I didn't write that. It's quoted from the event page on Facebook, as I mentioned in my original post.
This isn't a CTC event, as I don't see any mention of them here or on the Facebook page. Please try to stay on-topic.
For what it's worth, I have received Portuguese flyers from the CTC, though they definitely could make more of an effort to reach out...
And I'd like to mention again that if people want to veer off and discuss demographics of the Junction Triangle, there's already a message forum for that here.
VIC WROTE: "Citizens all along the rail corridor want clean electric trains, but Premier Dalton McGuinty isn’t listening"
There are many people along the corridor that aren't be reached and still don't know about the diesel trains, election trains or the clean train group. I did speak with and I think his name was Rick from CTC at Big on Bloor. I told him that I spoke to Mike Sullivan in the past about this same subject and that more needs to be done to reach out to ALL the community, not just the english speaking residents. He did take notes and will pass this along.
Like I said before many residents come from europe or other countries were election train is used and CTC should be reaching out to them as well.
I also spoke to Ana's office about this. I must admitt Ana has been doing a great job sending out literature in the top 2 to 3 languages of ward18. Hopefully she will speak to Cash and CTC about this. JF
1. This is a very early meeting in the process (unlike Fallus) and is really to break the ice and gauge community reaction. There will be more chances to comment.
2.This land will be developed and whatever kind of development happens traffic will increase on all the roads in the area. Based on past experience the City traffic planner and the developer's hired "expert" will under estimate the future traffic patterns and local residents will greatly over estimate the future traffic patterns.
3.The City will insist on a new north south roadway through the site, probably linking with MacCaulay. (The City will also insist on a roadway heading south on Elsie Lane through the Solways site and across the Ontario Hardwood site to Randolf when those lands become developed.
4. The current zoning is called "Industrial Lands" which is a hastily written mumbo jumbo a few years ago rushed into place because the City was loosing OMB hearings and loosing industry from the downtown. Unlike the other zoning designations that are put in place after careful consideration, the EL zoning was a blanket designation that to some extent nobody really understands. It is due for a vote to extend it and considering that almost no EL were developed over the past 5 years it is almost certain to be removed or changed. Each individual land that was EL would revert to its original zoning unless the City has some other master plan which I doubt. Castlepoint which is developing, or trying to, the land on Sterling is planning to go to the OMB this fall to overturn the concept of EL zoning on their site. From what I have heard the EL designation pleased nobody and has only slowed development which in turn has reduced the tax base, which EL was supposed to protect.
5. Light industry does not make money for developers in the downtown and that is why they are reluctant to build it. The light industry units on Wallace still remain largely un-leased. I am surprised they are interested in building it at all. A mix of uses is good BUT something like what is behind PiriPiri is not exactly a friendly night time space to be next to Railpath. Live work spaces would be great though (under the EL designation you cant get 2 City planners to agree on whether they are permitted; again slowing things down) as they would bring life 24 fours hours to the western edge of the RP. Other than live/work or very light industry, few companies will want to set up shop on the end of a dead end narrow street.
6. For those that don't know, the soil on this former paint factory was initially filtered for about 15 years using pumping stations. A few years ago the the firm Bio Genie used a process called biological remediation to dig up and clean the soil on site to exceed MOE standards. This process is far greener than the cheap option of digging up and dumping the soil in Northern Ontario. At the time of the process there were fumes which were the smell of salts that were added to the soil to speed the decomposition cycle.
7. In terms of traffic, the largest single current source of traffic is parents dropping off their children at school. Living on Perth, the main route there, I would guess that it adds about 100 cars during the AM and maybe the same amount spread out over the afternoon. The Wallace Perth Church is now closed so the congestion and parking issues on Saturdays are gone. Some of the claims posted here about potential traffic numbers are a bit hysterical, especially when we have yet to see a design. The idea that everybody who has a car will drive it every day is no longer true nor is the idea that every body has a car or that everybody will drive on the same street at the same time; note how many people walk on the Wallace bridge every morning to go to the TTC. Although there will be an increase in traffic I see the main traffic issue in the area as calming the increasing number of people who cross through the local streets on their way somewhere else.
