Local motorists were stunned to find a busy intersection closed due to flooding with up-to-two-feet deep from a watermain break.

Water was gushing and streets were closed in The Queensway and Islington Avenue area as police and city crews tried to control the flood.

Some stores in the intersection area remained closed as customers and workers couldn’t gain entrance.

Other nearby streets like Kipling Avenue was jammed as motorists tried to get to their destination on November 18.

A major overnight watermain break led to the flooding that shut north, south and westbound streets. Only eastbound traffic from the intersection was open.

TTC services were also affected in the area. The TTC said that bus routes 87 Cosburn and 80 Queensway were diverted for several hours through alternate routes.

Police said reports of the watermain break came in shortly after 1 a.m. on Saturday. Shortly after 7 a.m., police reported that the muddy water was one-to-two feet deep at certain points and causing flooding in nearby buildings.

 

The area of The Queensway and Kipling Avenue will soon be unrecognizable with three high-rise towers planned to go on the site of two car dealerships.

The site of 1306 to 1310 The Queensway are proposed to be the home of a 24-storey, 35 and 10 storey towers that will contain 840 dwelling units.

The site on the north-west side of the intersection is occupied by a Hyundai and Audi car dealerships.

A proposal has been submitted to city officials for the area to be designated as residential mixed use property and it was recommended for approval at the hearing stage.

The proposed development, which will be linked by an eight-storey podium, will have 93 studio units, 467 one bedrooms, 193 two bedroom units and 87 three bedrooms. The bottom floors will be retail space, according to plans filed to the city.

There will be 12 affordable housing units, the developers said.

A new 1,575 square metre public park is proposed on the south-east corner of the site along with a 759 square metres of public space between the buildings.

The owner of the building is also required to make a $4 million contribution to the city to cover the costs for street beautification, public art and improvements to the area; including fixing sidewalks, tree plantings, improvement to local parks, trails, community centres and a splash pad.

A public consultation was held virtually with members of the community in September 2020.

On the east side of Kipling Avenue and south of The Queensway is the Kipling Queensway Mall.

The lands south of The Queensway, east of Queensway Lions Court and west of Kipling Avenue, at 1361-1325 The Queensway, are subject to an active Zoning By-law Amendment application to permit a mixed-use development of two 37-storey towers connected by an 11-storey building.

“The Official Plan states that current and future residents must be able to access and maintain adequate, affordable and appropriate housing,” according to the city. “The City’s quality of life, economic competitiveness, social cohesion, as well as its balance and diversity depend on it.”

They said the neighbourhood is becoming a new entertainment, dining, and shopping destination hub. At the heart of it all, The Queensway is being transformed into a premiere vibrant mixed-use street with a focus on pedestrian friendliness to accommodate the growing population of families, young professional and business operations.

“City Planning staff are recommending approval of an amendment to the Zoning By-laws to permit the proposed development which represents good planning,” according to council.

“It is staff’s opinion that the proposed development has appropriate regard for the relevant matters of provincial interest outlined in the Planning Act.”

They said the tall buildings will not cast much of a shadow against smaller buildings in the area and will only increase road traffic by about 5 per cent.

The building will contain a three levels of underground parking for 756 vehicles, which includes 630 for residents and 126 for visitors. There would be electric charging built for 152 vehicles and 639 bicycle spots and a repair station.

The applicant is proposing to remove 16 City-owned trees leaving one injured, even though a total of 62 trees will be replanted.

Two Etobicoke men are among seven people charged in what Toronto Police say is their largest drug seizure in the force’s 189-year history.

Undercover officers during a three-and-a-half month operation, dubbed Project Finito, seized 992 kilograms of drugs, which included 551 kilos of cocaine and 441 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $90 million.

Detectives also seized a firearm, a vehicle and about $95,100 in Canadian currency.

Superintendent Steve Watts, of Organized Crime Enforcement, alleged the suspects were runners in a drug ring who were each moving a large amount of drugs.

“They were more high-level runners,” Watts said at a press conference at Toronto Police Headquarters on November 17. “The drugs were crossing the border by land crossings from the U.S. to Canada and beyond.”

He said the drugs ended up in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, which are some of the large distribution areas and from these cities the drugs were sent across Canada.

He said much of the cocaine is mixed with fentanyl to form ‘street-level’ drug cocktails.

“The cocaine is mixed with fentanyl and other drugs for more toxicity,” Watts said. “This is the largest seizure we have seen and it is extremely significant.”

He said the seizure led an increase in the price of cocaine on the streets of Toronto.

“This seizure will have a great impact on community safety,” Watts said. “It will lead to less people overdosing on the streets.”

Police accused the suspects of being involved in a sophisticated network that distributed large volumes of cocaine and crystal methamphetamine in the GTA.

The arrests stemmed from nine search warrants that were issued to search homes, businesses and vehicles in the GTA.

