LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:03 PM Page 1
No. 45 • January 2016
Leaside Life leasidelifenews.com
Bob Hart
George Knott
Edna Beange
Deirdre Gibson
By FRANK JONES SAHIL (Stay at Home in Leaside) was built at Bayview and McRae 15 years go – not by a developer, but by a courageous group of seniors and activists determined to create the kind of senior housing that Leaside really needs. There were struggles, looming disaster, fear of failure and ultimate heart-warming success. Former Toronto Star columnist Frank Jones is a resident of SAHIL.
The struggle for seniors to stay in Leaside SAHIL has become an answer, but there were disasters to overcome on the way to a happy ending THE STORY OF SAHIL PART 1
Happy New Year
Ian Ellingham
Seppo Kanerva
Barbara Carter
Geoff Kettel
If one person can be credited with the idea of SAHIL (pronounced "Say-hill), it is Bob Hart. A tall, stately man of boundless energy, Hart was an international civil servant who ran UN relief operations in China after World War II. In retirement, he brought his organizing zeal to Toronto where, at Leaside United Church, he met four widows who told him of their sense of being stranded in homes too large for them, yet feeling an urgent desire to SAHIL, Page 20
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Leaside Life, January 2016
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Winter Feeding Helps Our Wild Birds Survive
Burnside thinks he has solved that weed problem By ALLAN WILLIAMS
Your Local Birding & Nature Experts
939 Eglinton Ave E. (Brentcliffe and Eglinton)
416- 646-2439 w w w. U r b a n N a t u r e S t o r e. c a
Councillor Jon Burnside is optimistic that a solution has been found, using extra help from community groups, for maintaining the Leaside arena grounds so they’re not overgrown with weeds. “The islands [in the parking lot] as well as part of the arena entrance were sodded and will be cut by arena staff. At least three community groups – including Scouts, residents of 955 Millwood, and the Aquafit group at the arena – will look after designated sections of the interior gardens, and I’m confident that the city will maintain the perimeter.” It took months to devise this solution. “The problem,” says Burnside, “is that, unfortunately, the city has strict green standards for all capital projects but there seems to be very little thought given to maintaining all these extra gardens and lawns we
are building – whether its on arena properties or centre medians on roads.” When the weeds became an eyesore, he said, the Parks Department told him “it was an arena issue. The arena said it was a Parks issue. I was then approached by Cate Woodward and the Aquafit ladies who asked if they could adopt a plot near the swimming pool as they were aghast at the state of the property. “I circled back with Parks and finally got permission for community groups like Cate’s to be involved but it soon became apparent that the task was far too large. After more phone calls with the head of Parks she drove by the arena to see for herself the sorry state of affairs and authorized a proper clean up” involving Parks staff from across the city under the direction of local Park supervisor Jim McKay. Parks and arena staff worked out the new system. ■
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:04 PM Page 3
Saving old Leaside second Committee of Adjustment hearing, the structure was entirely clad. At the Committee of Adjustment the main variance at issue was height (9.01 metres versus the by-law height of 8.5 metres). The committee unanimously refused the application and the owner appealed that decision to the OMB. In July 2015 the building inspector issued an order to comply and asked that they stop all work being carried out. And so since late July the construction site has sat, with a virtually completed house, except for some finishing on the inside. At the Dec. 9 OMB hearing there were three participants in support of the Committee of Adjustment’s refusal decision; Vanessa Rose and Larry Bacon, who both live on Airdrie, and myself for the LPOA.
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Vanessa Rose in her participant statement condemned the owner’s appeal as being “about bully planning; build first and assume that permission will follow because the structure is built out. This makes a mockery of the process and fools out of citizens that respect the law. “Refusing this appeal for forgiveness goes a long way to send a message to builders and their agents that the process needs to be respected, not abused.� Larry Bacon, a residential contractor, presented a set of photographs of each house on the street, both sides, from the subject property to Hanna. He showed that the house was an outlier in massing and height and style, and expressed concerns about “height creep�. He also raised a number of technical questions about the height of the “as built� house. He believed it could be as much as 0.4 metres higher than claimed by the owner. My participant statement was largely about the lack of respect for Leaside’s built form character. Character Preservation Guide-
Leaside Life, January 2016
Leaside has its share of demolished/reconstructed houses that do not “fit� the neighbourhood, by virtue of excessive height and massing, and non-traditional architectural style. And assuming they went to the Committee of Adjustment for approval, there are sometimes questions as to whether they are being built in compliance with the committee’s decisions. 151 Airdrie went to the OMB on Dec. 9; we’ve previously written about 27 Fleming Cres. and 73 Donegall. During the spring of 2015, 151 Airdrie was under construction, but neighbours questioned the height and massing of the house, for which several variances, including height, had been approved by the Committee of Adjustment the year before. The owner, Arzhang Sohrabi, applied a second time for height variances to legalize the structure already built, rather than modify the structure to conform to the approvals in place. And regardless, construction continued. By June 11, 2015, the date of the