8. Railways do not like to share (especially liability) so there is zero chance of any kind of tunnel being put under the Georgetown corridor. A tunnel for cars over that length would cost at least 50 million dollars (the Dufferin Jog cost 40 million). Even if there was that kind of money around (I would rather have a new library or community center) a tunnel works in both directions so in fact you would be creating a major traffic entrance to the JT so that people could avoid Bloor and Dupont; not a great idea if you like local traffic. Sometimes people forget that the rail lines actually protect the JT from through traffic.
9. Cost. Whenever developments are proposed 2 groups emerge with differing views. 1. The units will be really low priced which will bring bad people to the area, or 2. the units will be really high priced and nobody "in the community" will be able to afford them. Neither is right. Developers build to make money and they price according to what the market will take. End of story.
Here are a few questions thoughts that should get raised at the meeting.
- How will Councillor Bailao vote in terms of EL re-designation?
-Will development strengthen Railpath by providing access and eyeballs and maybe a few extra square feet of land near Ruskin?
-How will the developer avoid creating an abandoned night time strip of light industry in the community?
-What will Councillor Bailao ask in terms of Section 37 money or deeds in exchange for variance?
Hopefully somebody will take some point form and some photos of designs if there are any and remember, this is meting number 1.
I thought I had heard that any development would include extending Edwin to Wallace, more or less along the path that already crosses the property as you can see on Google Maps.
I can't say for certain, but it seems that this would alleviate some of the potential traffic problems by spreading out the cars and street parking.
I'd have thought there would be a lane running between Wallace Street addresses and Ruskin Ave addresses, which would need access.
We're moving across the street from this lot next month. I've been trying to stay educated on the plans for this development. I would love to see some notes as well as I don't think I can make the meeting.
linking to Dundas will not solve anything but complicate it more, maybe we can suggest making some of the smaller streets one-way instead of tight two-ways, then we can control traffic flow a little better
the idea for the site to me is small compared to what it ought to be and what it was while functioning as a local industrial building, i'd like to see more planned work space, not necessarily light-idustry but office or design spaces, BTW these are NOT residential lands, they are employment lands and the developer is trying to make it more residential than employment lands (like 80-20% rezoning) this I think we need to oppose, maybe if it were the other way around 20% residential and 80% employment that fairs better and close to the original zoning of the lands, I think low rise buildings like the Wallace lofts, with ground floor commercial and a mix of design space, office space and few above grade light industrial is much better, blocking any body shops, mechanics, used-car sales etc, and keeping it office casual of 4-6 stories in height.
BTW good planned density & influx of new young people is a very good thing, and very good for our area, it has improved the area already these past 10-15yrs and will only improve the liveabllity making it more desired and improving schools etc, we need to say what we do want here,
During last week's Ward 18 railway walk, Councillor Bailao compared the proposed industrial units to the ones at the north-east corner of Dupont and Campbell (behind Piri Piri). That would give a general idea of what to expect, but trying to figure out what kinds of tenants might actually move in is waaaay too early at this point (though I wonder if the developer has anyone lined up yet).
I'm not really sure where you have determined that the residential will be 'low rent'. I would expect that the new units would be priced to be competitive with the units on Wallace already which would put a 1000 sqft 2 bedroom unit at about $400,000 - $500,000...far from low rent.
In addition, your suggestion to extend an access road either over or under the train tracks will not have the desired effect. If a new road is built across the tracks it will encourage through traffic which will use Wallace as a way to bypass traffic on both Bloor and Dupon, this will cause a massive net increase in the amount of traffic which traverses the residential streets in the neighborhood.
If there is a concern it is that the light industrial units need to be better defined, the last thing we want is noisy neighbors, we need to understand the expected mix of tenants etc.
