Three historic homes that are around 100-years-old and were once part of Mimico’s main street are being considered for heritage designations.

The homes at 78, 80 and 86 Mimico Avenue will be considered for their historic value at a January 18 meeting by the Toronto Preservation Board.

The dwellings, of which two were former dairies and one a bank, were referred for consideration by the City’s Heritage Planning, Urban Design and City Planning.

The Heritage Planning department said the homes have ‘cultural heritage value,” and should be preserved by the City forever.

Their report said the properties were constructed between 1920 and 1929 as part of Mimico’s main street commercial structures with residential-office uses above.

“These three buildings display a remarkable level of visual cohesion, sharing architectural elements including two storey profile, cornices, parapets, storefronts, and second storey apartments/offices,” according to the report.

It states the commercial buildings were typical of Mimico’s streetcar period from 1918 to 1939 following the First World War, when Mimico experienced significant growth on the north side of Mimico Avenue.

Then the commercial structures were grouped together at the intersections of Lake Shore Blvd. W., Queens Avenue and Station Road.

The report said the 80 Mimico Avenue property was built in 1920 by John and Percy MacKenzie for their business, John MacKenzie and Son Dairy.

The family sold the property in 1928 and a year later John, Percy and Clarence MacKenzie constructed the building at 78 Mimico Avenue to house their expanded dairy, which operated as Hillside Dairy from 1932 to 1943, and then Silverwoods dairy from 1944 to 1955. The property operated as a dairy for 35 years on then Mimico’s main street.

The property at 80 Mimico Avenue was purchased by Anthony Joseph in 1928, whose family would operate a grocery store there from 1929 until 1969.

Constructed between 1923 and 1924 for the Union Bank of Canada, 86 Mimico Avenue served as the branch of the Royal Bank of Canada from 1925-1935. It was purchased and occupied by Florence Weber in 1953, who would reside there for the next five decades.

“The subject properties anchor the northeast corner of Mimico Avenue and Station Road and are important in defining, maintaining, and supporting the predominantly early-twentieth century main street character of Mimico Avenue,” the report stated.

Demolition permits were submitted in May 15, 2023, for the properties at 78 and 80 Mimico Avenue but someone realized their historic value. Those applications are still under review.

The heritage designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the properties and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.

The report said staff completed research on the properties at 78, 80 and 86 Mimico Avenue and determined they met designation under the Ontario Heritage Act and have significant heritage value.

The fate of an iconic Long Branch Black Barn Maple tree that is about 100-years-old is still blowing in the wind.

A Committee of Adjustment will consider on January 18 if the tree should stay untouched.

The tree and long-time neighbourhood landmark may be injured or destroyed by the extension of a dwelling and adding of a garden on the property at 95 James Street.

Residents of the Long Branch community have banded together to stop the extension and save the tree, which has gone back and forth to different hearings due to appeals.

“The Black Barn Maple is the quintessential pride and joy of Long Branch, home of Canada’s largest Tree Festival,” said Bill Zufelt, Executive Director of the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association in a letter to the committee. “Be stalwarts … protecting this gracious lady from mutilation, destruction or death.”

An arborist report states that the tree is healthy.

“The tree is in good condition, however given its size it is entering the latter phase of its life,” according to the report, which estimates the tree to be at least 100-years-old.

It said trunk protection and mulching is to be installed prior to any site work, which has to be done by hand.

“The proposed injury is minor and is not expected to adversely impact the tree,” the arborist wrote. “Silver Maple is a weak-wooded species prone to storm damage and is generally not well suited to small urban landscapes.”

The report said trees are ‘living organisms, and their health and vigour constantly change over time.’ “They are not immune to changes in site conditions or seasonal variations in the weather conditions.”

The tree is the largest deciduous tree in South Western Toronto, according to the Long Branch Tree Canopy and the Metropolitan University of Toronto Forestry Department.

Zufelt said the Black Barn Maple once belonged to Col. Samuel Smith, one of the first administrators of Upper Canada in the early 1800s after Lord John Graves Simcoe. Smith’s portrait is displayed at Queens Park.

He said In the 1850s the land was acquired by the James Eastwood family and they lumbered the lands using Smiths saw mill to clear the property to create a prominent cattle and horse farm.

The maple is named after the largest of the three Eastwood Black Barns, and was visible from land, sea and rail and became a significant landmark on the Western Toronto Gateway.

