News

Yonge4All – what’s it all about?

Yonge4All

Anyone who has gone for a stroll down Yonge Street between Davisville and Bloor recently has seen how the Midtown Yonge Complete Street Pilot has transformed Yonge Street, with people out walking and biking, dining in streetside cafes, pop-up events orchestrated by the local Business Improvement Areas, and improved safety for everyone. The Leaside Residents Association has supported this project since its inception in 2021 because it strives to balance the needs of all road users and protect the most vulnerable, while supporting Toronto’s climate goals by encouraging low carbon modes of travel such as walking, biking, and taking transit.

eglinton TOday Complete Street

Complete street

Following on the successes of quick-build complete streets such as Danforth Avenue and Midtown Yonge, City Council recently approved the eglinton TOday Complete Street project. You may recall that the Eglinton Crosstown LRT was to be accompanied by Eglinton Connects Streetscape – a complete street installation with space for walking and cycling, street beautification and designated areas for parking, deliveries and accessible loading. As the Eglinton Crosstown LRT nears completion, the City has initiated the eglinton TOday project to bring the complete street benefits to the corridor sooner using a quick-build approach, with the permanent installation to be scheduled coincident with future road work projects.

Candidates debate

Elections Ontario map of Don Valley West

The LRA and nine other local residents’ associations are convening a virtual debate for candidates in the upcoming provincial election in Don Valley West. The debate is scheduled for Monday, May 16, 7 – 9 p.m..

The following candidates are confirmed:

  • Green Party: Sheena Sharp
  • Liberal Party: Stephanie Bowman
  • New Democratic Party: Irwin Elman
  • Progressive Conservative Party: Mark Saunders

Garden Suites – call to action

Garden-Suites

The City enacted a bylaw change in February to allow the construction of garden suites throughout Toronto as of right (i.e. no need for a variance):

  • A garden suite can occupy 20% of a lot and be two storeys plus basement. That’s approximately the size of an original Leaside home.
  • In the view of the LRA, this bylaw change was made without sufficient consultation and will allow for construction that is too large and intrusive for many lots.
  • You can read more about garden suites on the website of the new “Building Better Neighbourhoods” association – an alliance of residents’ associations from across Toronto.
  • This group has launched a letter-writing campaign supporting changes to the bylaw, including size limits and greater tree protection.
  • As a call to action, you can send a letter to the Mayor and Councillors expressing your views.

1778-1787 Bayview Avenue

Leaside Station

The LRA is becoming increasingly concerned about the possibility of high-rise construction to the southeast of Bayview and Eglinton:

  • As previously reported, 1787 Bayview (Leaside Station entrance) is vastly overbuilt for a transit entrance and is structurally designed to support a large tower – see the photo above.
  • Also as previously reported, 1783-1785 Bayview (first quadruplex south of the station) has had its tenants evicted. Two weeks ago, the heritage consultants for Metrolinx released a draft report [PDF, 139 pages] stating that the building had no heritage value. The LRA has written to critique this report including its own assessment reaching a different conclusion about the building’s heritage value.

Community Updates – April 2022

Leaside Memorial Gardens

The City of Toronto is recruiting up to two volunteer members to serve on the Leaside Memorial Gardens Arena’s board of management. Read more about the qualifications, duties, and application procedure. The deadline is Friday, April 29, 2022.

Election candidates debates

Election candidates debates. The LRA is looking into arrangements to host an online election debate ;for Don Valley West candidates in the upcoming provincial election (Thursday, June 2, 2022).

High-rise on Bayview

Bayview High-rise

In our November 2021 newsletter, we reported on the proposed 25-storey tower on the southeast corner of Bayview and Broadway.

The LRA and local neighbours are mobilizing to fight this development.

Proposal:

On November 4, 2021, Goldberg Group submitted re-zoning and plan of subdivision applications to the City to permit a 25 storey mixed use building containing 288 residential units, and 256 sq. metres of retail gross floor area on the ground floor on an assembled parcel just south of the southeast corner of Bayview and Broadway.

Garden Suites

Garden-Suites

Thanks to everyone who submitted comments to the City about garden suites. On February 2, City Council will vote on proposed changes to the Zoning By-law that would permit garden suites to be built as of right. In the week before the vote, one of our fellow residents’ associations (Long Branch Neighbourhood Association) is convening an …

Read more

January 2022 newsletter

"Say NO to Bad Planning" graphic of high-rise over low-rise buildings.

Top stories: 1) Action plan against the proposed high-rise at Bayview and Broadway. 2) Garden suites. 3) Membership renewals! The full newsletter is online.

November 2021 newsletter

rendering of Bayview/Broadway high-rise

Top stories: 1) Bayview/Broadway high-rise. 2) Garden Suites consultation. 3) East Toronto Railpath. Read the newsletter online.