Residents of the Long Branch community are rallying to halt plans by a developer to obtain higher density for a massive and controversial Lake Promenade development.

Members of the Lake Promenade Tenants’ Association said the builders of a 220 Lake Promenade Development have appealed the application to the provincial Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

“This means it has taken the decision out of the City of Toronto’s hands and given it over to what has typically been a developer-friendly tribunal,” said Association spokesperson Patti Pokorchak. “We have to stop this!”

She said the developers are seeking to increase the density of the mega-project by up to five times. It is estimated the amount of housing units at the site will increase from about 550 to up to about 2,000.

“There are no precedents in the city for this increase in density within a residential community that is not on a major thoroughfare,” Pokorchak said, citing Lake Promenade is a 10-minute walk to Lake Shore Blvd and 40 minutes to Kipling Station, which is hardly a transit-friendly location.

The proposal would see the five low-rise buildings on site demolished and replaced with modern buildings significantly significantly larger in size. The construction work can take up to 15-years of truck traffic, dust and noise for the small community.

Five towers are planned ranging in height from 12 to 30 storeys on the site. Two would contain rental suites and the others would be condos. Also proposed is a new public road.

Architectural drawings show a total of 2,021 suites, 548 of which would be rental replacement, 29 of which would be market rental, and 1,444 of which would be market condo suites.

Pokorchak said many of the residents are seniors on fixed income who have been living in the buildings for decades and will have to be relocated new neighbourhoods, which is promised to be conducted in phases.

The Association objects that the City has not released an official report on the development which is expected in December; and believe the case management conference on October 18 is premature.

Residents are encouraged to file complaints or a Participant Status Request with the OLT before October 8.  The link is: https://olt.gov.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Participant-Status-Request-Form.html

 

A Lake Shore Blvd. W. Avenue Study is underway to develop new by-laws relating to more density and taller buildings from Brown’s Line to Dwight Avenue.

A report from the City Planning officials outlining ways to improve and beautify the Lake Shore Blvd. W. Corridor will be handed over to the Etobicoke York Community Council for consideration, then for approval by City Council next year.

Planning officials are proposing that buildings in the Brown’s Line to Dwight Avenue Corridor be allowed to build higher than four storeys and can go up to eight or 11 storeys depending on the size of the property. They want to increase the density to attract more people into the area.

The study will provide a ‘framework for establishing a complete community that supports overall quality of life for people of all ages, abilities and incomes.’

“This will be achieved through encouraging a range of housing options and creating an accessible and vibrant public realm,” according to officials.

A report with final recommendations is targeted for 2025 with a recommended Site and Area Specific Policy, Zoning By-law, and Urban Design and Streetscape Guidelines.

The study area is approximately four kilometres in length and includes Mixed Use Areas and Apartment Neighbourhoods. There are two Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) along the corridor.

Planning and Housing Committee officials said mid-rise buildings of up to eight or 11 storeys should be allowed along the Corridor.

Staff noted that there are areas with sub-standard sidewalk widths, lack of street trees, angled, perpendicular or parallel on-street parking, and lack of street furniture as benches, waste bins, bicycle post and lock up rings.

The vision for the Corridor is to provide a widened sidewalk zone that is ideally six metres between curb to building face to achieve a balance of sidewalk improvements, tree planting and furniture zones.

This may include the addition of bike parking, widening of the pedestrian clearway to meet current standards, and patio and marketing space.

In certain sections a reconfiguration and reduction of commercial boulevard parking may be required to facilitate these improvements.

The study is made up of 20 key stakeholders within the study area as well as local residents that expressed interest in participating in a more in-depth discussion.

More green and visitor-friendly space were suggested, along with some residents who wanted a cycle track in the community.

The study will help develop new by-laws and built form policies that relate to density, height, and other considerations between Brown’s Line and Dwight Avenue, according to the City.

It has been almost three years since police have been hunting for a gunman accused of  killing two men and leaving a woman in life-changing injuries in a Thirtieth Street gunplay.

Police have released a photo of Phillip Grant, 34, of Peel Region, who is sought for the bloody January 2022 murders at an office complex at 150 Thirtieth Street.

Detectives said they arrived at the scene to find to men suffering from gunshot wounds and a woman nearby with injuries.

The men died from their injuries in hospital and the woman sustained non-life injuries.

The deceased men have been identified as Minyali Wur, 24, and Chudier Reat, 20, both of Mississauga.

The slayings generated a lot of media and public interest due to the barbaric slayings.