225 parking psaces, is 225 cars, is almost 800 car trips (drive to and from work = 450 , 50 percent of us make one more trip each day 225, 675 trips + 100 more trips for workers at this locationnot being provided with an on site spot to park), driving down Edwin and Franklin and Ruskin, these are tertiary roads at best, and by a school zone. There are currently less than 50 cars parked on the road between Ruskin and Dupont on Edwin, and this for me is the real crux of the lack of thinking here. During rush hours, when everyone is driving to and from work, we already have a traffic flow problem, as Dupont is a slow crawl, you have a situation where 200 cars are going to drive up Edwin and turn left or right, I have timed that light, and during peak hours you are lucky if four cars are successfully able to turn left on the light. If all 200 of these new to the neighborhood cars that are trying to leave for work, exit on Edwin alone ( the planned exit is for the bottom of Edwin and Ruskin) the 100 cars that try and turn left ( the other 100 going right) will clog Edwin entirely, for about 45 minutes each morning, this is not counting the current Edwin/Ruskin/ Franklin residents who already try and use the Edwin light, to access Dupont during rush hour. The fact that Edwin is already too narrow to allow three vehicles to pass is a current concern to everyone in the neighborhood already. This will force drivers to exit along Franklin and Perth avenues as well, already overcrowded small roads during the morning school drop off. The plan to put in 176 low rent townhomes is further crowded by the current applicants request for 25 light industrial sites as well. So not only are we over stressing the current road network and adding a potentially dangerous new level of cars to tertiary streets by two schools, we are adding 75 cars also trying to get to work at the same time, as this will be a place of employment for those people. 25 units, currently being allocated only one parking spot each, I am not sure what kind of light industrial business only employs one person, but more than likely the average of 3 people per unit will be trying to get to work on the same clogged roads that every one else is using to try and leave, forcing 50 cars to park along Edwin and Ruskin, every day, and at the same time, light industrial units will require industrial service vehicles to support those businesses, delivery trucks, semi-s, industrial deliveries will also be using these same small auxillary roads, to bring services and deliveries to these units. Finally these industrial units will have customers, who will increase the flow of traffic in the neighborhood as well, I am not opposed to the development of this land, but clearly this level of extra traffic on roads not designed for it is a real concern. On top of this there is the nature of the construction, the inappropriate adding of industrial units to a residential area, indicates the nature of the units to be built there. These are not going to be middle of the road units, these are not going to be high end units, no one wants to live above a light industrial facility, as a first choice, it will have a prolonged effect on the nature of the area, a constant negative pressure on a overcrowded high density location. If they are serious about this they should apply to construct an access direct to the closest main traffic artery, Dundas West, either by tunnel, or overpass. Until then I would seriously consider opposing this thoughtless proposed addition to our community.
I didn't know there were any plans developed for this site... I've heard countless rumours about who owns it and what they plan on doing with it. Is there a development notice up on the fence?
The plans for the parking garage aren't too far off from what is already at 351 Wallace/Elsie Lane and I don't think it's too bad around there.
I live on Ruskin Avenue. Inculeded in the plans for the wallace site is this "176 below grade parking spaces for the residential including 23 visitor parking spaces and 50 spaces for the industrial units including 25 below grade parking spaces. Access to the parking garage will be at the north end of the site off Ruskin Avenue." This will significantly increase the vehicle traffic on Ruskin. There are two grade schools and a number of children living on Ruskin Avenue. So I think that for the safety of our children that we not allow them to build the entrance on Ruskin Avnue.
I would like to know if any candidate in Davenport will make de-amalgamation part of their election platform. In the meantime, please consider signing the petition. It has become apparent that the interests/values of downtown residents are in no way similar to those in the suburbs. http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/de-amalgamate-toronto/219
If there will be further debate about Ward 18 language issues and demographics, please post comments in this existing forum: https://www.junctiontriangle.ca/node/744
Like I told Mike Sullivan a few times, there are many residents in JT and across Davenport who were born and lived in Countries were electric trains were used, however most of the literature that has been sent out has been in one language only, English. I was told that there is strength in numbers, but we keep reaching out to english speaking people only.
Mike said that he would do his best to put out flyers and literature in different languages, but that didn't happen. I think CTC can do a better job in getting more info out in different languages. If it happens that diesel train is used and if it's as bad as they are saying then all residents will be effected, not just englsih speaking only. JF
The issue with Metrolinx is more than just about diesel. The entire world has abandoned new diesel commuter services for many reasons beyond air quality. Every independent transit expert (and off the record MX engineers) state that electric systems allow more stops which would be good for the entire west region of Toronto and require less maintenance which saves money. MX is spending a lot of tax dollars for a service that only has 4 stops and is a premium priced service un-affordable to many residents (and airport employees).An electric service would serve far more people (because electric trains can stop and start faster and more efficiently) and help reduce the ticket price while helping remove more cars from the road right here along the route. Other issues include the future mitigation walls that may divide communities and the overall economic feasibility of this huge expenditure; SNC walked away from running the service and that should be a warning to taxpayers. You get a sense in the film of how a political party can close its eyes and ears to a better choice; the sad part being that most want expanded public transit. The film covers all these details.
