Exhibition Place Winter Opening to Local Residents

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Exhibition Place is probably the safest location in the city for people to use. The wide boulevards, expansive parking lots and green spaces make it the ideal location for citizens to exercise, walk and ride.

Exhibition Place is at the southern doorstep of Parkdale. Over the last number of years, the Parkdale Residents Association along with 11 other area Resident/Community Associations (www.westsidecc.ca) has been pushing the City of Toronto, local Councillors and Exhibition Place to consider area residents in its on-going and future plans.

Finally, in spite of, or because of, the pandemic, opportunities are opening for improved safe and comfortable access to the Exhibition grounds:

•  A series of self-guided walks on the grounds of Ex Place.
•  A snow management plan for this winter which will include enhanced maintenance of pathways.
•  Opening the washrooms at the Horse Palace Building from 8 AM to 5 PM, 7 days a week with regular cleaning and open to the public.

Please take advantage of this great outdoor space and we’ll try to keep you posted of any changes that might occur.

Close Avenue Parkette Community Meeting – Nov. 5

Announcement, Community, Local Interest
The City will be hosting a virtual community meeting to discuss planned park improvements to Close Avenue Parkette (located at King St W and Close Ave). This meeting is an opportunity to hear about potential design proposals and for the community to provide feedback on what improvements they would most like to see in the park. The current plan involves upgrading playground equipment, converting the existing wading pool into a splash pad and other park improvements.
Please register in advance to receive the instructions for joining the meeting.
Thursday, November 5th – 6:30 -8:00 pm

Above the Guideline Rent Increases Workshop for Tenants

Announcement, Community, Local Interest
Toronto ACORN is hosting a tenant rights workshop for any tenant interested in learning about above the guideline rent increase. The workshop is happening on Thursday, October 22 at 6 PM.
The workshop will cover details related to above the guideline rent increases, what they mean for tenants and different resources to help. They will also have time for questions and will have a discussion after each section.
If there is anyone who may be interested in the workshop there is an event posting on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/326814045281669/
Those who are interested can RSVP by emailing GTAinfo@ACORNcanada.org or by calling 416 461 9233

Parkdale Activity Recreation Centre (PARC) 40 Years in Parkdale!

Announcement, Community, Local Interest
PARC at 1499 Queen West is celebrating forty years in Parkdale working with the community on issues of poverty and mental health. Their members also struggle with homelessness and food insecurity. PARC has recently made major housing investments and during COVID, in particular, has served hundreds of meals to people who needed them and is open 7 days a week.
As they continue this work and begin to consider their next 5-year Strategic Plan, they are looking for community members interested in volunteering for PARC committees and/or the Board of Directors.
To express your interest and for more information please contact the PARC Nominations Committee, c/o richard.edwards@utoronto.ca

 

Update on Development Proposals in Parkdale

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

We now have an overabundance of development proposals happening along Queen St. W. in Parkdale. All but two are exceeding the 20m-height limit (6-storeys) of the proposed OPA #445 that was recommended at TEYCC in March of this year.

Seven years have been spent working on a West Queen West Area Study and Heritage Conservation Districts studies by two local BIAs, seven local Community Associations, property owners, retailers and hundreds of area residents – not to mention all the City staff and Councillors time. When is the Official Plan Amendment (OPA) #445 going to be approved? https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/8fe2-CityPlanning-DRAFT_WQW_SASP_for_2019-10-17_CCM1.pdf

The whole idea back in 2014 of an Area Study (& HCDs) was to get all the work required done ahead of the developments along Queen St. W. that had stalled at Dufferin Street.

It is time to stop tinkering and being sidetracked. Unfinished work serves no one.

The following development plans have started since the HCD’s were drafted and are now awaiting City Council approval. These developers are aware of all this public effort and are discounting it. You can click on this link and type in the address to review each application in detail – http://app.toronto.ca/AIC/index.do.

  1. 1266 Queen St. W. & Noble – additional 2-storeys on top of existing 2-storeys [in Parkdale HCD]
  2. 1296-1314 Queen St. W. – the Parkdale Hotel north of Rhino Tavern (7-storeys + townhouses on Noble) [in Parkdale HCD]
  3. 1360 Queen St. W. & Brock – commercial + 117 resident units (9-storeys) [in Parkdale HCD]
  4. 1375 Queen St W. & Close – On a vacant lot, commercial + 46 residential units, no parking (8-storeys) [in Parkdale HCD]
  5. 1437 Queen St W. – demolition requested – interesting house just south-west of Lansdowne [not in Parkdale HCD]
  6. 1488 Queen St. W. & Macdonell – currently Guardian Drugs, commercial + 29 residential units, 3 parking spaces (6-storeys) [in Parkdale HCD]
  7. 1521 Queen St W. & Callender – currently Queen Hotel, commercial + 78 residential units, no parking (8-storeys) [not in Parkdale HCD.