If anyone sees him they should immediately call 9-1-1. Anyone offering him assistance in evading arrest may be considered an accessory after the fact and face charges. Some believe the suspect has fled the country.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-7400, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

More than 500 nature lovers have signed a petition to halt, or for the reconsideration, of a massive but badly-needed shoreline maintenance work at Colonel Sam Smith Park.

The major project by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) will begin in October and last for three years.

Popular bike and walking paths in the park will be fenced off from the public until 2027 so large trucks can transport boulders to the job site.

Most of the work will address displaced stones of shoreline structures and bank erosion close to shoreline trails which can pose a potential hazard to park visitors and infrastructure, officials said. The work will help curb floods and water level rise.

Those against the project said the proposed construction access route ‘cuts right through the park, fencing in and closing popular paths, blocking the Waterfront Trail, and restricting public access to much of the eastern side of the park.’

“The proposed route poses a significant threat to many trees, some more than a century old,” according to the online petition. “It will be disruptive to the abundant wildlife that visits or resides in the park, including the sensitive pond area.”

The group said heavy trucks will ‘use the road by the Gatehouse and then turn onto the path just west of 13th Street, down by the pond to Whimbrel Point. ‘

The petition is asking the TRCA to change or reconsider the truck route through the park to prevent damage to nature or wildlife. They are also seeking a public meeting on the issue.

“It is urgent that the access route is reviewed ASAP so that this poor choice doesn’t commit the park and park users to three or more years of park restriction and disruption,” the petition state.

The TRCA in a release said major maintenance work will be along the outer shoreline of the park’s waterfront extension.

“Maintenance of several erosion control structures has become necessary due to severe weather events and wave action that poses a potential hazard to park lands and shoreline trail,” according to the Authority.

Some residents took to social media to express anger over the reduced use of the bike and popular walking trails.

The chosen corridor will be fenced off and unusable by the public for three years, Barbara McAndrew posted.

She said the bike route can only be used after 4:00 p.m. during the week and on weekends.

“For those who use this route, it will be an inconvenient to say the least,” she said.

Barbara Zylski was concerned about the huge boulders piled up on the shore at the bottom of Second Street and Prince of Wales Park.

“Total overkill if you ask me,” she wrote. “Waste of taxpayer’s money.”

The park is popular for Whimbrel Point, which for up to five days a year, Whimbrels use this area as a resting point on their migration to their breeding grounds in the Arctic. The park hosts a “Whimbrel Watch” every year to celebrate their return to Whimbrel Point.

All day traffic congestion has gotten under the skin of many Humber Bay Shores residents.

More than 300 residents have signed a petition asking Ward 3 Councillor Amber Morley to do something about the heavy traffic congestion in their area.

Residents said congestion in the Lake Shore Blvd. W., and Park Lawn Road area, is experiencing rush hour 24-hours and it is terrible for the people who live there.

The congestion issue is a priority for City officials as they tackle traffic gridlock through the use of heavy fines, more traffic agents and dash cameras.

The petition is calling for Park Lawn Road to remain a four-lane road from the south of The Queensway. City officials have a plan to make it a two-lane road with cycle lanes in both directions.

“Most people going west or north use Park Lawn and it’s already very congested,” it states.

The concerned residents are seeking the reconfiguration of the Gardiner Expressway ramps that connect to Lake Shore Blvd. W., at Brooker’s Lane so they connect to a new planned street.

They are also asking Morley and City staff to update their forecast of population in the area which is experiencing record growth.

Some residents said traffic will only get worst when construction of the multiple condos begin in earnest on the former Christie Cookie site, which will include a TTC and GO bus terminals.

Resident Kathy Penfold took to social media to note that the density is already overwhelming.

“There is insufficient support for current residents,” she wrote. ” Traffic is crazy and public transportation hasn’t caught up to the exploding population.”

Richard Verbeek urged the many condo residents to take the GO Train.

“Humber Bay Shores and surrounding neighbourhoods should not remain as rush hour conduit through the south-west corner of Toronto,” he wrote.

The petition can be found on change.org

City officials are looking at adding more outdoor ovens in City parks to see if they can collect funds from their use by volunteer and various groups.

A study is being conducted into improving the access to the large outdoor ovens in City parks. There are about 10 parks that have them now.

City staff are trying to ‘identify opportunities to reduce administrative or financial barriers to the community use of outdoor ovens.’

At the same time they said public health and safety and liability considerations have to be met.

Groups now have to pay for a permit for use of the public park ovens, which are often brick structures with an area for cooking meals.