Charged are Bryan Sherritt, 37, Abubakar Mohamed, 30, both of Etobicoke, Bashir Hasan Abdi, 34, Lucho Loder, 43, both of Toronto, Tenzin Palden, 25, of Mississauga, Camron Longmore, 20 and Zubayul Hoque, 25, both of Ajax.

They have been charged with about 19 drug-related offences; including possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking, trafficking, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.

 The suspects are slated to appear at an Ontario Court of Justice on November 20 and 27.

Five of the accused were released on bail.

Demolition crews have begun removing rubble of a small brick house which is one of eight being levelled to build a 11-storey condo building on Royal York Road.

Work is underway for the construction of a building at 351 to 365 Royal York Road, which is directly across from San Remo Bakery, at the northwest-east corner of Royal York Road and Newcastle Street, in Mimico.

One worker said a condominium sales office is being installed.

The complex, when fully approved by Etobicoke York Community Council, will contain a 11-story mixed-use building with 282 residential units. six studios, 52 one-bedrooms, 126 one-bedroom-plus-dens, 43 two-bedrooms, 28 two-bedroom-plus-dens, and 27 three-bedroom units.

On the ground floor there will be 837 square meters of non-residential space designated for retail space. On the ground floor there will also be living apartments, a modern residential lobby, trash room, parcel room and loading or staging rooms, according to plans.

Residents will have access to facilities on levels two and three, and all outdoor amenities will be adjacent to inside amenity space. These sections are likely to include recreational rooms such as a party room, workout facilities, a yoga room, and other amenities.

There will be a two-level underground parking garage with 206 parking spots, including 165 resident spaces, 28 residential visitor spaces, nine shop spaces, and four car-share spaces. There will be 288 bicycle parking spots.

The site is close to public transportation. The Mimico GO Station on the Lakeshore West line of Metrolinx is a three-to four-minute walk away.

Metrolinx is planning a significant redesign of the Mimico GO Station concurrently with the mixed-use development of the property at 325 Royal York Road. The development would involve the construction and incorporation of a new primary station structure, covered parking to replace existing parking spaces, and a bicycle and pedestrian path in front of the station.

A 3.44-metre road widening is required along the Royal York Road frontage to satisfy the road width requirement of a 27-metre wide right-of-way. This road widening requirement was reflected in the proposal.

Mimico is renowned for its picturesque lakefront parks and outstanding recreational facilities, according to the builders. The Mimico neighborhood is transforming into a family-friendly, transit-oriented area with access to daily necessities.
Developers Tonlu Properties said they are a market champion in the identification, development, and management of company-owned properties in GTA locations.

The company currently possess and operates millions of square feet of industrial, office, retail, and residential properties, as well as numerous parcels of undeveloped property.

Design and construction firm URBINCO’s residential concepts and spaces manifest an inherent comprehension of a profound experience that is anchored in the present and will continue to be influenced by the demands of the times.

As Christmas season approaches Toronto Police are sharing some tips to prevent your deliveries from being stolen from your front porch and to better secure your homes and vehicles.

Police in a bulletin said to stop porch piracy have packages delivered to your workplace or use locker services from delivery companies or have it held at a distribution center.

You can have family members, friends or trusted neighbours accept packages on your behalf, or have the goods left in less conspicuous places like a side door, behind a planter or garbage can.

Some people install a smart security camera system at the front door that cannot be smashed or request signature on deliveries if possible.

Keep an eye out for suspicious vehicles or people in your neighbourhood, report suspicious activity to police or file a theft report online at torontopolice.on.ca

To avoid thefts from your home, you can leave your exterior lights on all night, have a perimeter motion detector or alarm, monitored home alarm or place security film on windows or doors.

Police also warn to have locks on all doors inside and out, secure the basement windows, or install a video doorbell or driveway alarm.

Use an alarm when home and out, lock doors and windows or houses and cars, move ladders from outside your home and keep windows and doors free of tall trees and shrubs where criminals can hide.

Other useful tips include the displaying a jewellery box with less valuable items, if keeping valuables in a closet install a thick, heavy lock and don’t mention to service or maintenance individuals of planned trips.

Also don’t post your vacations on social media, get a Beware of Dog sign and leave a water bowl or leash outside.

Place a kill switch on your vehicle’s ignition, lock hood and hide your key in a faraday bag at home.

If you have a garage, clean it out to put your car and don’t leave valuables inside; also place less desirable car behind move expensive ones in the driveway.

Install a GPS tracker to help police find your vehicle if stolen and lock onboard diagnostic using a simple device that blocks access to where thieves reprogram the vehicle’s key fob

You can also join a Neighbourhood Watch group to be aware of what is happening in the community, walk with your head up and pay attention to your surroundings and always have your house and car keys ready.

 

A proposal is being considered to build a 29-storey building around a 136-year-old Etobicoke heritage home that used to be Village of Islington Post Office and telephone exchange.

