Toronto Hydro outage map, February 14, 2023 2:30pm.

A 9:21pm tweet from Toronto Hydro stated that it was damaged equipment that caused a power outage affecting a large section of midtown.

“Crews are on site completing an assessment of damaged equipment in the following approx. boundaries: Glencairn Ave. south to St. Clair Ave. E. & Avenue Rd. east to Mount Pleasant Rd. Customers in this area will be experiencing an outage as a result. We appreciate your patience.”

They later warned that “customers should be prepared to be without power through the night.” Tweets from area residents confirm that the outage has darkened Eglinton Ave. East at Bayview Ave. as well.

Toronto Hydro has updated the public Tuesday to say that the damaged equipment was caused by “a fire in an underground cable chamber”. At noon on Tuesday, the affected area was still in the dark.

Update from Toronto Hydro at 1:31 PM · Feb 14, 2023

“Crews have completed repairs. The next step in the restoration process involves testing the equipment to ensure it’s working safely & reliably. If all goes according to plan, we’re aiming for an estimated time of restoration of approximately 4 p.m.”

Update from Toronto Hydro at 5:16 PM · Feb 14, 2023

“The majority of customers have now been restored. The remaining customers are being brought back in stages. We have all hands on deck — multiple crews are working as quickly and safely as possible.”

Read more →

Yonge Street (June 21, 2021)

Yonge Street (June 21, 2021)

Yonge Street (June 21, 2021)

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following news release:

Project Area /City of Toronto

Toronto City Council voted in favour of making the ActiveTO Midtown Complete Street Pilot on Yonge Street between Bloor Street and Davisville Avenue permanent, with several changes to address the immediate concerns of local residents and businesses.

The City of Toronto’s ActiveTO Midtown Complete Street Pilot is an example of a Complete Streets project that accommodates all road users, enhances local neighbourhood context and character, and delivers on Council’s commitments to the Vision Zero Road Safety Plan and the TransformTO Climate Action Strategy.

Mayor John Tory and a majority of City Councillors did support several requests for changes to help improve the bike lanes and address legitimate concerns raised by local residents.

Changes include:

• Traffic signal and physical intersection modifications to better facilitate traffic flow, turn movements and pedestrian safety
• Additional parking and loading spaces to support local business
• Creating a dedicated traffic management plan as it relates to construction, current and projected, in the corridor, including the deployment of traffic agents as needed
• Install LED signs at Yonge and Delisle to prohibit left-turns during prohibited times to support shuttle bus operations
• Directing staff to continue to identify opportunities to improve traffic flow including traffic signal and physical intersection modifications to better facilitate traffic flow and turn movements, opportunities to mitigate concerns with traffic diversion onto local roads to improve safety and traffic flow, particularly to improve sight-lines and ingress/egress for east/west streets at “landlocked” intersections in the area, where feasible
• Working with local Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) on initiatives to support main street local business, including identifying and implementing additional parking and loading spaces, where feasible
• Identify opportunities to improve safety and attractiveness of the corridor in a way such as transforming painted curb extensions and buffers into concrete or planted islands, where feasible
• As part of the development review process along the corridor, work with City Planning and adjacent developers to incorporate upgrades such as raised cycle tracks and green infrastructure into the streetscape frontages of redevelopment sites, where feasible, and minimize the impact of construction work zones in the right-of-way
• Requesting Emergency Management Services and Toronto Fire Services to provide granular data regarding response times in the project area

Read more →

Source: thecrosstown.ca

An Eglinton Crosstown LRT construction notice has announced that Rawlinson Avenue will finally open at Eglinton Avenue East in late-February 2023.

What Work is Taking Place?
In approximately late-February 2023, Rawlinson Avenue will reopen at Eglinton Avenue East. All traffic lanes and turns will be reinstated at the Rawlinson-Eglinton intersection (refer to map above). No further traffic changes at this intersection are expected as a result of Crosstown construction.

What to expect
Access to Eglinton Avenue East from Rawlinson Avenue will be reinstated. Noise from relocation of fencing, equipment, and materials can be expected during this work.

Hours of Work
• In approximately late-February 2023.
• This work may be rescheduled due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances.

Traffic Details
• Rawlinson Avenue will open at Eglinton Avenue East.
• All traffic lanes and turns at the intersection will be reinstated.

Pedestrian Details
• No changes to the current pedestrian routes are expected as a result of this work.

InsideOut Health & Fitness invites you to come out for a fun winter night in Leaside this Thursday, February 9th, 2023. The “Move For Heart Winter Dance Party” will be held at Amsterdam Brewery. Advance tickets are available while they last. Please use PROMO CODE: 5HEART for advance purchase.

Register online by clicking link here

Details:
Thursday February 9, 2023 – 7pm to 11pm
Amsterdam Brewery, 45 Esandar Drive
Featuring:
Free Drink, Dance Lesson, DJ, Games + Prizes!

Artistic rendering of the proposed redesign of the Leaside Bridge, looking east over the Don Valley. /City of Toronto

From toronto.ca/Millwood

The City of Toronto is planning state-of-good-repair work on Millwood Road, Pape Avenue and Donlands Avenue due to the poor condition of the roads. Separately, Metrolinx is planning construction work at the Millwood Road and Overlea Boulevard intersection. Millwood Road provides a vital connection between Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and Leaside neighbourhoods and Downtown. The upcoming projects provide an opportunity to redesign the street and make improvements.

