NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING WHEN: Wednesday, February 27th, 2013, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm WHERE: First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto, Sunderland Hall, 175 St. Clair Avenue West SUBJECT: The proposed redevelopment of 281 – 289 Avenue Road Dear Resident, This is a very complex and challenging situation. The Brentwood Towers [...]
Dear Mayor & Council, As Presidents of the Eglinton Park, Oriole Park, Sherwood Park and South Eglinton Residents' Associations, we represent constituents on both sides of Eglinton Avenue between Mt. Pleasant and Avenue Roads. After several years of consultation and community engagement, it is unfortunate that both the process and the plan for Eglinton [...]
July 4th, 2014
Oliver Moore
Globe and Mail
When Toronto dug its first subway, the long lines of streetcars on Yonge were proof of a ready-made ridership.
More recently, though, subway boosters have needed to weigh potential demand when making the case for the expensive form of transit. Which is why the city planning department’s new and higher Scarborough ridership projection last year was so pivotal, and so controversial.
An old ridership projection pegged peak one-direction usage at 9,500 passengers per hour, barely enough to justify a subway extension. The new one – which appeared as the transit debates rose to their crescendo – boosted peak ridership to 14,000, almost beyond the capacity of light rail.
In a stroke, the case for a subway was much stronger.
Amid political squabbles, good projections can help cut through the debate and offer the closest thing to an impartial assessment of a subway line’s worth. But if they’re wrong, they can help lumber a city with an expensive white elephant such as the under-used Sheppard subway.
July 3rd, 2014
Paul Moloney
Toronto Star
Toronto city council is being asked to prevent Mayor Rob Ford or any other elected official from barring some media outlets from city hall news conferences.
A motion from Councillor Paula Fletcher urges her colleagues to take a stand at next week’s council meeting against adopting exclusionary tactics while using taxpayer-funded facilities.
The city supplies both the venue and support staff, Fletcher said Thursday.
“This has got to do with the fact that this is public property,” she said. “City facilities and city staff should not be used to aid and abet somebody who says not everybody is welcome.”
“If you wish to go to your own property, you can invite whoever you like.”
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.
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.”
Dear Residents, June has been a very busy month working for our community. Hundreds of meetings during the days, a community meeting almost every night and the weekends have been filled with fun community events where I've been able to see, and hear from, so many of you and your families. From school graduations [...]
June 12th, 2014
Ben Spurr
Now Magazine
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.”
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.
