A poolside conflagration fueled by artificial plants and cabanas has injured two people in Las Vegas. They suffered minor burns. Firefighters took care of the blaze in about 30 minutes but it was quite a sight for a while. It began about 12.15 local time on a 14th-floor pool deck at The Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas.
Homeowners in Lawrence Park are divided, according to the Toronto Star News Service, over a proposal to make their beautiful old neighborhood a Heritage District. The designation places a preservation condition over the entire neighborhood. In a nutshell, the idea pits those who wish to save century homes worthy of preservation against those who don’t want the burden of “heritage” weighing down the value of their property. It is a tricky issue that has bedeviled Lawrence Park before. In 2012 a family purchased 140 Dinnick Crescent with the clearly stated intention of building a new home on the site. The day after the demolition permit was issued, the City withdrew it at the request of the local heritage group. It was an enormous injustice to the new owners of 140 Dinnick. They went straight to the Ontario Municipal Board where the City was overruled.
27 FLEMING CRESCENT
There are no doubt many homes in Lawrence Park which have heritage value. Residents of Leaside will know that the Heritage District wheels are already in motion for old Leaside south of Eglinton Ave. E. Critics say it may depress home prices and impede reasonable redevelopment. The case of the ugly and illegal re-build at 27 Fleming Crescent is instructional. It happened despite lots of rules to the contrary. The builder simply ignored the Code, committee of adjustment and much more. Fortunately, lawyer Rob Ellis was right next door. He led an effective opposition which ultimately resulted in a demolition order for 27 Fleming. Question is, would a heritage designation on all of Leaside have made any difference to this misadventure. It’s an open question. Torstar
Those living nearby the development at Bayview and Broadway Aves. (1860 Bayview) will probably find this article from the Daily Commercial News to be of interest. The DCN is a trade publication and this account notes a number of construction details, some of which will be of general interest. It says there is a planned “green roof” for the site which will be installed on racks. Of course, the “future” nature of this feature leaves open the question of just when it might actually be a real garden. Perhaps when the stores open next year. Let’s hope so. Whole Foods will be the anchor business, The article also recalls the planned widening of Bayview Ave from five to six lanes at it nears the corner of Broadway. Daily Commercial News
Sunday evening will see a compelling face off between a young man of true Liberal instinct from the neighborhood versus a glamorous former Conservative lady who was pretty much expelled from the party by Stephen Harper. They are Marco Mendicino and Eve Adams and they both want the Liberal nomination for the riding of Eglinton-Lawrence. It will not be easy pickings for either candidate because the incumbent is Finance Minister Joe Oliver. Both Mendicino and Adams have filed challenges of hundreds of members signed up by the Adams campaign, as well as an unknown number of new Mendicino supporters. The meeting will be at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute, 640 Lawrence Ave. West, is for members only. Membership purchasing is now closed. Great fun. Read on. Colin Perkel, Canadian Press
A home that has been under construction for at least a year has gone up in flames in the middle of the night in exclusive Armour Heights overlooking Hogg’s Hollow. Firefighters were called to the blaze on Joicey Blvd near Esgore Drive about 3 a.m. Some people living nearby were evacuated for safety. Neighbors said they were terrorized by the size of the fire and the heat generated from the largely wood three-storey structure. The Fire Marshall calls the fire suspicious.
Digna Narciso, 76, has been found safe a few blocks from Toronto General Hospital.
The Prime Minister has pledged that there will be no more appointments to the Senate, an apparent attempt to let the institution wither on the vine. Speaking in Regina, Mr. Harper said he believed this strategy would force provinces which oppose abolition to deal with the matter. The Supreme Court of Canada effectively eliminated all chance of abolition 18 months ago by finding such a move unconstitutional unless all ten provinces agreed. Even a winning referendum would not allow abolition since the power to decide would remain with the Cabinets of each of the provinces. Ontario is opposed to abolition.
The Flaky Tart at 711 Mt. Pleasant is advertising for a customer service employee at the front desk. Take a look
Lowes Canada will open a store in the vacant Target premises in Shoppers World Danforth as part of expansion plans this fall. The Rio.Can-owned shopping centre is at 3003 Danforth between Main St. and Victoria Park Ave. Six other stores will fill Target former locations across Ontario. They are Ancaster, Milton Mall Shopping Centre, Mississauga, Centrepoint Mall, Toronto, RioCan St. Laurent in Ottawa and Intercity Shopping Centre, Thunder Bay. In total, Lowes will open 14 stores across Canada. But, hopes that it might open in the East York Town Centre have been dashed. No mention is made of the Target location there.
Two cars collided at Moore Ave and Mt. Pleasant Friday mid-morning sending this one, a Kia, into the home on the northeast corner. Traffic was stopped as the vehicles were removed.
Mayor Tory is said to think that Toronto’s administration of the Pan Am Games sets a fine example with which to bid for the 2024 Olympic Games. He will be correct in all likelihood from the viewpoint of that stern council of Olympic bosses who sit in judgement of municipal supplicants from all over the world. Who can erase the images of weeping losers forced to participate in those grotesque television specials in which the winner is finally declared. Not unlike the cruel spectacles of the Hunger Games. Taxpayers may relate better to knowing that in the past it cost their town millions just to be humiliated in front of a world audience of billions. It’s not the same as losing in the high jump. This defeat comes by the arbitrary fiat of IOC Brahmins in Lausanne.
COST OVERRUNS NOT UNKNOWN IN TORONTO
The City and the Province have indeed produced a series of smooth functioning sites for events, a structure of homes in the Pan Am Village of which to be proud and some nighttime carnivals on Nathan Phillips Square which entertained many. Could Toronto mount the 2024 Olympic Games? Sure. The issue for thoughtful ratepayers will be whether the indebtedness and inconvenience is really necessary. The Olympics, remember, seldom make a profit. The host City is always left holding the bag. God knows, cost overruns are not unknown in Toronto. The mayor says he wants to make a decision ”very quickly”. We think not too quickly would be better, sir. Toronto is facing a tight deadline. Candidates must make an official bid with the International Olympic Committee by Sept. 15.
REMEMBER, THE IOC WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE US
Notwithstanding deadlines, the most important Olympic planning issues in debt-ridden Ontario are the cost and the sound judgement of those to be in charge. Ontario is not China, where a wonderful spectacle was produced with the unpaid labour of millions of patriotic people. The profound truth about this blessed place on the Great Lakes is that the IOC will be lucky to come here. Let there be enough good judgement to prevent abuse of the citizens. The HOV lanes on the Gardiner, QEW and Don Valley have been an abomination. The drive to Hamilton has turned into a two-hour stop and go ordeal. No earthly purpose has been served by this product of over-excited planners.
