Bloor West Village Residents Association

From the Bloor West Village Residents Association:

The City is preparing to start major water main and sewer replacement projects that will disrupt movement and commerce in the Bloor West Village this summer.

As you can see from the project description below, the work will stretch from Clendenan in the East to Riverdale Gdns. in the West.

The street and sidewalks will be torn up. Crews are set to begin May 25th.

On the positive side this will mean the removal of the crumbling bricks on the sidewalks and intersections that have long posed a hazard to pedestrians and made the streetscape look awful.

However, an opportunity to widen the sidewalks, create bump outs and enhanced tree planters, and possibly establish bike lanes – is being passed up.

The City’s Urban Planning and Public Realm Sections say these have long been discussed as part of a long-needed renewal of the look of Bloor West Village.

But, they note that the BIA declined to become a partner in these enhancements. So, it will be the standard concrete and asphalt repair job as needed.

It’s hard not to agree with the City staff who worked on re-making the Village that this is an opportunity sadly lost. If Councillor Bill Saundercook advocated for a vision beyond the standard, he has not shared it and not engaged the community in helping to drum up support for a better Village.

Steve McNally
BWVRA Chair

Bloor Street – Keele Street Watermain Replacement and Pavement Resurfacing

10EY-13WS Watermain Replacement

A 300mm watermain will be replaced on Keele Street from Glenlake to Bloor St. and on Bloor St. from Keele St. to Riverview Gardens. In addition, most waterservices and several sections of storm and sanitary sewers will be replaced under this contract. The proximity of adjacent services prevent the use of the existing alignment, no by-pass will be required, thus allowing cold weather work.

This contract will be divided into two sections at Clendenan Avenue with at least one crew working simultaneously in each section. A completion date will be specified to ensure that the road work can commence in time for most to be completed this year. This may force the contractor to add additional crews to meet the deadline. This is likely to be additional crews to install waterservices as sections of the watermain are completed and a separate crew to do the sewer replacements.

The contractor will be required to maintain at least one lane of traffic in each direction during watermain and sewer construction. The contractor will be required to provide a permanent concrete base repair of their watermain and sewer trenches.

Tender call is scheduled for February 4, 2010 (actual March 25). We would expect award by late March, 2010 (now May 12) and a start of construction by April 12, 2010 (now May 25). We will specify a completion date of July 16, 2010 for the section between Clendenan and the South Kingsway and Sept. 16, 2010 for the remainder.

10EY-03RD Pavement Resurfacing

Pavement resurfacing will consist of removing the asphalt surface, repairing the concrete base and replacing the asphalt on Keele St. from Glenlake to Bloor St. and on Bloor St. from Keele St. to Riverview Gardens. Curb and sidewalk will be replaced as required.

After discussions with the BIA, it was agreed that most decorative sidewalk will be removed and replaced by plain concrete sidewalk and the City standard two Row Concrete Paver Band (P-1). Some areas in good condition such as the area around the fountain at Jane Street will remain undisturbed. We will incorporate the BIA’s new solar powered lights. There will be no changes to the current curb line and existing south side parking lay-bys.

Work will be divided into sections with specific completion dates for each. Emphasis will be on completing the work through the commercial area west of Clendenan Avenue. Work will be scheduled to avoid scheduled events in the Bloor West BIA as much as possible.

Again, the contractor will be required to maintain at least one lane of traffic in each direction during construction.

Tender call is scheduled for April 20, 2010 with contract award by June 9, 2010. Work should commence as soon as the sewer and watermain contractor completes the section west of Clendenan Avenue, not later than July 19, 2010.

All work will be co-ordinated with the planned deck replacement on the Humber River Bridge.

An update on the LED and billboard applications that went to York Etobicoke Community Council March 9th.

As you may have heard, approval was given to two of the three applications.

Approval was given to the replacement of an existing billboard with an LED display one at 2410 Bloor St, W (which is roughly above the Coffee Tree/Art Spot shops west of Armadale). It is supposed to shut off by midnight in deference to those who live near it.

Just to the West of it, above the Booster Juice shop (2420 Bloor West), Council approved the replacement of a the plain billboard with a “tri-vision” model that features rotating images. Neither were permitted under old bylaws, and would have been subject to the stricter new bylaw which does not come into effect until after Easter.

Council turned down a request for new billboard to the East of the other two, at Armadale over the Rogers store.

The BWVRA submitted a letter to Councillors objecting to the lack of consultation on a matter affecting Bloor West Village, and to the disregard for prorities set out by residents recently in the B.W.V. “design charrette” series of meetings. These issues were taken up with Ward 13 Councillor Bill Saundercook in particular, who we are told by a member in attendance, subsequently voted in favour of all three variances. I would note that the agenda shows that 42 letters were received from individuals and groups such as the BWVRA. Thanks to those of you who expressed an opinion one way or another.

