Category: Feedback

Your Serve, Howard Park

March 31, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, Media, News

We’ve been advised that the Howard Park Tennis Club will be getting a long-overdue service of its own.

Howard Park tennis club is a hidden High Park gem | The Toronto Observer

The City will be undertaking construction and repairs, the scope of work including replacing the existing dilapidated timber retaining wall with a new pre cast stone retaining wall, and replacing the existing unit paver driveway, new concrete steps and handrails. Work is scheduled to commence starting April 5th and is expected to be completed during the summer of 2021. Sounds like match point to us.

For a map of the location of the work, please visit our Councillor’s website.

So, Did You Like Riding Your Bike on The Lakeshore Last Summer?

March 22, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, Media, News

It may not be a guarantee this summer.

How the battle over Toronto's new, temporary bike lanes might play out in 2021 | CBC News

Cycle Toronto wants to hear from you. Or more importantly, wants your pledge to ensure it is guaranteed. To show your support to City Council, click here for more information. Last year, there were as many as 21,000 people riding bikes and 4,400 people walking on weekends along Lakeshore Blvd. West. Cycle Toronto wants your help to ensure it can happen again.

Hey, What’s The Story on That Building?

March 8, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, Meeting info, Meeting notes

Backlane Studios, a non-profit creative hub located in Parkdale, are offering free workshops on Zoom which will show you how to research a
building or a street in the Toronto archives.

Question Mark Flat Building Vector Images (over 110)

The next workshop is March 18, 2021.

They are also beginning a project called Mapping Our Memories. This project collects the memories of seniors and links them to digital maps.
The first six session course on interviewing and writing begins March 9, with more workshops to follow.

Find out more at backlanestudios.ca

You Now Don’t Have to Keep Your Grass This Short

March 4, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

8 inches, or 20 cm.

The City is seeking feedback on the natural garden exemption requirement and wants input from Toronto residents. Feedback will inform a report expected at the Planning and Housing Committee in Q2 2021.

Encore Blog: Do You Want A Native Front Yard? - Dyck Arboretum

The Grass and Weeds Bylaw requires that grass and weeds on private property be maintained so that growth does not exceed 20 cm (8 inches) in height. However, property owners or occupants can apply for a permit to be exempted from this requirement if they have a natural garden. Natural gardens provide environmental benefits, including the creation of natural habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.

Staff are considering removing the requirement for natural garden exemption permits. This means that residents can have a natural garden without applying for an exemption. Natural gardens will still need to meet maintenance requirements to ensure health and safety of Toronto’s neighbourhoods.

Residents can provide feedback on this proposal by emailing MLSFeedback@toronto.ca. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, March 31 at 11:59 pm. More information is available at toronto.ca/NaturalGarden

Your Views on Welcoming New Homeless Shelters

February 25, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

The City is currently undertaking a third-party review of its community engagement process for new shelter and other services for people experiencing homelessness. This review will identify opportunities to enhance this process, to make sure that all new shelter and other services for people experiencing homelessness are set up for success. 

2018 patient engagement survey results – Can-SOLVE CKD Network

Local residents and businesses in Bloor West Village are invited to share their perspectives, whether or not they have participated in the community engagement process or live near a shelter or a service for people experiencing homelessness.

There are two ways residents and businesses can provide input into the Community Engagement Review process:

1.    Participate in an anonymous online survey

2.    Participate in a virtual focus group

You can learn more about the Community Engagement Review process on the Welcoming New Shelters web page.

High Park TTC Station To Get Improved Access

February 22, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, News

We’ve been informed by our local Councillor Gord Perks, that the High Park TTC Station will be getting accessibility upgrades.

High Park Subway Station - 1874 Bloor St. W.

As part of the TTC’s ongoing efforts to make all TTC stations accessible by 2025, the work is expected to commence early next year. The project includes installing two new elevators via a new one-storey structure/addition fronting Quebec Avenue. The majority of the work would take place on the Quebec Avenue side.

There is a Committee of Adjustment meeting for this project tentatively scheduled on March 3, 2021 at 4 p.m (Application 20 229717 STE 04 MV). The TTC requires minor variances in order to provide an accessible station to the community.

Humber Theatre Development Update: Work Starting Soon

January 30, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback

After more than four years in the planning stages that included extensive community consultations, the Bijou Condo development is close to final approval at City Hall, and demolition of the block of buildings west of the former Humber Theatre is expected to start soon, with the former theatre building to follow.

When completed, this 12 storey re-development will include:

  • 4,938 m2 of retail commercial space on  two levels, (with allowance for at least one mid-size retail store such as a supermarket)
  • 18,470 m2 of residential condominiums above consisting of 79  one bedroom units, 84 two bedroom units and 23 three bedroom units- 266 parking spaces underground.

To get the latest updates, visit here and enter in the property address (2442 Bloor Street West), then go to Application Details.

Want To Add a Laneway Apartment and Don’t Have a Laneway? Read On.

January 25, 2021 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, News

The City Planning Division has been working on a range of initiatives to extend our housing supply through the Expanding Housing Options in Neighbourhoods (EHON) work program. This plan expands upon recent work that’s supported laneway suites. As Bloor West Village has plenty of laneways, this program is quite relevant.

Laneway Housing in Toronto | Laneway Houses, Homes in Toronto

A new report has been published which can be found here. In it, the City looks at options for laneway type units (known as Garden Suites) for homes that aren’t on laneways.

This type of home too, features prominently in Bloor West Village. According to the report, City Planning will consult with interested stakeholders on potential permissions for Garden Suites in the City of Toronto during the first quarter of 2021 and then report to Planning and Housing Committee with recommendations by the end of June 2021 on findings and next steps. Stay tuned.

These Urban Secrets Await

September 16, 2020 Michael Leave a comment Feedback, News

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.