Active 18 Charette and Info

An Invitation to the Active 18 Community - to shape, contribute and help design your neighbourhood.

Dear Active 18 member,

Since our last AGM in January, 2009, Active 18 has continued to work on community activities such as park planning/overall design for the Queen West Triangle as well as advising for the Artscape Triangle Lofts.

Due to our desire for community input in the planning process we are now assisting one of our Steering Committee members, Steve Heuchert, with a charrette for the North West (Queen St.) Triangle - bordered by a railway corridor to the west, Queen St. West to the south, Florence St. and Peel St. to the north and Northcote Ave., Gladstone Ave., and Dufferin St. to the east.

Helpful documents are available at www.active18.org
1. Background document on the area and it's issues - good reading prep for the charrette.
2. Planning update for the WQW area
3. A printable/emailable Flyer to invite your neighbours

What we learned in the WQW* Triangle planning fiasco south of Queen is this: if good plans are in place before development applications are received at the City, the City and the community has more chance of shaping this development. (*Bohemian Embassies, Lisgar buildings, WestSide Lofts, 48 Abell, Queen/Dovercourt, Queen/Gladstone)

This is our impetus behind the next open and public charrette. This is a community/York University initiative and is being organized and operated by the Active18 Steering committee and York university students. We are asking members of Active 18 to help support the charrette initiative with funding for supplies - paper, pens, and most importantly for a few final printed documents. Of course we need your valuable input the day of the event. All the people involved are volunteering time and effort to make this a potential set of creative and exciting urban plans for the area. We believe this will come in handy before more development starts in this area.

Have an extra 5$ or more?
Cheques can be mailed or dropped off to "Active 18 Community Organization" at 19 Northcote Ave. Toronto, M6J 3K2
All donations appreciated!

The Charrette will occur on November 18, 2009, 5:30 - 8:30 in the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom. Everyone is welcome.

Thanks kindly,
Active 18 Steering Committee
http://active18.org

Rosario Marchese Discussion on Electric Trains

On October 29, Trinity—Spadina MPP Rosario Marchese will host a discussion on the benefits of electric trains. A Q & A and an Action Plan brainstorming session will follow. Full flyer here:

http://nnnow.ca/Rosario_Train_Flyer_VER3.pdf

Two Points of Interest Affecting South Stanley

FYI - the city has sent a couple of notices regarding the park. You can find the full city reports at the URL below:

http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/te/reports/2009-09-15-te27-cr.htm

Closure of Stanley Terrace / Expansion of the Park

Summary:
Transportation Services recommends that the portion of the public lane known as Stanley Terrace at the rear of Premises 23 to 29 Stafford Street be permanently closed and that jurisdiction be transferred to Parks, Forestry and Recreation for incorporation into Stanley Park.

Rezoning Recommended for Approval at 23-29 Stafford St. (Brad Lamb's "Parc" Development)


Summary:
This application was made on or after January 1, 2007 and is subject to the new provisions of the Planning Act and the City of Toronto Act, 2006.

This application proposes to redevelop the properties at 23-29 Stafford Street with a terraced 10-storey condominium containing 104 residential units and three levels of underground parking.

This report reviews and recommends approval of the application to amend the Zoning By-law.

Community Consultation about the Canada Malting Silos

Community Consultation about the Canada Malting Silos

Date: Wednesday October 21
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Harbourfront Community Centre
627 Queens Quay West (Queens Quay and Bathurst)
Medium Assembly Room

Councillor Adam Vaughan invites you to attend this public meeting to provide your feedback about the future of the Canada Malting Silos.

Over the years there have been a number of meetings, ideas and plans about the Canada Malting Silos site. Recent discussions about a Toronto Museum at the silos have concluded. Some new ideas are now emerging about the Malting Silos and we want your input.

City staff from City Planning, Heritage Preservation Services, and Urban Design will be in attendance to provide updates about the current condition of the Malting Silos and receive your feedback about next steps.

For more information, please call 416-392-4044 or e-mail Councillor_Vaughan@toronto.ca.

Councillor Adam Vaughan
Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina
416-392-4044

Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
2nd Floor, Suite C50
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Town Hall Meeting Regarding HST and Condo Fees

MPP Cheri DiNovo would like to invite you and the condo owners/residents that you represent to a town hall meeting regarding the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and its effect on condo fees and other expenses.

If interested, please post the following file to the community bulletin board of any condominiums you represent:

http://www.nnnow.ca/cheri_quarter_bloOCT09.jpg

If you would like to attend this meeting, please contact pighinp@ndp.on.ca.

When: Tuesday, October 27th
Time: 7:30-9:30
Where: Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavina Ave

Georgetown Rail Expansion Approved / Summary of Neighbourhood Projects

The Environment Minister has approved the Georgetown Rail Expansion – the project to provide high-speed rail to the airport from Union Station. The full press release can be found here [PDF]:

http://www.metrolinx.com/Docs/News/News_Release-MOE_Decision-Oct_5_FINAL.pdf

More info on the changes that will be happening in our area can be found here:

http://savestrachan.com/

For those keeping track, there’s a LOT happening in our area over the next few years!

1) The above-mentioned rail link and changes to Strachan Avenue
2) The pedestrian and cycling bridge to Fort York and new parks:
http://nnnow.blogspot.com/2009/09/fort-york-pedestrian-and-cycle-bridge.html
3) The changes to South Stanley Park:
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/south_stanley_park.htm
4) The Bathurst Pedestrian crossing:
http://nnnow.blogspot.com/2009/09/bathurst-crosswalk-progress.html

South Stanley Revitalization Project City Website

Full text from the URL http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/south_stanley_park.htm below:

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South Stanley Park Redevelopment Project

South Stanley Park, located at 845 King St. W. (between Walnut Ave. and Stanley Terrace) is undergoing improvements by Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation. Construction is expected to occur in phases, beginning in spring 2010. The park currently has a baseball diamond, outdoor pool, tennis courts, sports field, community centre (Niagara C.C.) and dog park.

On March 30, 2009, the City conducted a visioning exercise for park improvements with local residents. The resulting conceptual design was presented at a public meeting on September 2, 2009.

The conceptual design includes the following proposed park improvements:
- Enclosed dog off-leash area
- Improved entrances to the park through landscaping
- New south-east entry plaza
- New walkways to improve circulation throughout the park
- Replacement of existing tennis courts
- New building addition to existing outdoor pool building (replacement of existing community centre)
- Tree planting to replace old and deceased trees

Specific elements such as additional lighting and seating will be considered at the detailed design stage

Documents for download:
Current aerial view of South Stanley Park (PDF)
Visioning exercise report (PDF)
Conceptual design for the future South Stanley Park (PDF)

For more information, please contact:
Barbara Carou
Parks Planner
416-392-8157
bcarou@toronto.ca

Joe Pantalone
Deputy Mayor
Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina
416-392-4108
councillor_pantalone@toronto.ca
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