Junction Triangle

This is a summary of what was discussed at the May 28 2008 community meeting. Approximately 100 residents from around the neighbourhood attended.

Introductions, and Special Guests

One of the steering committee members, Jack Fava, introduced the group and spoke about who we represent and what our goals are. He introduced the rest of the steering committee, and the guest speakers.

• MP Mario Silva was represented by Andre Ferreira. Mr. Ferreira expressed support for the group.
• City Councillor Adam Giambrone was represented by his constituency assistant Chris Gallop. Mr. Gallop provided many updates about things happening in our neighbourhood:
  • Development updates (e.g. Castlepoint film studio on Sterling Rd.)
  • Bicycle lanes on Dupont St.
  • Boys and Girls Club update (extending lease for several months or years, and working on a long-term plan).
  • Crime and safety issues: The City is increasing police resources, as well as working towards a handgun ban.
  • There is a proposal to expand Erwin Krickhahn Park (Rankin Park) by replacing the dead-end of Paton Rd. with a garden. This proposal is still in its early design stages.
• Staff Inspector Thomas Russell from the Toronto Police Services 11 Division introduced himself as a new member of 11 Division. He spoke about his past experiences as a police officer, and stressed the importance of reporting crimes so that police know where there problems are. "If we don't hear about these things we can't respond".
• MPP Tony Ruprecht's representative arrived late, introduced herself, and suggested we should contact their office if we have any concerns.

Committee Reports

After the special guests spoke, the individual committees were introduced, and then the meeting split up into groups to focus on these committee issues. The following notes were taken during these break-out sessions.

Planning & Development (Chaired by Barry Prophet)

Eleven people signed up to participate in the Planning & Development Sub-Committee at the May 28 General Meeting of the SJTRA.

Some pessimism was voiced regarding the effectiveness of citizen's Planning & Development groups given the power of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

The proposed Wallace/Junction designation as a Community Improvement Plan Area (CIPA) seems to an interest shared around the table.

Most people seemed in favour of the creation of a major film studio at the former site of Tower Automotive but opinion was split on the benefits of employment intensification as a result of the CIPA designation. Some people want to see jobs come back into the neighbourhood, others want to grow a residential community.

Considerable interest was voiced in the proposed 29 story development at 1540 Bloor St. West, the upcoming Avenue Study for the Bloor/Dundas area and the activities of Friends of Dundas and Bloor (FODAB).

Barry Prophet will be sitting as the SJTRA representative on a 12 member Local Advisory Committee organized by councillor Gord Perks to work with the consultant (Brook Mcilroy) to guide and review the Dundas/Bloor Avenue Study as it develops.

Barry will be organizing a SJTRA Planning & Development Sub-Committee meeting in the near future to discuss committee activities & goals. If you gave us your name and email on the Planning & Development Sub-Committee sheet, you will be receiving an email soon.

The current version of the City's Community Improvement Plan (CIP) notice is attached below for download as a PDF.

Anyone interested in participating in the SJTRA Planning & Development Sub-Committee who did not sign up at the general meeting or who wishes to be taken off the list should contact Barry through this website. Please identify your interest in this committee in the Subject Header.

Environment Committee (Chaired by Bev Agar and Jacinto Lima)

The following Issues were discussed SJTRA residents:

• Industrial Pollution
• Brownfield Remediation
• Recycling
• Energy Conservation
• New Garbage Bin Program
• Idling
• Yard Naturalization
• Ministry of Energy Grants
• Noise Pollution

New members are welcome to join the Environment Committee. Please contact us if you wish to get involved.

Beautification and Community Initiatives (Chaired by Dave Banerjee)

The Beautification and Community Initiatives Committee would like to help connect residents who want to keep the neighbourhood looking clean and green, and who are interested in social, artistic, or kid-oriented events. Some of our projects include:

• Making sure that Perth, Campbell, and Erwin Krickhahn (Rankin) Parks look their best by hosting regular park clean ups. This will in turn make the parks more attractive and appealing for community events.
• Involving children and youth with local artists in beautification projects such as a mural at the Paton and Rankin dead end.
• Finding ways to make the best use of green space by supporting public gardening projects and tree planting.
• Supporting and enhancing the City's summer programs for kids in the area.

We look forward to suggestions for possible projects from people who are willing to commit time and energy. Please send your ideas to Dave at dbanerjee@rogers.com or contact us through the website.

Safety (Chaired by Jack Fava and Christine O'Dea)

Jack had the residents speak one at a time and took notes. The police gave their responses and advice.

• Resident #1: Dupont & Perth, drug dealing and smoking in the public and in the open, day and night. She feels police are not doing enough when called, also worried as it's near a crosswalk were children cross.
• Resident #2: Symington & Antler, Would like to see more of a police presence, on bikes and walking.
• Resident #3: Wallace & Campbell, would also like to see more of a police presence. Little freaked out after the stabbing on Wallace, concerned with the street lights burnt out, less visibility for the residents.
• Resident #4: Would also like to see more police on bikes and walking, rather then in cars.
• Resident #5: Dupont & Perth. Laneways are being used to do drugs and hang out by addicts and prostitutes, neighbour got spat on. All hours of the night partying and hanging out in the laneways.
• Resident #6: This Resident feels that the areas west of us, like Bloor and Jane and so forth. get more police attention then we do. More police on the beat. He feels being a poorer neighbourhood, we get less attention. He was asking the police if neighbourhoods who have better homes, and more of a rich neighbourhood get better or more attention from the police than those who are poorer?
• Resident #7: Sterling Road resident can't find parking in front of his home, due to the amount of cars from businesses in the area. Cars park there night and day and residents are finding it hard to park, no garages. Would like to see more parking enforcement.
• Resident #8: Complained about vacant home, not kept clean, newspapers and junk all over the home.
• Resident #9: Dupont & Perth. Some bars and restaurants are allowing drugs to be smoked and sold around their establishment.
• Resident #10: Perth & Antler. Older kids/youth are smoking drugs and drinking in and around Perth Park, and in the school daycare playground, all hours of the night. Requesting more police presence.

Both Jack and Christine asked the Unit Commander to do a safety audit with the residents, Councillor Adam Giambrone's office, and Municipal Licensing and Standards.

Some residents asked Jack if we can do a peaceful demonstration or march in the neighbourhood. They said it will bring unity, allowing residents to take back the neighbourhood, to empower others and to show the drug users and others they will not take it any longer.

Contact information for community response and bicycle police: Blain Young 416-808-1137 or email which he feels is better, for writing all details: blain.young@torontopolice.on.ca