The South Etobicoke News

Serving Humber * Mimico * Lakeshore Village * Long Branch * Alderwood

Another historic home slated for heritage hearing demolished in Mimico

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HISTORIC 100-YEAR MIMICO home destroyed just before hearing to be saved by City officials. Toronto Star photo.

Another one bites the dust!

Mimico residents are still disappointed and in shock after a historic 100-year-old home was demolished just hours before it was to be considered for heritage status.

The stone cottage at 98 Superior Avenue was being protected by area residents just before a bulldozer managed to tear it down on Sunday about 6 a.m., residents say.

Area residents have been taking turns to protect the cottage but in the end it was destroyed.

Rubble filled the space once occupied by the historic home, which was one of three properties the Preservation Board had recently considered adding to the Heritage Register. A vote had been slated for 9:30 a.m.

The homeowner was issued a demolition permit on Nov. 25, a few days before a hearing at the Toronto Preservation Board was held to add the home to the Heritage Register.

“When I went this morning at 6:10, that bucket had already swung,” Charlotte Sheasby-Coleman told reporters. She had occupied the veranda of the home for about eight hours in an attempt to prevent its demolition.

Another area man had handcuffed himself to the home for a number of hours.

Residents want to see the bylaw changed in that a historic homes cannot be demolished while a hearing before the Preservation Board is slated.

This is the third historic home in recent months that have been demolished in the Mimico area.

 

 

City stop plans for a shelter at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

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THAT’s IT. The City says they are not following through with a controversial shelter at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W. The community is quite happy. 

Some community residents are breathing a sigh of relief as city officials say they’re not going forward with a plan to establish a controversial shelter at 2950 and 2970 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Justin Lewis,  Director, Infrastructure Planning & Development Shelter, Support & Housing Administration, in a letter to New Toronto residents wrote “the City will no longer be acquiring the property.”

“The decision not to proceed with the acquisition is a reflection of information gained during the City’s diligence review of the site, including building condition assessments and environmental assessments,” Lewis wrote.

“It was determined that the City would not be able to proceed with the renovation and activation of the site within the Council approved budget and project timeline required for the acquisition,” he said.

“The early engagement work done during this due diligence stage revealed a passionate community with diverse perspectives and a commitment to building a strong resilient neighbourhood,” Lewis told residents in a letter on December 1.

“This is great news for the community,” says Chris Korwin Kuczynski, Chair of the Lake Shore Village BIA. “We are very happy with this news.”

Korwin Kuczynski said members of the community who had mixed thoughts of the shelter would be delighted.

News of an upcoming shelter had split the community with many residents concerned on how it would impact their property values and crime in the area.

Many members were against a 100-bed shelter, in an area which they claim already has its share of social concerns.

Lewis said the early community engagement had no bearing on the decision not to move forward on the site.

“While this project will no longer be going forward, the City will continue to actively work with Councillor Mark Grimes to search for appropriate shelter across the city,” the letter said.

If you have further questions or concerns related to this project, please contact clc.2950.70lakeshoreblvdwest@gmail.com.

The reports resulting from the early engagement activities will be published shortly and will be available on the 2950+2970 Lake Shore Blvd West web page (www.toronto.ca/ShelterExpansionSites).

 

Elderly woman dies in fire at Mimico seniors home

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FATAL FIRE ON Cavell Ave., in Mimico, that killed elderly woman at senior’s home. CITY TV photo.

Residents of a seniors home are mourning the loss of an elderly tenant who was killed in a stubborn apartment fire at their building.

Fire crews were called to Griggs Manor at 100 Cavell Ave., just before 11:30 a.m. on November 30, says Toronto fire officials.

District Chief Stephan Powell said a fire broke out in the seventh floor of the seven-storey building, which is a senior’s home near Cavell Ave., and Royal York Rd.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Fire Chief Matthew Pegg said on social media the fire department, police, and Fire Marshal’s office are working to determine what happened.

Crews responding to the scene were warned of reports of flames near the top of the building.

“I extend sincere condolences to family, friends and all those impacted by this morning’s fatal fire on Cavell Avenue,” Pegg said.

Police said they had reports that an elderly woman in the building was trapped due to flames. She was later pulled from the unit after firefighters or police breached the door to get her.

Police said an officer suffered a minor injury while trying to get to the woman.

