The City of Toronto's map of the "Wallace Junction Focus Area". More information here.

Meeting notice distributed by The City on April 15, 2008.

Flyer distributed by The City, April 15 2008.

Wallace Junction Focus Area (Map)
The City of Toronto has distributed the following flyers throughout the neighbourhood:

Community Meeting

Wallace Junction Focus Area

Area bounded by Dupont Street, the GO/CNR/CPR rail corridor, Lansdowne Avenue, and Dundas Street West

Proposal
Focus areas enable municipalities to provide financial incentives to support improvement and rehabilitation of areas that have been identified as Community Improvement Project Areas (CIPAs). Generally, these are areas that are in need of assistance with regard to: declining building stock, conflicting land uses, barriers to improvement and redevelopment, as well as declining social, environmental and/or economic conditions. The Planning Act, the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Toronto Official Plan support the designation of CIPAs and the preparation of focus areas.

Purpose of the Meeting

The meeting will inform the community on the Wallace Junction Focus Area. The Community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed plan prior to its consideration by Toronto and East York Community Council. If you cannot attend the meeting, you can still make your views known by sending an email to Councillor Adam Giambrone at councillor_giambrone@toronto.ca or call our office at 416 392-7012.

Date: April 23, 2008
Time: 6:30 to 8:30
Location: Wallace Emerson Community Centre, Abrigo Room

I'm not sure how I missed this article in the Toronto Star, dated February 26 2008. It has some interesting insight into the history and potential of the old industrial "skyscraper" on Sterling Rd. The photo that accompanies the article is fascinating too.

Quote from the article:

Opened in 1919 by the Northern Aluminum Co. – later the Aluminum Co. of Canada and then Alcan – it may have been Canada's tallest building until the Royal York Hotel opened in 1929. A second contender is a 12-storey tower built at King and Yonge Sts. in 1913 and now part of the 1 King West high-rise.

The ceilings at 158 Sterling are at least 4.5 metres high and Romano, president of Castlepoint Realty, thinks that could put it head and shoulders above the competition.

I would love to take a tour of this building! I'm glad it's being preserved as the area gets redeveloped.

One of the biggest changes to our neighbourhood over the next few years may be happening on Sterling Ave. Details about this can be found in this article in the Villager from February 21st.

Castlepoint Realty Partners, who purchased the property at 158 Sterling Ave. last year, is in negotiations with Pinewood Studios, billed as Europe's largest film studio. Its owners include world renowned filmmakers Sir Ridley Scott (Gladiator) and his brother Tony Scott (Top Gun).

"Castlepoint is in discussions with Pinewood Studios," confirmed Consultant Paul Pellegrini, "but nothing's been concluded."

Should the studio not become Castlepoint's main tenant, it will still continue with redevelopment and will seek businesses in the creative industry as tenants such as graphic arts, architecture, IT and recording studios, Pelligrini said.

Read the article for more.

What are your thoughts about this? Leave a comment below.

Tower Automotive on Sterling Ave. This site will soon be developed into a new movie studio district.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2007-12-01.

The old GE Water Tower at 224 Wallace Ave. is one of the most visible landmarks in the neighbourhood. It's located between the railway tracks and Wallace Ave., and almost seems to act like a watchtower or gateway to the east side of our community.

Photo is from the City of Toronto Archives.

Archival citation Fonds 1244, Item 2546

Title Cowan's Cocoa and Chocolate factory, Sterling Road

Date(s) of creation of record(s) [ca. 1922]

Physical description of record(s) 1 photoprint : b&w ; 25 x 20 cm. — 1 photonegative : b&w ; 12 x 10 cm

Form of material Photographs
Photographs - aerial photographs - oblique
Photographs - buildings - exterior views

Forms part of Fonds 1244; William James family fonds

Subjects INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES
RAILWAYS