You may or may not know, but Bloor Street Village is home to several kilometres of laneways. Toronto has 295 KM in total (yes, that’s correct). And these laneways often offer a glimpse of neighbourhood history, with the backs of homes and businesses sometimes more interesting than the front. A good way to explore is to check Google Maps and look for long, straight “roads” that aren’t named. Chances are, they’re laneways (there’s a nice long one running parallel to Jane Street, north from Colbeck Street.)
Note also that if your home abuts a laneway, your property could be one of 48,000 in the City that qualify for the two-year old incentive program. You can read more here.
Those who travel north on Runnymede Road from Runnymede Station may have noticed a missing bus stop just north of the station, that served 71 and 79 buses. This has been an inconvenience, we’ve heard. According to one resident, the TTC are currently evaluating the long term status of this stop as part of a comprehensive review of stops at this station and the Bloor Street intersection.
We’ve all walked past this ugly lot on the corner of Bloor Street West and Harcroft Road on our way to High Park or whilst running errands in the eastern boundary of the village. Good news: it will soon be developed.
Following many years of uncertainty about the future redevelopment of the property, a new mixed-use mid-rise building is proceeding toward final approval with the City. This proposal is essentially the same as the building originally negotiated with a community working group in 2015, and it’s gratifying to note that it’s massing and architecture will be consistent with the other recent re-developments east of Glendonwynne Road. Also, this condominium will be offering an unusually large number of 2 bedroom and hard-to-find 3 bedroom units for young family’s and empty-nesters who are looking to stay in the village.
Looking Southeast To The Howard Condos
We at the BWVRA were initially approached in 2015 by the original Developer for feedback on its original proposal. At our recommendation, a working group was then organized with concerned residents of Harcroft Road ( in which BWVRA also participated), and we also provided technical support and encouragement to the group, based on our experience with several earlier re-developments along the same section of Bloor Street.
For information on the development, including additional renderings, please click here.
Beginning on Tuesday, August 2, construction will begin on new bike lanes that will run west from Shaw Street to Runnymede road. Please click here to view more important information or visit http://www.toronto.ca/bloorwestbikeway
As part of your staycation, you may want to indulge in a free online course offered by Progress Toronto focussing on topics like how City Hall works or how to get involved with government committees. For more details and sign-up, click here.
We all know that High Park is a busy destination, especially now. In an effort to ease access and as part of the City’s ActiveTO projects, the park will be closed to vehicles on weekends (Friday nights to Monday mornings) to allow people to enjoy more outdoor space while being able to practice safe physical distancing. Bicycles are permitted.
There will also be updates to water filling stations and washrooms, as per this link.
One benefit of COVID-19 is that urban cycling is suddenly in the spotlight. And with that, the related infrastructure projects are now getting closer attention and shortened timelines. To read more about how we stand to benefit in Bloor West Village, click here.
It begins with a girl named Abbey. Abbey was a strong, brave, and tenacious 9-year old girl whose life was cut far too short in 2018 by a rare blood disorder. In her memory, Abbey’s family and friends created a charitable organization called Abbey’s Goal; click here to read more about Abbey and her amazing legacy.
In response to COVID-19, Abbey’s family started a rainbow revolution. They are making rainbow tree kits, which you can use to decorate a tree (or anything, really) in your front yard to show appreciation for essential workers and health heroes. If you would like to order a kit, you can text: 647-278-5140 and donate online at www.abbeysgoal.com.
Abbey’s Goal is suggesting a donation of $20 for this kit, which is home-made. All proceeds from the rainbow kits go to the Stop (thestop.org), an organization focused on increasing access to healthy food.
A key part of the Bijou development at the Humber Theatre site will be the rejuvenation of the northeast corner of Bloor Street and Riverview Gardens. Currently, this swath of property is unadorned with any landscaping or design elements and features a less-than-ideal off-camber sidewalk going around the corner. Upon completion of the condominium, this will be changed for the better.
Above is a rendering proposed by the developer of the Bijou, that our community is supporting. The current proposal was arrived at as a result of numerous consultations with a BWVRA neighbourhood advisory group. As shown, it will include greenery, a staircase to better navigate the downward slope and new seating areas. Final drawings will be made available once a Site Plan Approval is received from the City. This is another example of the BWVRA in action.
Let’s join neighborhoods across the GTA with a nightly thank you celebration at 7:30 pm from our front doorsteps and porches and from a safe distance, so the health care workers will hear our gratitude ringing from the rafters as part of #TogetherWeCanDoIt.
Beginning Thursday, March 19, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. local time and every evening going forward, the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario is asking everyone to cheer on the millions of health providers, social service and other essential front-line workers in Ontario, Canada and around the world who are tackling #COVID19.
