89 - 101 Niagara Street- redevelopment

The owners of 89 -101 Niagara Street, otherwise known as the National Casket Company or more fondly, the Coffin Factory, have forwarded an application for the redevelopment of the property into a residential condominium, this restoration to be funded by the building of two large towers in the back parking lot of the building of 19 and 15 storeys respectively with underground parking for 250 cars. A new access road has been suggested that would run from Bathurst through to the new development replacing the current alleyway at the back of the Victorian rowhouses on Niagara. The NNNow steering committee has met with Councillor Leyton and the developer several times, prior to the plans being forwarded to processing. Alan Shimmerman of Shimcor also came face to face with tenants of the building at a community meeting held early in the year. Plans have either been lodged with planning or are about to be lodged with planning (we await word), however, action is already been taken by tenants in support of the building remaining in its current use.

This petition can be found at:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-redevelopment-of-89-109-niagara-street.html

While the restoration of the facade of the heritage building has merit there are many other issues that arise from this proposed development that will impact local residents and the neighbourhood in general and these will be discussed further once plans become available to us for distribution. One sentiment worth considering is what makes a neighbourhood - a building, or the friendly warm-hearted connectedness of the community.

You can follow what the development community think of this here:

http://urbantoronto.ca/forum/showthread.php/18577-89-109-Niagara-St.-%2819s-15s%29

Please note that Niagara Neighbourhood Now has a Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Niagara-Neighbourhood-Now-NNNow/125908167507647

ACTIVATE YOUR INNER TREE LOVER!

Stanley Park is a neighbourhood gem, and
we want it to have strong, healthy, tree coverage.
For information on how you can help,
go to:

http://toronto.typepad.com/stanleyparktoronto/city-of-toronto/

MEETING RE 89 -109 NIAGARA BRINGS OUT THE TENANTS/HOMEOWNERS

A good turnout at the community meeting for the 89 – 109 Niagara Proposal, ranging from local homeowners to tenants. Mr.Shimmerman of Shimcor, talked us through his proposal which is to build two large towers – 19 and 15 storeys of the back lot of the building in order to fund the restoration of the 3 listed 19th century buildings that constitute the Coffin Factory. The timeline for process is estimated at around 18 months. Tenants and homeowners voiced their concerns. Tenants around the issues of evictions, and cancellations of their commercial leases, and homeowners on the impact of the two towers. As well, representatives from Friends of Fort York were also in attendance.

As proposed this development/restoration will have a major impact on the community and the city’s artisan/small business community as a whole. While Mr. Shimmerman sees this as a “development”, for one street in Toronto it will be a diaspora with a solid group of long-term residents/tenants having to leave and then the residential homeowners (some of which coincidentally are also artists) in this predominantly low-rise residential Victorian-age neighbourhood deciding whether or not they want to deal with the impact of the development – shadowing, loss of privacy, loss of community, more traffic, more noise, loss of sunlight, and possible light pollution as well as a change in the socio-demographic fabric of the community. As well the city-owned laneway directly behind the 15 houses on Niagara was proposed as a possible new road that would provide access/exit to and from the development thereby drawing traffic away from already overused Niagara Street.

There’s no doubt many questions will arise from this proposal, and people interested in the social fabric of the city may want to take note. For instance, while the developer has every right to change the usage of the building, how important is the loss of these artist/artisan/musican/craft spaces in a city where “condos” are taking over warehouses and other ex-industrial spaces. And of course, with two hi-rise towers, there’s the issue of precedent. If towers of this height are permitted on this site, what height will be permitted on the city-owned Build land to the south, at Bathurst, and then along the south side of Wellington. A development that looks like it affects only one site (actually around half a block), then becomes the harbinger of what’s to come. A large part of our community shares the same 19th century history as the Coffin Factory. If one part is worth saving, isn’t the rest? And what’s the solution?

Please note: Niagara Neighbourhood Now also has facebook page.

COMMUNITY MEETING RE. 89 - 109 NIAGARA

The developer of 89 - 109 Niagara will present his plans for the redevelopment of the building on Thursday, January 5, at St. Mary's School, 20 Portugal Square (west of Bathurst). All residents and tenants are welcome. This is a preview of the development proposal that will subsequently be forwarded to the city for processing. Please plan to attend.

Jack Layton

The late Jack Layton and his family were very much a part of our
community. His death brought sadness to many residents
who had shared his commitment to the environment, worker's rights,
and the marginalized of our society. We extend our deepest sympathy
to wife, Olivia Chow, the community's MP for Trinity/Spadina, and to
Councillor Michael Layton, Jack's son.

The letter he left to Canada can be found here.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/08/22/pol-layton-last-letter.html

But perhaps what will be most quoted in the coming months and years, and will
inform our memory of him is this last quote:

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

Thank you, Jack.

Niagara Neighbourhood Now

FORT YORK PEDESTRIAN/BICYCLE BRIDGE - SHOW YOUR SUPPORT

Just when you thought that there would be a Pedestrian/Bicycle Bridge from Wellington West over to Fort York to connect walkers, hikers, sightseers, nature lovers, bird watchers, joggers, history geeks to Fort York, Garrison Common and the lake, along comes a big "No" from the new administration at City Hall. Hooray! some might say who envisioned this as a big drag on the fiscal purse. But what if it was the opposite? What if it was a real asset that would make Toronto a more wonderful place to visit. What if the surrounding community used it and appreciated it. What if it proved to be the icing on the cake for Fort York’s Bicentennial Celebrations in 2012? What it if protected envisioned green space on the south side of Wellington West from the possibilities of 35 storey condo towers that would change a potential green boulevard into another Liberty Village style alley?

If you were excited about the bridge, its architecture, its possibilities in linking communities, he's where you show your support:

Info on all events also posted on blog fortyorkbridge.ca .

May 6 - May 15: Email Your Councillor
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169679089755357

May 9, 6:30 at 15 Stafford Street: Mobilize Meeting
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=185293324855123

May 10, 5pm-8pm at 15 Stafford
(additional locations for May 11 & May 12 to be announced): 1000 Letters to Mayor
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121679981244084

We will also be handing out 2000 biz cards across the city in order to make people aware, Like Facebook , Follow Twitter and Sign Petition .

If you live in a condo what is your board doing?

TAKE ACTION NOW!
Like Facebook , Follow Twitter . Sign Petition .

TRAFFIC IN THE NIAGARA NEIGHBOURHOOD COMMUNITY - MEETING - COME OUT!

Speeding cars, trucks that trundle past causing our houses to vibrate, traffic jams! As the neighbourhoods have intensified around us, our community is becoming everybody’s quick route! And it’s probably going to get worse. If you're concerned this is where you can have your say...

COMMUNITY TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEETING

hosted by Niagara Neighbourhood Now, Councillor Mike Layton and City Transportation Services

Date:Monday May 16th, 2011
Time 7pm - 9pm
Location: Niagara St School
222 Niagara St (at Adelaide St W)
Subject: Traffic concerns in the Niagara Neighborhood Now area.

Come out!!! Your input is valuable to understanding the current traffic issues in this community.

If you have any questions or would like to be added to Councillor Layton’s distribution list, please contact at
416-392-4009 or councillor_layton@toronto.ca