The Moore Park Ratepayers Association is fighting an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) that would permit the construction of two three-story homes on lots with 25-foot frontages. The lots would be created from the present property at 139 Glenrose Ave. (between Mt. Pleasant and Welland) which has a conforming home on an original 50-foot lot. The MPRA says in a letter to its members that a successful appeal is likely to have a significant effect on the future development of the 1920s neighborhood. “We were very concerned.” says the letter, “about this because the minimum frontage in this area and much of Moore Park is 40ft. If this appeal were successful, it would likely act as a precedent for so many of the 50ft lots in Moore Park and we could see a rapid transformation as the developers push through further such severances. We see this as a major threat to our area.” The MPRAS says it was successful in stopping this plan at Committee of Adjustment but the developer has now moved on to the OMB where the matter will be heard on June 9 and 10, 2014. The letter says a residents group and the MPRA have come together to raise funds to retain the professionals needed. A trust account has been opened and cheques may be sent to Ross Marshall, payable to the “Ross Marshall Trust” at 134 Glenrose Ave, Toronto ON M4T IK8. Also, cheques may be made payable to the MPRA and sent to the Treasurer, Peter J. Gordon at PO Box 43525, 1531 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4G 4G8.
Duelling garden centres at Bayview-Davisville
by •
It appears to be case of duelling garden centres at the corner of Bayview and Davisville Aves. That’s because the Valu mart grocery store, owned by Loblaw subsidiary National Grocers, has taken several spaces in the parking lot and built a fenced garden sales centre smack up against the new Davenport Garden Centre. As readers of The Bulldog will know, Davenport recently leased the space formerly owned by Garden Court Nurseries and installed a nice flower and plant place right on Davisville You can see the Valu mart place in the foreground of the top picture, with Davenport’s new building in the background. Below is a shot inside the Davenport centre. You can see how the Valu mart structure pretty much isolates the Davenport nursery from the parking lot. Well, it does belong to Valu mart after all. Today it was very crowded in the parking lot without those extra spaces. Some traffic had to exit by way of Bayview. For her part, the manager of the Davenport space, Carla Rose smiled and said: “The more the merrier.”
Ont election called for Thursday, June 12, 2014
by •
Premier visits Lieutenant-Governor David Onley and asks him to dissolve parliament. Globe and Mail Further comment sharp and shallow at #ONpoli.
Adventure in walking for LHS kids on Eglinton
by •
The construction on Eglinton Ave E. opposite Leaside High School has narrowed traffic to two lanes and created an adventure in pedestrian walkways for students. It’s all quite safe but curious too as kids now take a concrete-buttressed diversionary path running beside traffic. This young man is heading south after exiting the long tube of safety barriers used to create a walkway. He waits in what would normally be the middle of the street for the light to change before heading toward LHS on the south side. Traffic has been shifted to the south side of Eglinton and reduced to one lane in each direction near Donlea Drive from west of Bessborough Drive to just east of Hanna Road. It is part of the Eglinton LRT project. Previous post
Toronto Marathon road closures this Saturday
by •
The annual GoodLife Fitness Toronto Marathon will close local roads this Saturday, May 4 , 2014. The run begins at 7.30 a.m. in North York and will snake through streets on Yonge and west of Yonge until it heads east along Rosedale Valley Road. Times are indeterminate but there will be mid-morning closures there and on Bayview Ave. south of Rosedale Valley. The DVP exit for Bayview Ave. will be closed but we’re not sure what this means because the whole road is closed for maintenance. This will send more vehicles onto South Bayview. Full road closure list
Torstar sells Harlequin for merely $455 million
by •
Torstar Corp. has sold its once-upon-a-time romance publisher to the News Corp. subsidiary HarperCollins. Once upon a time Harlequin was a spinner of cash that thickened the wallets of Star owners for decades. Then the great newspaper-publishing empire was sucker-punched by both the Internet revolution, followed in 2011 by the Kindle and Kobo earthquake. It was a commercial ambush that wiped out many companies in less time than it takes to get a baby into kindergarten. Few companies had so much to lose however as Torstar. The sale price of Harlequin, $455 million in cash, seems like a pittance compared to what it might have fetched ten years ago. “Harlequin has been an important part of Torstar over the past 39 years and we are very proud of the global success it has achieved,” said David Holland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Torstar Corp. in a news release. Torstar acquired control of Harlequin in 1975 and full ownership in 1981. “While making the decision to sell has been difficult, we are confident that this transaction represents excellent value for Torstar shareholders and it also further strengthens the financial position of Torstar,” Holland said. Some of the sale proceeds will be used to pay down debt. With Torstar news release