A virtual community consultative meeting will be held on November 23 to get feedback on the plan.

City officials said a revised Official Plan and Zoning by-law Amendments are being sought to allow the construction of a 29-storey mixed use building at 4884 Dundas St. W., with 395 units and 1,322 square metres of ground floor retail space.

“The heritage building at 4884 Dundas St. W., would be retained and relocated within the site,” according to a notice for residents advising them of the meeting.

There will be loading area, two pickup-drop off spaces and a single-level underground parking with 77 parking spots with proposed access from Burnhamthorpe Road. Spaces for 169 bicycles are proposed.

The Musson House, as it is called, was designated a heritage building in 2006. It was constructed in 1887 and was the Village of Islington Post Office until 1906 and then residence of postmasters Thomas and Elizabeth Musson.

From 1912 to 1925 the property served as the local telephone exchange operated by Olive Newlove, who owned the property with husband, William.

The property was later sold to dentist Dr. and Mrs. Nicholas Brown and a small modern-style addition was added to the front corner of the house.

By 1879, when the Musson House was constructed for a Township clerk, the Village of Islington contained 200 people and had just gained railway service the same year.

“The property has historical value given that it yields information that contributes to an understanding of the historical development of the Village of Islington,” city officials said.

The units include a mix of 12 studios, 100 one-bedrooms, 90 two-bedrooms and 23 three-bedrooms.​

Rockport Group developers has submitted a rezoning and site plan application to develop the site at 4884-4896 Dundas Street West with a new 29-storey mixed-use building while retaining a portion of the existing heritage building at the east end of the site.

A Heritage Impact Statement propose that the east and south façades be preserved, its red brick restored.

The proposal states that Islington subway station on Bloor Line 2 is a 750-metre away and is a 9 to 11-minute walk, while Burnhamthorpe 50 buses stop just to the west of the site and run right to the station.

One stop away, and accessible via the Lambton 50 buses that ply Dundas, Kipling station also offers GO trains, the Airport Rocket bus, and MiWay buses to Mississauga.​

The city said Dundas Street West was a strategic and military route constructed by Governor Simcoe in 1795 connecting Toronto with Burlington Bay at the West end of Lake Ontario.

Originally the route was to the south following the shoreline topography of the ancient, glacial Lake Iroquois, but in 1814 the road was shifted northward to higher land to more closely follow its current route through what would become the village of Islington.

Within two years public stagecoaches were operating along the route where the Village of Islington would come to be located.

Two other sites in the area were designated under Heritage Act, and includes the Montgomery Inn, built in 1832, and the Etobicoke Township Hall, that was built 1843 as a Methodist church.

Also deemed as heritage is the Islington United Church, built in 1949,  and 66 Burnhamthorpe Road, which was the Johnston residence built in 1907 for descendants of the first settlers to the area.

 

Delta Bingo which is next year moving to the South Etobicoke area will be raffling off 14 pairs of tickets to Toronto Raptors games at their Bingo session on November 26.

The company said those participating at their 7 p.m. game will be eligible for the draw with a minimum purchase of $10.

Those who come dressed in Raptors Fan Gear will get an additional ballot for chances to win gift cards and more fan gear.

They are asking that all those who are interested in attending to arrive for 6:30 p.m. so they have enough time to purchase their bingo packages and find seating.

The bingo hall is located at 1799 St. Clair Avenue West and their phone number is 416 – 656 – 8888.

The bingo hall will be moving here next year to 340 Evans, near Kipling Avenues.

 

A convenient and popular Alderwood Esso service station on Evans Avenue has been shut down and now surrounded by a fence.

A metal fence is now in front of the 540 Evans Avenue service station and car wash that has been in operation there for decades.

Community members are suggesting that the property has been sold and more condos are being built on the site since it is close to the highway and Sherway Gardens, which is seeking to build high rise condo towers in its parking lot.

The Esso website hasn’t been updated for months and has a notice stating that it is permanently closed.

Residents are wondering if the station is shut, undergoing renovation or have been sold.

“It’s closed, pumps are removed completely now,” wrote motorist Xander Cage on social media.

“It is barricaded now. Uncertain if it is being renovated or torn down,” Cam V. said. “It was a handy location especially for Esso station. Not many around.”

The Esso chain in Canada has been up for sale for some time.

Owner Imperial Oil says it has reached deals to sell its remaining 497 Esso retail stations in Canada to five fuel distributors for a total of $2.8 billion.

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. is set to buy 279 stations in Ontario and Quebec for nearly $1.69 billion. The company has acquired Esso stations in Quebec and Ontario.

Since 1923 the Esso name and oval brand have been used continuously in 50 countries, including Canada.

In 1907 the first Imperial Oil gas station was opened in Vancouver and it wasn’t until 1970 the self-serves were first opened in Montreal and Toronto.