world19News #162 |
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world19News This e-mail is going to people on the mailing list for world19. If you don't want to receive further notices, please reply to this e-mail with "remove" in the subject. Let us know if you prefer to receive this in "plain text" format. Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested. In this issue:
1. BLOOR WEST VILLAGE RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION - Meeting
March 1 The Bloor West Village Residents Association invites you to
its FOUNDING MEETING Doors open and coffee available at 7:15. Meeting starts at 7:30. The new BWVRA will provide a forum for local residents to voice and debate issues of importance to the Bloor West Village community. All residents in the area are encouraged to participate. At this meeting the new Association will: Ward 13 City Councillor Bill Saundercook will bring greetings. If you are interested in your community, the BWVRA can provide an opportunity to stay in touch and informed. If you are interested in becoming more actively involved, we encourage you to consider joining the Executive Committee. -- there are many areas in which you can help. Please visit www.bwvra.ca for more information, including details of the proposals to be voted on and the planned electoral process. We can also be contacted by email at info@bwvra.ca.
2. 1947-97 BLOOR / CONTEXT DEVELOPMENT Recently, neighbours of the development have been trying to fight Context's (the developer) attempts to extend their work hours late into the evening. Many residents have been writing Ward 13 Councillor Saundercook, asking him to enforce the current bylaw which prevents this work after 7pm. Below we have our subscriber's submission, followed by the Councillor's response to the residents who have written him. a) Our reader's comments Ignoring the wishes of area residents, Councillor Saundercook is arranging for Context to obtain an exemption to the City’s Noise By-Law so that work can continue later than 7 p.m. on the construction site at the corner of Bloor Street West and Ellis Park Road. This location is in a residential neighbourhood, directly opposite the Grenadier Retirement Home.and right beside High Park. The application is for 4 more hours, until 11 p.m. It is not known why Context is receiving such favoured consideration from Councillor Saundercook, at the expense of his constituents, who are already forced to endure long hours of construction activity and look to the evening hours with family for respite. Certainly the project is behind schedule due to the belated discovery of the gasoline contamination in the soil and the failed attempt to clean it up. This attempt actually forced more contaminants into the groundwater flowing into the Grenadier Pond drainage system. Context is suing the professionals who performed environmental work on the site, as well as former owners and operators of the now demolished gas stations - for $8 million. Other lawsuits are in progress over the damage to the home immediately adjacent to the Context site and the price to be paid for the condo property. Contamination at up to 35 times the Ministry of the Environment’s Table B level for xylenes is being buried under the building in the hope that the building will be safe to live in and that the contamination can be contained on Context’s site. Context is under orders from the Ministry on both of these issues and it is unclear, at this stage, what the future liability will be for new condominium owners. The Ministry ordered Context to place environmental reports in Swansea Library on Lavinia Avenue and it is suggested that these be scrutinized very carefully by all prospective new owners and their lawyers. David MacAlpine b) Below is the communication from Councillor
Saundercook: Thank you for your emails regarding a noise exemption permit application for the 1947 Bloor St. West (Context) construction site. I am very mindful of your concerns and that of the community. I believe it is in the interest of the community to move this project forward as quickly as possible in order to minimize the length of time residents have to endure inconveniences associated with construction. In this regard, allowing a reasonable extension to the noise by-law during winter months is a practical measure. As you are aware, Context applied for an extension to the noise by-law, allowing work to take place until 11PM, Monday to Friday, until May 31st. I believe it would be reasonable to allow an extension to 9PM, until May 1st and am prepared to negotiate this compromise with the developer and the City. With respect to other concerns with the site, I facilitated meetings with city staff, residents and the developer regarding ongoing issues with parking and traffic. I am committed to doing what I can through communicating with appropriate city staff and the developer to ensure that any commitment made by the developer to improve conditions in this respect are met. Thank you again for taking the time to share your comments with me. Sincerely, 3. TORONTO - Public forum on new powers for Toronto.
March 10 Below is an announcement of a public forum to be held on March 10: What powers and taxes for the City? The provincial government has indicated it is willing to free Toronto from the strictures of the current Municipal Act, and bring in a new City of Toronto Act that will give the city more powers and responsibilities, maybe including new taxes as revenue sources. -- What powers should the city have? The powers to do
anything that doesn’t conflict with provincial or federal law? Public meeting Panel: Chair of panel: John Sewell, former mayor of Toronto This is an opportunity to begin a public discussion about what makes sense in a new City of Toronto Act. For background information on various proposals, we suggest the following website: www.localgovernment.ca – Bulletins 54 and 53. For further information, please contact Eva Boldt, Alumni and Community Relations Officer, Innis College at 416-978-3424. 4. VILLAGE NOTES: Chains, retail, liquor &
development Here are two new chains moving in to replace a couple of
independent retailers: However, the next two changes remove a couple of sites as
main street retail outlets: Elsewhere, just north of the Village, the "House of
Horrors" has opened. See www.world19.com b) Liquor license The site in question has been noted in past newsletters (#155 & 156). Since its front windows were smashed in one night, it's been boarded up. A week or so ago,it opened as a coffee shop/pool hall. The hearing is scheduled for March 14, 9am at the Alcohol & Gaming Commission offices, 20 Dundas St. W. 7th floor. Details of the application: Expose 2149 Bloor St. W lD No.:810741 Proposal No.: 12566 A world19 subscriber opposed to this proposal has wondered if
there is a lawyer or other experience voice that can represent neighbours at the hearing. c) Jane/Annette d) Humber Theatre For world19, world19: |