The demolition of three homes on Hudson Dr. in Moore Park continues apace with the largest of the properties being razed Friday. They will make way for a 6,000-square-foot home on a property that will have a frontage of more than 100 feet. Below are plans presented in 2016 to the Committee of Adjustment for the new home and gardens.
There is a long Facebook thread Friday night originating with a woman who lives beside the development at 3 and 5 Southvale Drive. The proximity of this home to the daily construction underway at that site cannot be pleasant. But two statements from this homeowner seem notable. She claims that three mature trees were removed because they were made unsustainable in an irregular way. She also says she has received a legal letter from the contractor telling her to govern herself accordingly. What the grievance might be on the part of the contractor and developer is not stated in specifics except that the woman says she complained to the City. Facebook
The mayor was boosting the Leading Pedestrian Interval signals Friday. That’s the system that signals those on foot to get out in the crosswalk before cars that might be turning into their path. It is explained quite well in the first video from Stamford, Conn. The delay there is seven seconds but in Toronto the talk is of a five-second lead. Then, a desperate measure from Aeorplan to stay in business after being dropped by Air Canada. See what you think. Below that, a man has been rescued from a trench collapse in Etobicoke and the Raptors have apologized to DeMar DeRozan.
Upper left, Leaside Leafs hurler is seen helping his team to defeat Scarborough 8 to 5 Friday in St. Marys down by Stratford at the Great Lakes (GL) Canadians Invitational Baseball Tournamen. Stay tuned. Upper right, Saturday sees the nostalgia open house at Davisville Public School starting at 9 a.m. It is a last chance to root around the old barn and meet friends before demolition begins Monday, August 20. Saturday is also set for the Healthy Kids Fun Fair at 150 Grenoble Drive in Flemingdon Park. Be there. Centre right are some delectable looking red currents grown in East York. This great picture was tweeted by Not Far From The Tree@NFFTT. Thanks guys. Finally, they are readying things on Overlea Blvd for the opening day of the new Costco store Tuesday morning.
It appears that Internet supported food delivery services are inspiring the idea that so-called ghost kitchens (places that are unadvertised and private) can become big business on the back of some other company’s name. Maybe. Or maybe they’ll just be ghost businesses. National Post
The vote by North Leaside residents on a proposal to close access to the neighbourhood from the west has failed to support this concept. Councillor Jon Burnside announces in his newsletter Friday that of the 65.8 percent of eligible voters casting ballots, 46.9 percent voted in favour of the proposal (that is, 53.1 percent of voters opposed the scheme). Burnside writes Friday. “The recent formal vote had a 65.8 percent voter turnout but only 46.9 percent were in favour, so the proposal failed. Subsequently, I will not be proceeding any further with this proposed traffic calming solution. Here are the facts and figures: There was a total of 3,017 electors. This number reflects the most up to date voters’ list (2,843) and an additional 174 individuals who were not captured on the list (moved into neighbourhood, became of age etc.). A total of 362 ballots were deemed “questionable” for a variety of reasons; some of these were allowed (196 ballots) while others were spoiled (166 ballots). In determining which ballots were spoiled and which were valid, I kept in mind that the ultimate goal of the NLTC poll was to measure opinion (while maintaining integrity of the process). In deciding “questionable” ballots as valid, my office crosschecked submitted votes with City Clerk’s database of registered voters. Of the 362 ballots, 123 were in favour of the proposal while 239 were opposed. However, irrespective of the decisions made, there is no combination of choices regarding those 362 “questionable” ballots which would have resulted in a different outcome.” Ward 26.ca
Street car track replacement will close the full intersection of Broadview Avenue at Gerrard Street East beginning Tuesday. The closure will last to September. Pity the businesses. The City recommends detours along Eastern Ave. and Dundas St. or Danforth Ave.. Road users travelling north-south can use Parliament Street, River Street, Logan Avenue or Carlaw Avenue. Local traffic will only be permitted on streets within the north-south boundaries of Danforth Avenue to Dundas Street East, and east-west boundaries of Logan Avenue to Blackburn Street. Aren’t streetcars wonderful?
Canada’s premiers concluded their two-day meeting in New Brunswick on a spirited note — so to speak — by agreeing to double the amount of beer and alcohol that can be taken across provincial and territorial borders. The deal will see a large increase in the personal limits for alcohol and beer in provinces such as New Brunswick, while others like Alberta and Manitoba currently have no limits. The final communique will also include agreements in agriculture, transportation and occupational health and safety. As seen above, the sunny seaside town of St. Andrews was the scene of the meeting. Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that his province will intervene in Saskatchewan’s court challenge of Ottawa’s carbon tax plan. Ford also later joined Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister in calling for more help from the federal government in dealing with asylum seekers who cross their borders. All three premiers want Ottawa to review the current access and they called for compensation for the “impacts to services resulting from the increase in non-point of entry border crossings.”
The third of four Lawn Summer Night evenings was held Thursday at the Leaside Lawn Bowling Club. The charity to aid research into Cystic Fibrosis changed it up a bit this evening with a departure from madcap themed costumes to white dress suitable to the lawn game. De La Mer (on Bayview and elsewhere) donated a load of blue point oysters. Yum. The crazy team names happily carry on. Tonight the fierce competition pits teams like The Pork Tenderlawns, WimBowlDon, Real Bowlwives of Leaside, Guacabowlies and Adorabowl against all comers. The parent sponsor of Lawn Summer Night is KPMG Canada. Next Lawn Summer Night is July 26.
Photo at Urban Toronto from the roof of the Kensington Market parking garage reveals how skyline has changed in just five years. The transformation is occurring with a new speed in recent years. It is easily seen from any direction, including the drive down Jarvis or Yonge Street. Urban Toronto.
A growing Facebook thread Thursday discusses the long-standing issue of bicycles on the sidewalk. The range of opinions about why it’s right or wrong for bikes to be on the sidewalk is well-known. It is against City legislation for bicycles to be ridden on sidewalks. We hear again how they threaten pedestrians and are hard for motorists to see when a rider unexpectedly appears from a driveway ramp or at a corner. Alternatively, some argue the roads are dangerous and the only safe place for a cyclist, especially a child, is on the sidewalk.
Astonishing video released by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation shows a woman cyclist coming home from July 4 fireworks and trying to somehow cross the Racine Street Lift Bridge in the Town of Menasha while it’s going up. Yeah. What was she thinking? She falls into the gap seen just in front of her in the photo. The woman, 37, would quite likely have died had the bridge operator not been watching and stopped the motors. The video shows as many as eight people coming to her help or calling for assistance. She suffered face injuries. Some cite a cycling phenomenon sometimes called forward motion compulsion. Cyclists can’t stop even though they know they should. It seems to be a function of the necessity to move in order to stay upright.
