Category: Bayview Biz

Bitcoin kiosk installed at Bayview Ave. and Fleming Cres.

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The firm Crypto Fast is tweeting that it has installed a bitcoin machine at Bayview Jug Milk at Bayview Ave. and Fleming Crescent. Crypto Fast uses the term ATM, as many do, but others say they are correctly called merely kiosks because they do not function like bank ATMs. This Wikipedia article is useful in educating yourself about how such machines are used, and the caution that should be employed. Among other things, it deals with the murky world of money muling. Bitcoin kiosks have also been used as a tool by phone scammers to induce victims to send money that is untraceable by the authorities. Oh yes, you can buy a bitcoin today for $10,173.98 Canadian, if you have that lying around. 

Bayview Leaside BIA wins award for “green” Apple Fest

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Congratulations to the Bayview Leaside BIA and the tireless Bayview Pixies for winning the top prize for this year’s Apple Fest, in honour of their “green” event decor. Judges found the October 2017 Apple Fest street dressing of South Bayview one of the best in the City. The award was given by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) and recognizes decorative and recyclable decorations. Above left we see (from left) BIA representatives Kris Morra, Warren Ravinthirarajah and Debora Kuchme (leader of the Pixies) with Darryl Kaplan, President of the TABIA Board of Directors. Then to the right, Leaside men chow down at the Leaside Pub on Laird Drive at Thursday’s 14th Annual Leaside Guys Night Out. This selfless effort raises money to buy a gift for every single school child in Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park. God’s work gentlemen. Lower left is the Bayview Leaside BIA Santa and he’s a good one. You can visit him this weekend. To  the lower right, a look at the Beaches boardwalk brightly lighted thanks to the public-spirited contribution of  DeClute Real Estate. Below that, a reminder of the December-long holiday pop-up shop at Bamboo Bay private art school at Bayview and Millwood Rd. Pop up and take a look. Below, is the updated South Bayview bulletin board with events happening tonight and this weekend.

The strange new addition to Bayview and Belsize

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Have you seen this?  Have you wondered what on earth this strange contraption attached to the hydrant at Bayview and Belsize could be?  Have no fear, The Bulldog is on the case…

We have learned that the very complicated looking mechanics attached to the hydrant outside of RBC is merely a device that will allow the Bayview-Leaside BIA Pixies to tap into City water in order to maintain the trees and plants that line Bayview Avenue.  In the past the Pixies have had to “borrow” water from retailers that have a main floor water source in order to fill their watering cans.  This hydrant contraption, in combination with the Pixies’ new water cart (coming soon!) will make life much easier for our hard working group of green-thumbs.  The Bayview-Leaside BIA Pixies are volunteers who donate their time and elbow grease to the neighbourhood, in order to help beautify Bayview.  Thank you Pixies.

How Cadbury replaced the Kit Kat on sign at Bayview Jug

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Cadbury and Nestle are among the fiercest competitors in the world. They sell confections on seven continents. Cadbury parent, Mondelez (formerly Kraft Foods) has had a running battle in Europe over the shape of Nestle’s Kit Kat bar, of all things. Nestle claimed a patent not just on the name, but on the four-finger structure of Kit Kat. Cadbury, which has its own finger food, fought that and won. The question of who would raise the new sign on the Bayview Jug Milk store at Bayview Ave. and Fleming Crescent was not as bitterly fought.

In fact, Nestle may not even know its beat up old sign is gone, replaced with a spiffy blue Cadbury flag. The Ontario Lottery Corporation may have a part of the action since its logo is up there now as well. The change came after the Jug Milk owner asked Nestle to replace the aging sign. It was a rusting eyesore. Nestle pondered that and declined. The owner then tried Hershey. It passed too. But the Canadian arm of Cadbury, the nearly 200-year-old British firm said yes. From what we hear, it may be the start of a program to install Cadbury corner store signs elsewhere. Certainly beats Circle K. But that’s another story.

Empty stores on Bayview are about to lose tax rebates

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Why are storefronts empty on South Bayview, Mt Pleasant Rd and other attractive midtown business districts? Mayor Tory suspects that many of these vacant shops are just property plays by their owners. Whatever the truth, Tory is campaigning to eliminate the approximately $22 million a year in tax rebates to landlords who control empty storefronts. He requires provincial approval to make the change. Landlords will see the issue differently. Business may be better than it was during the economic crisis of 2008 but things are certainly not back to the palmy days of 2000.

And while some landlords may play the tax loss game for profit it remains true that not every prospective tenant is worth the trouble. Too many stores wash out in 18 months if the business plan is based on a dream. Are rents too high? Sure. It is a fair comment that no one who can’t afford to buy the store should be in retail. In making his decision public, Tory said that from 2001 to 2013, the City handed out $367 million through its property tax rebate for vacant commercial and industrial buildings. Maybe half of that money went to businesses where property values are skyrocketing, he said. “We are subsidizing people to keep space empty that is increasing, almost hourly, in value,” Tory told reporters.

 

Mayor Tory tours Bayview BIA on Apple Fest Saturday

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John Tory, this is your life. No seriously, Your Worship, thanks for visiting South Bayview on the first of two Apple Fest days. The second is Sunday. The mayor is quite popular. A notable public official will find both acquaintances and total strangers (see headline slider photo) to share a shutter-click or two. We see Josh Matlow (Ward 22) and Patrick Rocca on the scene. The crisp and sunny Saturday was a boon to the BIA Apple event. A good first go at what should become a tradition.

Bayview-Leaside BIA seeks “master plan” for streetscape

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The Bayview-Leaside BIA issued a call for submissions in July on the co-ordination of streetscape elements on Bayview Ave. It seeks  a “master plan” to solve things seen as problems. The proposal notes the differences in streetscapes on the east and west side of Bayview. The west side retains large and obstructive concrete tree boxes. The east side was remade with the removal of these boxes in 2010.

NEWSPAPER BOXES

The call for submissions notes the “high number of newspaper boxes” on the street and suggests they be re-positioned. The backless benches are dangerous, the call says. These are part of the Bell Media outdoor furniture, refuse container and bus shelter contract with the City.  The BIA wants benches with backs. A problem of monumental dimension is parking. It is not likely to be solved in a streetscape re-make.

SOLUTIONS

The BIA asks for a plan that will address the problems as noted and offers suggestions. Among these are permeable paving around trees, removal of the backless benches, more benches and trees offering shade, repositioning of the paper boxes. black coloured street furniture and pedestrian scaled lighting. It asks for trees with tree pits or tree drainage on Fleming Crescent. The BIA also seeks more and smaller litter bins, cigarette bins and dog-poop bag disposal.