Too many residents of South Bayview land know how difficult it is to get a car conveniently serviced. Brennan Pontiac, Lawrence-Yonge Toyota — the carcasses of mid-town auto dealers litter the area. Affluent drivers from Lawrence Park, Leaside, Bennington Heights, Moore Park and Rosedale are forced to drive their cars to Scarborough or down to the waterfront perhaps, to get service from an authorized dealer Why is this so? In previous decades car companies understood the need to have authorized service located in smaller locations like service stations. But then they figured they could consolidate service at their dealers and force owners to drive whatever the distance. It’s time for a change. As we noted some days ago Hyundai Canada is trying to get a location on Laird Drive. If it does, we will see just how smart this is. Potential buyers will be placed miles closer to an authorized dealer.

A survey of Ontario High School students has found that most of them (27.9% to 72.03%) are against the idea of using cells phone as a resource in class. Leaside High School student Zane Schwartz (inset) helped create and run the survey in his capacity as a Toronto District School Board student trustee. It is the first ever Ontario wide survey of high school students. It found a thoroughly reasonable understanding of how cell phones distract from concentrated work. Of course there’s still that 27.9% — actually closer to 32% in Toronto. The survey ranged across a spectrum of topics including sex education (kids want more) to bullying and the value of starting school at 10 a.m. There was a split decision here. This story from the Spectator is quite good. See also The South Bayview Bulldog post from last September when the Premier was ruminating about cell phones in class.

The mid-rise condo project in the post below is of course the Scenic on Eglinton, a project that has been many years in the works. Scenic on Eglinton will contain both condos and townhouses. The project is by Aspen Ridge Homes. It will stand near Eglinton Ave E and Brentcliffe Road at an address set to be 35 Brian Peck Cres. The project is scheduled for completion in 2012. One of the towers will rise 16 storeys, the other 12 storeys with what is being called a “pod” connecting them. It looks like a tower too.

I’ll drink to that!

Sightseeing east of Laird Drive is an adventure. Dotted among successful businesses in the old industrial district are abandoned and decaying cars, trucks and other oddments. These are a couple of what appear to be Series III Land Rovers from the 70s. One of them is still plated but they are both out of service for good.

A huge two tower condominium with three levels of underground parking is set to rise near the intersection of Eglinton Ave E and Brentcliffe Road. The condominium has an irregular foundation and in pictures posted above you can see the shape as it will look above ground. In the top left photo you can see the Park Lexus dealership and the old Inn on the Park tower in the distance. This is a view which will be had by residents of the north side of the condo. A hammer head crane, designed to rise with each succeeding floor of the condo now towers over the site. These pictures were taken looking north from the end of Aerodrome Crescent. .

Every movie will teach you that large, loft-style apartments in New York City are well within the price range of most people–whether they are employed or not. More movie truths.