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 world19News #145
March 22, 2004

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In this issue:
1. Humber Theatre development
2. Community Visioning study
3. More developments?
4. Billy, Bob, Bert, Ernie & Dr. G

1. HUMBER THEATRE DEVELOPMENT:
A reminder that the Humber Theatre redevelopment proposal is scheduled for the April 7 Community Council meeting. This was postponed from the February meeting at Councillor Saundercook's request.

As we had reported earlier, the scope of the planned development is a 13 story building encompassing ground floor retail, health club, with the top 9 floors being 92 apartment units

To read or download the City Planning Department's Preliminary Report, visit our main webpage, www.world19.com and see the "Humber" item.

Those concerned may want to keep an eye on this meeting item. Visit http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/legdocs/2004/agendas/tw.htm. (The April agenda is not yet posted). When (if) the report is passed, Councillor Saundercook will be holding a public consultation meeting. Watch world19's website and or newsletter for updates.

2. COMMUNITY VISIONING - BIA requests Fee Letters by March 26th
The Bloor West Village BIA has requested a Fee Letter from interested firms to carry out and prepare a "Visioning Study and Urban Design Guidelines" for the Village. The Study Area is centred on the Bloor Street corridor approximately betweenthe Humber River to the west and High Park to the east.

The objectives of the study are as follows:
1. to create a community vision that defines the character of the area (built form, land uses, activities)
2. to identify areas in need of protection
3. to identify areas appropriate for revitalization and/or intensification
4. to direct public sector investment to priority areas
5. to provide clear and consistent guidelines to steer private sector development
6. to provide the community with tools and mechanisms to respond to development applications

Public consultations are to be part of the process. It is anticipated that the study would take no more than five months to complete.

A fee letter of no more than 3 pages in length is requested. Time is short, as replies are requested by March 26, 2004.

If you, or others you know, are suitable candidates to carry out this type of work, please contact.Kathy Kennedy at Scotiabank, 416 760-8824. For full text of the request, see the TABIA website: http://www.toronto-bia.com. Click "Classified Ads", then look for "RFP's" .

world19 will be following this closely and report on happenings.

3. MORE DEVELOPMENTS?
There may be nothing to this, but given the attention local residents and others are paying to the potential Humber Theatre site development, the story we heard last week sounded more "interesting" than it might have in different circumstances.

One of the properties on the block immediately east of the Humber recently sold. Soon after the sale, inquires were made of the property owners of both adjacent properties to find out if they were interested in selling. The answer was negative, and soon after, the middle property went back on the market in a quick resale.

Was there a purchaser interested in assembling a large property for a big development, big retail or both? Stay tuned for interesting times in old Bloor West Village.

4. BILLY, BOB, BERT, ERNIE AND DR. G:
a) B,B,B,E: In our newsletter #143, intending to report on the demise of Bert & Ernie's because of their huge rent increase, we accidentally stated that it was Billy Bob's closing and being replaced by the new Swan & Firkin. It may have just been a "mixup" of the "B's", or perhaps we were just anticipating.. Just last week we heard a rumour that Billy Bob's (or part of the Billy Bob' s/The Fan duo of bars) may be closing or changing hands. That property - originally The Wedgewood restaurant - has been owned for decades by the Smardenka family.

b) Dr. Generosity: In the same newsletter, we reported the closing of the Rebel Chop House and its rebirth as "Dr. Generosity". Since then we received the following email from the owner of the new Dr. Generosity:

My name is Cary Mausner, and my wife Julia and I are working away at getting our new restaurant open sometime in April. Julia and I are long time residents of the fabulous Bloor West Village. In fact, Julia was raised on Halford, and her Grandfather was the Manager of the Runnymede Movie Theatre for many years.

We have raised our four children in this area and always felt that the area needed a restaurant that was smoke free and suitable for families. As I have been in the Restaurant business for over 25 years we've been looking for the right location in the Village.

We're very excited for the chance to offer Great Food, Friendly Service, a Childrens' Menu and a casual place for people to drop in for a snack or a full meal!

I look forward to serving the Bloor West Community.

See you there soon,
Cary Mausner



For world19,
John Leeson

world19:
Supporting citizen involvement in our community and its future.
Phone: 416 766-8605
email: world19@world19.com
web:   www.world19.com