Map of the project area /City of Toronto

• improve safety for everyone
• extend and connect the cycling network
• maintain roadway uses for public transit, emergency services, trucking and driving
• enhance green spaces

Public feedback, along with technical considerations and City policies and guidelines, will be considered in decisions to be made by staff and City Council in March 2023. Subject to approval, installation would be carried out in phases, with the first phase of changes starting in 2023 followed by road construction.

Virtual Public Meeting

The Virtual Public Meeting will include a presentation followed by a Question and Answer period.

Date: February 6, 2023
Time: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Join online:
Register – Virtual Public Meeting – February 6, 2023

To join by phone (audio only): Call 416-915-6530 and enter access code 2463 822 6881. Learn more about participating in City of Toronto virtual engagement events. To request accommodation, or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at 416-338-1066 or millwood@toronto.ca.

Pop-up Events

Date: February 13 and 16, 2023
Time: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Location: East York Town Centre, 45 Overlea Blvd. (across from Scotiabank, near Entrance 2)

Feedback

Complete the online feedback survey before February 21, 2023. Contact the City to request a printed copy of the survey. The survey is available in English, Urdu and Greek.

Consultation Materials

Will the development see its shadow? Will you?
“Groundhog Day – Fear the Shadow”

Virtual Community Consultation Meeting: 503 Eglinton Avenue East
(501, 503 Eglinton Avenue East and 383, 385, 387, 389 Cleveland Street)
Thursday, February 2, 2023 — 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

503 Eglinton East is a proposed 13-storey mixed-use condominium building designed by RAW Design for Sierra Communities on the southeast corner of Eglinton Avenue East and Cleveland Street.

City of Toronto’s Planning Department has set a date for a public meeting regarding the proposed development. This meeting is a chance for neighbours to see the proposal and provide comments. Please plan to attend the Community Consultation Meeting to ask how all the proposed developments along Eglinton Avenue East will impact your growing neighbourhood. All are welcome to attend.

The South Eglinton Davisville Residents’ Association (previously known as SERRA) is a volunteer organization. Please take time to visit their new website and find out more about their many activities.

Michael Erdman (Photo provided by Leaside Garden Society)

Leaside Garden Society will continue their Speaker Series with an on-line-virtual Zoom meeting on February 9, 2023. The special guest is Michael Erdman. The topic is Gardens of Bangkok. The meeting will commence at 7p.m.

Michael Erdman developed his keen interest in gardening and horticulture when he bought his first house in Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood in the late 80’s. Although his grandfathers in Waterloo had tutored him as a child in the culture of roses and growing vegetables, there was a long interlude between opportunities to get his hands dirty. With a blank slate of a yard at his new house and being a researcher by trade, Michael threw himself into learning about perennials, roses, shrubs and within a couple years had no grass left in his yard. In two years, his garden won first prizes in the Riverdale ward and white Rose Nursery’s city-wide garden contest.

Singapore Botanic Gardens /Vanda Usha

Michael moved to the Beach neighbourhood in the 90’s and eventually became president of the Beach Garden Society. Michael co-authored books on perennial gardening and indoor gardening. His garden has been featured in local summer garden tours, and in numerous magazines, newspapers and TV programs. Michael currently heads up the Greater Toronto Bulb Society.

Michael will take us on a gardener’s journey through the amazing parks, gardens & flower markets of the Bangkok and Singapore Regions. His literary includes Singapore’s world renowned National Orchid Garden and Bangkok’s famed Chatuchak Flower Market. A perfect tropical antidote to our winter blahs.

Leaside Garden Society always welcomes guests and new members to join the Society for their meetings. Visit their website: www.leasidegardensociety.org or email: leaside@gardenontario.org.

Is this snowmageddon, or just January in Toronto? Everything from bus stops to community centres are announcing closures for Wednesday night. Toronto Pearson Airport has cancelled hundreds of flights due to the snowstorm. Drivers being urged to stay off roads as heavy snowfall causes hazardous evening commute (CP24).

We had a little fun and made a video illustrating the progression of snow accumulation on Bayview this afternoon. Enjoy!

According to The Weather Network, we’re expecting another 5+cm of snow, on top of what we have now. The roads are a mess, be safe, and stay home if you can.

January 25, 2023 – The Weather Network

January 25, 2023 – The Weather Network

It’s been years since we’ve had clear access to the sidewalks around the construction sites for the future Leaside and Laird Eglinton Crosstown Stations. If this has caused you to avoid the area, you will be pleased to hear that you can now stroll along the sidewalks at the south-west corner of Eglinton and Laird, and the south-east corner of Bayview and Eglinton. Joy! Maybe one day we’ll also be able to catch a train. One can hope.

Laird Station (January 24, 2023)

Laird Station (January 24, 2023)

Laird Station (January 24, 2023)

Leaside (Bayview) Station (January 24, 2023)

Leaside (Bayview) Station (January 24, 2023)

Leaside (Bayview) Station (January 24, 2023)