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Inside Toronto: Councillor Matlow, residents looking for answers to possible Glebe Manor sale
June 26th, 2014
Justin Skinner
Inside Toronto
The Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club’s sale – or near-sale – of its Davisville lands to a developer has led to consternation from councillor Josh Matlow and residents in the area.
The owner of the green space on Manor Road East has been negotiating a deal with developer Michael Volpentesta, who aims to build five townhomes on the site.
That would put an end to the 90-plus-year-old patch of greenery in the Davisville neighbourhood, where green space is at a premium.
“We’ve been trying to sit down and meet with the president of the (lawn bowling) club since last March, but he hasn’t sat down with us,” Matlow said. “There’s already a possible deal between the club and the developer, but nobody in the community wants that.”
Matlow has secured council’s support to dip into the city’s parks acquisition fund in hopes of buying the property, either from the club or from Volpentesta. It’s believed the developer currently owns the land, though Matlow could not confirm the property’s sale had been finalized and, if it had, how much Volpentesta paid for the land.
Toronto Star City asked to designate public spaces on private property
June 25th, 2014
Jennifer Pagliaro
Toronto Star
Everyone should get to smell the roses in a Yorkville Ave. garden next to the Four Seasons hotel as the city looks to define and advertise open spaces on private property.
That goes for the misting fountain too.
In July, city council will decide whether new condo and commercial developments that incorporate green space, courtyards and other open spaces into their plans should be required to post signs stating the public is welcome.
On Wednesday, the planning committee unanimously approved recommendations for city council to adopt a new set of design guidelines for what are called privately owned publicly accessible spaces (POPS), including mandatory signage.
“Many members of the public have POPS in their neighbourhood yet they’re completely unaware that those spaces are welcome to them,” said Councillor Josh Matlow, who first raised the issue of signage at council in 2012. “I think residents will be very excited once they see the signs literally popping up in their neighbourhoods.”
Now Magazine: Sam’s sign headed to Yonge-Dundas Square
June 12th, 2014
Ben Spurr
Now Magazine
Town Crier: Heritage status for Bateman home?
June 11th, 2014
Shawn Star
Town Crier
Fans of Robert Bateman’s paintings might find it interesting to know that a large part of his inspiration came from being in the ravine behind his childhood home in Forest Hill.
The City of Toronto will decide on June 10 whether to pursue making the home at 287 Chaplin Cres. a heritage property.
Local councillor Josh Matlow says the heritage designation will ensure that an important piece of Toronto’s art history will be preserved. He brought the idea to Toronto and East York community council in May, where it was approved unanimously.
“Our community is very proud of the fact that Robert Bateman grew up on the beltline in midtown Toronto,” he said. “Given the fact that his childhood home on our beltline inspired so much of his work, I think there’s a very strong case for heritage designation.
“I have great confidence the preservation board will support my request.”
Toronto Star: City may buy Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club for a park
June 11th, 2014
Graham Slaughter
Toronto Star
The city is taking steps to buy a defunct lawn bowling club and transform it into a public park, a deal that could cost upwards of $5 million.
Council voted Wednesday to ask staff to evaluate the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club and negotiate a price with its owners. The executive committee will vote on any potential deal in August.
The motion was tabled by Councillor Josh Matlow and passed with two opposition votes from councillors Karen Stintz and Mike Del Grande.
“I’m deeply appreciative of my colleagues’ strong support for our community interest in preserving green space,” Matlow said.
Toronto Star: Will the city buy this multi-million-dollar lawn bowling club for a park?
June 9th, 2014
Graham Slaughter
Toronto Star
There was an old-timey charm to the Glebe Manor Lawn Bowling Club, a 91-year-old greenway in Davisville Village.
“At night it had that soft white light, everyone dressed in white,” recalled Derek Tilley, 44, who lives across from the quaint clubhouse and its manicured lawn. “It looked like a Norman Rockwell painting.”
Those days are over. Dwindling membership in the leisurely sport forced the club to shutter last fall, spelling an end to the picturesque bowls.
Now a tug-of-war is being waged between a property developer and Councillor Josh Matlow over whether the multi-million-dollar property will become a public park or a row of new houses.