Manny Garcia, of the Ontario Fire Marshal office said they are investigating reports that the woman had trouble getting out of the building.

“I understand that the individual may not have been able to find their way out. That’s obviously going to be a focus of our investigation,” he said.

They will also examining fire safety devices, smoke alarms, smoke detection devices to see if they played a role.

All residents of the building were evacuated.

Humber Bay residents rallying to help man living in a red sailboat

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HUMBER BAY RESIDENTS have raised more than $4,000 on Go Fund Me to help Tate who is living in a red sailboat in Humber Bay with dogs. Courtesy photo.

It will be a good Christmas for a man living in a little red sailboat in Humber Bay.

More than #4,000 has been raised in a Go Fund Me by Humber Bay Shores residents to help a man, identified as Tate, who has several dogs living with him in a small sailboat.

Area residents have been monitoring the man as it gets cold to ensure he is fine.

Residents who have spoken to Tate says he lives in the sailboat rather than staying in homeless shelters.

“He was able to save up enough money to buy this inexpensive boat to live on with his doggies rather than going in and out of shelters,” writes Melanie M., who is organizing the fundraiser.
“We are hoping to raise funds for him to get the boat winterized and at a safe place to dock for him and the doggies.”

Area residents say the man spends most of his time in the Lakeshore Blvd. W., and Windermere Blvd. area.

Donors are trying to find the man a place to store his boat for the winter, but most places are filled.

“Tate wakes up with a smile on his face knowing there’s enough good in this world for him to keep him going every single day” writes Melanie, who says he has had a hard life.

Some residents from Humber Bay Shores have been buying Tate and his dogs food and supplies.

“For as long as he can remember he has only eaten one meal a day,” Melanie writes on social media. “He is quite happy being able to have an extra snack at night.”

Tate plans to use some of the funds donated to help others at Christmas who are living on the streets.

“He usually has to stand at the corner to make that money, but this year he feels a weight off his shoulders,” she says. “He doesn’t have to be out there begging.”

She says since the news broke she has received e-transfers totaling more than $835 and people are leaving items at her condo.

“As well as supplies, food and essential items which are being dropped off at the concierge desk at my building,” she says.

She says Tate is ”truly filled with joy by the generosity and gestures of kindness everybody in this neighbourhood is showing him.”

Some of the funds will be used to purchase materials and items as gas for his boat and food for his dogs.

Donations can be made at Go Fund Me.

Cyclist school teacher mourned after being killed by cement truck in Mimico

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GHOST CYCLE left in memory of retired schoolteacher John Offutt at spot where he was hit by a cement truck. Courtesy photo.

Area resident John Offutt loved to cycle and it was cycling that took his life.

The recently retired school teacher was on his out for a cycle on November 20 when he was involved in an accident in the Judson Steet and Royal York Rd. area with a cement truck, in which he lost his life.

A ghost bike to remember his death has been installed.

Former student A Hafeez says Offutt was his kindergarten teacher at Thorncliffe Park Public School.
“He was a teacher who quit his real estate job to help kids succeed in a low income neighbourhood,” Hafeez wrote on social media. “It is truly amazing that someone would do that.”

Hafeez says Offutt was a good man who loved his students and wanted them to succeed.

His death has angered members of the Judson Street community, who have been complaining to the City for years that ML Ready Mix is an uncooperative neighbour.

Residents have been complaining about the dust, noise and pollution from a steady stream of cement trucks that daily frequent the ML Ready Mix yard, on Judson St.

Police said Offutt, 59, was cycling southbound on Royal York Rd. when the truck driver, going southbound as well, made a right turn on Judson St. and hit the cyclist.

“The tragic loss of life was made all the worse by the certain knowledge that it was entirely preventable,” a citizens advocacy group wrote.

Members said City Council spent $5 million to buy the Ready Mix property in July 2018, with the goal of moving the operations to the Port Lands. The company under an agreement had a year to move to its new site on Commissioners Street.

Mimico area residents are being urged to sign an online petition, which has several hundred names, to request the concrete plant be developed into green space.

“Green space and parkland is urgently needed in the neighbourhood,” the petition states. “Please help push development of the property to provide a beautiful place to enjoy with family and friends.”