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:04 PM Page 4
Leaside Life, January 2016
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lines have been in place for Leaside since 2003, but have never been enforced. Jennifer Keesmaat, the city’s chief planner, when she spoke on Nov. 23 in Leaside, announced that design guidelines similar to Leaside’s will be developed for communities across the city, beginning with Long Branch and Willowdale in 2016. In fact, using the Leaside Character Preservation Guidelines, produced by the city and the community working together, enables us to examine the “as built” dwelling in relation to the built form character of the neighbourhood in a straightforward yet systematic way. 151 Airdrie is located on the stretch of Airdrie Rd. between Hanna and Millwood, the first lot south of Millwood. The street formerly included a mix of bungalows and twostorey houses, but now consists almost entirely of original and replacement two-storey houses. The styles of the replacement dwellings are varied but there is a predominance of houses having fairly consistent height and massing that in general terms meet the Leaside Character Preservation Guidelines. However, the examination of 151 Airdrie exposed numerous areas of non-compliance with the Guidelines. The following are the key points: • The two-car garage is completely out of architectural character and ruins the classic Leaside streetscape. • The height variance is a black and white non-compliance with the Guidelines. • The three-storey front massing is not in character. • Excessive ground floor height above grade further adds to the above lack of streetscape and poor architectural character. • Stone and stucco are not conventional Leaside materials and do not comply with the Guidelines. Of course the other side argued that the height variance was minor (even though they had to acknowledge that the height was the highest
Leaside Life Published once a month in Leaside,Toronto ON, by Ruth G. Publishing Inc., 66 Donegall Drive, Toronto ON, M4G 3G5 Circulation 9,000 to every door in M4G PUBLISHER: Lorna Krawchuk EDITORIAL: Harry Goldhar ADVERTISING: Ruth Goldhar GRAPHIC DESIGN: L. Choy
416‐486‐7387 leasidelife@gmail.com www.leasidelifenews.com
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:04 PM Page 5
WE’VE GOT ALL OF LEASIDE COVERED Leaside is growing, and Leaside Life with it. We’re now at a distribution of 9,000 copies. We deliver to all houses in the M4G area through the local firm Accurate Distributing, Laird Dr., and to all condos, apartments and businesses by the Post Office to all of M4G, including the Leaside Business Park, and to a small part of it that’s in the M4H postal area. We are the only news publication that does that. â–
member declared that he was reserving his decision. So we will not know the result until the New Year. So what happens if the OMB does not approve the variances in arrears? Rose recalls a case in Leaside about 10 years ago where this happened, and the owner was forced to reduce the height of the house by 0.5 metres, similar to the amount at issue in this case. A house on Laird north of Eglinton, which was illegally built beyond the by-laws, was refused at the OMB, appealed to the Superior Court and in the end the owner was required to reduce the already built height by 0.5 metres. In our case we’ll see, but at the OMB I don’t hold my breath.
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Postscript: You may have wondered what happened about those OMB hearings scheduled for November (mentioned in the November edition of Leaside Life). Both involved appeals of Committee of Adjustment decisions to refuse applications for minor variances. In the case of 317 Laird Dr. the owner’s appeal was dropped (and hence they in effect accepted the Committee of Adjustment decision). In the case of 228 Rumsey Rd. the OMB found for the owner, after a contested hearing on Nov. 24. â–
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Leaside Life, January 2016
in the designated study area of their own planner, Armando Barbini) but “there’ll always be a higher house�. Another argument was that the replacement house represented suitable “transition� to the walk-up apartment building next door on the south side. How a single detached house of larger than normal dimensions can be seen to be transition to a 20-unit building is beyond me, but in planning circles transition is seen as a highly desirable condition. But why is transition needed? These are on different streets in different land use designation/zoning areas. At the end of the day the OMB
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:04 PM Page 6
Born in the fast lane - and still there MEET YOUR NEIGHBOUR By ALLAN WILLIAMS Leaside resident, former teacher and busy volunteer Elaine Snider started life in the fast lane – literally. She and her twin sister were born as the taxi her mom was in was racing downtown from Moore Park to Toronto Western Hospital. “My mother didn’t know she was having twins,” she says. “My sister Claire was born in the cab. My grandmother delivered her and I was born just as they were about to transfer my mom out of the taxi. “The cab got into an accident too! My grandmother broke a rib and my mom hurt her arm. But we arrived just fine weighing in at just over six pounds each.” Maybe all that early rush is one cause for her very busy life. Currently she is a member of the arena board at Leaside Gardens. She is on the board of the East York Foundation and a member of Councillor Jon Burnside’s traffic committee.
