Bloor West Village Residents Association

Some 100 residents of the Bloor West Village area attended a lively meeting hosted by the BWVRA on the future of the Village. The sparks were provided by Christopher Hume, Urban Affairs Critic for the Toronto Star who appeared with Jennifer Keesmat of the Office for Urbanism.

Keesmat gave an overview of the virtues and vulnerabilities of the Bloor West Village, based on the B.W.V. Urban Design Study which she co-authored in 2005. She reminded residents of how lucky we are: “You, in fact, have something here that is the envy of the nation. This is what other areas are trying to duplicate: it’s pedestrian-oriented, transit-oriented and allows small retail to flourish.”

Hume, who toured the Village with the BWVRA two weeks earlier, had a different take. “The sidewalks are in appalling condition and I don’t think there is one planter that is not empty. That medical building near Jane is an abomination.” The neighbourhood works, says Hume, despite of all the indignities that it has sufferred.

Keesmat advised residents to use the Urban Design Study to build a consensus “vision” of what we want the Village to become. “So, when a new development application comes forward the community could say ‘we have a vision. This is what we’d like in our community,’” she said. Keesmat is currently working in the Annex on a similar plan involving a wide range of stakeholders. The impetus for that was the approval of a hugely controversial 32 story condo across from Varsity Stadium. The idea is to be ready: “You have a chance to get out ahead of the curve. Changes will come and you want development” she told one resident who complained about the long-vacant lot at Bloor and Harcroft Road.

“You can shout and scream and no one’s listening”, said Hume. “I have no faith in planners, the city planning department, no faith in our politicians, in city government.” So, he urged people to take direct action, and on this Hume and Keesmat found common ground. Hume says residents have to do an end run around Toronto’s hap-hazard and adversarial system of property development. Go for the “win-win”, he urged. Both he and Keesmat said that means talking to the owners where re-development is most likely to occurr: the No Frills, the Turner & Porter Funeral Home, the Humber Odeon and connected buildings; the Old Mill Pontiac car dealership. “Developers don’t want to go to the OMB”, Keesmat insisted, and she described how stakeholders across the board in the Annex are now trying to work together to avoid another nasty confrontation.

Both agreed that a new opportunity may be in the offing at the corner of Bloor and Jane where the future of the old Humber Odeon and the remainder of the block are in flux. If this is to become a “gateway” to the Village and to the rest of Toronto and envisoned in the BWV Study, then Hume and Keesmat said all the stakeholders should be brought together to develop a plan that takes in the whole block.

Where things stand:

- The B.W.V. Urban Design Study is a policy guideline but not law. Councillor Bill Saundercook recently asked the Planning Department to prepare it for more formal adoption.
It was comissioned in 2005 in response to the Humber Odeon condo proposal condo proposal. While there was community input, it requires broader community discussion and possible updates. A copy of the Study can be viewed on this site under Links at the right of the home page.

- The Humber Odeon’s redevelopment as a 10-storey condo is in limbo. The owner (the Wynn family) won approval for the building over considerable local opposition, but never applied for a building permit. The Odeon and the remainder of the buildings on the block have apparently been bought by a single owner whose identity and plans are unknown. The car dealership to the west on Bloor will also change. It is appaently to close in 2009. Taken together these raise the possibility of a more comprehensive plan for a “gateway” as described in the Urban Design Study.

Bloor West Village – Present and Future

Join us on Wednesday, April 30th, 7-pm to hear two special guests speak about our Village, its virtues and challenges. Christopher Hume, the Toronto Star’s Urban Affairs and Design Columnist will be joined by Jennifer Keesmat of the Office for Urbanism.

Hume recently toured the Village with the BWVRA. Keesmat will present portions of the Bloor West Village Urban Design Study, which she co-authored. It identifies the unique aspects of the Village and identifies the properties most likely to be re-developed. The report sets out guidelines, developed along with a citizen’s panel, for future developments. She has since gone on to produce similar documents for other residents associations, who want to be pro-active in shaping the development of their neighbourhoods. A copy of the study is on the right of this page under “Links”.

Why is this of value? The City has an Official Plan that covers Toronto in broad strokes only. The sad fact is that detailed planning has not been done for every neighbourhood. And in the absence of a cohesive plan developers can and do ask for exceptions to the O.P. Precedents are set and often what follows is the kind of haphazard development one sees in many parts of the City.

A pro-active approach by the residents of our area can result in guidelines for future development that have the weight of law – perhaps even enough to matter to the OMB.