The relocation of the plant presents a strategic opportunity to further consolidate concrete batching operations in the Port Lands, while at the same time reducing land use conflicts currently experienced by the residents of the Judson Street community, the group noted.

The petition will be circulated to Mayor John Tory, Councillor Mark Grimes and other City officials.

 

Reeve Butler had vision for building Victory Homes in Alderwood and Queensway areas

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REEVE BUTLER TOOK ON a huge task to ensure there were enough ‘Victory Homes’ for veterans returning home. File photo.

Former Etobicoke reeve and funeral home owner Frank A.C. Butler is best remembered for building hundreds of homes for veterans returning from the war during his three-years in office.

Little is known about Butler, who is the former owner of Butler Funeral Home, which is now Turner and Porter Butler Chapel.

He was elected the 29th reeve of Etobicoke and served one-term from 1943 to 1946 in a time when elections changed from annually to every second year.

He is credited with expanding the Etobicoke Township Hall in 1946, with additions to the front and rear of the building. The hall still stands today in the Burnhamthorpe Rd. and Dundas St. W. area.

Butler is known foremost for his work in housing veterans returning home from the Second World War.

Under his tenure military housing, then known in government advertising as ‘Victory Homes,’ or ‘Stawberry Box’ homes, were built by the hundreds in Alderwood and The Queensway and Royal York Rd., areas.

More than 200 homes were built in the Queensway park area for workers and veterans. They were favoured since they were quick to build, had simple plans that were repeated nationwide.

Hundreds of the dwellings were built in 1943 in the Alderwood area for workers at the Canadian military Small Arms Company, in what is now Marie Curtis Park.

The homes were prefabricated and shipped to the sites to be constructed. This resulted in very homogenous and uniform developments that sprung up in almost every major city during the war and post war periods.

The houses were often one and a half stories tall with gabled roofs and clapboard siding. The streets of these instant neighborhoods were often given names that recalled their place in the time following the war, such as Victory or Churchill.

The typical style was either a detached bungalow or a two-storey semi-detached. Depending on the locale, the facade may have been plain wood or brick, with entrances at the front and sides.

Some 46,000 of the homes were constructed nationwide under the Veterans’ Land Act of 1942, which was initiated by the Canadian Government to provide housing for veterans returning home and their families.

The main objective was to get people working, by giving them land to farm in order to provide for themselves. The homes were very small to allow for a large portion of the property to remain open for potential farming.

Local advisory committees were recruited ‘to advise on potential or proposed sites, to help negotiations for property acquisitions and in a call for tenders.”

There was an assembly line of construction workers, with each team performing one job, then moving on to the next home. With on-the-spot prefabrication, each home took about 36 hours to raise. The wiring, plumbing, and interior finishing were completed, including more insulation. A fuel box for heating stoves was attached to the house exterior, to hold perhaps wood or coal.

The compact homes were rented for $22 to $30 monthly, affordable for workers and war-weary veterans. Thanks to historian Denise Harris.

 

FOOD: Dope As Duck brings food truck taste to Long Branch storefront

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Chef Julius (right) at Dope As Duck at 125-Twenty Seventh Street. A former food truckie, he cooks tasty food that you will like. Photo by Tom Godfrey.

Chef Julius Danihel says the COVID-19 has forced him to park his food truck and rent a storefront takeout location to sell his popular duck and Mac and cheese meals.

There is no doubt that Danihel loves duck meat, since it forms many of his dishes, which includes duck and Mac and cheese, he sells at Dope As Duck storefront location in Long Branch.

Danihel, who is from the Parkdale area, has been using his truck to sell his tasty food at shows and festivals around town for three years, before the business dried up due to the virus.

The truck is now parked.

“We knew some people in the area and that is how we found this place,” he says of his location at 125 Twenty Seventh Street, close to the Beer Store in Long Branch. “We are new and have been welcomed with open arms by people in the community.”

He and his staff have been sharing their food with the neighbours so they can get a taste.

His take out business does not have sit down service and is classified as a pick up and delivery. They can remain open and are not required to be closed as part of the 28-day anti-COVID lockdown ordered by the province.

The food was quite good and better than you would expect from a now parked food truck. The duck and Mac was tasty and quite mouth-wateringly good.

They were an award winner at the 2019 North America’s largest Mac and Cheese Festival that brings together hundreds of fans under one roof to try signature dishes and ooey-gooey cheesy menus.