Interesting too is the scene where Tony Ruprecht basically puts his own hide ahead of that of the community. It is a shameless abdication of public office and viewers will find it maddening.
The issue of future electrification is not a done deal despite how MX tries to spin it and we will need to keep this issue on the election agenda this fall. Seeing this film will help those who dont yet understand the issue ask the right questions at candidate meetings.
They should milk that name for all it's worth and call it Elsie Moos.
And yes, I'd love to have more articles posted here about street names or any other local history. If anyone else, besides Scott, wants to write something too, please get in touch. I personally haven't had much time to post here lately.
Correct, I had not noticed the change from the staff report. Brian Hall from the map and survey division told me
"Ward Councillor Giambrone preferred the street type "Lane" instead of Mews. (It may have had to do with Mews sounding like Moo's. According to Wikipedia - Elsie the Cow has been the spokescow for the Borden Dairy Company since her introduction in 1936.)".
I like the job description of "spokescow". If the street continues south if Solways closes....
"If the street is continued, it should have the same name, "Elsie Lane"."
If anybody is interested I could post some more info about past street names in the area.
A few corrections:
I didn't write that. It's quoted from the event page on Facebook, as I mentioned in my original post.
This isn't a CTC event, as I don't see any mention of them here or on the Facebook page. Please try to stay on-topic.
For what it's worth, I have received Portuguese flyers from the CTC, though they definitely could make more of an effort to reach out...
And I'd like to mention again that if people want to veer off and discuss demographics of the Junction Triangle, there's already a message forum for that here.
VIC WROTE: "Citizens all along the rail corridor want clean electric trains, but Premier Dalton McGuinty isn’t listening"
There are many people along the corridor that aren't be reached and still don't know about the diesel trains, election trains or the clean train group. I did speak with and I think his name was Rick from CTC at Big on Bloor. I told him that I spoke to Mike Sullivan in the past about this same subject and that more needs to be done to reach out to ALL the community, not just the english speaking residents. He did take notes and will pass this along.
Like I said before many residents come from europe or other countries were election train is used and CTC should be reaching out to them as well.
I also spoke to Ana's office about this. I must admitt Ana has been doing a great job sending out literature in the top 2 to 3 languages of ward18. Hopefully she will speak to Cash and CTC about this. JF
Thanks for posting the minutes. Very helpful!!
Thanks to Shona, we now have some detailed notes posted .
No pics yet. If anyone else has them, please pass them along (info@junctiontriangle.ca) and I will get them posted too.
-Vic
Did anyone attend the meeting? If so, what were your thoughts? Any pics of the models?
A few notes about the site.
1. This is a very early meeting in the process (unlike Fallus) and is really to break the ice and gauge community reaction. There will be more chances to comment.
2.This land will be developed and whatever kind of development happens traffic will increase on all the roads in the area. Based on past experience the City traffic planner and the developer's hired "expert" will under estimate the future traffic patterns and local residents will greatly over estimate the future traffic patterns.
3.The City will insist on a new north south roadway through the site, probably linking with MacCaulay. (The City will also insist on a roadway heading south on Elsie Lane through the Solways site and across the Ontario Hardwood site to Randolf when those lands become developed.
4. The current zoning is called "Industrial Lands" which is a hastily written mumbo jumbo a few years ago rushed into place because the City was loosing OMB hearings and loosing industry from the downtown. Unlike the other zoning designations that are put in place after careful consideration, the EL zoning was a blanket designation that to some extent nobody really understands. It is due for a vote to extend it and considering that almost no EL were developed over the past 5 years it is almost certain to be removed or changed. Each individual land that was EL would revert to its original zoning unless the City has some other master plan which I doubt. Castlepoint which is developing, or trying to, the land on Sterling is planning to go to the OMB this fall to overturn the concept of EL zoning on their site. From what I have heard the EL designation pleased nobody and has only slowed development which in turn has reduced the tax base, which EL was supposed to protect.
