an embarrassment," adding that citizens are "breaking their ankles."

Doucette said the city's public spaces are a necessity. They are key to keeping communities engaged, she said. She cited 34 Southport St. as an example, where a developer has been meeting with the community to discuss possible plans. "Five years ago, it was a thriving plaza. We had lots of amenities. Since it's been closed down, people miss going to coffee shops so they could meet their friends. We're now working to design a new space."

Link to full article

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Junction Arts Festival have your say reception

Reception Tues, Oct 12, 7 – 9 pm,

We’ve scheduled a party especially to invite your response to When Art Meet Street, the current exhibition prepared by the 2010 Junction Arts Festival Team.

The exhibit showcases work that couldn’t be accommodated in this year’s festival, explores the nature of street festival art, and invites suggestions for the future of the Junction Arts Festival. Hope to see you there.

Please come and help us fill out our 5 foot x 5 foot brainstorming board

Tues, Oct 12, 7 – 9 pm,

Wise Daughters Craft Market

Local handicrafts and do-it-yourself workshops

3079B Dundas St. West, Toronto, M6P 1Z9

416-761-1555

www.wisedaughters.com

Streets are for transportation

People AFTER bus,car,and trucks




Says Pavlov a candidate for Ward 13

Saundercook agrees roads are for traffic but provided thought on other road usage.

Junction Residents Association all candidates meeting on now

Still time to come... Only half way
Though the questions 8:09

East silos to come down and the west silos will stay

Well if anything proves that the Junction is achangen to this author who has always had a connection to the Junction thought out my life it is this.

At 43 Junction Rd the east silos are to come down in Nov. or Dec of this year.

The blogs hopes to publish some in-depth images of them next week.

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43 junction Rd

Well the people who now own 43 junction Rd our quite nice people .

Had a chat with one of them today while accompanying a client looking at the site.

They very open about their plans.

A close up look at the work they have done on the site indicates a Rather well thought out plan that will take the disused site to become part of the greater Junction community.

This author is real excited about the unique melding of industry and commercial use that's planned

Well
Done to the owners

The blog hopes to follow this project.

Images inside the old train loafing building.






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Best redeveloped building/lot in

The junction this year?




A few lots and/or buildings go under a major renovation each year. Most sadly do not amount to Much - architecturally or historically.


Yet once in a while a site gets rewritten with a building that defines the old, the new and also
Takes from the old to
Create a new building that fits in to it's lot.

The blogs nomination for best redevelopment of 2010 is the old handy man store site at 3077 Dundas St west.

One of the reasons is the new buildings rebuilt rounded front of the old building, another being retention of a very open 1st floor retail area.

An great added bonus is the balconies for the apartments above the retail space.