Life can be sweet, as shoppers and walkers and dogs once again experienced on South Bayview in the balmy Saturday weather. It got up to 8 degrees Celsius (46 Fahrenheit).
On the sunny side of the street
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Land transfer tax harvests huge crop of money
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The Star reports that the City of Toronto’s 2011 surplus has surged to $154 million, according to new figures certain to put pressure on councillors to spare threatened services. Numbers released ahead of Monday’s committee vote on the proposed 2012 budget, predict the city will actually underspend its 2011 budget by $174 million, but $20 million is being used to fund staff buyouts. A big factor in the rosier picture is the land transfer tax that Ford calls unfair and has vowed to eliminate. The tax raked in $96.5 million more than the expected $220.5 million. Rosdale Councillor Wong-Tam has her own idea: start a city-owned bank!
Kate turns 30, marking an eventful year
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The Stars may lie, but the numbers never do. Kate Middleton is the person of greatest interest to everyone. Mark Morris of ITN reports.
Coca Cola to leave Thorncliffe Park
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Coca Cola is slated to depart its long-time premises at 42 Overlea Blvd later this year or early next. A decision has been taken to house the company in a three-storey addition to the Toronto Sun building on King Street East. The Thorncliffe neighbourhood will no doubt be sorry to see Coke leave. The future of its present home, built by the company is 1965, is unknown. The operation there consists of sales and administration only, as the bottling side of the operation migrated to Brampton a decade ago. Coke is calling this change a “Live Positively” move. It apparently thinks life will be more vibrant downtown. It will, says Coke, permit employees to walk, bicycle or take public transportation to work.
Hindle left a “trail of disaster”: Star story
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The Toronto Star today carries a story further exploring the background of Paul Hindle, the man accused in the death of Leaside home decorator Lisa Lebitka. He was seen by many as fun-loving and energetic but, according to Amy Dempsey of the Star, those who knew Hindle, like his eldest son, mother and former business associates, say he left a “trail of disaster.” This is a family photo of L:isa Lebitka with Hindle’s 18-year-old son Evan.
Empty cooler, GPS save four at sea
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Two Australian men and their 11-year-old sons escape death by using their empty cooler as a flotation device. But equally crucial was their GPS which permitted a rescue chopper to fly directly to them. Video.
Target will convert local Zellers this year
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Target Corporation has announced the first 24 Zellers locations to be converted into Target stores. As previously revealed, one of them is the Zellers in the East York Town Centre on Thorncliffe Park Drive. The new stores are slated to be ready by March or early April 2013. That would seem to mean that the stores will be closed with renovations underway during the 2012 Christmas season. Target says it will spend approximately $10 million to $11 million to remodel each store “in order to bring the full Target brand experience to Canadian communities.” Target says it will employ 150 to 200 associates in each store. “Store team hiring will begin in 2012 and Target will engage with Zellers associates to make it easy for them to apply for jobs.” Others can apply to Target by visiting www.Target.ca/careers.
Fine weather driving construction, renovations
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This winter’s extraordinarily fine weather has got the hammers ringing at dozens of sites across Leaside. The lack of snow is driving home improvement of all kinds. From total knock downs through bump ups to interior renovations, the push is on. Neighbors on one dynamic street, Donlea Drive, will be delighted to see the furious work going on at No. 48 (inset). This property has been a hole in the ground for more than a year, but today carpenters were all over the structure in cold but clear weather. The same type of activity can be seen on almost any street.
Who to believe about a power crisis in Toronto?
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Energy Board turns down Toronto Hydro application to increase rates. The issue is whether, as the Energy Board apparently believes, Toronto Hydro has enough money right now to fix the City’s 1950s infrastructure without a rate increase.
$25 million coin auction ends at 3.30 am
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From Auction Central News: The eight-hour auction of the renowned Prospero coin collection concluded at 3:30 this morning, and when all was said and done, the team at Baldwin’s auction house had a lot to smile about. Although results are still in the process of being confirmed, initial figures released by the company state that the sale total for all 642 lots is approximately $25,000,000 (inclusive of 17% buyer’s premium at 17%). The gross more than doubled the total presale estimate. Lot 213, the catalog cover coin set a new world auction record for an ancient Greek coin, when it sold for a phenomenal $3.25 million on the hammer. This beautiful example of a gold stater from Pantikapaion depicts the head of a satyr, a character from Greek mythology. The coin is one of the most important numismatic objects to have survived from the classical world and is one of the most admired of all Greek coins. Around 200 bidders were in attendance at the auction venue, the Vanderbilt Suite of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Anticipation was high prior to the sale, and bidders appeared unrestrained as they offered three, four and five times the presale estimates on various coins in the sale. There was a noticeable presence of bidders from Europe and the United States.
Former TD bank will be a Starbucks
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A Starbucks shop will open shortly in the former TD Bank building at the corner of Eglinton Ave. E and Laird Dr. Only recently, we were pondering the lack of a tenant here. It’s been a while. The bank has been gone for nearly a year. This fine example of 1940s bank architecture will make a good home for Starbucks. A Green Bank store for the Green Mermaid, so to speak. It’s thought among Starbucks staff that the management is looking ahead to the day when the Crosstown LRT opens with a station at this intersection. It is a boost for the whole Eglinton strip on the north side which has languished for years. May it have a re-birth.