Since the start of the City Workers strike, many neighbours and friends have come out and cleaned our little community. Walking up Sumach street, it is not unusual to see a few people out on the street, picking up litter, offering to drive their neighbours’ garbage to a transfer station, sweeping up sidewalks, laneways and driveways. Strolling along Shuter and Tracy Streets, you see the same thing happening. Neighbours helping each other and keeping Trefann clean and tidy.

Last evening, one resident went so far as to transport their ‘ride-upon’ lawn mower down from their cottage and mowed the entire grass area of Stinky’s Park. He did this so the rest of the community could continue enjoying our park.

His actions have motivated others to organize a small ‘clean-up’ party this weekend. We have transport to the transfer station. We have donated garbage bags. We have the will to see this strike through.

I know I’ll be there and hope to see you too.

” It is very commendable that the City of Toronto, as sole owner of TCHC, is rebuilding the public housing in Regent Park; hopefully this area, located on the edges of Toronto’s downtown area, will evolve into more desirable and livable neighbourhood.  Intensification which provides transitions in height from existing adjacent low rise neighbourhoods, is good.

But it is troubling that no “planning” rationale is provided by the May 27, 2009 planning report, to justify a substantial increase in height limits.  Previous height limits for Regent Park were established, after extensive planning and review, only 4 years ago.  So what are the new “planning” issues, to justify this increased height?  The reasons given by the planner are exceedingly vague:  “lessons learned from Phase 1 and changing opportunities”.  One must assume that the only reason for “extra height” is “extra money” for the developer.  Taller buildings allows more market-priced condo units, to provide more money to rebuild the public housing.  Clearly, the City is in a conflict of interest in this application, as the city is acting as both the “planner” and the “developer”.

The planning report describes surrounding neighbourhoods; it is important to be aware of building heights in those neighbourhoods.  Cabbagetown, South of Carlton and Trefann Court neighbourhoods are almost entirely 2-3 storey houses, rarely exceeding 12m in height.  Newly constructed housing along Regent Park’s borders (eg. 547-567 Shuter, completed less than 2 years ago) are only 3 storeys, compatible with the city’s planning objectives stated in the former Trefann Court Part II Plan (1983):  “low rise, row house character”, and 12m height limit along Shuter St.

Of the streets bounding Regent Park (Shuter, Parliament, River, Gerrard), Shuter St. is the only one which is entirely residential, and so it is especially important here to provide “a transition between areas of different intensities and scale through the use of setbacks and step backs with adjacent lower intensity neighbourhoods” (as per Feb 2009 Regent Park Planning Rationale, page 13).  The 2003 zoning for Regent Park, which established a 15m height for blocks 23 and 10m for block 38 (vicinity of Shuter + Sackville), provided that appropriate and very important transition between Regent Park and its existing low-rise residential neighbourhood to the south.  Allowing 20m and 22m for these blocks would be  almost twice the height of existing 12m houses lining the south side of Shuter.

Please provide an appropriate transition in scale, between Regent Park and the adjacent low rise Trefann Court:  maintain a 15m height limit for blocks 23 and 38 of Regent Park. “

In Regent Park Phase 1, which is currently under construction, the plan is for 350 rental and 600 “market value” - although to date, 5 years after the start of this project, no one has purchased any of the “market value” housing units.  In Phase 2, the plan is for 380 rental and 1270 “market value” units (on land currently occupied by 444 “old” Regent Park” rental units).  The existing community centre:  203 Sackville Green (still in good repair, perhaps 30 years old) will be demolished, and a new facility built approximately 1 block south.  This will be in addition to other Regent Park “community centres”:  the Aquatic Centre, and the “Day Care / Parents for Better Beginning”, both soon to be under construction elsewhere in the Regent Park site.

In the surrounding neighbourhoods of Cabbagetown and Trefann Court, Sumach and Sackville Streets are quiet, one way streets.  In Regent Park, both streets will become 2 way traffic.  The existing apartment tower, at 14 Blevins, will be retained due to its architectural significance.  Sackville Street is to be lined with 8 storey buildings, comparable in height to the 90 Sumach condos.

Compare the proposed heights of Regent Park buildings to Nelson Mandela Park Public School and 90 Sumach condos, which are also shown in these drawings
 

The block bounded by Shuter, Sutton and Regent St contains a mix of 2 storey private homes (372-376 Shuter, 29-31 Sutton) as well as 3 storey Regent Park townhouses (362-356 Shuter).  The city has acquired 376 Shuter and 21 Sutton; when asked at the May 11 meeting, the city wouldn’t divulge its plans for reveloping this block.

Where will the city get $450 million to pay for all of this?  Magic.

Streetcar Developments is planning a larger building on King East as Phase 2; their Vineger Lofts conversion on River Street is nearing completion.

During the past few years, community activists have spoken out against the visual pollution in Toronto, caused by numerous, illegal billboards.  You may have heard about the Toronto Public Space Committee: “dedicated to protecting our shared common spaces from commercial influence and privatisation”.

The City of Toronto is preparing a new sign by-law. It will replace the individual sign by-laws of the former municipalities.  The new sign by-law will update the standards for signs on private property, address current sign issues, and reflect the diverse character found in Toronto communities. The Sign By-law project will also explore ways where signage will support the City’s efforts in energy conservation and revenue generation.

For information on project updates, please visit the City’s website.

The police have a 5 point “Graffiti Eradication Program” to help communities.  When enforced, a city bylaw can compel a property owner to remove grafitti from their private property (except during winter months).  For public property (according to the city website):  “City staff will remove graffiti on city owned buildings, overpasses, bridges, and public parks … within a 72-hour period to prevent further proliferation.”

If citizens see persons in the act of creating graffiti, that activity can be reported to 911.  After the fact, the property owner can also report the graffiti to the police.  Inspector Kuck observed that a building which already has a few graffiti tags will quickly attract more graffiti; whereas a surface kept totally clean of graffiti is less likely to be tagged.

” Astral Media has begun installing its new street furniture in the past six months, and already there are problems with transit shelters and benches.

Through a Freedom of Information request, we have obtained the contract between Astral and the City.  We’re working on putting together a proper web page for it, but until then you can access it directly (3.2 megabyte PDF).  And here’s the Street Furniture Rollout Schedule. “