Also served are pork Mac and cheese, pulled pork sandwich, Mocha Macchiato Churro Donut, very tasty 14-hour Slow Braised Beef Brisket, Chicken Tinga Taco Topped with Pickled Shallots Salsa Verde and Chipotle Lime Crema and Mountain Gold Wildflower Honey Garlic Ginger Wings.

Their takeout store is at 125 Twenty Seventh Street.

You can reach Dope Ad Duck at 647-939-5719 or dopeasduckfoodtruck@gmail.com

 

LAMP praises residents in annual Award of Merit Winners

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STOREFRONT HUMBER does great work and has won a LAMP Awards of Merit.

A new community barber and a long-time organization that assists seniors are among those selected as LAMP Award of Merit Winners for their work in helping others.

Bruce Buchanan and volunteers Millie, Patricia, Kathy, Carol, Shanty and Tina from Storefront Humber have been selected for their important work in helping our seniors.

Village Mosaic-Fontbonne Ministries and Sisters of St. Joseph were also named as top organizations.

Barber Andy Dinner, of Your Neighbourhood Barbershop, is being honoured by LAMP Community Health Centre for his work in the community. He is named in the business section, even though his shop is now closed for 28-days in a fight against COVID-19.

Corin De Sousa, of Mindful Awareness, a local business was selected to make the respected list compiled by the Fifth Street agency.

Their list includes Andrea Linton, Gill Dugas, Kathy Dow, Lee Shimano, Russel Job Unandap and Wayne O’Brien.

Honorable Mention goes to Home Hardware Mimico, Nelson Certified Auto Repair and a Special Shout Out is extended to Kinsi Warsame.

 

Produce growers and LAMP team up to help feed needy residents

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LAMP FAMILIES are provided with fresh fruit and vegetables donated by Ontario Produce Association via LAMP. Courtesy photo.

Clients who belong to LAMP Community Health Centre will be eligible for fresh fruit and vegetables before the holidays, thanks to produce growers and social workers.

The Ontario Produce Association (OPA) is offering 100 boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables to 100 families in the Lakeshore and East Mississauga LAMP site locations, said agency official Jasmin Dooh.

The OPA is made up of over 3,500 family farms, which support over 30,000 farm-based, non-family jobs in Ontario. More than 125 different fruit and vegetable crops are grown in Ontario.

She said another 24 LAMP families at the sites will receive a week’s worth of groceries and a turkey and ham, thanks to Feed Canada.

LAMP services more than 20,000 people at the Lakeshore site alone and there is always a need for volunteers.

If you are a LAMP client and would like more information on the limited food support contact Jasmin at 416-25-6471 ext. 308 or jasmind@lampchc.org

Financial donations can be made online to LAMP at www.lampchc.org, dropped off in person or by mail at 185 Fifth St, Etobicoke, ON.,M8V 2Z5.

You can also visit their website at www.lampchc.org

 

Residents rally to save almost 100-year-old home from wrecking ball

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Man who claims to have handcuffed himself to the Superior Ave. home to prevent it from being demolished. Courtesy photo.

Mimico residents are rallying to save a historic stone cottage that was recently deemed by the city to have ‘cultural heritage value.’

The home at 98 Superior Ave., was in the middle of protesters, construction equipment and police officers on Saturday as the property could soon be demolished to build a triplex.

The almost 100-year old home was one of three properties in Mimico deemed by city staff to have historic value and should be protected under the Ontario Heritage Act,  due to its 1900s construction and ‘unique use of stone cladding.’

That hearing is to take place on November 30, but the house could be demolished before then, according to those who live in the area.

An online campaign has been launched by area residents to keep the historic home from being demolished.

Neighbours say they were informed the home was to be replaced earlier this summer at a committee of adjustment hearing.

A permit to demolish the property was issued on November 25 and it is feared that construction equipment may soon move in.

One local man was shown on social media claiming to have handcuffed himself against the home to prevent the dwelling from being flattened.

Two women were also seated on the doorstep of the boarded up property claiming they were involved in a protest.

“Too many Toronto buildings are torn down right before they are designated, because the system lets it happen,” residents wrote on social media. “It’s possible our peaceful presence could stop the demolition crews.”

Protestors say they will keep on returning until the home is saved.