Come join us to learn more: Runnymede United Church, 432 Runnymede Road, Wednesday April 30th, 7-pm.

From the Cyclometer newsletter:

You’re invited to a Public Open House to review and provide comments on a proposal to install bicycle lanes on Annette Street between Jane Street and Dundas Street West. This is part of a 3.5 kilometre east-west bikeway planned for installation this summer. The Public Open House will take place on Thursday April 17 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Annette Recreation Centre, 333 Annette St.

If you are unable to attend the Public Open House but would like to provide us with your comments, you can email them to bikeplan@toronto.ca or fax to 416-392-4808.

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure? It can be true! Bring your unwanted “stuff” to our local Community Environment Day, hosted by City Councillor Bill Saundercook. It’s coming to High Park Sunday, April 20/08, from 10am – 2pm.

The City will take all your used household items and make sure they get recycled or reused by folks who want and need them. Best of all, you’ll be keeping your junk out of the landfill, so everyone wins.

- Small household items like dishes and ornaments will go to Goodwill, along with books, linens and clothing.
Even broken VCRs, cell phones, computers and other electronics will be accepted to make sure they are properly recycled and/or disposed.
- You can drop off art supplies such as pencils, markers, crayons, yarn and fabric, as well as used buttons, costume jewellery and dress-up clothing. They will be donated to ArtsJunktion—a Toronto District School Board warehouse for teachers—and reused by creative young minds.
- Bring leftover cleaning supplies and solvents, motor oil, paint, old and unused medication, mercury thermometers/thermostats and pesticides. These items are household hazardous wastes and need safe disposal.
Check out the other areas of the 2008 Community Environment Days website for a detailed list of everything you can take to and get: http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/activities.htm

Don’t forget: Recycling containers are available for purchase, for exchange with broken ones. There are water efficiency tools for sale such as rain barrels and indoor kits.

There’s also the paint exchange—bring some in or take at look at what’s been dropped off and help yourself.

And of course, everyone’s favourite: the giant pile of FREE leaf compost. Come prepared with your own containers and shovels. Haul it away and spruce up your lawn, garden and flower beds.
All the Communty Environment Day needs is you.

So hit your closets, basements, attics and garages for all the goods you can spare and then get out to this major event.

Ursula Frankly Academy (known affectionately as UFA) is hosting its annual Spring Gala, slated this year for April 22nd – 7pm.
Hosting is comedian Simon Cotter – seen on CBC’s “Comics” and CTV’s “Comedy Now”. There will be performances by The Bad Dog Theatre “Toronto’s Home of Improv”; by Martha O’Neill, as seen at The Laugh Resort; and by Modesto Amegago, spectacular West African Dance and Drumming. Also featured local talent including the winners of UFA IDOL, UFA’s Spoken Word Artists, and Lorraine Linton.
Tickets for adults $20, for students $10, family packs available. Proceeds go UFA’s community projects including the renewal of landscaping at the UFA/Western Tech school at 146 Glendonynne.
For tickets please contact Rita at 416-393-0430 ext. 0

From our friends at World19

What will you be doing during Earth Hour?

Why not show your “green colours” by participating in a community candle-light walk along Bloor Street West?

Many individuals, businesses and governments around the world will be shutting off or reducing their power usage for one hour on the evening of Saturday, March 29th from 8-9 pm to symbolically but importantly demonstrate the need for greater public education and action on the environment. The Earth Hour Challenge is being organized internationally by the World Wildlife Federation.
Learn more at http://www.world19.com/

As a community, we too can make a difference. Let’s make a collective effort to show our commitment to reducing energy usage that results in greenhouse gases. Turn off your lights, TVs, radios and computers and then join your neighbours in Bloor West Village for a fun candle-light walk – and to make our own statement about the importance of protecting the environment to our community. During the walk, further ideas can be shared on positive actions we as a community can take to protect our neighbourhoods and our planet.

Here’s what you can do:

- Join us at the parking lot by No Frills in Bloor West Village at 7:45. Bring a candle and lighter/ match.
- Wear something green (and warm).
- We will walk west to the corner of Bloor and Jane at 8pm rain or moonlight
- Remember to shut off your lights, etc.

Here’s what else you can do:

- Bring your family, friends and pets
- Ask businesses on the Bloor West strip to dim their lights/ host candle light dinners for the one hour
- Consider how you can reduce your energy usage year round.

For more information please call Christopher Holcroft at 416-760-8557.