BILL SNIDER
Leaside Life, January 2016
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Elaine Snider and granddaughter Sarah Snider She is also facilitating school admission for her church for two young refugee sisters just arrived from the Central African Republic. Volunteering has been a big part of her life. She started a career as a teacher,
but took time away to raise four children and in her remaining time did volunteer work. She then went back to teaching at East York Collegiate from 1986 to NEIGHBOUR, Page 8
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:13 PM Page 7
leasidelifenews.com
FREE LISTING SERVICE HAVE A LOCAL EVENT TO PROMOTE? SEND US THE DATE, TIME, LOCATION AND EVENT NAME
LEASIDE LIBRARY, 165 McRae, 416-3963835 ADULT and TEEN PROGRAMMING: – Adult Colouring Party, the latest trend in relaxation. Relaxing music supplied. Recurring Tuesdays, 7-8:15 p.m. For teens and adults. – Cosmetic Ingredients in the News: Cutting through the hype. Many ingredients are under fire as being "dirty" and "toxic". Presenter Louise Hidinger, a chemist, is also a cosmetic science writer. Wednesday, Jan. 20, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – How To Be Happier Through Awareness. The key to moving from one state of being to a more desired state lies in raising our level of awareness. Wednesday, Jan. 13, 6-7:30 p.m. Drop in. – Jigsaw Puzzle Night. Mondays all month. 7-8:15 p.m. Drop in. – Juicing 101. Hands on workshop for optimal health and sample your own cre-
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING: – Creative Paper Craft. Learn about recycling. Make something beautiful out of trash. Friday, Jan. 22, 2-3:30 p.m. Drop in. – Family Literacy Month: Arts & Crafts. Fun and creative crafts that celebrate the written word. Mondays all January, 4-4:30 p.m. Drop in. – LEGO Club. Fun LEGO time after school. Thursday, Jan. 28, 3:30-5 p.m. Drop in. – Ready for Reading Baby Time, ages up to 18 months. Bouncing and tickling rhymes, songs and stories for babies with their parents or caregivers. Thursdays all month, 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in. – Ready for Reading Family Time, ages 19 months-5 years. Stories, songs, and rhymes for children with their parents or caregivers. Wednesdays all month, 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. Drop in. OUTSIDE GROUPS: – Discover Your Heritage. Explore Ontario of yesterday and today with Barry Penhale and special guests. Tuesdays, Jan. 19, 26, 2-4 p.m. – Leaside Garden Society. Gardening Disasters, Tena Andel. For information, 416-422-0538 leaside@gardenontario.org. Thursday, Jan. 14, 7:30-9:30 p.m. ____
Satinder Sahota, Owner
Canadian Federation of University Women Leaside-East York, monthly meeting 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21, Northlea United Church, 125 Broadway. Meg Morden, archaeologist. Excavations at Tel Kedesh, Israel. Visitors and new members welcome. University degree not a prerequisite. www.cfuwleasideeastyork.ca or Pat Price, 416 385 1055. St. Augustine's Church, 1847 Bayview, The Groove Room Coffee House, Friday, Jan. 15, 7-8:30 p.m. Monthly event with live music by local artists. $5 includes coffee and dessert. All proceeds towards a Syrian refugee family. Looking for musicians. Augustine@bellnet.ca Kids’ Club for JK to grade 7, Leaside Presbyterian Church, 670 Eglinton. Friday, Jan. 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Crafts, music, storytime. Snack and hot lunch provided. $30/child, $50/family. Subsidized funding available. Grade 8 and up youth welcome as helpers. Community service available. Rev. Angela Cluney, 416-422-0510, ext. 25.
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Leaside Life, January 2016
Deadline for February, January 10
ations. Wednesday, Jan.7, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – Leaside Writer’s Group. Saturdays, June 9, 23, 10-11:45 a.m. Everyone welcome. – Leaside Needleworx Group. Knitting and crocheting. Recurring Fridays all January, 10-11:45 a.m. Everyone welcome. – Meals on a Budget. Create your own money saving strategies and take home sample homemade goods. Presented by Kitchen Library. Wednesday, Jan.27, 7-8 p.m. Drop in. – Leaside Play Reading Group. Reading a thought-provoking play each month, from comedy to award-winning drama. Saturday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Call to register. Limited space. – Youth Advisory Group Meeting, ages 13-19. Volunteer to receive community hours and get creative with peers. Wednesday, Jan. 27, 4-6 p.m. Members only. Ask staff for application.
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:13 PM Page 8
Neighbour From Page 6
Leaside Life, January 2016
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2000, taking night courses at OISE to earn a masters in educational administration. “I graduated at age 53. It took some time with teenagers at home.” She took a principal’s course in the late ‘90s over two summers and after amalgamation in the GTA, she became vice-principal of Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. After seven years she retired but was called back to help at four different schools, retiring for good in 2011. How did you come to live in Leaside? I met my husband, Mel, at university and after he became a CA, we moved to Southlea Ave. in 1969. It was close to my work and to downtown for Mel’s job. We’ve been here for 46 years. What did you love most about teaching or being vice-principal? I love teenagers. I love their energy and enthusiasm. Some got into trouble but if I had to be firm, I was also fair. I would connect them with community workers and others who might help. It was very rewarding. Do you hear from former students? All the time. Recently walking across the street in Yorkville, a guy in
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a truck honked at me. I thought we had cut him off as we were crossing, but the driver yelled out, “Hi Miss, remember me?” I didn’t. He said, “I was in your office all the time.” He told me he was now selling tires. What made me feel good was that he didn’t have to stop and honk or wave. Something happened that was electric there. There have been other connections like that. What do you like most about volunteering? I want to be seen as someone who enjoys working with some very smart, capable volunteers who give an enormous amount of time and energy to our community. It’s not just me; there are many of us. All are very generous and I think it enriches my job as a volunteer to work with these people. What are some things people might not know about you? Next May my sisters and I are travelling to London to attend the four-day celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday. I’m teaching my granddaughter to play the ukulele. Sarah is in grade 5 at Bessborough and we have a lot of fun playing and singing! What’s your favourite find in Leaside? GrillTime on Laird. Andy’s after-hours food demonstrations are great. Not only is Andy a hard worker but he cares about the community by volunteering his time and energy. ■
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:13 PM Page 9
Over 40% more homes already proposed
Neighbourhoods He chose three areas for review, the corner of Eglinton and Hanna Rd., the Shane Baghai eight-storey condominium proposal on Southvale beside the Leaside Arena, and the quadraplexes south of McDonald’s on Bayview.
