The Clean Train Coalition are hosting a public meeting at the Fern Ave. Public School, 28 Fern Ave. (Map), on Tuesday June 2, 7-9pm. See below for details.

Fern Avenue Meeting, June 2, 7-9 pm

Did you know there are 25000+ kids who go to school along the Georgetown Corridor? And thousands of pre-schoolers too. We need to act now to protect their health in the coming years.

This coming Tuesday, there will be a meeting at Fern Ave Public School, sponsored by the Clean Train Coalition. This meeting will provide vital information about Metrolinx’s plans to expand diesel rail service along the Georgetown Corridor, the negative health effects of those plans and how we can lobby government to promote quicker electrification of the trains. Various local politicians, trustees and school council chairs have been invited and most have said they will attend.

Let me (Peter Morgan) know if you have any questions, and/or you think you can spare an hour or two to put posters up about this meeting on Saturday (outreach@cleantrain.ca). If you’d like to become more active in the campaign or have suggestions, your help would be greatly appreciated. Here’s our website: www.cleantrain.ca.

We have reported on the GO Transit rail grade separation project in the past, but in the last few days it seems that members of the Junction community and their local politicians have been making their complaints known in a stronger way.

On the afternoon of Friday March 27th there was a rally on Hook Ave., where residents along with Parkdale - High Park MPP Cherie DiNovo demonstrated against the excessive noise of the pile driving.

The CBC and the Toronto Star both reported on the rally and the noise issues, as did the Junctioneer blog.

This morning, Monday March 30th, CityNews featured this story on Breakfast Television and broadcast the construction noise on live TV.

The ongoing noise from the pile driving, which may take up to 16 months, affects people on "our side of the tracks" as much as it does the people in The Junction. However, I haven't heard as many complaints from residents here, or action from any levels of government. In Parkdale - High Park, MP Gerrard Kennedy, MPP Cheri DiNovo and Councillor Gord Perks have all sent around information about this project and tried to get the noise issues resolved.

Residents of Hook Ave. have started a discussion list about the piling noise. This is probably the best place to get the most recent updates on the issue.

The following meeting announcement was sent to us from the City of Toronto's Planning Department, regarding the ongoing Bloor Dundas Avenue Study.

Bloor Dundas Avenue Study

Community Meeting
Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study

Monday, January 26, 2009
6:30 p.m. - Open House
7:15 p.m. - Presentation

High Park Baptist Church – Lower Auditorium
9 Hewitt Avenue (at Roncesvalles Avenue) (map)

City staff and the City’s consultants have been working with the community to create a framework for new development and to identify needed service, transportation and streetscape improvements for the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study area (see map).

In response to feedback at the November 18, 2008 community meeting, this meeting will provide additional information on land uses and related matters, and examples of built form scenarios for sites and sub-areas.

The meeting will start with an open house at 6:30 p.m. providing an opportunity to review display boards, ask questions and provide feedback. A presentation will follow at 7:15 p.m. To facilitate community feedback, material will be available on the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study’s web page - www.toronto.ca/planning/bloordundas.htm - on Wednesday, January 21.

Please join us on Monday, January 26. Your input will help to improve and refine the draft
framework for the study area. The draft framework will result in a final study report, and subsequent new urban design and zoning by-law provisions for the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study area.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can still make your views known by emailing ccambra@toronto.ca or by sending a fax to 416-397-4080 or by writing Corwin Cambray, Senior Planner, Policy and Research, 55 John Street, 23rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3C6.

You may also contact Councillor Gord Perks, Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park, at 416-392-7919 or by emailing councillor_perks@toronto.ca

Today's newsletter from Adam Giambrone's office includes several items that are of direct interest to people in our neighbourhood:

New Irrigation System Installed at Campbell Park

Installation of a new irrigation system for the soccer field at Campbell Park was completed on October 31st, 2008. This new system was a joint project of the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division and the Toronto Eagles Soccer Club. For years, Campbell Park has seen its field heavily used by young soccer enthusiasts and because of the lack of irrigation the quality of the turf had severely declined. This problem became particularly bad during the severe drought in 2007. With the new irrigation system now in place, maintenance of the soccer field will be greatly improved. Parks staff also aerated, seeded and top dressed the field this fall to ensure that it will be in great shape for the beginning of next years soccer season. I hope that soccer fans of all ages will enjoy the improved quality of the Campbell Park field for years to come.

