The South Bayview Bulldog

Bayview, Eglinton, Laird, tracks

The City Committee responsible for Leaside has voted to request the “nomination” of nearly the whole of the former town to a status that would lay a new layer of legislation on external renovations and demolitions. The classification is known as the Heritage Conservation District (HCD) and is said to be intended to “preserve the streetscape of a broader community” according to John Parker (Ward 26). The motion to nominate Leaside to HCD status came from Mr Parker at North York Community Council where he explained his rationale to InsideToronto: “We regret that not everyone who builds a new house or everyone who carries out a renovation is sympathetic or alert to the distinctiveness (of Leaside). We have a lot of new construction that is quite sympathetic to the existing character of the community but we also have new construction that is entirely out of step with the character,” Mr. Parker is quoted in the online newspaper. In a memo to the Community Council Mr. Parker said: “Members of my community have nominated Leaside for consideration as a Heritage Conservation District, in accordance with nomination procedures outlined in the Council approved document, Heritage Conservation Districts in Toronto. Memo  The Committee approved a request that “the Acting Manager, Heritage Preservation Services, City Planning” review the nomination and bring forward a study authorization report should the area demonstrate sufficient cultural heritage value. The process seems fairly lengthy. Mr Parker notes that a nomination last year to declare Parkhurst Blvd an HCD is still pending. The boundaries of the preserved Leaside are stated in the nomination request as Eglinton Avenue on the north, the rail line on the south, Bayview Avenue on the west and Laird Drive on the east. It is added that city staff “will investigate if those borders are appropriate as part of the nomination process.” InsideToronto reports that Willowdale Councillor David Shiner questioned the rationale for an HCD in Leaside, arguing the community’s character has been improved by new and renovated homes in the area. Mr Parker replied that an HCD — in the words if the newspaper — “protects the property values of a distinctive community because people know its character will be preserved.”  It also noted that there is a money issue. Communities (neighborhoods) have been reluctant to nominate themselves because they would have to pay for the application and supporting documentation. Mr. Parker said the City has now agreed to fund some applications every year, meaning Leaside will be competing for designation as an HCD among other communities put forward for nomination, he said. 

The SmartCentre development between Wicksteed and Vanderhoof is known among detractors as Walmart Plaza.  That’s the case even though the landlord insists no decision has been taken as to who will anchor the huge box building underway at the extension of its commercial property across Wicksteed. Work goes on furiously at the site as these pictures taken this week show.  The vantage point is from the parking lot of the TD Bank on the corner of Laird Drive and Vanderhoof. As many as 1,200 signatures were said to have been collected when opposition to the  development was at its height last year. It was approved however and the Leaside Property Owners Association accepted payment from SmartCentres to help finance a traffic study of Leaside and to seed cash for the creation of a Business Improvement Area for South Bayview. The election campaign in Ward 26 has been quiet so far but as the field fleshes out, the Walmart Plaza may become more of an issue. Or maybe not, because no candidate can say he will halt the project. Those in the race as it is known are the incumbent John Parker, David Sparrow and John Burnside, a contender from the last election.