They are often used by charities or not-for-profit organizations that enter into long-term agreements with Parks, Forestry and Recreation.

The ten outdoor bake ovens located in City of Toronto parks provide focal points in the community for gathering, preparing, and enjoying food in a park, according to the city.

“Many have active volunteer groups who regularly bring neighbours together to use and enjoy these public facilities,” according to the City.

Users are required to have proof of training on the safe operation of an outdoor oven, compliance with safe food handling and preparation requirements, fire safety measures and proof of general liability insurance

Deep-pocketed developers are dishing out $6 billion to create a new commercial and housing development dubbed The Clove at Cloverdale Mall.

The Clove is located in the Dundas Street W., and The East Mall, across from the mall.

The Clove will be two towers of 33 and 9-storey with a total of 606 mixed condo units. Units will be a mix of studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three-bedroom layout, according to a release by Quadreal Property Group and Mattamy Homes.

The estimated completion date is still unknown.

Final designs for the development has been released into what is described as the first phase of the Cloverdale Mall redevelopment, that would see condos and town homes in the mall’s parking lot.

The property is being marketed as Cloverdale’s signature condominium project on the 2.3 acre gateway site located at 2 & 10 The East Mall Crescent, according to a September 3 release.

The development will feature a new street, community amenities and transportation essentials, according to the developers.

“The Clove’s lush courtyard offers an almost resort-like feel for residents as they pull up to the building, evoking a more urban, contemporary take on the ‘Tower in a Park,” the release stated.

“The team has worked hard to design a tower that will serve as a gateway to the rest of the development, while offering a striking presence on Toronto’s west-end skyline,” says Niall Haggart, President, GTA Urban Division, Mattamy Homes.

Ralph Giannone, founding partner, GPA Architects, said the development is part of a 32-acre masterplan community.

“The result is a signature building, and new master plan, that opens up new opportunities for long-term residents to stay in the community they love, while also allowing new residents to move into this part of the city.”

The complex will help meet the needs of the growing community, as there will be two public parks and other green spaces.

We love our beautiful trees in South Etobicoke.

The Long Branch Tree Fest is once again taking place September 22 at Marie Curtis Park. There will be many environmental types of attractions and plenty to learn about our trees.

The 6th Annual Long Branch Tree Fest takes place on September 22 from 12 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It will be a fun afternoon of children’s activities, educational walks, urban tree canopy education, and more – all centred around the benefits that the urban canopy provides for our communities.

The event comes as there is a move afoot at City Hall to reduce the time it takes for City staff to remove a dead tree and replace it with a another on our leafy boulevards.

Many South Etobicoke residents have complained that it takes too long to obtain a new tree.

The issue will be considered at a Council meeting on November 25.

The matter was brought up by Councillor Paul Ainslie to a Service Excellence Committee in September.

“I am writing to express my concern regarding the lengthy process involved in removing a dead tree from a city boulevard and replacing it with a new one,” Ainslie wrote.

He said the City Boulevard Tree Removal and Replacement Process can take up to six visits from City staff and as long as two years for your tree to be replaced.

His motion states that now there has to be an inspection of the dead tree, staff have to remove the tree branches, then remove the trunk, remove the tree roots before a new tree is planted.

“This multi-step process can take up to two years to complete,” the Councillor wrote. “I believe this timeline is excessive and negatively impacts the aesthetic and environmental value of our neighbourhoods.”

Long Branch is home of some of the oldest and protected trees in Canada, with some more than 120-years old.

The event is sponsored by the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association

By TANYA VIVIDLY

Deals, deals and more deals.

Are you on the search for a one-of-a-kind product that ranges from homeware, clothing and electronics to name a few items.

Look no further than The Little Liquidation Store, at 2974 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

I was introduced to the business owner Denise Lam, who has been in business for two months now and loving it. She also owns the JEI learning centre, which has been in the community for two years.

The idea for the store started as a partnership between friends, one who was a great thrifter and then changed her mind.

So Denise decided to continue this venture solo.

Her helpful staff include Jacob, who is very helpful and Shreya, who also handles her social media.

As a liquidation store they operate as a bins concept. If you are not familiar with this concept, it has been compared to opening presents with each visit.

Not knowing what you will find or get builds excitement and curiosity.

Each day the deal price is different for example Monday is $7.99. During my visit I experienced Shreya putting together a Teachers box.

The ideal behind this initiative is to repurpose items that are not moving. It is also donated to schools in need of supplies.

Stop by, engage in your form of retail therapy. Thrift shoppers unite and I will see you there.