Tag: Bayview Leaside BIA

How about “Home of McSorley’s Saloon” BIA?

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Interesting how those territorial Leaside folks get their name on everything first (lol sort of). There must be a reason why the Leaside BIA is half Davisville Village and half Leaside, and why the proposed area sits astride a street called these many decades South Bayview. Hey, we’re calling it the South Bayview Bulldog even if the BIA eventually gets monickered “Home of McSorley’s Saloon” BIA. The vote among landlords and merchants last night at St. Cuthbert’s Church to proceed to a formal ballot was 52-25. During the many lines of discussion at the meeting, Josh Matlow, the councillor for the west (or Davisville) side of the proposed BIA, jumped to the mike to urge all involved to give equal prominence to his side of the street. Mr. Matlow is fond of saying that he and his family are Merton Street residents and that Bayview is his main street. Yessir. Got to like it. A Matlow tweet today noted that things are going well for the “Davisville-Leaside Bayview merchants.” Very good. Would the DLB BIA work?  No. To the extent the district has an identity now it is as South Bayview. This is a clue, perhaps 

BIA meet votes 52 to 25 to proceed to final ballot

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A meeting to decide on the creation of a Business Improvement Area for South Bayview has seen a vote of 52 to 25 in favour the proposition. This means a formal vote will be taken among registered merchants and property owners in the designated area which will decide the final outcome. The vote will require 50% plus one ballot of a minimum 30% of those eligible to vote for the project to move forward. The lively meeting at St. Cuthbert’s Church on Bayview Ave. saw many people speak about their reservations and doubts. Neil Mcneil of Frame Designs was doubtful about the return on investment of $650 in BIA fees. “Think about how much more you’re going to have to sell,”  he told the assembled merchants. Joanne Lee, owner of Patisserie de Cigogne spoke of how little she felt her firm received for its $1,100 annual fee at her location in the Mosaic BIA on Danforth Ave.  Catherine Lapsley of Breath Pilates Studio spoke with concern about how business has declined in recent years. “We have to do something,” she said. The meeting was chaired by Mike Major, Manager of the City’s BIA office. He spoke informatively on how costs occur in the BIA and the formula for the assessment which is sent to property owners in the BIA. The annual sum is added to property taxes, he said. The BIA  assessment is a combination of the area’s and property assessment plus the BIA budget, which is approved by the member merchants. The meeting heard from John Parker (Ward 26), Josh Matlow (Ward 22), Grant Allardyce of the Source menswear shop and Trae Zammit owner of Smokin Cigar. Allardyce and Zammit lead the BIA steering committee. All the men spoke in favor of creating a BIA and the need to establish an identity for the shopping district. The discussion touched on the successful BIAs along Bloor Street. There was no mention however that these places are supported mainly by the subway. There will be no subway in South Bayview and the TTC hardly seems to be aware of South Bayview. The 11 Bayview passes through the district but it is not a destination on bus signs. Nor is there a bus from neighborhoods like Moore Park, Bennington Heights and South Leaside to South Bayview. Many people there have said they would prefer to take the bus to their preferred shopping district on Saturday rather than try to park.        

Meeting tonight at St. Cuthbert’s regarding BIA

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A critical public meeting on the prospects for a BIA for the South Bayview business district will be held tonight (Thursday, July 3, 2014) at 7 p.m. at St. Cuthbert’s Church at 1399 Bayview at St. Cuthberts Rd. This and other meetings flow from a request from the Bayview Leaside Steering Committee to the City for such consultation. A Toronto news release says that with the assistance of Councillors John Parker and Josh Matlow, the Steering Committee was formed in June 2012, and held four meetings to establish a boundary for the proposed BIA and identify how a BIA might benefit local businesses. The Steering Committee believes a BIA will provide opportunities to improve area streetscaping and appearance; establish a brand or image for the area; promote festivals and events; and  advocate for off-street municipal parking lots in the area. Thirty-seven business and commercial property owners attended the sessions. On May 28, 2014, members of the Steering Committee did door-to-door canvassing from 1489 to 1639 Bayview Avenue to advise businesses in this area of a proposed public meeting to be scheduled for July 3, 2014. The canvassers also provided background information on the City of Toronto’s BIA program. The majority of the businesses contacted seemed “very much in favour” of proceeding with a formal public meeting.

