Junction Triangle

Meeting notice from Ward 18 City Councillor Ana Bailão. You can download a PDF copy of the meeting flyer here.

I invite all residents to an upcoming meeting to discuss ways to improve local traffic issues.

This is an opportunity to establish a "Local Traffic Working Group" to start creating a traffic master plan that focuses on addressing the issues that many local residents and staff have identified.

JOIN US:

The Villager / Inside Toronto has an article about the new location for the Junction Triangle Boys & Girls Club, on Bloor St. between Symington and Lansdowne.

A few quotes from the article:

Junction Triangle members of the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club are just months away from moving into a new home base.

Operations Manager Justin Hanna confirmed the club is about to sign a lease for a new space on Bloor Street West between Dundas Street West and Lansdowne Avenue.

Plans to move into a new renovated warehouse space on Ernest Avenue were derailed last year, much to the dismay of area residents. Community activist and former Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club board member Kevin Putnam said he is frustrated by the club's lack of communication with the neighbourhood and its lack of accountability. The Bloor Street West location, at 2,600 sq. ft., is a far cry from the 7,000 sq. ft. 45 Ernest Ave. warehouse, said Putnam.

"It's no replacement for the club house they promised us," said Putnam.

Hanna explained that the 7,000-sq.-ft. warehouse with 18 foot ceilings would have cost the organization $100,000 in operating costs after taking care of rent, utilities and maintenance. However, Putnam said the club had to pay $90,000 to settle with the landlord of 45 Ernest Ave., who was going to rent his space to the club at cost.

The new Junction Triangle club house will be located within a condominium complex and features a kitchen, various rooms and an elevator. The condo's developer was required to provide community space within the complex and has thereby leased it to the city for 99 years, said Hanna. The Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club will lease the space from the city for three years.

This new home will allow the club to continue and grow its homework club, its nutritional cooking class and provide a technology room and an arts and culture program.

"We'll be starting a teen program in a teen lounge that will concentrate on leadership, social responsibility and volunteerism," said Hanna.

The following announcement comes from Metrolinx / GO Transit. You can download the original announcement here (615KB PDF).

Georgetown South Project - Construction Update

The Georgetown South (GTS) Project will provide infrastructure improvements to meet existing GO Transit ridership demand and
future growth. It will also accommodate the new Air Rail Link service between Union Station and Pearson International Airport.

Bloor Street West Bridge
Road Closure: April 30 – May 2

Project Description
Between April 30 and May 2, 2011, a new span will be installed on the east side of the Bloor Street West bridge (near Bloor and
Dundas Streets) to accommodate additional tracks. The work involves modifying the existing concrete abutments and installing
the new span. Most of the work will be from above.

Road closure for installation of the new span

• Full road closure between Dundas Street West and Perth Avenue from Saturday, April 30 at 5 a.m. to Monday, May 2 at 5 a.m.

You may have noticed that construction of a new railway bridge span over Bloor St. for Metrolinx's Georgetown South Service Expansion Project has started this week. This new bridge span is being erected between the West Toronto Railpath bridge and the existing GO Transit Georgetown tracks.

Currently, the road has been narrowed to one lane in each direction as workers prepare the median for a new pillar.

Oddly, there was no real notice given for the start of this construction, except for a few signs installed nearby recently. This was originally planned to happen earlier this year, but was postponed to a date "TBD". I assume that when they are ready to install the actual bridge span, there will be a complete road closure, like there was on Dupont St. in December.

In the meantime, it's probably best to avoid Bloor St. during rush hour or any other busy times.

Meeting notice from Metrolinx:

PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE

DUNDAS WEST-BLOOR MOBILITY HUB STUDY

Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario, is helping transform the way the region moves by championing and delivering mobility solutions for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

Background

The Big Move, Metrolinx’s Regional Transportation Plan for the GTHA, imagines a future in which key transit stations become mobility hubs. Mobility hubs consist of major transit stations and the surrounding area. They serve a critical function in the regional transportation system as the origin, destination, or transfer point for a significant portion of trips. They are places of connectivity where different modes of transportation – from walking to riding transit – come together seamlessly and where there is an intensive concentration of working, living, shopping and/or playing.

The Dundas West-Bloor Mobility Hub Study

We are conducting a study on the proposed Dundas West-Bloor Mobility Hub. The study includes the development of a plan to better integrate existing GO Transit and TTC services, as well as provide a design foundation for future major upgrades to GO Transit and TTC service, and a stop on the Union-Pearson Air Rail Link.

The study builds closely on the findings of the Bloor-Dundas Avenue Study prepared by Brook McIlroy and commissioned by the City of Toronto in 2009.

The Open House

You’re invited to attend our open house to find out more about this study.

Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Lithuanian House, 1573 Bloor Street West

You may have noticed over the last few days that the south side of the Bloor St. railway underpass between Perth Ave. and Dundas St. West has received a coat of green paint. Today, the green paint has sprouted some new trees.

I snapped a few photos on my way home from work, and had a brief chat with the artists who had just finished up their day of painting. They will complete this City-funded project over the next couple of days.

More details and photos to come later. But for now, enjoy the sight of another blank wall being transformed into a colourful work of art. I look forward to seeing this in its completed form!

New mural in progress on Bloor St., west of Perth Ave., south side.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2010-07-19.

New mural in progress on Bloor St., west of Perth Ave., south side.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2010-07-19.

The following meeting announcement comes from the Bloor Improvement Group (BIG) chair, Donna Cowan:

YOU ARE INVITED to attend the Bloor Improvment Group (BIG) Annual General Meeting

BIG will be reporting on activities of the last year, seeking input on future plans, and electing new board members.

Bloor Improvement Group (BIG) Annual General Meeting
June 9, 2010

The annual Bells on Bloor bike parade takes place on Saturday May 29th, departing from High Park at noon. I estimate it will come through our neighbourhood sometime between 12:30 and 1:00pm. Anyone with a bike can participate, or if you prefer to watch, bring some bells or musical instruments down to Bloor St. More details at www.bellsonbloor.ca.

Bells on Bloor 2010 Poster