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/
NNNow News Blog
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
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.
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