"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." -- Winston Churchill

As a general rule, I’d say most of us are not great with change in our neighbourhoods – we can handle the small stuff, say a new store here or there or a neighbour’s updates to their front porch.  But introduce larger changes and we all get a little uncomfortable.

1844 Bloor St. West Rendering, courtesy of Daniels Corp.

The proposed new building at 1844 Bloor St. West has brought some controversy along with it.  People are uncomfortable with the 14 storeys, worried it will block sunlight from yards and not fit in with our more quaint architecture.  Parking is already difficult, homeowners are stressing over more cars fighting for spaces.  And parents are concerned about more traffic and children’s safety while playing outdoors.  Renters are concerned about fewer rental properties.



Laying track at Dundas and Keele streets in 1912. Photo credits: Archives Toronto



If we could go back in time, I’m absolutely positive we would hear our 1910 predecessors complaining about store fronts being built on previous farmland or how their neighbour’s house was being built too close to their own.  In the 1950’s, folks probably complained about some of the walk-ups being built.  And we already know that in the 1970’s we were worried about the subway and the strip malls taking our customers away from our shops (hence the birth of our Bloor West BIA, one of the oldest in Canada.) 

And yet, we love, love, love our neighbourhood today – believing in some fashion that it’s at its best right now, no changes required.  But our neighbourhood has evolved over many generations to meet the needs of its inhabitants.  It is important to remember that change can bring good things to our village, as it has in the past.

More affordable housing for those young couples starting out would be great – it seems unfair that only a few generations ago, every young couple starting out could have a home of their own.  More daycare spaces in our area are not only desirable, but necessary.  As we are the Sandwich Generation, a new, one level, maintained apartment close by, for our aging parents would certainly make life easier.  And although it’s not quite as bad as the States, we have to face the fact that there are those of us who may need to downsize our living space due to economic difficulties but desperately want to stay in our beloved High Park.

I get it.  Fourteen storeys seem like a lot.  But the reality is that the building is exceeding many of the city’s standards – in a very positive fashion.  And the Daniels Corporation also took our feedback seriously. 

Here is some information for you to ponder:

·         Rentals:

o        The building will house a minimum 14 rental units consisting of one and two bedroom units and will have rents no higher than the mid-range limit as defined in the City's Official Plan. These units will be secured as rental housing for a minimum of 20 years.  This replaces the 16 rental units previously on this site.

·         Safety:

o        The loading/service entrance has been redesigned; the driveway and service area changed in an effort to minimize the appearance of a public lane and to slow traffic movement along the service lane. The lane now has a curve and is screened from Pacific Avenue.

o        All signage and warning requirements dictated by the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic School Board have been met.

·         Parking:

o        The building will have 274 parking spaces, plus 2 Green Share spaces (for things like Zip Car i.e. vehicle sharing), plus additional parking for the retail area. Plus visitor parking.  These meet the city’s requirements for parking in new builds.

o        At the last community meeting I attended, the local city officials said they were committed to solving the street parking issues – which definitely falls to the city as their responsibility.

·         Appearances:

o        Sun and Wind – studies were conducted and the results determined that there would be minimal impact on sunlight in neighbouring areas.  Despite that, the Daniels Corporation actually purchased additional surrounding land to increase the buffer between the building and the neighbouring properties to exceed the city standards.  Appropriate landscaping, which we will be able to participate in, will be done to mitigate any concerns around wind.

o        A Public committee has been formed to provide input on the finishes of the building; glazing has been significantly reduced and more stone features have been included to adapt the building to the local architecture. 

o        Permeable paving and green materials are being used to beautify the area.  The building is actually a LEED Tier 2 i.e. higher than it needs to be) which is entirely voluntary for the builder.  For more information on LEED, click here.

o        All FLAP standards have been met (FLAP are the bird friendly guidelines around lighting in buildings.) For more information on FLAP, click here.