South Bayview BIA meeting held Wednesday

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A well-attended meeting at Leaside library Wednesday night heard Alex Ling speak about the Business Improvement Area concept. Mr. Ling is perhaps the most prominent figure in the BIA phenomenon as practiced in Toronto. He was the moving force behind the creation of the Bloor West Village BIA and later went on to head up the umbrella group, Toronto Area BIA (or TABIA). The 40 or so people at last night’s meeting represented shopkeepers, property owners and interested parties regarding a BIA for the South Bayview business district. Prospective boundaries of such a BIA might be Davisville Ave on the south and Parkhurst Blvd. on the north, the attendees heard. The particulars of budgeting and election protocol were discussed. Mr.Ling amused his listeners by recalling that the first budget for the Bloor West BIA was merely $47,000. In the beginning, the BIA focused on improvements in lighting which have evolved into fixtures styled after gas lamps but which are in fact LED. It is perhaps an instructional fact to note that the Bloor West body is the only BIA “of its size” in Toronto that does not employ a BIA Coordinator, those salaried persons who do much of the work. The lesson to be taken is that it is much better, and cheaper, for members to get busy and do it themselves. Incredibly, some BIA’s spend up to 60% of their budgets on administration. Mr. Ling was noted by some to be an extremely valuable asset even now to Bloor West.  As a final bit of advice to aspiring BIA founders he said the BIA must be fun. “Have fun doing it, or else forget it,” he warned at the meeting. Among those present were John Parker, Ward 26, Virginia Evoy, Staff, John Parker’s Office, Chloe Richer, Constituency Assistant, Josh Matlow’s Office (Josh Matlow was unable to attend, due to prior commitments), Mike Major, Manager, City of Toronto BIA Office, Mr. Ling, Steering Committee Members, Trae (Smokin’ Cigar) and Grant (The Source). Also seen were Ruth and Harry Goldhar among many others.  

Leaside meeting hears of BIA changes #TOpoli

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John Kiru 

A meeting Monday evening at Leaside Library heard from advocates of the Business Improvement Area concept as a way of helping business on South Bayview. Among the gathering of about 30 people were long-time supporters of a Bayview BIA and members of a steering committee formed about two years ago. There were also skeptics of the BIA concept present. The meeting was convened by John Parker (Ward 26) and the main speaker was John Kiru, president of the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA). His remarks were enlightening on the practices by which the BIA may be formed. A democratic reform has occurred in recent years by which the City requires a 50 percent plus one margin in favour to create a BIA. The previous, rather astonishing practice of creating a BIA with no votes in favour has been abolished. This, and the new requirement that both tenants and property owners be permitted to vote, seems like progress. Mr.Kiru surveyed the challenges and benefits of Toronto’s 77 BIAs. Some do much better than others and some are simply dormant. He offered advice on the businesslike operation of a BIA — merchant involvement, organization, frequent meetings and formalized areas of responsibility among members. He said those hoping for a BIA should prepare themselves to donate ten hours a month.  This insight touches on the chronic complaint of skeptics and even well-intentioned BIA supporters. There is frequent and often widespread apathy among merchants. The Bulldog is aware of a BIA vote in Wilson Heights last year. It failed because too few ballots were returned. That  is, there was no determinative outcome of “yes” and “no” votes — merely insufficient ballots returned overall. John Parker has scheduled another BIA information meeting for May 21 at which Alex Ling will attend. Mr. Ling is a rather legendary figure in the creation of the first BIA in Bloor West Village, where he operated a shop.  

BIA for South Bayview meeting April 14, 2014

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A meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 14, 2014 at the Leaside Library at 165 McRae Drive to discuss a Business Improvement Area for South Bayview. A letter from John Parker (Ward 26) says that support for a BIA is strong but that some are not yet convinced. The meeting will feature John Kiru, executive director of the BIA umbrella organization, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA). The meeting is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m.  There have been previous initiatives to form a BIA in South Bayview but they have fallen by the wayside. 

Wicksteed deal sees cash for Bayview BIA plan

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Community groups have reached agreement with SmartCentres on the company’s planned development for lands north of Wicksteed Ave. The settlement was hammered out earlier this week in advance of North York Community Council’s decision to approve the  shopping-commercial development. The large odd-shaped shopping and commercial project dubbed the Salamander by some had been opposed by the Leaside Property Owners’ Association and Leaside Unite. The understanding to cease opposition was based on SmartCentres recognition of the community concern about traffic, landscaping, lighting and the support of local retail businesses with shops on main streets in the area. A sum of $110,000 will be given to the community groups as administrators to assist with such things as a traffic study of the area. The projected Business Improvement Area for South Bayview will be given $25,000 of this amount to assist in pushing that goal to fruition. Another $25,000 will be dedicated to identifying heritage sites in  the Leaside area. 

Meeting at Original’s to pursue Bayview BIA

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There will, apparently, be a meeting at Original’s Santa Fe Saloon on Wednesday night to seek a positive vote for a Business Improvement Association for South Bayview. It is said to begin at 6.30 pm.  So far as is known, this will be the first meeting regarding a proposed BIA since the rancorous meeting of last year. At that event, those in favour of a BIA and those opposed passed cross words. Details of this meeting have been slow to trickle through to many. Until late today, some did not even known the location. The sentiment with regard to a BIA has been divided among those who feel that South Bayview can be made sufficiently active to generate materially more business, and those who find the BIA to be an unnecessary and expensive structure unsuited to a neighbourhood like South Bayview. Original’s is at 1660 South Bayview. Taste-of-the-Danforth Fever.