The South Bayview Bulldog

Toronto experienced record-breaking rainfall Tuesday, leading to widespread flooding throughout the city. Evergreen Brick Works was among the hardest-hit areas, but thanks to the quick response of dedicated staff, including ensuring the safety of 113 young campers, there have been no reported injuries.

Despite being designed with flood resilience in mind, the extreme weather still impacted the site. Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue), known for its greenways, cisterns, and permeable surfaces, is now in need of support to cover the costs of clean-up and recovery. The site will remain closed until further notice.

If you’ve enjoyed a visit to the Farmers Market, participated in community events, or simply appreciated the natural beauty of the Brick Works, please consider donating to help this Toronto landmark recover.

Donate today to support Evergreen Brick Works and help get it back up and running again.

275 Merton Street /Google Maps, June 2021

Toronto City Council has approved a partnership to build 447 new rental homes at 275 Merton St. in midtown Toronto, with at least 30% of these homes designated as affordable rentals. The City, through CreateTO, has teamed up with developer Collecdev-Markee to combine the City-owned property with an adjacent site at 267 Merton St. This combined site will be leased to Collecdev-Markee for 99 years, during which they will deliver and operate the new rental units. Construction is expected to start in the latter half of 2025, with occupancy beginning in mid-2028.

This initiative aims to address Toronto’s housing crisis by providing affordable and rent-controlled homes for low and moderate-income residents. The project supports the City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, which targets the approval of 65,000 new rent-controlled homes by 2030.

Full press release is here.

For more details, visit createto.ca/projects/275-merton-street and the City’s HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan.

Ontario Science Centre: Community outraged over abrupt closure, Global News

Community bids farewell to Ontario Science Centre, CityNews

Dozens attend rally in Toronto to save shuttered Ontario Science Centre Dozens gathered at Wells Hill Park in Toronto on Sunday, June 23, 2024 to push for the Ontario Science Centre to be saved.

‘People are frustrated, feeling disrespected’ with Science Centre closure,CityNews

(Apr 21, 2023) The Ontario Science Centre was called ‘run down,’ but is it? CityNews

The City of Toronto is launching an innovative land management pilot project by using goats for prescribed grazing at Don Valley Brick Works Park (550 Bayview Avenue). This initiative aims to control invasive plant species and improve soil quality in the urban meadow, which is an important ecosystem for the city’s habitat diversity.

Approximately 40 goats will graze in a secure enclosure over two intensive days. Their safety and welfare are prioritized with 24-hour supervision, on-call veterinary care, and direct access to water and shelter. The public is invited to view the goats in action from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 25 and 26, 2024.

The City has partnered with the Toronto Field Naturalists to monitor and assess the impact of the grazing. If successful, the City may consider using rotational grazing with goats in future years to maintain the meadow habitat at Don Valley Brick Works Park.

For more information about the goat grazing pilot, visit toronto.ca/Grazing.

No shortage of grocery stores in midtown. /Google Maps

The Sobeys supermarket at Laird Drive and Wicksteed Avenue will close on July 29th, 2024 making way for a new Farm Boy location opening in early 2025. A representative says that this change aims to better serve the Leaside community’s needs. In the meantime, shoppers can visit one of many nearby grocery stores — but don’t turn to Valumart on Bayview, as they will be closing their doors on June 29th, 2024 to make way for a new development. For more details, visit the full article on BlogTO.

Toronto Fire Services are attending to a 3-alarm fire on Commercial Road, east of Laird Drive in the Leaside Business Park. Developing story…

Update: CP24: “Everyone inside the building was evacuated, and one had to be hospitalized for minor injuries. … Toronto Fire said crews encountered heavy smoke and fire on the west side of the building when they arrived. … It escalated to a two-alarm fire and then to a three-alarm. … The cause and origin of the fire are unknown.”

• One person taken to hospital after three-alarm fire in Leaside
• 2 people injured, including a firefighter, after fire at Leaside building