·         Storeys:

o        It is proposed to be 14 storeys at its tallest point.  Because of the community’s concerns, the 14 storey section of the building has been moved to the back of the lot to join the other existing multi-storey apartment buildings in the area (up to 31 storeys I might add) while the courtyard and retail shops will face onto Bloor St. The courtyard was increased in order to soften the edges and make sure it was as nice a place to stroll as the rest of Bloor West Village.

Now that we’ve looked at some of the worries we’ve had – let’s look at some of those positives…the things folks haven’t been talking about.

·         Daycare:

• There is a proposed Daycare/Nursery stand-alone building at the rear of the site, solely for said use. The High Park neighbourhood is deficient in day care spaces.  Options including not-for-profit, City-operated, and for-profit child care have been discussed throughout the process.

• The current development proposes a 650 square metre (almost 7000 sq ft for us non-metric babies) daycare with an outdoor space, parking and drop-off areas.

• More Affordable Housing:
• The average cost (looking over the past 6 years) of a semi attached home in High Park is easily $750K.  Based on a little general research (no verified figures) you’re probably looking at a starting price in and around $475 to $525K for these units.
• Art

• The city requires the builder to commission a public art piece for the area at a cost of 1% of the entire building structure cost.  We all know how High Park loves art!

·                     Parks and Community Support

o        The Daniels Corporation is also required by the city to contribute a staggering 1.5 million dollars to Ward 13 Parkdale–High Park for local parks, streetscapes or non-profit childcare facilities. 

o        Another $15 000 has to be given over for the High Park Straw Bale Teaching Kitchen - part of The High Park Children’s Garden (a 2009 David Suzuki Digs My Garden Contest award winner).  For more information on the High Park Straw Bale Teaching Garden, click here.

It seems to me that the change we’re looking at here has a lot of positives.  It is always imperative that we look to the future, and we of course, want to maintain our lovely neighbourhood.  But we also have to let it grow and meet the needs of a changing world.  Those who came before us did – equally carefully, paying attention to detail and the greater good. 

While I appreciate that getting used to a 14 storey building at 1844 Bloor St West may take some doing – the absolute truth of the matter is that the area has been designated long ago, by those we elected, as an Apartments Designation.  The building is allowed to be there…and the builders are really trying to make this change as positive an experience as possible, when they really don’t have to. 

For me the positives outweigh the negatives.  Change can be hard – but as Winston Churchill said “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”  And my goodness, look at the building issues he had to deal with…

*to review all documents pertaining to 1844 Bloor St. West, visit

http://www.1844bloorstreetwest.com/index.html ; these were the sources for the building information, as well as a public meeting I attended on March 1^st, 2012.

How Sweet It Is! An Update on the High Park Zoo Closure

One would certainly expect a foundation called The Honey Family Foundation to be as sweet as its namesake, and for us, they are!

In my last post around the closure of our beloved High Park Zoo, I had hoped that we would rally and try and save the zoo and our citizens have indeed done that! The zoo has already raised $40,380 through online donations, community fundraisers and donations from zoo-goers, which will allow it to stay open until June.  But in an announcement on Monday evening, The Honey Family Foundation offered to match donations to the zoo fund of up to $50,000.



Photo: Save the Zoo by Francis Wallace, The Toronto Star



And furthermore, whatever funds we raise over 2013 and 2014 will also be matched up to $50 000.  What I find particularly inspiring about this donation is the spirit behind it.  It is a ‘wise’ gift – as long as we care about our zoo, and continue to support it and raise funds for it over the next two years (enough time I might add to get our zoo back into the city budget!), we can count on this money.  It lifts up our efforts and pushes them forward – as opposed to simply eliminating the problem altogether and allowing us to ‘forget’ our responsibility to uphold those things we claim dear.

 

I did try to find out a little about the Honey Family Foundation, I thought for sure there’d be a website somewhere for their organization but there’s not a lot to be found – there’s an Esther Honey Foundation in the Cook Islands who run a voluntary veterinary clinic – oddly enough – and they had this picture (to the right) on their website…

It seems our donation has come from a “quiet, local” group of citizens and that’s pretty much all we know.  No need for a ceremony with a cheque or a name on a plaque at the gates or a photo session with the new baby llama (born April 3^rd at our zoo).  Just a good old fashioned helping hand and nothing expected in return.