5. Light industry does not make money for developers in the downtown and that is why they are reluctant to build it. The light industry units on Wallace still remain largely un-leased. I am surprised they are interested in building it at all. A mix of uses is good BUT something like what is behind PiriPiri is not exactly a friendly night time space to be next to Railpath. Live work spaces would be great though (under the EL designation you cant get 2 City planners to agree on whether they are permitted; again slowing things down) as they would bring life 24 fours hours to the western edge of the RP. Other than live/work or very light industry, few companies will want to set up shop on the end of a dead end narrow street.
6. For those that don't know, the soil on this former paint factory was initially filtered for about 15 years using pumping stations. A few years ago the the firm Bio Genie used a process called biological remediation to dig up and clean the soil on site to exceed MOE standards. This process is far greener than the cheap option of digging up and dumping the soil in Northern Ontario. At the time of the process there were fumes which were the smell of salts that were added to the soil to speed the decomposition cycle.
7. In terms of traffic, the largest single current source of traffic is parents dropping off their children at school. Living on Perth, the main route there, I would guess that it adds about 100 cars during the AM and maybe the same amount spread out over the afternoon. The Wallace Perth Church is now closed so the congestion and parking issues on Saturdays are gone. Some of the claims posted here about potential traffic numbers are a bit hysterical, especially when we have yet to see a design. The idea that everybody who has a car will drive it every day is no longer true nor is the idea that every body has a car or that everybody will drive on the same street at the same time; note how many people walk on the Wallace bridge every morning to go to the TTC. Although there will be an increase in traffic I see the main traffic issue in the area as calming the increasing number of people who cross through the local streets on their way somewhere else.
8. Railways do not like to share (especially liability) so there is zero chance of any kind of tunnel being put under the Georgetown corridor. A tunnel for cars over that length would cost at least 50 million dollars (the Dufferin Jog cost 40 million). Even if there was that kind of money around (I would rather have a new library or community center) a tunnel works in both directions so in fact you would be creating a major traffic entrance to the JT so that people could avoid Bloor and Dupont; not a great idea if you like local traffic. Sometimes people forget that the rail lines actually protect the JT from through traffic.
9. Cost. Whenever developments are proposed 2 groups emerge with differing views. 1. The units will be really low priced which will bring bad people to the area, or 2. the units will be really high priced and nobody "in the community" will be able to afford them. Neither is right. Developers build to make money and they price according to what the market will take. End of story.
Here are a few questions thoughts that should get raised at the meeting.
- How will Councillor Bailao vote in terms of EL re-designation?
-Will development strengthen Railpath by providing access and eyeballs and maybe a few extra square feet of land near Ruskin?
-How will the developer avoid creating an abandoned night time strip of light industry in the community?
-What will Councillor Bailao ask in terms of Section 37 money or deeds in exchange for variance?
Hopefully somebody will take some point form and some photos of designs if there are any and remember, this is meting number 1.
I'm just hoping Councilor Bailao and the Developer are open to the residences of the JT.
I thought I had heard that any development would include extending Edwin to Wallace, more or less along the path that already crosses the property as you can see on Google Maps.
I can't say for certain, but it seems that this would alleviate some of the potential traffic problems by spreading out the cars and street parking.
I'd have thought there would be a lane running between Wallace Street addresses and Ruskin Ave addresses, which would need access.
Anyway, I guess we'll hear more on Tuesday.
We're moving across the street from this lot next month. I've been trying to stay educated on the plans for this development. I would love to see some notes as well as I don't think I can make the meeting.
Thanks!
Michelle
linking to Dundas will not solve anything but complicate it more, maybe we can suggest making some of the smaller streets one-way instead of tight two-ways, then we can control traffic flow a little better
the idea for the site to me is small compared to what it ought to be and what it was while functioning as a local industrial building, i'd like to see more planned work space, not necessarily light-idustry but office or design spaces, BTW these are NOT residential lands, they are employment lands and the developer is trying to make it more residential than employment lands (like 80-20% rezoning) this I think we need to oppose, maybe if it were the other way around 20% residential and 80% employment that fairs better and close to the original zoning of the lands, I think low rise buildings like the Wallace lofts, with ground floor commercial and a mix of design space, office space and few above grade light industrial is much better, blocking any body shops, mechanics, used-car sales etc, and keeping it office casual of 4-6 stories in height.