In 2021 the Black Barn Maple was nominated to be an official Heritage Tree of Forest Ontario.

The City of Toronto first opposed the property developer’s request for a permit to remove the tree. But this was later revoked when the City revealed in a document that they had come to a settlement with the builder, which residents believe to be a numbered company.

Judy Gibson, Chair, Tree Canopy Preservation and Enhancement Committee Long Branch Neighbourhood Association, in a letter this month noted the applicant plans to construct a garden suite in the rear yard and ‘that will also injure this potential to become a Heritage Tree.”

She said a permit was issued by the City last October for a garden suite to be built on the lot.

“A garden suite cannot be built on this property without injuring the Black Barn Maple,” Gibson wrote. “The foot print and plans for that building should be provided to the committee for a complete picture of the development of this property.”

She asked the committee to deny the application as Toronto Local Appeal Body did some time ago.

A quick-thinking TTC streetcar driver is being credited for his kindness in finding and returning a stroller left on his Lake Shore 501 streetcar by a stressed-out mom.

Photos of the deserted stroller were taken on the 501 streetcar at the Humber Loop by Tracy MacDonald, who posted it on social media to find the mom who forgot it.

MacDonald asked online if someone had left their stroller behind.

Within hours TTC driver Kevin Taylor responded that he tracked down the mom.

“I was driving that streetcar, owner has been tracked down, and it has been returned to them,” Taylor reported.

The post sparked dozens of responses from women who praised Taylor for his kindness.

“I even had to check to see if there was a baby inside,” wrote TTC rider Bailey Darrah.

Monique Vaughan expressed her thanks to Taylor.

“Thanks for being such a wonderful part of the community,” Vaughan wrote.

“So glad to hear,” responded Tamara Sinead.

“Good for you,” replied Sandra Melville.

Shylo Clermont said we can use more drivers like Taylor.

“We can definitely do with more drivers like you,” Clermont wrote. “Thank you for being a great human!”

Claire Laporte sympathized “poor mother must have been so exhausted to forget her stroller.”

“Thank you,” said Theresa Sciberras. “You’ve assisted with something else before. Appreciate it.”.

Carolyn Emerson had some words to say for those who were joking about the incident.

“The fact that people are laughing and making immature comments truly show peoples true colours,” Emerson wrote. “Grow up.”

A kind-hearted Taylor has been a transit operator for the TTC for more than eight years.

“Remarkably knowledgeable transit enthusiast with high-quality customer service skills,” Taylor said of his work online.

“In addition to repeated and constant exposure to high-stress situations involving but not limited to the well-being of patrons and staff,” he said.

Somewhere today there is a mother and child who many not know of the many lives they have touched on that fateful streetcar ride.

A cyclist dubbed a senior citizen predator is being sought by Toronto Police 22 Division officers for five sexual assaults in The Queensway and The West Mall area.

Police said the suspect is about 70 to 80-years-old, with short grey hair and speaks with a European accent. He makes his getaway on a grey Raleigh mountain bike and wears a red-black helmet.

Detectives said on October 24, 2023, at about 11:55 a.m., police responded to a call for a sexual assault in The Queensway and The West Mall area.

It is reported that the suspect approached a victim, requesting to use a translator application to speak with him, police said. The suspect stood close to the victim, extending his hand for a hand shake.

“As they were shaking hands, the suspect pulled the victim in closer and sexually assaulted her,” according to a release.

Two weeks later, on November 5, 2023, at about 5:53 p.m., police responded to a call for another sexual assault this time in The Queensway and Islington Avenue area.

Again the suspect approached a victim, requesting to use a translator application to speak with him. The suspect stood close to the victim, extending his hand for a hand shake.

The suspect again pulled the victim closer and sexually assaulted her.

On January 9, 2024, about 7:40 p.m. the man returned to The Queensway and The West Mall area and approached three separate victims, requesting to use a translator application to speak to him.

As they were shaking hands, the suspect pulled the victims closer and sexually assaulted them. He made his escape on the bicycle.

The man is often seen wearing a black toque, black jacket and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-2200, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com.

Witnesses said the man lives in the vicinity and has been seen cycling in the community.

 

Toronto Police say now is not a good time for City Council to reduce their operating budget by $12.6 million as hate crime is at an all-time high.