NDP leader says she will not support Lib. budget
by •
That’s it then. NDP leader Andrea Horwath says she will not support the budget tabled yesterday by the Ontario Liberal government. Her decision seems certain to trigger a Spring election.”I have lost confidence in Kathleen Wynne and her ability to deliver,” Horwath said Friday. “I cannot in good conscience support a government that people don’t trust anymore.” For many it will be surprising, given the things she has already supported, that the NDP leader can make this declaration with a straight face. But she did it,. She looked very serious as she personally ticked off the member for Don Valley West (Leaside-East York) and admitted without saying so that she will vote with her political opposites, the Progressive Conservatives. Her words might easily have come out of the mouth of the PC leader Hudak: “This budget is not a solid plan for the future. It’s a mad dash to escape the scandals. It’s time for change. We do not support this government any longer.” CBC Ontario blind to gathering economic storm
Subway service resumes on Yonge-University line
by •
This morning’s shutdown of the west branch of the north-south subway has ended. The issue was a radio problem.
60s music gallery at Hahn pianos during May
by •
 |
| Barrie Wentzell |
Paul Hahn & Co. is the locale for a fascinating photography exhibition called Black and White this month. Opening night took place Wednesday with a substantial turnout present to meet photographer Barrie Wentzell, and see his work. Wentzell is an entertaining British-born photographer, who from about 1965 to 1975 chronicled the world’s leading pop and rock musicians. His camera caught the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Jimmy Hendricks, Johnny Cash and many others. His work will be on display at the Paul Hahn store at Yonge St. and Gibson Ave. until May 31, 2014 as part of the city-wide Scotiabank Contact Photography Exhibition. On Wednesday night, Mr. Wentzell, who has lived in Toronto for more than 30 years, unveiled an image of Elton John that has never been seen before. The evening also featured a short performance by Elton Rohn, billed as “North America’s most celebrated Elton John tribute artist.” The display is curated by Lucia Graca of Analogue Gallery. The Paul Hahn store celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. Wentzell, who is 71, got his start as a music photographer when he shot an appearance by the young Diana Ross at the BBC in London. The photos were picked up by Melody Maker, the pop music magazine of record in Britain at the time. The shoot led to a staff job and a new career. Story and pictures courtesy of Yonge and Roxborough. Black and White page on Contact site Previous on Paul Hahn Pianos
Ont. pension is a solution looking for problem
by •
Jack Mintz writing in the Financial Post says the announced Ontario Retirement Pension Plan is a solution looking for a problem. There is no problem says Mintz. He claims the pension will unnecessarily deprive most Ontarians of income they are now using to invest elsewhere much more profitably Jack Mintz
Libs give NDP a week to decide if they like budget
by •
The NDP has a week to decide if it will save the Liberal government from meeting the people. Some are saying the budget is sufficiently down the left-wing alley that the struggling Liberals may yet string out their administration. The process seems to be one of the least attractive outcomes of minority government seen in Canada in recent history. Here are the top three highlights of the budget tabled today. The link at Canoe below has more.
- Earners making $150,000-plus will pay 1.56% more in income tax, those making more than $220,000 will pay an additional 3.12%
- Tobacco taxes will jump by $3.25 a carton plus HST bringing the increase to $3.67 on 200 cigarettes
- Aviation fuel taxes will soar by 248%
Sharon, Lois and Bram event in Rowlands Park
by •
Saturday, May 10, 2014 should be a lot of fun, weather permitting, on Mt. Pleasant Rd. The City will officially name the playground in June Rowlands Park in honour of children’s entertainers Sharon, Lois and Bram. As part of the event, the much-loved trio will perform some of their favorites in the park. The ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. Also this day, the Mt. Pleasant BIA will hold its Kid’s Fun Day all along the street. Sounds like a must-attend. Previous posts with video of Skinnamarinky dinky dink