BTW good planned density & influx of new young people is a very good thing, and very good for our area, it has improved the area already these past 10-15yrs and will only improve the liveabllity making it more desired and improving schools etc, we need to say what we do want here,
Hi,
I'm sure there will be many people at this meeting, but I'm not sure if I'll make it.
Would someone be able to take some detailed notes and photos? Would be great if you could also do a writeup to post here on this website.
Thanks,
Vic
During last week's Ward 18 railway walk, Councillor Bailao compared the proposed industrial units to the ones at the north-east corner of Dupont and Campbell (behind Piri Piri). That would give a general idea of what to expect, but trying to figure out what kinds of tenants might actually move in is waaaay too early at this point (though I wonder if the developer has anyone lined up yet).
I'm not really sure where you have determined that the residential will be 'low rent'. I would expect that the new units would be priced to be competitive with the units on Wallace already which would put a 1000 sqft 2 bedroom unit at about $400,000 - $500,000...far from low rent.
In addition, your suggestion to extend an access road either over or under the train tracks will not have the desired effect. If a new road is built across the tracks it will encourage through traffic which will use Wallace as a way to bypass traffic on both Bloor and Dupon, this will cause a massive net increase in the amount of traffic which traverses the residential streets in the neighborhood.
If there is a concern it is that the light industrial units need to be better defined, the last thing we want is noisy neighbors, we need to understand the expected mix of tenants etc.
225 parking psaces, is 225 cars, is almost 800 car trips (drive to and from work = 450 , 50 percent of us make one more trip each day 225, 675 trips + 100 more trips for workers at this locationnot being provided with an on site spot to park), driving down Edwin and Franklin and Ruskin, these are tertiary roads at best, and by a school zone. There are currently less than 50 cars parked on the road between Ruskin and Dupont on Edwin, and this for me is the real crux of the lack of thinking here. During rush hours, when everyone is driving to and from work, we already have a traffic flow problem, as Dupont is a slow crawl, you have a situation where 200 cars are going to drive up Edwin and turn left or right, I have timed that light, and during peak hours you are lucky if four cars are successfully able to turn left on the light. If all 200 of these new to the neighborhood cars that are trying to leave for work, exit on Edwin alone ( the planned exit is for the bottom of Edwin and Ruskin) the 100 cars that try and turn left ( the other 100 going right) will clog Edwin entirely, for about 45 minutes each morning, this is not counting the current Edwin/Ruskin/ Franklin residents who already try and use the Edwin light, to access Dupont during rush hour. The fact that Edwin is already too narrow to allow three vehicles to pass is a current concern to everyone in the neighborhood already. This will force drivers to exit along Franklin and Perth avenues as well, already overcrowded small roads during the morning school drop off. The plan to put in 176 low rent townhomes is further crowded by the current applicants request for 25 light industrial sites as well. So not only are we over stressing the current road network and adding a potentially dangerous new level of cars to tertiary streets by two schools, we are adding 75 cars also trying to get to work at the same time, as this will be a place of employment for those people. 25 units, currently being allocated only one parking spot each, I am not sure what kind of light industrial business only employs one person, but more than likely the average of 3 people per unit will be trying to get to work on the same clogged roads that every one else is using to try and leave, forcing 50 cars to park along Edwin and Ruskin, every day, and at the same time, light industrial units will require industrial service vehicles to support those businesses, delivery trucks, semi-s, industrial deliveries will also be using these same small auxillary roads, to bring services and deliveries to these units. Finally these industrial units will have customers, who will increase the flow of traffic in the neighborhood as well, I am not opposed to the development of this land, but clearly this level of extra traffic on roads not designed for it is a real concern. On top of this there is the nature of the construction, the inappropriate adding of industrial units to a residential area, indicates the nature of the units to be built there. These are not going to be middle of the road units, these are not going to be high end units, no one wants to live above a light industrial facility, as a first choice, it will have a prolonged effect on the nature of the area, a constant negative pressure on a overcrowded high density location. If they are serious about this they should apply to construct an access direct to the closest main traffic artery, Dundas West, either by tunnel, or overpass. Until then I would seriously consider opposing this thoughtless proposed addition to our community.