Chief Myron Demkiw said the force has just learned the City wants to cut $12.6 million from the 2024 Toronto Police Services Operating Budget even though it has been approved by the police board. It is part of the City’s plan to raise taxes by 10.5 per cent.

“Costs cannot be further reduced without taking unacceptable risks,” he said. “Otherwise, the service will have no prospect of delivering adequate and effective policing service as required in legislation.”

The budget cut will be voted on by City Council on February 14.

Demkiw said between October 7, 2023 and January 10 this year, there have been 54 arrests and 117 charges laid related to hate crime occurrences. Of the 117 charges laid, some 28 were related to mischief, with 22 for assault and 17 for uttering threats.

There have been three reported hate crimes in Toronto so far this year, of which two were anti-Semitic and one targeting LGBTQ2S+ communities. The Service has received 145 web submissions to date from people using the Hate Graffiti Web Form.

The Chief said officers from other units are being dispatched to fight hate crime and all protests at the Avenue Road and Highway 401 overpass is banned due to the danger It presents.

“There will be criminal charges laid for those who protest there,” he said. “There are safer places where lawful protests can take place.”

Demkiw said one man was arrested on January 7 for marching down Queen Street West and Bay Street waving a flag of an organization listed as a terrorist group by Public Safety Canada.

The 41-year-old Toronto man was arrested and charged with public incitement of hatred after a large downtown demonstration. He will appear in court on February 23.

“Hate and intimidation can have no space in our city and we have been unwavering in our commitment to restore the sense of public safety,” the Chief vowed. “Our officers have worked tirelessly to manage 308 demonstrations ….exponentially more than any other city in Canada.”

From January to September 2023, the force averaged 47 hate crime related calls for service each month. From October to December 2023, that average increased to 190 hate crime related calls each month.

In 2023, the number of reported hate crime occurrences increased by 42 per cent compared to 2022, with 353 reported in 2023 and 248 reported in 2022.

Demkiw said there was a 48 per cent decrease in reported hate crimes in December 2023 with 10 reported, compared to November 2023 with 48 cases reported.

Anti-Semitism continues to account for more reported hate crimes than any other category, making up 37 per cent of all hate crimes reported in 2023. That same year there were 132 reported anti-Semitic hate crimes compared to 65 in 2022. There was also 35 reported anti-Muslim/Palestinian/Arab hate crimes in 2023 compared to 12 in 2022.

Also troubling is the 65 per cent increase in LGBTQ2S+ hate crimes reported in 2023, the second highest category – there were 66 reported in 2023 compared to 40 in 2022.

Social media has been buzzing with reports of a NBA star, who some speculate is newly-acquired Toronto Raptors R.J. Barrett, is house hunting for a $15 million home in the South Etobicoke area.

“Exciting news! A high-profile client, an NBA player, is currently searching for a new home in our beautiful city,” real estate agent Richard Emmanuel Foltys posted on an Etobicoke-Lakeshore Community page.

Foltys said he is scouting exclusive properties that is a minimum of 8,000 square feet, on a sizable private lot, to be sold in an off-market private sale, which is 25 minutes of the OVO Athletic Centre, on British Columbia Road.

‘’Our client has a budget ranging from $8 million to $15 million and is ready to make an excellent offer,’’ Foltys posted. ‘’This is a unique opportunity for those considering selling their property. We are aiming to finalize the transaction swiftly, ideally within the next 30 days.’’

He asked ‘if someone you know has a property that matches these specifications and are interested in this opportunity to reach out to him.’

‘’Your prompt response could lead to a remarkable deal,’’ he said.

The post lit up the site as dozens of people wrote suggestions on where to look or pitching products to beautify the new home.

Many were speculating that the potential buyer is R.J. Barrett, the newly-acquired Toronto Raptors star who grew up in Brampton.

Dayna Mainprize suggested the agent start knocking on doors on North Drive or in the Edenbridge area, near Humber Valley Village, which features some of the most expensive properties in South Etobicoke.

‘’Not sure if it’s R.J.’s style, but the $8M house at Lake Shore and Royal York is for sale,” wrote Kathy Cruz.

Sandy Busby wrote to “check Drake’s place which sure has all the amenities a celebrity can ask for.’’

Pat Thomas said a house recently featured in Toronto Life that was owned by a former NHL player in the Edenbridge area may be available.

