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Laneway Housing Information Session by PRA – October 24

Join us at this information session to learn more about laneway housing and how it can affect Parkdale!  Speakers: Co-founder of Lanescape, Andrew Sorbara and Evergreen group will give a presentation on laneway housing with a Q&A at the end.

The City of Toronto is considering Laneway Suites (housing). A laneway house is a smaller, detached home located where the garage would normally go on a single-family lot.

Vancouver, Ottawa and Halifax already allow this type of housing. There are over 300 KM of laneways in the city. Allowing housing in our laneways would create many more rental housing units.

Sign up HERE.

Date: Tues, October 24th
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 20 West Lodge Avenue, May Robinson Auditorium

Please read the following links and articles to help you better understand the advantages and disadvantages that laneway housing would have to our Parkdale community:
Lanescape – A laneway housing advocacy group
http://lanescape.ca/
Toronto Star – Laneway suites could open up new Toronto housing possibilities
https://www.thestar.com/…/laneway-suites-could-open-up-new-…
CBC News – Laneway housing a step closer to reality after community consultations
http://www.cbc.ca/…/metrom…/laneway-housing-report-1.4029590

Lifetime Developments Meeting Update

On Tuesday, April 18 Parkdale community members met with developer Lifetime Developments to discuss proposed development at King and Dufferin north-east corner and south west corner.

The meeting was attended by Parkdale residents association members, Parkdale and Liberty Village residents, Councillor Gord Perks and MP Arif Virani.

After initial consultations the developer lowered the heights of both properties from 21 to 17 stories and from 19 to 14 stories, respectively.

The developer changed the proposed appearance of the buildings from all glass to a combination of brick and glass in consideration of heritage structure around the buildings.
They have also increased the setback of the buildings from the curbs, creating wider sidewalks, and adding pedestrian walkways on both sides.

The sites will not be developed simultaneously.

However, height and density are still major issues as these buildings are high-rises.

Residents made comments regarding making Parkdale urban design better, not simply looking to copy the height and density of surrounding buildings (Dufferin and Tyndall high-rises) which the developers are using as reference points for the developments.

Transit overcrowding and traffic congestion are serious issues that have not been thus properly addressed.

There is greater need for public parking, bicycle lanes and bicycle parking as well as two and three bedroom apartments.

The design of the structures needs to be approached holistically as it fits with a changing neighbourhood.

___________________________________________________________

Many residents voiced concerns regarding affordable housing, an issue private developers do not have to address. MP Virani spoke briefly regarding federal funds for 10-year affordable housing plan.

 

Parkdale Residents Win 7-Year Legal Fight for PPP Rent Redress After City “Runaround”

“It was a breach of the standard of care for the city to not give any notice at all.  I affirmatively conclude that the city was negligent.”

With this ruling by Justice Paul Perell of the Ontario Superior Court, a 7-year legal fight launched by members of the Parkdale Residents Association over the rights of residents living in  legalized rooming houses between 2004 and 2008 was finally won.

Congratulations to Terence Williams, Warren Sheffer, and lawyer Brendan Van Niejenhuis for their resolve in righting an injustice that had deprived many low-income residents of the rent reductions they were entitled to.

Warren, a lawyer and former Vice President of the PRA, was the driving force in researching and raising early awareness of the issue and bringing the City to task when residents of 33 Parkdale rooming houses reclassified through the Parkdale Pilot Project were not notified of their rights to reduced rent.  When the City gave the PRA the runaround, Warren brought Terence and Brendan together to launch a class action suit.

The Parkdale Residents Association is proud to have provided seed funding to initiate the class action suit and to have helped publicize the case locally and push the City to do the right thing.  Proof that when residents band together we can make a difference, even against an intransigent City bureaucracy.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2016/01/07/judge-rules-city-of-toronto-negligent-towards-tenants.html

 

PRA Information Session – Dec. 15th

We’re having a meeting to discuss the future of the Parkdale Resident’s Association (PRA).  In particular we are holding this meeting for anyone interested in joining the PRA executive committee.  If you are passionate about civic engagement, and are interested in helping steer the future of our neighbourhood, we are hoping that you will join us in this informational session.  We are hoping to increase our influence in how our neighbourhood is shaped and need new members.  We meet once a month.

