We’ve been informed by our local Councillor Gord Perks, that the High Park TTC Station will be getting accessibility upgrades.
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.
We’ve been advised by Plazacorp that an Application for Temporary Street Occupancy During Construction has been submitted for the Bloor Street West address. It’s expected that demolition will begin in approximately 4 weeks’ time (end of March). Expect traffic disruption to begin at this time in the Bloor Street West and Riverview Gardens area.
Are you a registered charity, not-for-profit group or individual hosting free activities in support of social, environmental and recreation initiatives in High Park and Western Beaches that needs funding?
Grants up to $3,000 are available to support Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR) objectives of environmental stewardship, promote activity, social well-being and/or other as outlined in PFR Parks Plan.
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.
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.
Ontario Place is technically not part of Bloor West Village but we’re guessing many Bloor Street West residents enjoy the grounds of Ontario Place and perhaps even have fond memories of the park from when they were younger.
An we’re guessing you probably didn’t know it came close to being considered a property not worth preserving. That has changed as of this week, thanks to the efforts of Ontario Place For All. Read more about this exciting update here.
As we’ve mentioned in an earlier post, Toronto has nearly 300 KM of laneways (that’s nearly the distance to North Bay). If you are in Bloor West, there’s a good chance you back on to one.
The Laneway Project in Toronto has published this great resource to assist you in getting the most from your unique property. It’s worth having a look and will likely offer you great information and insights you hadn’t thought of.
BetterHomesTO was created by the City to help homeowners take steps to improve the comfort and efficiency of their homes and reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change.
Why is that important? Because improving the energy efficiency of their homes may be the biggest thing residents can do to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Homes and buildings generate about half of the GHG emissions in Toronto today.
BetterHomesTO offers a one-stop website (BetterHomesTO.ca) that makes it easy for residents to find information, tips and resources to help them take action.
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.
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.
