Past Articles
Previously posted articles from the Parkdale Residents Association website.
The PRA Peace and Security Focus Group Mandate
The Peace and Security Focus Group bases its work on a set of values common to Parkdale residents. Creating a secure and healthy community means focusing on inclusion rather than narrow or partisan interests, justice rather than punishment, and openness rather than divisiveness.
Our goal is to encourage and spur initiatives that will reduce conditions that contribute to insecurity, thereby creating a healthy, confident and welcoming neighbourhood – a real community. We aim to enable residents to develop and participate in initiatives that make Parkdale a confident community where people prevent and address the conditions for insecurity. In this way security both creates and complements community development.
The Focus Group undertakes actions that have tangible results worthy of widespread, participatory residential support. Specifically, we will support or lead initiatives that reduce threats to security and a sense of communal well–being (e.g. dealing with predators involved in the drug trade). We will also reduce the conditions that contribute to insecurity (e.g. addressing conflicts that arise between groups or between individual residents). Finally, we will lead and promote initiatives that sustain a sense of confidence, cohesion and well-being among residents (supporting gatherings and processes that identify and resolve community issues related to health, security and peaceful co-existence).
Submitted by Administrator on Mon, 03/06/2006 - 00:03 under Our goal is to encourage and spur initiatives that will reduce conditions that contribute to insecurity, thereby creating a healthy, confident and welcoming neighbourhood – a real community. We aim to enable residents to develop and participate in initiatives that make Parkdale a confident community where people prevent and address the conditions for insecurity. In this way security both creates and complements community development.
The Focus Group undertakes actions that have tangible results worthy of widespread, participatory residential support. Specifically, we will support or lead initiatives that reduce threats to security and a sense of communal well–being (e.g. dealing with predators involved in the drug trade). We will also reduce the conditions that contribute to insecurity (e.g. addressing conflicts that arise between groups or between individual residents). Finally, we will lead and promote initiatives that sustain a sense of confidence, cohesion and well-being among residents (supporting gatherings and processes that identify and resolve community issues related to health, security and peaceful co-existence).
The PRA Community Development Focus Group Mission
- Monitor, evaluate, and engage in development proposals that affect Parkdale
- Build a community vision for improving Parkdale’s public spaces
- Inform and influence decision makers with regard to initiatives that effect the architectural character, environmental integrity, and the diversity of Parkdale
- Promote streetscape improvements and beautification projects
- Encourage and support small scale initiatives that bring neighbours together
Mission of the Housing Focus Group
The Housing Focus Group facilitates the housing related initiatives of residents of Parkdale. This focus group will develop empowerment and communication strategies designed to give the residents a powerful voice in the way the existing housing stock of Parkdale is maintained or transformed.
Submitted by Administrator on Wed, 09/21/2005 - 20:21 under Toronto Police Service Public Forums
The Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Service invite all community members to provide your comments on the main challenge, or challenges,that the Toronto Police Service will face over the next three years.
See attachement for dates and times of the four scheduled public forums in April 2008.
Submitted by Administrator on Sat, 04/05/2008 - 04:32 under See attachement for dates and times of the four scheduled public forums in April 2008.
In Support of the Tibetan People
At the latest general meeting the PRA passed expressed support for the tibetan people:
We, the members of the Parkdale Residents Association, acknowledge the positive
contribution to our community of our Tibetan neighbours. We express our support for them
and their families in Tibet at this important time of turmoil in their homeland. ...
PRA members call for the intervention of our Canadian politicians to urge
the Chinese government to stop the brutal repression on the people of Tibet and immediately
work towards a political solution for the Tibetan people by engaging in official negotiation at
the highest level with the Dalai Lama in the presence of an observer from Canada.
See the attachments for the full text of the motion, the annexe to the motion and letters to David Miller and Stephen Harper.
Polluted and Neglected: The Corner of Queen St. West and Close Avenue
1375 Queen St. West, which comprises the southeast corner of Queen Street West and Close Avenue, has been emptied and fenced in since August 2003, with no signs of positive development for Parkdale residents. The PRA is spearheading a dialogue to help this site be developed as soon as possible in ways that bring benefit to our community. Our intermediate goal, if it is necessary, is to put the site to some beneficial community use until the site is developed more permanently.