I’d like my thanks to be loud and clear.

We still have some work to do!  Contributions must be made through the city’s Parks and Trees Donations Account by June 15^th in order to be matched by the Honey Family Foundation. Let’s keep going!

Click here to make a donation: Toronto Parks and Trees Organization - Donations to High Park Zoo

 

HIGH PARK PLAYGROUND BURNED DOWN...

As I’m sure everyone’s heard, on Saturday March 17th, at about 3 a.m., police and fire were called to the High Park Jamie Bell playground – our local “castle”.  Unfortunately, by the time the fire was spotted and crews arrived, the playground was completely engulfed and as a result has been destroyed.

 Courtesy of CityNews viewer Daniel Marin

 Largely built of wood, I can only imagine that it went up in flames incredibly quickly.  There have been some folks who say it should have been built with different materials – certainly metal or stone would have prevented its demise.  But where’s the whimsy in that?  Jamie Bell was inspired by soft whimsical play structures seen in the U.S. – the designers of these playgrounds, Leathers and Associates from New York came to Toronto and met with our residents, basing the design on what parents and kids wanted.  Wood was soft, natural and also largely donated, and so wood it was.  Stone makes for a great foundation, excellent for building a playground or house on…but not so much a slide or swing set per say.

Jamie Bell Playground - photo courtesy of HighParkToronto.com

The Jamie Bell Playground was originally built in 1998, by a huge group of volunteers – almost 3000.  It was a true testament of our desire to build up our community – people would volunteer for short shifts and stay for hours longer.  So much food was donated by local folks for the working volunteers, that they set up army tents to house it all.  And since completion, it has been a place for many magical play days for High Park kids and kids from all across the city.  

We all know accidents happen – folks often play with things they shouldn’t – unfortunately investigators have determined that it was arson.  Deliberate…  Planned…  There is something sinister about setting fire to a children’s playground.  So not only has our playground been lost, our sense of neighbourhood ‘self’ has been compromised.  Playgrounds can be rebuilt – can we rebuild our social foundation of safety and security?

In the nine days since the fire, the community has risen up and come forward to rebuild the playground, standing proudly on the foundation built many years ago.  Canadian Tire has committed $50 000 to help with the cost.  Local unions, firefighters and construction crews have volunteered with tools, labour and time.  The original designers of the playground are rumoured to be committed to helping redesign the structure and add new features if the community wants to.  A Facebook Page has already been built to help promote and organize the rebuild.

http://www.facebook.com/FireInHighParkCastleLetsHelpToRebuild

And Landscape Ontario has promised $300,000 in parts, design, and labour to rebuild the playground. The organization made the announcement at a community meeting last night.

It seems we are determined not to let this crime take away from what we know our community to be – strong and safe.   “We’ve built it once and we’ll build it again” and “We can’t let ‘them’ win” are the two phrases I keep hearing over and over again.  The playground was built with the strength, love and commitment of this community the first time – and I have no doubt that it will be again -- because High Park’s citizens are made of sterner stuff. And our High Park foundation is made of stone.

Good News Updates – “Police have made an arrest in connection with a suspected arson at Toronto's High Park playground earlier this month.  A 19-year-old man is facing charges of arson and obstruction of justice after the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground was destroyed in the early morning hours of March 17.”


As of March 30th, the Star reported the City was stalling and potentially jeopardizing community efforts to rebuilt the playground in time for summer.   The article started with the following "The city says it can’t immediately accept a $300,000 offer to improve the site of the beloved High Park castle playground...".

High Park is the crown jewel of Toronto's park system and vital to the many neighbourhoods which surround it. There is no excuse for any delay when there is a private offer of $300,000 on the table, and the expertise to complete the task.

The article which was in the Star, can be found here:

http://www.thestar.com/news/cityhallpolitics/article/1154569--offer-of-a-300-000-new-high-park-playground-stumbles-at-city-hall

It Takes A Village...To Keep A Zoo

Everyone is talking about the 2012 Toronto Budget.  There’s a lot to talk about.  However the budget impacts a significant piece of our High Park history – the High Park Zoo.