As noted earlier, Councillors were asked to ignore the existing bylaw preventing electronic signs in this zone, and to circumvent the intent of a new sign bylaw.

See this article in the Globe about West Toronto being a particular target for last minute sign applications:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/billboard-companies-bombard-city-with-requests-to-bend-sign-rules/article1494465/

For your information, sites and sizes with street photos can be viewed here:

2400 Bloor Street West:
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-28029.pdf

2420 Bloor Street West:
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-28030.pdf

LED Screen at 2410 Bloor:
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-28028.pdf

The CC agenda & outcomes can be viewed on this useful site:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmismonitor/index.do

Steve McNally
BWVRA Chair

You are invited to a special meeting regarding the recently completed Bloor West Village Urban Design Charrette seminars. These three brainstorming sessions brought together representatives of several local residents associations, private citizens and professional planners to discuss our community’s vision for the future of Bloor West Village.

The impetus for the Charrette was the application made by the Tridel Corporation to build two large condo towers west of Bloor and Jane on the former Old Mill car dealership site.

As part of the application, Tridel was required to commission several studies that bear on the future of the rest of Bloor West Village. They identified other “soft” sites that are likely to be re-developed in the future; they modeled the sorts of buildings might go on them; they assessed the traffic impact of the Tridel project; and, assessed whether this was likely to set a precedent for height and density in the Village area.

Much information and food for thought came from the Charrette process that we, as participants in it, feel should be shared with you our members.

In attendance will be a member of City of Toronto Planning Department, a representative of Tridel Corporation, and a representative of the Old Mill Residents Association (which has commissioned its own studies in opposition to the Tridel application.)

Time & Place:

Tuesday, December 1st – 7:30pm
Runnymede United Church – 432 Runnymede Rd.
Kingsbury Room (second floor)
(look for the BWVRA sign on the door at the far end of the courtyard.)

We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions in advance, please contact us at info at bwvra.ca.

Residents in the area of Bloor and Jane Streets are preparing to challenge plans by the Tridel Corporation to build a condo near them that could reach 16-storeys. The developer’s plans were unveiled earlier this summer and got a rough reception from residents who were angered by the height and the traffic realignment of South Kingsway and Riverview Gardens. They have formed the “new” Old Mill Community Association (OMCA) – a non-profit corporation comprised of Old Mill residents concerned about development at 2464-2500 Bloor Street (the Old Mill car dealership). The group is appealing to local residents to pledge an initial of $200. The money will be used to hire traffic and urban planning experts to argue their case at a City-sponsored community meeting on Tridel’s plan, set for October 5th.

The OMCA has already hired Johnston Litavski Planning Consultants to prepare its rebuttal.

The BWVRA shares the group’s concern about the potential impact of the project on Bloor West Village. It contains a number of sites that might also face development pressure.

Members of the BWVRA Executive will therefore attend the Community Meeting. We will also be participating in a related study of the wider area. The “Design Charette” process involves a group of about 20 local representatives brought together by the City Planning Department for an analysis of the project. The sessions will take place October 21st and October 28th.

While re-development of the Old Mill site, as well as the block containing the old Humber Odeon cinema is inevitable, the BWVRA feels any projects on this scale should respect the character of the Village and enhance it as it grows. Comments from members and local residents are always welcome at info@bwvra.ca
or via the comment link below.

The Tridel proposal can be viewed at http://2500bloor.ca/index.php

The OMCA can be reached through fighttheheight@yahoo.ca – they are looking for support.

It’s with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Al Denov this summer. Al served as a member of the BWVRA executive for the past several years. He was an energetic participant in our activities and served as the BWVRA representative on the High Park Advisory Committee. His calm and composed manner will be greatly missed. Our sympanthies go out to Al’s wife Nancy Zboch and his family. A memorial fund has been established in Al’s name at The Benjamin Foundation, 3429 Bathurst Street, Toronto, M6A 2C3, 416-780-0324, www.benjamin.ca

The Queensway and Windermere Avenue
11 Division – 416−808−1100

The Toronto Police Service is seeking assistance from the public with two incidents that occurred in The Queensway and Windermere Avenue area on Tuesday the 14th of July 2009.

Just after midnight on the above mentioned date police responded to a stabbing call on Windermere Avenue.

It was reported that earlier a 19 year old man had been walking in the area of The Queensway and Windermere Avenue when he was approached by a man who assaulted him.

The victim fled the scene and returned to his home. Once there he realized that he had been stabbed in the arm.

The victim was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.

Soon after the stabbing incident police responded to a shooting call again in The Queensway and Windermere Avenue area.

Upon arrival at this location officers located an 18 year old man suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery. He is listed in serious condition.

It is unknown at this time if the two incidents are connected.

Investigators have seized security camera images from the area and will continue to canvass the area for information.

It has been reported that several people were seen running from the area prior to the arrival of police.

Investigators would like to speak to those people and anyone else with information.

Contact police at 416-808-1100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).