The following notice was sent from the City of Toronto's Planning Department, regarding the Bloor Dundas Avenue Study. You can view the original PDF version of this announcement here.

Bloor Dundas Avenue Study

Community Meeting
Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
7:00 p.m.
Saint Joan of Arc - Gymnasium
1701 Bloor Street West

City staff and the City’s consultants have been working with the community to create a framework for new development and to identify needed service, transportation and streetscape improvements for the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study area (see map).

The consultants have prepared a draft framework for the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study, which builds on the Bloor Street Visioning Initiative and incorporates what we have heard to date from the community in terms of land use, building form, bicycle lanes, streetscape etc. This draft framework is the beginning of what will conclude with a final study report, and subsequent new urban design and zoning by-law provisions for this area.

To improve and refine the draft framework, your input is needed. Please join us on Tuesday, November 18.

If you cannot attend the meeting, you can still make your views known by emailing ccambra@toronto.ca or by sending a fax to 416-397-4080 or by writing Corwin Cambray, Senior Planner, Policy and Research, 55 John Street, 23rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3C6.

You may also contact Councillor Gord Perks, Ward 14, Parkdale-High Park, at 416-392-7919 or email at councillor_perks@toronto.ca

Looking for more information? Please call Corwin Cambray at 416-397-0244 or visit www.toronto.ca/planning/bloordundas.htm to learn more about the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study.

The following email came from Councillor Gord Perks. If you wish to have any comments passed on via our residents association, please contact us.

Please be advised that the next meeting for the Bloor/Dundas Avenue Study is a Local Advisory Committee meeting, held on:

Wednesday, November 5
6:30 p.m.
Loyola Arrupe - Main Floor Dining Area
1709 Bloor Street West (map)

Signs will be posted directing folks to the meeting area.

Note: The public are welcomed to attend the LAC meetings and observe the LAC discussions. To ensure a focused discussion that will provide an opportunity to review the materials to date and provide opportunities for feedback as we move forward (see page 6 of the Avenue Study terms of reference), we ask that members not appointed to the Local Advisory Committee reserve their comments for the Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' Study public meetings.

We encourage all residents, business owners and stakeholders to participate fully in the larger community meetings for the Bloor Dundas 'Avenue' study, because your comments, questions and concerns spark further discussion at the LAC meetings and assist with the study's progress. You may also want to connect with your area Resident's Association, Business Improvement Area or community agency (see list of LAC members below) to ask that your comments be included in the LAC discussions.

LAC membership includes representation from:

On Saturday September 20th, there will be another consultation seeking public input into the future of the Dundas St. W. and Bloor St. W. area. Details about the meeting are below, and in the attached flyer. Please note that you are expected to register before September 15th if you wish to attend.

Design Workshop for the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study
Saturday, September 20, 2008
1:00 p.m.
High Park Baptist Church – Lower Auditorium
9 Hewitt Avenue (at Roncesvalles Avenue) (Map)

The City of Toronto, City Planning Division and the consulting firm of Brook Mcllroy Planning & Urban Design/Pace Architects invite you to participate in a Design Workshop from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 20, as part of the Bloor Dundas ‘Avenue’ Study.

NOW Magazine is reporting that the residents of the "studio lofts" at 221-227 Sterling Rd. are facing eviction.

The speculation at this time is that the owners of the building are trying to get it re-developed and need the tenants moved out of the way.

Please read the article for details. A PDF version is also attached, in case the link dies.

Looking north-east from the Wallace Ave. pedestrian bridge over the former Glidden Paint factory industrial lands. They are currently being cleaned up of industrial contaminants.

Photo by Vic Gedris, 2007-11-18.

Bloor/Dundas Avenue Study Area. map from the City of Toronto, June 2008.