Congrats on the opening!
Do you have a website up, and what are your operating hours?
Looking forward to dropping by for a beverage!
Jason Kucherawy
Toronto Tour Guy
www.tourguys.ca
I didn't know there were any plans developed for this site... I've heard countless rumours about who owns it and what they plan on doing with it. Is there a development notice up on the fence?
The plans for the parking garage aren't too far off from what is already at 351 Wallace/Elsie Lane and I don't think it's too bad around there.
Hello,
I live on Ruskin Avenue. Inculeded in the plans for the wallace site is this "176 below grade parking spaces for the residential including 23 visitor parking spaces and 50 spaces for the industrial units including 25 below grade parking spaces. Access to the parking garage will be at the north end of the site off Ruskin Avenue." This will significantly increase the vehicle traffic on Ruskin. There are two grade schools and a number of children living on Ruskin Avenue. So I think that for the safety of our children that we not allow them to build the entrance on Ruskin Avnue.
I would like to know if any candidate in Davenport will make de-amalgamation part of their election platform. In the meantime, please consider signing the petition. It has become apparent that the interests/values of downtown residents are in no way similar to those in the suburbs. http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/de-amalgamate-toronto/219
Blog TO has put up a map mash up showing how many Tim Horton coffee shops (hundreds more) compared to libraries.
Here's the link:
http://www.blogto.com/city/2011/07/tim_hortons_vs_toronto_public_librari...
I think the old Glidden site would be an ideal spot to incorporate a community garden into the development plans!
This topic regarding residents of Davenport reading and speaking English has been discussed before at
https://www.junctiontriangle.ca/node/744
If there will be further debate about Ward 18 language issues and demographics, please post comments in this existing forum:
https://www.junctiontriangle.ca/node/744
Thank you.
Like I told Mike Sullivan a few times, there are many residents in JT and across Davenport who were born and lived in Countries were electric trains were used, however most of the literature that has been sent out has been in one language only, English. I was told that there is strength in numbers, but we keep reaching out to english speaking people only.
Mike said that he would do his best to put out flyers and literature in different languages, but that didn't happen. I think CTC can do a better job in getting more info out in different languages. If it happens that diesel train is used and if it's as bad as they are saying then all residents will be effected, not just englsih speaking only. JF
The issue with Metrolinx is more than just about diesel. The entire world has abandoned new diesel commuter services for many reasons beyond air quality. Every independent transit expert (and off the record MX engineers) state that electric systems allow more stops which would be good for the entire west region of Toronto and require less maintenance which saves money. MX is spending a lot of tax dollars for a service that only has 4 stops and is a premium priced service un-affordable to many residents (and airport employees).An electric service would serve far more people (because electric trains can stop and start faster and more efficiently) and help reduce the ticket price while helping remove more cars from the road right here along the route. Other issues include the future mitigation walls that may divide communities and the overall economic feasibility of this huge expenditure; SNC walked away from running the service and that should be a warning to taxpayers. You get a sense in the film of how a political party can close its eyes and ears to a better choice; the sad part being that most want expanded public transit. The film covers all these details.
Interesting too is the scene where Tony Ruprecht basically puts his own hide ahead of that of the community. It is a shameless abdication of public office and viewers will find it maddening.
The issue of future electrification is not a done deal despite how MX tries to spin it and we will need to keep this issue on the election agenda this fall. Seeing this film will help those who dont yet understand the issue ask the right questions at candidate meetings.
They should milk that name for all it's worth and call it Elsie Moos.
And yes, I'd love to have more articles posted here about street names or any other local history. If anyone else, besides Scott, wants to write something too, please get in touch. I personally haven't had much time to post here lately.
-Vic
Correct, I had not noticed the change from the staff report. Brian Hall from the map and survey division told me
"Ward Councillor Giambrone preferred the street type "Lane" instead of Mews. (It may have had to do with Mews sounding like Moo's. According to Wikipedia - Elsie the Cow has been the spokescow for the Borden Dairy Company since her introduction in 1936.)".
I like the job description of "spokescow". If the street continues south if Solways closes....
"If the street is continued, it should have the same name, "Elsie Lane"."
If anybody is interested I could post some more info about past street names in the area.