“Yo “You’ll ou’ll Feel Forever Forever A Att Home”
At Hanna, he said, the city wants a four-storey townhouse development because of the LRT that wouldn’t fit the neighbourhood and would encourage developers to push further east, all against Official Plan policies. On Southvale the proposal is to remove the Neighbourhoods Area rules to permit higher construction than now permitted. “It is reported,” he said, “that a local developer is interested in building a residential condominium possibly with a height of 20+ storeys over
Mixed Use Areas “A lot is happening in the Mixed Use Areas, and they pose a host of challenges for Leaside residents,” he said. “Unfortunately, the Mixed Use policies of the Official Plan are vague with respect to the height and scale of buildings permitted.” Of special note: Sunnybrook Plaza, the huge proposal for 939 Eglinton at Brentcliffe, the former post office building site at Malcolm and Laird, 146-150 Laird, and Eglinton between Sutherland and Laird where the city wants zoning to permit
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Doug Obright
the Bayview LRT station planned for the McDonald’s site and that such plans may include the lands of at least one quadraplex to the south currently designated Neighbourhood.” He added, “In 2003, Residential Character Preservation Guidelines for Leaside were adopted by the city to assist members of the community… in gaining an understanding of what make Leaside’s natural and architectural attributes valuable and how to extend those attributes to new developments. Unfortunately these guidelines have not always been followed.”
Leaside Life, January 2016
“If all residential development applications currently before the city for the Leaside residential area and the residential area within the Leaside Business Park are approved, it would result in an over-40 percent increase in residential units,” Doug Obright, a planner, said in his keynote presentation to the LPOA at its 2015 annual general meeting in November. “More major residential applications are expected in the near future.” He outlined plans that will be presented in the LPOA’s web site (www.lpoa.ca) to get public feedback on what he said some people suggest has put Leaside “under siege”. The development pressures are split into three areas, he said: Neighbourhoods Areas, Mixed Uses Areas and Employment Areas within the Leaside Business Park.
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:13 PM Page 10
Leaside Life, January 2016
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Happy New Year! New Year’s Levee
Join me to celebrate the new year with refreshments & live entertainment!
which is expected to have traffic that will affect Leaside. “Moving on to the broader Employment Areas situation,” he said, “the city undertook a comprehensive review of the policies which apply to its employment lands a couple of years ago. Unfortunately the resulting Official Plan amendment did little to provide significant new direction for the Leaside Business Park. “Big box and other commercial operations have been allowed to develop in a largely uncoordinated fashion resulting in a disparate mix of architectural styles and poor traffic flow through the area. “A clear vision is needed for the Business Park if it is to take advantage of its prime location and not negatively impact businesses in the Park or the surrounding community.” As for proposed action on all fronts, he had specific proposals for each development, but finished by saying: “If the LPOA and the community are to pursue this substantial list of proposed actions and others yet to be identified, the community needs to become much more proactive and engaged and to provide both volunteer time and financial support.” The specific proposals are expected to be on the LPOA site shortly. ■
mid-rise development. “City Planning has further complicated the situation,” he said, “by dealing with proposals in Mixed Use Areas based on staff’s assessment of the attributes of the specific site. For example larger lots tend to get taller buildings. “While this provides the city with flexibility in dealing with such proposals, it leaves the community without a clear sense of what is or is not permitted. “Developers, in their efforts to maximize profits, will submit proposals which are taller and larger in scale than what appears to be the intent of the Official Plan. Unfortunately, if these applications are not challenged, most seem to get approved particularly if they are on larger lots and are anywhere near a public transit corridor.” Employment Areas “The Leaside Business Park Association plays a central role in speaking on behalf of property owners in the Park. The residents of Leaside, however, are highly impacted by what goes on there and are interested in supporting the overall well-being of the Park.” He mentioned the approval of SmartCentre North, which is expected to house a Walmart, and the Costco approval in Thorncliffe Park,
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:13 PM Page 11
In brief | Leaside Life, January 2016
Five Leaside girls and one boy, between 11 and 13, raised $650 by singing Christmas carols at three local restaurants to help renovate the Trace Mains playground as part of the Georgina Walsh memorial project. Emilie Chodat grabbed the idea from her father Steve, rounded up friends she knew could sing, and visited Against the Grain, Leaside Pub, and the Local, where they were cheered. Georgina Walsh was the young girl killed in a car accident at McRae and Millwood in 2013. Her mother, Jillian Walsh, accompanied the choir and said a fundraising project will be launched early this year. You can see a video of the choir at the South Bayview Bulldog blog, www.bayviewnews.com, in a Dec. 17 entry. ■
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:13 PM Page 12
He’s the oldest curler, 89, at Leaside rink 12 Howard Cook didn’t start curling until he was 50 years old, but he’s made up for his late start by sticking with the sport for the past 40 years. Leaside’s oldest curler, who will celebrate his 90th birthday in April and his 65th wedding anniversary in March, still curls every Monday and Friday morning at the Leaside Curling Club as part of the Senior Men’s Division. That division also curls Wednesday mornings, but Howard gives that a pass saying, “I have to conserve my energy.” Why the late start? He grew up in Newcastle-UponTyne, in northern England, where no one curled. He and his family came to Canada in 1957. The cold Canadian winters didn’t bother Cook and he became an avid cross-country skier. But one winter in the mid 1970s there was hardly any snow. “A neighbour took me to the Avonlea Curling Club and I was just absolutely blown away by the sport
ALLAN WILLIAMS
Leaside Life, January 2016
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By ALLAN WILLIAMS
and have loved it ever since. What interests me, apart from the exercise, is the camaraderie that I’ve always found. I’ve played at 33 different club locations in Ontario and the United States and curlers are always friendly.”
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Cook curled in Thornhill for 17 years, then joined the Leaside Curling Club in 1994, and “some of these guys I’ve been playing with ever since”. CURLING, Page 14
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:13 PM Page 13
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W What’s hat’s B Brewing rewing in LLeaside? easide?