And Jen Love, who owns an upholstery business, said ‘’I make couches that hold and fit NBA players. I can furnish that home.’’

Realtor Foltys was not long ago selling the City’s most expensive condo that was listed for $34.7 million on Bloor Street. W.

“(The buyer) can take a whole floor and design it however they want,’’ Foltys said then. ‘’You can even have your own private pool now, your own private elevators, private roof gardens.”

In its listing, the condo is described as a “serene full-floor residence,“ with “sleek interiors of marble and wood,’ and “opulent metallic tones,” with “sunlight from every angle.”

Foltys’ website claims he is also a photographer who has taken pictures of Pope John Paul II, NATO and international events in addition to musicians Diana Ross and Kiss star Gene Simmons.

A City of Toronto 2024 budget proposal of a tax hike of 10.5 per cent is not going over well with many South Etobicoke residents.

The budget is seeking a 9 per cent property tax increase and 1.5 per cent increase to the city building fund, which is a levy that supports projects such as transit and housing, bringing the hike to 10.5 per cent.

Another six per cent hike can be added if the federal government does not cough up $250 million to cover the costs of refugee claimants and asylum seekers filling up 4,300 shelter beds nightly.

City budget chief Shelley Carroll said if a federal decision is not made by January 26, she will be forced to bring forward an additional levy of six per cent, making property taxes increase even more.

Carroll said the city is facing a $1.8-billion shortfall in its operating budget “due to years of chronic underinvestment in city services.”

She said staff were able to find over $600 million in cost savings for the 2024 budget.

“While everyone is feeling the pinch, again and again, you told us that you still want us to protect the services that you rely on,” Carroll said.

She said TTC fares will remain the same and there will be an increase to the Toronto Police budget.

‘’The tax increase works out to about $30 a month or $1 dollar per day for every household,’’ Carroll told reporters.

The increase will work out to more than $365 yearly in taxes per household.

Mayor Olivia Chow will bring forward the final budget to city council on February 14 for a vote.

Councillor Amber Morley in a statement said Toronto is facing an unprecedented financial shortfall which, if left unaddressed, compromises our ability to deliver services, invest in housing and transit, and build a safe and affordable city for everyone.

“We know that one in 10 people are relying on food banks, that over 80,000 households are on the waitlist for affordable housing, and hundreds are turned away from our shelter system each night,” Morley said.

She said Torontonians pay some of the lowest property taxes in the province and GTA, including Hamilton and Ottawa.

‘’We’ve worked hard with City staff to find efficiencies in the City Budget, while protecting and investing in your priorities,” Morley wrote.

There will be two sessions for the public to provide input into the budget process on January 23. The first session is from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The hybrid meetings will be held in the Etobicoke Civic Centre Council Chamber, at 399 The West Mall and online (WebEx).

To register to speak e-mail buc@toronto.ca or call 416-392-4666. You will have to choose a preferred time slot and register by 4:30 p.m., on January 19.

Registered speakers will be provided with instructions about how to join the meeting.

Reaction to the budget increase was quick and mixed on social media.

“No government should be allowed to increase taxes to this degree in one shot. It’s obscene,” one person wrote.

“So we pay more while feeling unsafe and being attacked in our own city. Awesome,” one user on X wrote.

Here is something we rarely see these days just when most old homes in the community are being demolished.

The Etobicoke York Community Council will consider this month if a small detached home with great views of the lake on Lake Promenade that is set between mansions and historic lots should be demolished.

Officials of Toronto Building will let community council decide if the decades-old home on a large lakefront lot will be flattened.

A numbered company that owns the lot at 307 Lake Promenade, owns another next door at 303 Lake Promenade, and has applied to Toronto Building to demolish 307 so it can be replaced by a monster home or possibly condos.

The company said “they wish to demolish the building located at 307 Lake Promenade to afford them the opportunity to widen the footprint of their home located at 303 Lake Promenade.”

The owner said the home is in disrepair and would require a lot of work to make it habitable.

But an inspection by Toronto Building in December 2023 revealed there’s no evidence of structural damage.

“Although some areas on the interior and exterior exhibit signs of water damage and some maintenance is required, the damage is considered minor,” Toronto Building officials wrote. “No unsafe conditions have been observed.”