There is a lot happening in our village. Do you have any ideas about how Parkdale should be shaped?  Consider volunteering with us.  Some of the ongoing topics in our village are:
  • Open Space & Parks
  • Cycling & Transportation
  • Affordable Housing
  • Historical preservation & Architecture
  • Arts & Culture
  • Public safety
Lots is happening, be a part of transforming Parkdale into a better place for you and your neighbours. On the agenda is updates on the:
  • Queen West Street Study (PRA Study + update)
  • Results – Parkdale Neighbourhood Survey
  • Exhibition Place (AKA CNE grounds) & Muzik
  • UofT students parks space study – Parkdale

This is an opportunity for you to get involved and contribute to making Parkdale a better place to live / work.

Date: Tuesday, Dec. 15th
Time: 7 PM to 9 PM
Place: 20 West Lodge Ave., May Robinson Auditorium

Parkdale Flea – Dec. 12 & 13

Screen Shot 2015-11-20 at 5.33.32 PMParkdale Flea Market aims to bring together some of the best and most unique products that Parkdale/Toronto has to offer. Featuring vendors ranging from Antiques, Vintage, Collectibles, Local Artisans and Designers. They pride themselves of having impeccable taste and high standards when choosing their participants. Food and drink vendors will also be available so come hungry!

Date: Saturday, Dec. 12th and Sunday, Dec. 13th
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Place: 1266 Queen St. West  – Rear

Vendors sign-up here

Own Property in Parkdale: Cooperative Purchasing – Nov. 25

CoopPurchasingCooperative Purchasing is another way to own property in Toronto that provides security, affordability and adaptability as you work with others who have the same goals.

Join an interactive discussion on Cooperative Purchasing with a panel of experts on the subject, including a mortgage broker, a real estate lawyer and home owners who have purchased cooperatively.

This event will appeal to a wide range of people including those considering a first home purchase, those involved and interested in the sharing economy, individuals and families looking to downsize. and Torontonians concerned about the growing cost of home ownership.

Organized by Lesli Gaynor, local real estate agent and entrepreneur (Mitzi’s Sister).

Date: Wednesday, November 25th
Time: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Place: 1108 Queen St. West  – Bosley Real Estate

RSVP by November 23

Nutcracker by Parkdale’s Pia Bouman’s School of Ballet – Dec. 17/18/19/20

Nutcracker-30th

Pia Bouman’s School of Ballet and Creative Movement will host Toronto’s longest standing performance of the Nutcracker – 30th Anniversary. This massive community production comes together with nearly 100 children dancers and 80 local volunteers. For three decades, it has been a beloved tradition and festive celebration for the Parkdale community.

DATES/TIMES:

  • December 17 at 7:30 PM
  • December 18 at 7:30 PM
  • December 19 at 2:00 PM
  • December 20 at 2:00 PM

LOCATION:

  • Lismer Hall, Humberside Collegiate Institute, 280 Quebec Avenue

CLICK HERE for tickets to Nutcracker 2015

Visions to Actions: Community Wealth Building in Parkdale – Nov. 23/26/28

From Visions To ActionsThe next round of participatory planning workshops for Parkdale Community Economic Development planning project (PCED) has been scheduled as follows.:

Choose a date most convenient for you.

  • November 23 Monday 6:00-8:30 PM at Bonar Parkdale (250 Dunn Ave.)
  • November 26 Thursday 2:00-4:30 PM at Bonar Parkdale (250 Dunn Ave.)
  • November 28 Saturday 1:30-4:00 PM at Parkdale Public Library Auditorium

This workshop is going to build on previous discussions on Parkdale Wellbeing Indicators and/or Community Needs and Assets Mapping. This is the last stage of community engagement process for the phase 1 of community-based research.

In this workshop, first, will discuss what has come up from previous meetings. Building on the priorities, issues, and opportunities that were identified so far. This workshop aims to discuss and identify ways and steps that it will take to move “from visions to actions”. Also talk about a range of areas including housing, work, food, health, cultural development, and local decision making.

Here is a link to more description of the workshop and RSVP.

Roncesvalles Area Planning Study – Nov. 17th

The City is holding a public consultation to discuss  the built form and physical character within the study area and how to approximately accommodate future growth. This includes examining building envelopes, height and massing, heritage assessment and streetscape and landscape improvements. The Study covers the area along Roncesvalles from Queen St. to Dundas St. and includes a portion of Dundas St. to the East of Roncesvalles.

Date: Tuesday, November 17st
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Place: 128 Fern Ave. – Fern Avenue Public School

Dundas-Roncesvalles-Study-Meeting-Notice-Nov-17-2015