Yearly home values up 8.14% for 10 years By JETHRO SEYMOUR
W elcome tto o 2016, the New Y Welcome Year ear is he e here! re! TThe he ffestive esti e ve season and ccelebration elebration m may ay be o over ver but he here re aatt A Amsterdam msterdam B rewery b rewing is still in full swin g. Brewery brewing swing.
arm and lea rn about yyour LLooking ooking tto o keep ttoasty oasty w warm learn our local b rewery this wi nter? Y ou’re iinvited nvited tto o join us eevery very SSaturday aturday brewery winter? You’re aafternoon fternoon ffor or o a ffree our of the b rewery. TTours ours o run with one ree ttour brewery. our guides eevery very hou r. of our kknowledable nowledable ttour hour,r, on the hou hour. parties o book a FFor or pa rties under 10 people no RSVP is rrequired. equired. TTo la larger rger g group roup or eevent vent call us us aatt (416) 504-1040 or email e eventspace@amsterdambeer.com ventspace@amsterdambeer.com
e aare re eexcited xcited tto o announ ce th at our -W We announce that events spa ce will be hosting local aart rt ccollective, ollective, TThe he A rtists events space Artists Network month. Ne twork with rrotating otating aart rt each mo nth. Join us on the ry opening ffrom se second cond TThursday hursday of each mo month gallery rom nth ffor o or a galle rving beers on d raught eevery We serving draught day, 7-10pm. W e aare re also se very d ay, rom 11am tto o 9pm M Monday onday - SSaturday aturday ffrom and Sunday’s Sunday ’s 11am - 6pm. - LLooking o keep yyour our ffridge ridge sstocked tocked ffor o or ooking tto impromptu Pick imp romptu guests or ffor o or the Hockey game? P ick up a 25 pack of bottles of A Amsterdam Blonde, Wheel msterdam Blond e, Big W heel or a mix of both ffor or $3 o $35.45.
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Over the last 10 years Leaside homes have averaged an annual return of 8.14 percent. These are great numbers and the distinct lack of inventory has helped keep the values up. Leaside has averaged 220 homes sales per year over the last 10 years. So far this year, as of early December, we have only had 157 sales. Meanwhile, semis are the story again this month. The two new ones on Rumsey near Trace Mane Park sold for record numbers, over $1.6 million. Two extensively renovated semis in North Leaside sold for $1,230,000 and $1,263,000. They set new value ceilings in the neighbourhood. Additionally, two 30-foot lots were sold in North Leaside, one for $1,345,000, which took 10 days to sell, and one for $1,395,000 which didn’t even last a day. __ Jethro Seymour is a broker at Johnston & Daniel. All figures are from the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service. ■
Curling From Page 12
From 2003 until 2011 he served as the skip of the Leaside team in the Tarlton International Bonspiel, an annual tournament with 16 Canadian and 16 American teams. When it was held at Leaside in 2007, he chaired the event, at age 81. “I introduced my grandson, Mackenzie Reid, to the game when he was seven years old here at Leaside,” says Cook proudly, “and last year his team won the silver medal at Canada Winter Games in BC, after winning gold at the Ontario championships the year before. “Curling keeps me young, healthy and engaged,” he sums up, “and I have no plans to retire. I’ll die with my curling shoes on! My wife Pamela is in good health too and is fully supportive; she knows how important curling is to me.” ■
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:14 PM Page 15
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The Durant Motors office building, at the bottom of this c. 1930 photo, is to be re-developed. The building is west of Laird Dr.
How one word could save more of our heritage Can a report be fatally flawed yet fixed by the addition of one word? I think so and here’s how. The Durant Motors office building at 146-150 Laird Dr. is proposed to be partially demolished and redeveloped as a seven-storey condominium with 109 units, linked to an eight-storey rental retirement home with 175 units next door. The developer’s proposal is to retain only the front facade of the building and part of the north and south sides. The staff report called Intent to Designate – 150 Laird Dr. said, “The heritage attributes on the exterior of the property at 150 Laird Drive are… the south, east and north elevations.” But nothing was said about the west elevation, just a comment that, “Please note that later additions to this property, the fire escape stairs and metal clad addition on the west side of the property are not included as heritage attributes.” The word west has now been added to the designation. That is expected to create changes to the development plans.