The site is owned by Imperial Oil and managed by its real estate arm, Devon Estates. The PRA has made contact with both Imperial Oil and Devon Estates several times, only to be informed that the site is a brownfield in remediation. At this point we know that Imperial Oil is doing “in situ” (in place) remediation. According to Devon Estates, there are no offsite conditions or adverse affects. Although they cannot say when the remediation will be complete, they anticipate completion “in the next couple of years.” Moreover, there may be an opportunity for temporary improvements to the site, but more consultation with the Remediation Manager is needed to see what is possible. The PRA has also asked the Ministry of the Environment if any record of remediation is filed, and we have been told there is no record.
Over the coming months, the PRA will be addressing questions such as:
Submitted by Administrator on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 01:53 under The site is owned by Imperial Oil and managed by its real estate arm, Devon Estates. The PRA has made contact with both Imperial Oil and Devon Estates several times, only to be informed that the site is a brownfield in remediation. At this point we know that Imperial Oil is doing “in situ” (in place) remediation. According to Devon Estates, there are no offsite conditions or adverse affects. Although they cannot say when the remediation will be complete, they anticipate completion “in the next couple of years.” Moreover, there may be an opportunity for temporary improvements to the site, but more consultation with the Remediation Manager is needed to see what is possible. The PRA has also asked the Ministry of the Environment if any record of remediation is filed, and we have been told there is no record.
Over the coming months, the PRA will be addressing questions such as:
- What is the most practical guide to brownfield redevelopment?
- Are there merits in forming a Parkdale Brownfield Redevelopment Team?
- What is the best plan of action that Parkdale residents can undertake to improve the vitality of this streetcorner?
1510 King Street West - Lightening Rod for Community Debate on Affordable Housing
The former single-family house at 1510 King Street was converted to a rooming house years ago and then eventually left vacant in 1994 when the corporation that owned the property went bankrupt and ownership reverted to the province. It was sold to the current owners in 2003 who have since applied to the Toronto and East York Community Council for an amendment to the zoning by-law to allow 20 dwelling units at this site. The council has granted the application, however it is now being appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by a citizen's group in South Parkdale.
For further information please refer to the:
- Attachments below, including the City of Toronto's Final and Supplementary report as well as the citizen's group pamphlet and some correspondence to and from the councillor.
- An audio recording of the January 31st, 2008 PRA meeting where 1510 was debated (starting at minute 34 of the recording)
- The eventual OMB case schedule and decision. (note: the hearing took place Feb. 19 to 22nd)
- Finally, the comments at the end of this article make interesting reading.
FAQ - Dada mass mailer administration
The PRA started out using the 'Mailman' application for mailing list functions, but due to over-zealous spam restrictions on the part of our ISP we had to switch to Dada Mail for our larger lists because this package is able to send out mail slowly over a longer time period. It also does a better job of tracking member names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.
Here are some hints for using Dada Mail:
Submitted by Administrator on Fri, 12/14/2007 - 18:48 under Here are some hints for using Dada Mail:
PRA makes progress on waterfront rehabilitation
Even as the past failings of our political representatives are manifested this week with the grassy median opposite the Palais Royal on our western waterfront being dug up and converted into a parking lot, the PRA has made progress in opening the lines of communication with city staff and the councillor’s office, lending some measure of control to the use of our public waterfront parks. Attached are minutes from two meetings on waterfront topics that occurred last week, following our request for consultati
PRA begins initiative to rehabilitate waterfront parklands
For much of the past year, the waterfront park between the Palais Royale and the Boulevard Club has been used for parking and garbage storage. In February, the PRA voted to begin an initiative to rehabilitate this precious area of our waterfront. Please read the attached letter to the Councillor's office and return to this website for progress reports.
The photo below was taken in late March 2007 (just to the East of the Palais Royale), however the degradation of this site has been ongoing. See this Now article from August 2007. Last week, we counted 36 cars parked in this area.
Submitted by Administrator on Fri, 04/13/2007 - 14:55 under The photo below was taken in late March 2007 (just to the East of the Palais Royale), however the degradation of this site has been ongoing. See this Now article from August 2007. Last week, we counted 36 cars parked in this area.
