The Toronto City Planning staff are currently reviewing the Queen Street West Restaurant By-law, implemented in 2013, that limits the concentration of restaurants located on Queen Street West between Dufferin Street and Roncesvalles Avenue (Areas A, B, C at 25% & Area D at 33%). In order to determine if the by-law is working properly or having any beneficial effect, the City is conducting a survey to collect the perspectives of residents and business owners.

The purpose of this By-law was to alleviate some of the issues created by restaurants which morph into late night drinking establishments including: excessive noise, public drunkenness, crowded sidewalks, garbage, traffic, and parking issues.

Additionally, this By-law was also to alleviate concerns that restaurants were pushing out other types of commercial uses which support the daily lives of the people living in the surrounding residential neighbourhood (i.e. services, grocery stores, pharmacies etc.).

Please complete the survey online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TOQueenWRestaurant

The deadline for the survey is Wednesday, October 18^th. For further information contact Joanna Kimont via e-mail Joanna.kimont@toronto.ca or her office at 416-392-7919.

You’re invited to Toronto’s first Waterfront Summit! This unique event will bring together stakeholders from across our city’s waterfront – from Etobicoke to Scarborough. Together, we will hear from thought-provoking speakers and work on solutions to urgent issues facing our waterfront.

Experts and organizations ranging from community groups to governmental and business interests will share their waterfront passions, goals, and stories in panel discussions and workshops. Together, we will strive to elevate civic engagement and shape the future of our waterfront.

The Waterfront Summit will take place at the modern and sustainable George Brown College waterfront campus. A detailed agenda and workshop sign-ups will be published soon. Don’t miss out on this special event. Reserve your spot today – RSVP!

Date: Friday Oct. 27^th  and Saturday Oct. 28^th
Time: Fri. 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. and Sat. 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m
Place: 51 Dockside Drive (George Brown Waterfront Campus)

Celebrate the successful purchase of Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT) & Greenest City’s first piece of community-owned land and get a first-hand look at the 3-D model design!
Enjoy delectable hot chocolate and mulled cider, local fruits of the season, $2 samosas and momos plates of food.

Tours of Greenest City’s spaces and places

RSVP

Date: Saturday, Oct.. 7^th
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Place: Behind the Parkdale Library and 201 Cowan Ave.

The City is holding a Community Consultation meeting where you can learn more about this study, ask questions, and share your comments.

In 2013 City of Toronto Planning staff completed a study of restaurants and related uses along Queen Street West between Dufferin Street and Roncesvalles Avenue and the impact that these were having on other commercial uses along Queen Street West as well as on the surrounding residential uses north and south of the street.

Upon completion of the Study, City Council passed By-laws 1049-2013 and 1050-2013 placing certain restrictions on restaurants such as limiting their size and location within a building. Additionally, these By-laws placed a maximum on the number of restaurants permitted to be located in Areas A-D (see map) limiting the concentration of licensed restaurants to no more than 25% of the properties along Queen within each of these areas (with the exception of Area D at 33%).

City Council directed City staff to evaluate the impact of this concentration provision and to report back to City Council before the end of 2017. The purpose of this Community Consultation meeting is to present some preliminary findings related to this concentration provision and to obtain feedback from the Community.

To help complete the required analysis, the City retained the services of consultation firm Three Sixty Collective who will present their preliminary findings and will be available to respond to questions.

Date: Wednesday, Sept.. 27^th
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Place: 20 West Lodge Avenue, May Robinson Auditorium

You are cordially invited to attend Exhibition Place upcoming Community Liaison Consultation Meeting on September 19^th at Beanfield Centre. Use the link below to obtain event details and where to RSVP:
https://www.explace.on.ca/about/community-info/community-liaison-public-meeting-september-19-2017

There is an  article worth reading in last Saturdays Globe by Alex Bozikovic about Exhibition Place: https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/for-year-round-relevance-torontos-exhibition-place-needs-a-makeover/article36215090/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 19^th
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: Beanfield Centre, Meeting Room 203 (across from Enercare Centre)

The Parkdale Community Economic Development (PCED) is hosting a series of Community Benefits Workshops for Parkdale on Wednesday August 30th and Thursday September 7th*.

Come learn about new developments arriving in Parkdale, discuss how they will impact the neighbourhood, and collectively develop ideas for how these developments can be best leveraged to benefit our community.

Building on workshops held earlier this summer with ESL students and the PARC Ambassador and Co-op Cred program, these workshops will provide a platform for community members to express their thoughts and suggestions on how to ensure that new developments in Parkdale benefit the local community and strengthen its four overarching values: Inclusiveness, Affordability, Diversity and Equity. The workshops will help to establish a set of community demands that developers must adhere to when building in Parkdale.

Food and refreshments will be provided. Please note that the library is wheelchair accessible. Contact mzayas@parc.on.ca for childcare and/or translation needs.

Spaces are limited. RSVP encouraged but not required: https://parkdale-community-benefits-workshops.eventbrite.ca

*Please note that these workshops are identical and participants need only sign up for one workshop.

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 30^th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 1303 Queen St W. – Parkdale Library (basement)

Date: Thursday, Sept.. 7^th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Place: 1303 Queen St W. – Parkdale Library (basement)

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.

Join us at an information session to learn more about laneway housing and how it can affect Parkdale!

Sign up HERE.

Please read the following links:

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