Real Estate records show the 2,750 square feet home was listed in 2022 for just over $4 million and is located on a 50-feet by 238-feet lot. It sat on the market of 121 days.

The two storey detached home has beautiful views of Lake Ontario and the lakefront trail.

“Great waterfront lot in the desired neighbourhood of Long Branch,” according to the realtors. It is “surrounded by mansions and historic lots.”

They said the property is close to shopping, restaurants, Long Branch GO, streetcars, transit and minutes to Queen Elizabeth Way, Highway 427, downtown and Marie Curtis Park Beach.

Toronto Building wrote community council can refuse the demolition because there is no permit application to replace the building; or can approve the demolition of the vacant home without any conditions; or demolish the home with certain conditions.

 

 

 

 

The City is inviting residents to learn about a plan to open bars, restaurants and nightclubs later at night that has been given the green light.

There will be a virtual Night Economy Town Hall meeting taking place on January 17 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., city officials say.

Residents are encouraged to help shape, plan and create a safe and vibrant Toronto nightlife by participating in the first-ever Town Hall. The program begins in January 2025.

The plan has been met with negative feedback in Long Branch and other communities whose residents claim the longer bar hours will result in more drunkenness, crime and noise. It will also affect residents in New Toronto and Mimico among other communities.

 

Bars and other venues will be able to open until 4 a.m., rather than 2 a.m., if they receive a permit.

“Night economy describes the social, cultural, and economic activities that take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in Toronto,” according to City officials. “A major component is the nighttime workforce, including those who help manage life at night, such as hospitality industry workers, bar owners, shift workers, and emergency services professionals.”

Officials said most of the nighttime action is now centered in downtown and this will bring more revenue to the outlying areas.

“Including the night economy in municipal planning is essential,” according to a City report. “Doing so allows more residents to access City services, run errands, and travel throughout the city at night.”

 

The City said bylaws differs in various communities and the plan will bring uniform regulations across Toronto. It will also allow the City to take a proactive approach to nighttime activities as noise and safety.

They hope the Town Hall will help create and activate space and livability for all those who work nights, create strategies that promote safe and enjoyable communities, update rules and licensing for bars, restaurants and entertainment venues and change regulations on how these businesses can operate.

A City report states there are about 8,000 licensed establishments in Toronto, of which 483 are bars, 243 are live music venues and 26 are nightclubs. In 2017, Toronto welcomed over 43.7 million visitors that spent $8.8 billion. A record 15.5 million were overnight visitors.

Officials said the business of nightlife also employs people. The Toronto region’s nightlife employs 64,000 workers in the food and beverage sector, 32,000 employees in the hotel industry and 178,000 workers in culture sector.

“Nightlife activities also commonly drive tourism and tourist spending and Toronto is the leading tourism destination in Canada,” according to the City.

Many City services including Toronto Public Health, Toronto Paramedic Services, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Fire Services, Toronto Police Service will be involved in the program to actively prevent and respond to health issues at night.

“Because of their excellent work, Toronto is a city that continually ranks high in terms of tourists’ perceptions of safety,” City officials wrote.

Nightlife contributes to the economy by generating jobs and attracting tourists that bring new money into the city’s economy. It also offers social and cultural benefits such as connecting people through live experiences, fostering a sense of community and belonging, creating vibrant scenes and incubating talent.

The event will occur at the Beanfield Centre, Room 200, 105 Princes’ Blvd., Toronto, or you can register for the virtual Town Hall at  https://toronto.webex.com/weblink/register/rf52dc31061a3f89015fee5b56030100f

Police are reminding residents to beware of whom they are hiring for snow clearing or other tasks around their home at this time of the year.

The latest warning stems from an arrest of a Norval man for a series of renovation frauds that occurred from September 2021 to February 2023 mostly in Brampton and Mississauga.

Peel Regional Police said the suspect signed five renovation contracts and collected $37,000 in deposits but never returned to complete the jobs.

Police believe there are more victims and want them to come forward.

Hardish Khinda, 42, aka Sunny, of Norval, has been charged with defrauding the public.

The suspect claimed to be working for Weaver Home Improvement or North Side Renovations.

Officers are warning people to hire established contractors, who have worked for trusted friends or family.

They must also check the contractor’s  references or search their companies on Google and never pay with cash up front.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Fraud Bureau at (905) 453–2121, ext. 3335. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca