Junction Triangle

Graphic by Castlepoint Realty Partners, photo by Vic Gedris, 2010-01-18.

Graphic by Castlepoint Realty Partners, photo by Vic Gedris, 2010-01-18.

The following notice comes from the West Bend Community Association and Friends of Dundas and Bloor:

Make Your Views Known at the OMB Hearing for
1540 Bloor Street West (Giraffe)

The OMB hearing for 1540 Bloor Street West (the Giraffe building) will be held January 19th – 21st, and Jan 25th - 29th, 2010, at the OMB office at 655 Bay Street, Suite 1600, beginning at 10:00 am. If possible we would like you to attend Tuesday to show a strong community presence.

Former D&M Building Supplies, to be redeveloped into Wallace Industrial Lofts. 229 Wallace Ave., just east of the Newmarket/Barrie tracks.

More info in the Discussion Forum.

Tower Automotive, 158 Sterling Rd.

Want to know what's happening with the vacant Tower Automotive property on Sterling Rd. south of Bloor St.? Castlepoint Developments is hosting a series of meetings to discuss plans with the community. Details about this first meeting were passed on to us by Phil from the South Perth and Sterling Road Residents Association:

We will be hosting the first of our Community Outreach meeting(s) for the Sterling properties owned by Castlepoint on January 18, 2010 - 7pm at the Church of the First Born (72 Perth Ave.) located directly next to our vacant property fronting on Perth Street. Parking is available on the vacant lands.

Coffee/Tea and cookies are provided

NOTE: I closed comments on this item. Discussion is over here where I posted the notes from the meeting.

The property at 362 / 370 Wallace Ave. next to the West Toronto Railpath has been vacant for several years, and is now being prepared for redevelopment. The development is being marketed as "Wallace Walk". Please use this forum for discussing this site.

A quick recap:

• This is the former Glidden Paints and Varnishes factory site
• The ground at this site was significantly contaminated for many years with industrial pollutants

Bloor Dundas Avenue Study: Map from the City of Toronto.
The following email comes from Corwin Cambray, City of Toronto planner:

The Consultants' Final Report on the Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' Study and supporting material are now posted on the study's web site: www.toronto.ca/planning/bloordundas.htm

Feedback on the Final Report can be submitted by completing the Comments Form also posted or submitting comments directly to the City by September 18, 2009.

The former Tower Automotive building on Sterling Rd., as seen from the West Toronto Railpath.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2009-02-28.

Tower Automotive, Sterling Rd.: As seen from the West Toronto Railpath. Photo by Vic Gedris, 2009-02-28.

Jonathan Castellino of BlogTO recently wrote an article / photo essay about the Tower Automotive site on Sterling Rd.

"Overlooking Toronto's junction[sic] rests the shell of Tower Automotive. Built in the first quarter of the 20th century, and closed in 2006, the former sheet-casting facility is currently being redeveloped into studio space. Thankfully, the tower itself--a 10-story building which no one in the neighbourhood can miss--as well as the facade of the low-lying former machining areas, will be preserved."

Although this building and surrounding grounds are fully secured right now, it has been a notable place for urban explorers to visit and photograph. It seems that Jonathan has visited many times, and has collected a great series of photos of the buildings' interiors, as well as the view from inside the tower.

I have always wondered what it looked like behind those walls, and what our neighbourhood, and the city beyond, looked like from the windows on the top floor. Perhaps someday I will be lucky enough to have a tour, but for now at least I can rely on some intrepid explorers' photos.