When looking at the list of cuts, it struck me as ironic that not only is one of Toronto’s oldest, free attractions being shut down (for a mere $114 000 annual savings) – it’s that most people didn’t even know it was at risk.  How could it be?  How could it even end up on the list with the history it has?  It’s survived two world wars and the Great Depression, but not the 2012 Toronto Budget cuts.

  

The High Park Zoo is a special treat for most folks visiting the park and is deeply historical, established in 1890 for the park’s deer.  It sees almost 100 000 people a year. The zoo now holds several content, cold-loving species including bison, llamas, yaks, sheep, Highland cattle, and of course, the deer. The Howard Family’s condition of conveyance was that the City hold the park "for the free use, benefit and enjoyment of the Citizens of Toronto…” which has served all of us living near High Park very well.  Not only do we get to enjoy our beautiful park, but it brings visitors from all over to our businesses.  And makes our real estate very attractive!

At a cost of only $114 000 per year to run, minus the cost savings on fertilizer (you can guess where all the fertilizer for the High Park greenhouses comes from…very eco-friendly), it seems sad that something so sweetly reminiscent of Toronto’s older days is facing closure in less than 5 months. Riverdale Farm in Cabbagetown faced losing its $500 000 city funding in the 2012 budget – its residents heard about the closure and rallied to save it.  Can we?  Why haven’t we? Why didn’t we know about it?

This is a symbol of a larger issue – the beauty and uniqueness of our city, is dependent on what we deem as important.  The ‘little’ things that make our area warm and friendly, clean and beautiful are the things that are going: Wintercity outdoor programming, street cleaning, visitor centres in long term care facilities, tree maintenance, flower and shrub planting and yes, even management of the Christmas Bureau which distributes Christmas gifts to needy children. 

Remember the old cliché, “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child?” Well, in this case it takes a village to keep a zoo.  We need these services. The zoo needs to stay.  So do the Christmas gifts, flowers and trees; and coffee with friends in long term care. It’s part of what makes our village, a village.

West End Condo Future Still Unclear

The outcome of a public consultation on January 10^th regarding the construction of a 14-storey condo across from High Park (1844 Bloor St. W.) is unclear. The City says it’s willing hold a second round of consultations to hear the concerns of neighbouring residents who will be affected by the new building. However, the consultation might come too late for residents to alter the plans. The developers of this new West End condo project altered their renderings in response to vocal public dissatisfaction with the largely glass condo which would have seen the 14-story part of the building butting right up against Bloor St. The Developers turned the design around so that the tallest portion of the building will now be in back, and the city approved the plans. (The latest renderings of 1844 Bloor St. W. can be found here).

But the question remains: how did the City come to approve the plans in the first place, as the 14-storey unit far exceeds the 8-story maximum set out in City of Toronto's Official Plan? More importantly, how will this imminent development affect the High Park neighbourhood? The last of the decidedly run-down properties to be cleared for the project are to be torn down shortly. Will this new luxury boutique condo development turn High Park into Central Park Toronto? 

1844 Bloor Street West Development.

On January 10th the committee of adjustment will hear an application to approve 378 condo units in the site running from Oakmount to Pacific and across Bloor. The site has sat idle for years and been not only an eye sore, but has attracted arson activity and regular vandalism. Residents have been rallying against the development as it exceeds the City of Toronto's Official Plan's eight storey limit.  The Developer is seeking a total of 14 storeys.  The meeting will take place at 399 The West Mall (Etobicoke Civic Centre) inside the Council Chambers at 7pm where a vote will follow.  The decision can have wide ranging implications for the entire area, and especially High Park.  It will be interesting to see what position the Committee of Adjustment takes.  If an official plan says 8 storeys, than how do you secure a 75% increase from that , and ask for 14 storeys.  Variances are a part of any application, but it seems to me that the Developers here are asking for 14 in an effort to secure less, but still manage something beyond 8.