The neighbourhood’s newest condo marketing billboard (and “de rigueur” slick website) just sprouted at 330 King East: NW corner of King + Parliament. This is a Lamb Development Corp project: “The King East Designer Condominiums”, from $200k - $1.7million. Currently on this site is a parking lot, and 1 storey “Post Eyes Group” building.

(NB. this project is not to be confused with the “East Lofts” at 275 King East (excavation currently underway).

Toronto wants everyone - downtowners as well as suburbanites - to use large wheeled bins for recyclables, garbage (and eventually, a 3rd large bin for organic waste). This plan was approved in June 2007, but until recently, no recognition that “big bins” might not be feasible in downtown neighbourhoods. In early January, the city made a rushed attempt to force acceptance of the bins: a brochure giving Trefann Court residents 10 days to choose a bin size, no small bins (only medium, large, or jumbo), large bin by default, information meetings only a few days before the deadline for ordering bins. After considerable opposition, the City’s only compromise for Ward 28 is a “one bin pilot”: use the same bin for garbage and recyclables, on alternate weeks.

No one likes being lied to by their government. The city’s stated rationale for the bins is to “increase recycling”; not mentioned are the real benefits:
1) mechanized garbage collection (use hoists to lift and empty these bins into the garbage truck), and
2) user-pay “garbage fees” (starting in Nov) set at an amount to ensure extra revenue for the city

Objections have been voiced on the Urban Toronto discussion board:
- large bins will occupy lots of sidewalk space, making it difficult for persons in wheelchairs or pushing a stroller to get by
- challenge of manoeuvring bins around snow banks and parked cars

The newspapers have reported on the controversy with these big bins.
- In a Jan 20 article in the Toronto Sun, it was suggested that one motivation for the bins is to “pay back the CUPE unions for supporting Mayor David Miller in the 2006 election”.
- And on March 25, the Sun asked whether the entire exclusive Cabbagetown area had been granted an exemption from having to use these big bins ?

Toronto Star articles:
Jan 8 (includes a video),
Jan 26 - reasons from the city why bag collection would be problematic,
Jan 29 - suggests that residents revolt, similar to 1773 Boston Tea Party,
Jan 30 - where Mayor Miller asserts that for downtown residents, the new bins are “easier for people to use”,
Feb 8 - estimated garbage fees, now more than anticipated,
Feb 13 - suggests garbage collection fee might be “extra City revenue”, not just a “user-pay fee” calculated to cover costs, and
Feb 22 - challenges of proposed bins for Ward 19

• “They are too damn big. They won’t fit between most houses. There isn’t room for them on most porches. They are too damn heavy. Empty they are cumbersome, full they are dead weights – even with their wheels. …Forget getting one that’s loaded down steps. They’re too damn ugly. Considering that most of them will be left parked in front of houses, they’ll lend a slummy tone to even the most pretentious streetscapes.” (Slinger, Jan 29)
• “Last June, they said the plan would net about $54 million extra. Now, they’ve increased the take to $74 million and rising. Soon, garbage fees will be covering any municipal budgets costs a mayor wants to hide.” (Royson James, Feb 13)

Hopefully some creative thinking and co-operation among downtown residents associations can produce some viable alternatives to these monster bins, that will still achieve our recycling goals.

(Updated to add links to Feb 22 and March 25 newspaper reports.)

As shown on their website, Streetcar Developments has started marketing Phase 2 (510, 512 and 530 King E) of their Corktown developments in Aug 2007. The draft planning report (Feb 2008) provides some more details: an 8-storey mixed use building containing 185 residential units with retail at-grade fronting King Street East. 510 and 512 King Street East are contiguous buildings, which will be retained. 530 King Street East will be demolished. The ground floor will have commercial uses, with residential units on floors two to eight; the development includes underground parking. “The proposed built form and design of 510-530 King Street East consists of a two and three storey masonry podium reminiscent of the century-old industrial and warehouse structures that are an integral part of Corktown.

This development (see map) will be adjacent to properties on Queen and Ashby Place, and will occupy a large portion of the block bounded by Queen, Sumach, King and River.

Streetcar Development’s Phase 1 and Phase 2 plans are subject to the King Parliament secondary plan (which is part of the city’s Official Plan). Two relevant sections from that secondary plan:

• The Corktown neighbourhood has a small scale, fine grained and unique physical form. It is a stable area where only gradual change, primarily through infill redvelopment which maintains the existing physical character of the area will be permitted (section 2.8 b)
• the removal of existing surface parking will be encouraged (section 5.3 b)

(Originally posted Aug 2007; updated Feb 2008)

The Trefann Court Residents Association has a long and colourful history; its founding meeting was August 11, 1966. Earlier in their respective careers, four ex-Toronto mayors helped organize this neighbourhood: David Crombie, John Sewell, June Rowlands and Barbara Hall.

The Trefann Court area is bounded by Queen, Parliament, Shuter and River streets. In 1966, the city wanted to demolish almost all of the existing buildings, and to build public housing in the area from Parliament to Sackville (continuing the Regent Park “urban renewal” area immediately to the north). On the east part of the site, from Sackville to River, the city would permit industrial buildings. (Industrial use for this area was suggested by a private developer, who in 1957 constructed the large warehouse at 90 Sumach for the CBC, who used it for 30 years as prop storage, construction and rehearsal space.)

But the Trefann Court residents urged the city that their homes not be expropriated, that they be allowed to have significant involvement in replanning their community, and that an alternative to public housing be found. This was the genesis of citizen participation in planning, which now happens in all Toronto neighbourhoods. During the past 30 years, additional 2-3 storey housing has been built to strengthen the stable low-rise residential character of Trefann Court: on Sydenham Street, Wascana, and most recently, the south-west corner of Shuter + River.

The history of Trefann Court makes for interesting reading. Gordon Fraser’s 1972 book: “Fighting Back; Urban Renewal in Trefann Court” (300 pages) is available from the library. John Sewell has also written extensively about Trefann Court, including this entry in a summary of downtown neighbourhoods published in 2000.

A core of motivated Downtown residents is inserting new life into what was once a formidable community group - the Trefann Court Residents’ Association. Our aim is to increase information sharing and provide a forum for Trefann Court residents to meet each other and discuss issues that affect us.

Trefann Court is the area bounded by Queen, Parliament, Shuter and the Don River. The original association was active in the 1970s and successfully prevented the houses throughout this entire area from being expropriated for public housing. During the 1990’s, the association lobbied for improvements to a planned condo development. More recently, Trefann individuals have provided community input to the city’s Shelter Bylaw and Drug Strategy, and participated on the Community Police Liaison Committee and neighbourhood safety audits.

In 2008, we’d like to continue that same community spirit, neighbourly co-operation and activism in Trefann Court. Our first public meeting will be held on February 28th, 7pm at the Dominion Hotel (500 Queen St. E. at Sumach) - see you there!