Geoff Kettel Co-president, LPOA
In effect the new word now secures full protection for the building. The aerial image (Aerial View of Laird and McRae Drives, c.1930) of the Leaside Industrial Area (which accompanied my LL column in May 2015), clearly shows the west wall of the Durant Motors Administration Building as having the same brick and stone materials and Gothic Revival architecture as on the east, south and north walls. After noting the omission I decided to check it out and see what exists today. So I rode over to the site and found that yes indeed the west wall is there. The metal clad one-storey building is a separate accessory building, not an “addition” to the building, which extends behind the building for its entire length and partially hides the west side. The rest was easy. I wrote Her-
itage Preservation Services to give them a heads up, and contacted our councillor. So at North York Community Council I raised the matter by deputation, and Councillor Burnside made a motion directing staff to review the architectural value of the west elevation of the building and report directly to City Council for its meeting Dec. 9, on any recommended revisions to the Statement of Significance and heritage attributes of the property. At that meeting, the revised report, which now included all four sides of the building as heritage attributes, was approved. A key concern of the Leaside Property Owners’ Association was the unacceptably low level of heritage conservation of 150 Laird. Now that the heritage attributes of the property have been revised to recognize the architectural unity of all four sides, and consequently the exterior structure of the building as a whole, it is expected that the conservation of this iconic Leaside heritage property will be materially affected and enhanced. ■
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:14 PM Page 18
MP sworn in with three holy books Three holy books were used by new Liberal MP Rob Oliphant when swearing his oath of allegiance on Nov. 20. They were the Christian Bible, the Jewish Tanakh and the Muslim Koran. “These three holy books represent the most prominent faith groups of Don Valley West (riding),” a press release explained. “It’s been terrific, awesome,” says David Gadke of his one-month art show at the former Sleep Country bedding store on Bayview. “I sold 10 or 11 paintings, and have commissions for a cow, a crow, two foxes and a house portrait.” The Leaside artist, who has a gallery in Rosseau every summer, declined to give sales figures, but happily says: “I’ve made a good profit.” “I can’t crystal-ball where prices might be in the fall of 2016,” says a spokesman for the builder at 262 Bessborough Dr. when asked proposed prices and date of sale offerings of three unfinished houses on the old Thomas Elgie property. When the large lot was sold for $2.5 million, the original farmhouse was raised and moved, making space for two new monster homes now being built. If local politicians want a practical New Year’s Resolution, The Curious Idler suggests they urge removal of all non-permanent patio railings on Bayview Ave. so snowplows can make the street safe and walkable for the elderly and mothers pushing strollers. Patio furniture is removed each winter, so why not also temporarily dismantle railings that hog half the street in winter for no reason? We value your business – but we’re handing you over to machines. In effect, this is the message of a recent CIBC letter to Millwood and Bayview branch clients informing them that as of April 18, “full service cash withdrawals and deposits... will no longer be available via traditional counter service.” Someone called a Banking Centre Leader, Millwood and Bayview, will be on hand to help customers with digital service and can be contacted at 416-485-9110, ext. 222. ■
Finnish Canadian residents of the Suomi Koti Centre on Eglinton recently marked their independence from Russia on Dec. 6, 1917 by singing the Finnish national anthem and raising flags. The Maple Leaf was hoisted by 90-year-old Pauli Paavola while 97-year-old Veikko Kallio – who fought in the 1939 Winter War – raised the Finnish flag.
RUTH GOLDHAR
Leaside Life, January 2016
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Curious Idler
On the street Saturday in December: Leaside Matters members Geoff Kettel, Celine Smith, John Naulls, Connor Turnbull and Kim Auchinochie. All the t-shirts were sold.
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:14 PM Page 19
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:14 PM Page 20
Leaside Life, January 2016
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SAHIL From Page 1
remain in their old neighbourhood. The women exemplified Leaside's looming problem: with one of the oldest age profiles in the city, Leaside would see more and more seniors anxious to not be displaced, but with no other housing choices. Geoff Kettel, a land use planner and community activist, remembered meeting Hart, "in his 80s and very lively," at the church. "He had this vision for retired residents of Leaside. And he knew how to do projects." Their first SAHIL venture would be the handsome 107-apartment development on Millwood Rd. called Leaside Gate. Intended as a seniors building, it ran into financial difficulties and was completed by a developer. Under condo legislation, age restrictions are not allowed; so today about a third of the Leaside Gate residents are not seniors. Ten years later, undeterred, Hart told Kettel and Edna Beange, a former East York councillor with a strong interest in social issues and marginal involvement in Leaside Gate, "It's time we built another building." One by one, they began reeling in the people they would need to help them. Beange recruited Barbara Carter, a Leacrest Rd. neighbour who has written a book on seniors' housing choices, titled Where Will They Live? "Bang went five years of my life," says Carter, smiling ruefully. "All those sleepless nights!" George Knott, a retired T. Eaton Co. store manager, was attending a summer concert in Trace Manes Park with his wife Georgina when they were handed a SAHIL flyer. They attended a meeting at Leaside United Church and, like other would-be purchasers, put down a $1,000 deposit. Soon SAHIL meetings were being held in the Knotts' dining room, with Georgina providing homemade cookies. Ian Ellingham, a development consultant, was active on the project until he went to study in Cambridge, UK. His place was taken by another dynamo, Deirdre Gibson, a planner experienced in non-profit housing. At SAHIL one of her biggest jobs would be working to raise capital from reluctant investors. With Ellingham and Gibson came one more player: architect Seppo Kanerva, who had designed Suomi Koti, the Toronto FinnishCanadian seniors centre on Eglinton Ave. East. Thanks to him, SAHIL has
