Future of Gardiner Expressway East – Jan. 19th

Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto invite you to join their upcoming public meeting where you can comment on the results on the evaluation of the alternative designs for the Hybrid option for the future of the Gardiner Expressway East.

The Study
Waterfront Toronto and the City of Toronto are jointly carrying out the Gardiner Expressway / Lake Shore Boulevard Reconfiguration Environmental Assessment (EA) and Integrated Urban Design Study. The EA will determine the future of the Gardiner Expressway East and Lake Shore Boulevard East, from approximately Jarvis Street to approximately Leslie Street.
The Hybrid option was endorsed by Toronto City Council as the preferred alternative for the Gardiner Expressway East on June 11, 2015. The upcoming public meeting will present the results on the evaluation of the alternative designs for the Hybrid option, as well as urban design concepts for the study area.

How to Participate
You can attend the upcoming public meeting or participate online. If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, you can watch a live webcast of the meeting at www.gardinereast.ca and submit your feedback online.

Please register at: http://gardinerexpresswayeastpublicmeeting5.eventbrite.ca
For more information or to be added to the project mailing list, contact
info@gardinereast.ca, or call (416) 479-0662.
To learn more about the project please visit www.gardinereast.ca

Date: Tuesday, January 19th
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Place: 789 Yonge Street – Toronto Reference Library

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