Ask your City Councillor Gord Perks to PASS these HCDs and SSAPs ASAP (@GordPerks or councillor_perks@toronto.ca).

Help Shape the New Wabash Community Rec Centre – Sept. 22 & 28

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

The City of Toronto is building a new community recreation centre at the south-east corner of Sorauren Park that will include an indoor pool, a gymnasium, and flexible multi-purpose program spaces. This project builds on over 20 years of work by both City staff and the local community. We are now in our next phase of community engagement and need your feedback to make sure everything is moving in the right direction. This phase of engagement will look different than in the past. As we follow guidelines around COVID-19, there will be hosted online meetings, and collecting feedback through online surveys, and by telephone and mail.

Have questions about the project?
Join the Virtual Townhall online or by phone (no registration required):
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 22nd, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place:  Webex Event: www.tinyurl.com/wabashCRCtownhall
OR dial: 416-216-5643 Meeting #: 132 257 8032 – To ask a question, press *3

Virtual Small Group Discussions
Date: Monday, Sept. 28th, 2020
Time: 6:00 – 6:45 pm, 7:00 – 7:45 pm, or 8:00 – 8:45 pm
Place: Register at www.wabashCRC.eventbrite.com or at 416-642-66053

Online: Between September 14th to October 5th
Visit the project web page at www.toronto.ca/wabashCRC to learn more, fill out an online survey, and sign up for e-updates.

Development Proposal for 1360 Queen W. & Brock – Sept. 17

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Kingsett Capital is proposing a 9-storey terraced mixed-use development containing 117 units with ground-floor commercial uses and a community hub space. The property is currently a 2-storey mixed-use building (previously Designer Fabrics store).
Kingsett is holding a virtual community meeting to present its preliminary proposal for the site.

There is presently a proposal making its way through the City process, with many years of Community, Planning, Heritage and City Councillors’ involvement, to change the current 14m (3.5-storey) height limit along Queen West to 20m (6-storeys). This developer may be unaware of all this public work or is discounting it. This property also sits to the North of the proposed Parkdale Hub project (at Queen & Cowan – Library, Community Centre, 1313 Queen).

Councillor Perks and City Planning staff will be in attendance. We kindly ask that you join to share your comments.

Date: Thursday, Sept. 17th, 2020
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place:  Webex Event: https://bit.ly/3bIaqyQ
  • Enter your name and email address
  • Password (only if prompted): queenbrock
  • Click Join Now to enter the session using the desktop app
  • Click Join by browser to use a web browser
  • If you do not have the Webex desktop app already installed, you will be prompted to install it OR simply add a web browser extension

King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles Intersection Update – Sept. 8

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

Work on the King-Queen-Queensway-Roncesvalles (KQQR) intersection will commence Sept. 8th. The first thing up will be the underside bridge rehabilitation of the Parkside Drive bridge at The Queensway.

Working on the reconfiguring the KQQR intersection road and rail tracks for TTC to start in 2021. Infrastructure improvements include replacing watermain, storm sewers, streetscaping, etc. Construction will continue to 2022. For more details check Steve Munro’s website HERE. We will keep you posted as work progresses.

Development Application for 1521 Queen St. W. – Sept. 9

Announcement, Community, Local Interest

The City is holding a Virtual Community Consultation meeting for this development application.  The meeting will be on-line and by phone. For many Parkdalians, this is a new way to participate in a development application presented to local residents.

The proposal 1521 Queen St. W. is to allow a new 8-storey mixed-use building with commercial/retail on the ground floor and 78 dwelling units on the upper floors, 72 bike parking spaces, and 3 car-share spaces. More details on the application can be found here: https://aic.to/1521QueenStW and review Support Documentation. The property is currently a 2-storey mixed-use building.

To participate in the virtual meeting on the day of the event go to http://www.toronto.ca/cpconsultations for details. You can call Councillor Gord Perks of for information at 416-392-7012.

BSAR Development, the developer was responsible for the unlawful evictions of 27 community members at this site in 2015 (click HERE for more info). This developer reached a court settlement of $29,500.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9th, 2020
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Place:  On-line event