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:14 PM Page 21
Bayview Bayview & Fleming F le m in g 1601 B Bayview ayview A Ave ve Toronto Toronto O ON NM M4G 4G 3 3B5 B5 416-489-1873 416 489 1873
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Leaside Life, January 2016
a distinctly Scandinavian feel. The new SAHIL would be different from Leaside Gate. It would be smaller, and just like the Finnish project (and Bethel Green, a Millwood Rd. seniors project built since) it would be life lease, a scheme unfamiliar to many Canadians. What is life lease? As the Government of Ontario's online Life Lease Housing Resource Guide explains, life lease (LL) "is an increasingly popular housing choice primarily for older adults still living independently." Under LL, residents pay a lump sum for the right to occupy their units for life rather than owning the unit itself. As with a condo, they pay maintenance fees and property taxes, but are unable to take out a mortgage on their units. Owners, or their heirs, are free though to sell the unit at market value to those who qualify. Unlike conventional condo boards, LL boards have the right to limit occupancy to seniors (choosing their own age definition), and to prevent units from being rented out. And in SAHIL's case that means the board must verify that at least one of the potential purchasers of a unit is 65 or over, so its LL seniors building can remain just that. If Bob Hart and company thought they had found an easy solution in life lease, they were wrong. Life lease was no easy sell. There were times when it looked as though SAHIL might never be built. The project got off to a promising enough start. At a meeting of some 40 people at Leaside United Church on April 26, 1997, charismatic Hart was at his persuasive best as he described his vision of what SAHIL could mean for its future residents. Subsequently, 23 people put down $1,000 deposits on their future apartment units. As the team encountered one setback after another, nothing seemed to happen. By the end of the year, 21 of the original investors, many of them discouraged by skeptical lawyers who didn't understand life lease, had withdrawn their deposits. The deposit fund had shrunk from $23,000 to $2,000. "People were scared to death they would lose their money," recalls Carter. "Life leases should have been springing up everywhere – it's a fabulous concept – but there's a lot of trust involved. And in the big city, people don't trust." Finding a building site was the first challenge. There was no obvious and sizeable site to buy as there had been with Leaside Gate. The search narrowed down to a small garden
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:14 PM Page 22
Leaside Life, January 2016
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centre at the southeast corner of Bayview and McRae. "It was such a crazy shape," says Beange. In addition to being small and irregular, the site was seriously contaminated after serving for years as a FINA and later Petro-Canada gas station. For residents, it had one big advantage: location. It was within walking distance of two supermarkets, several restaurants and the smalltown ambience of the flourishing Bayview shopping strip. It also had bus service almost at the door. Considering the battles that lay ahead, it was fortunate that the SAHIL people had useful political connections. The local MP, John Godfrey, was persuaded to write to Petro-Canada’s president in Calgary urging that the property be sold to the SAHIL hopefuls. When the Petro-Canada lawyers – used to dealing with big firms and quite unfamiliar with handling small citizen groups like SAHIL – stalled the negotiations, former East York mayor and SAHIL’s legal counsel, Alan Redway, stepped in and got things moving again. After negotiations, the price was settled at $600,000. Petro-Canada paid for the site cleanup and testing. Before SAHIL could move forward, the provincial government insisted the soil testing be done over again – at considerable expense to the group, which was now painfully short on cash. Although thousands of seniors now live in life lease projects across Canada, many built by churches and other community groups, it is still a novel concept to many lawyers, insurance companies, municipalities, and – most importantly – banks. Confronted with the unfamiliar life lease arrangement, the banks rejected the SAHIL people’s request to borrow money. "They did nothing to help. They were unwilling to take any risks with us," the frustrated SAHIL treasurer Knott told Sheila Kieran in a 2002 Toronto Star article. "How can communities come up with housing solutions without support from their lending institutions?" ■
To advertise in Leaside Life: 416-486-7387 www.leasidelifenews.com We deliver to all homes, apartments and businesses in the M4G postal area.
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 23
Only thing missing was Indian beer
June and Andrew Smyth, Randolph Rd., Nigel and Leslie Heath, Glenvale Blvd.
YOU, our dining critics We give $100 to help pay for a meal for residents of the M4G postal area, which includes Leaside, Bennington Heights and the Leaside Business Park known also as the industrial area, to eat at any restaurant in the same area. Leslie said, “Pass them back.” We then took a break and consulted the waiter on suggestions for our main course. He recommended we choose three meat or fish mains and a veggie side. His suggestion was the lassoni cauliflower for the side, which was tremendous. Hot and sweet fried cauliflower garnished with sesame seeds – it was light and crispy in perfect bite size pieces. Between the starters and the mains, we were brought fresh, clean, warm plates and new cutlery. We ordered butter chicken, the only dish in the restaurant with butter or cream. The owner had mentioned that they have removed them from everything else on the menu to make it more authentic. We also ordered the beef short ribs and the coastal prawn curry. All the items were delicious. Nigel: The prawn curry was an “amazing mixture of spices”. Leslie: The butter chicken was a “good mix of spices you wouldn’t normally find in a butter chicken”. Andrew: The short ribs “melted in my mouth and were very succulent”. June: “ I loved the cauliflower. It had a unique, almost barbeque flavour.” Of course we also ordered some garlic naan which was a perfect accompaniment for soaking up all the extra sauces.
We were full after all the mains, but managed to finish everything. The portions were a perfect size and we were thrilled that the waiter hadn’t tried to convince us to buy more than we could eat. He did however suggest dessert. We were full but decided to try some kulfi, which is a very creamy cold, hard, ice cream with pistachios. Leslie said it was a nice alternative to some sickly sweet Indian desserts. We were also presented with complimentary chai tea. Andrew was sure it was somehow made with chocolate milk so he asked the waitress who confirmed it had chai tea, milk and some spices (but no chocolate). June said it was the perfect finish to the meal. Nigel had been out for Indian food for lunch and said, “This beats my lunch hands down.” He also loves the name of the restaurant. Final comments: Andrew: Excellent, but could use an Indian beer on the menu. Nigel: Fantastic food – the only thing we could’ve used was a side table to help hold all the dishes. Leslie: Excellent addition to the Leaside community. June: Best Indian on Bayview in a long time. June paid the $207 bill and remembered that the tip was already included. ■
Leaside Life, January 2016
We were greeted at the new Indian Street Food restaurant on Bayview with its door held open. Our coats were taken and the staff pulled back our chairs for us and ensured we were seated comfortably. The restaurant is dimly lit but has a great atmosphere, and the tables are nicely spaced so as not to feel crowded. The place was fairly empty when we arrived (6:45) but had filled up by the time we were enjoying our meal. The décor was very attractive and the owner, Hermant Bhagwani, stopped by to personally explain the change in the restaurant. Leslie Heath had not realized that it used to be Amaya and asked many questions of the owner regarding the change and the authenticity of the street food idea. We were then treated to a free lassi welcome drink. This is akin to a yoghurt smoothie in a shot glass. It has tamarind and crushed pistachios. June said it “tasted like breakfast”. Leslie said it was very nice. We then asked the waiter to take our photos, which he gladly did and took his time to ensure he had a good shot. The men both started with a beer (Amsterdam for Nigel, Mill Street Organic for Andrew) and June had a Niagara chardonnay. Andrew said it was a shame they didn’t have Indian beer on the menu, but Nigel appreciated that they were trying to support local brewers. We chose three appetizers. The first was Chaat on Wheels (wheat crisps, frozen dhokla, spinach fritter, lentil dumpling, lemon flavor crunchy noodle, tamarind chutney, mango-mint chutney, sweetened organic yoghurt, chaat masala gel, curry leaf and mustard seeds water). It is a salad that tastes like summer (June said). Leslie said it was “so tasty” and Andrew said it was excellent! The other two appetizers were a tray of pompadoms which were so crisp and brightly coloured and served in a wooden cutlery tray. The three dips offered a variety of flavours – sweet, spicy, and spicy-sweet. The third appetizer was the baingan fries. These are deep fried slices of eggplant served with a mustard yoghurt dip. Fantastic! Andrew said “I didn’t even know I liked eggplant.”
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By JUNE SMYTH, ANDREW SMYTH, LESLIE HEATH and NIGEL HEATH
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 24
JENNIFER WADDELL
Leaside Life, January 2016
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Discussing refugees in Northlea school, from left, Malini Singh, Noura Al-Khafagi, Leila Farzaneh and Bill Pashby RECONNECTING WITH THORNCLIFFE PARK
Grade 6 talks about refugees By KEN MALLETT
To advertise in Leaside Life:
416-486-7387 www.leasidelifenews.com We deliver to all homes, apartments and businesses in the M4G postal area.
When Syrian refugees land in the Leaside-Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood, they will encounter some young residents who understand the hardships and challenges they have faced thanks to an innovative program at Northlea School in Jennifer Waddell’s sixth grade class. Leasider Bill Pashby, chair of the board of the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office (TNO), recently led a small group of new and long-term residents there on a visit to the school where they are studying immigrants and refugees. The group included Malini Singh, co-ordinator of the school immigration program at TNO, Noura Al-Khafagi, who was born in Iraq and is one of the TNO settlement work-
ers, and Leila Farzaneh, an Iranian chemical engineer now living in Leaside. Ms. Farzaneh currently works as a cashier at a retail outlet on Bayview Ave. Teacher Waddell welcomed the visit and said the stories the ladies shared with the class went a long way to putting a recognizable face on a term such as “refugee”. “There’s nothing like personal anecdotes to bring an idea to life,” she said. One of her students, 11-year-old Grace Murphy, said, "It was interesting hearing about how and when the ladies came to Canada. " Pashby said the TNO has three employees ready to meet the planes coming with the refugees and dozens more ready to assist in their first few weeks in Canada. ■
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 25
HAPPY HOLIDAY FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS.
We are our own bad drivers Looking back over the past year, I think we can all agree that traffic and development were the two most pressing issues in Leaside. While recognizing that the LRT and its construction bring us some unwanted challenges, the increase of poor driving habits in the community is unacceptable. At the very least we need drivers to obey the rules of the road. Sadly, too many times, I receive complaints about and witness drivers in our community ignoring stop signs, speeding and making other dangerous manoeuvres. I have long maintained that bad driving habits have become commonplace because police enforcement has decreased. For laws to be effective, justice needs to be swift and sure. Unfortunately, city-wide, the number of police officers dedicated to traffic duties has substantially decreased over the past 25 years, despite the number of cars having increased. The reality is that councillors do not have the authority to direct police to tackle specific issues in their community. And while this is how it should be, I sometimes wish it were otherwise. I have fielded and spoken to 53 Division regarding an untold number of traffic related complaints, but I believe that the police can be more effective if they also hear directly from constituents. Consequently, last month I held my first Enforcement Town Hall at Leaside Memorial Gardens featuring Chief Saunders, 53 Division Unit Commander, Superintendent Gilbert and Staff Sergeant Moyer (who is responsible for officer deployment). I want to share three interesting and important facts that came out of the town hall: 1) 53 Division has two dedicated officers to address traffic concerns but only 8 percent of traffic complaints in our division originated in Leaside. I was shocked by this number but the message is that we need to call Staff Sgt. Moyer more often BURNSIDE, Page 30
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Leaside Life, January 2016
Jon Burnside
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 26
Will Ashworth The business of Leaside
Leaside Life, January 2016
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Is it just me or did Bayview look a lot better this holiday season? The strip at Christmas this year seemed more alive than in years past; a lot of the praise goes to the Bayview Leaside BIA whose rookie efforts have been nothing short of terrific. Christmas carolers, beautiful festive planters lining both sides of Bayview, free hot chocolate and valet parking were just some of the little touches that put shoppers in a good mood while visiting their favourite retailers in December. While it's too early to know whether these extras made a difference where it counts – at the cash register – if sales on the street aren't better than last year's numbers it won't be from a lack of trying. "The BIA is finally in business, and the LPOA was very glad to contribute funds from our SmartCentre North settlement to help make it a reality," Carol Burtin Fripp, co-president of the Leaside Property Owners’ Association, commented on the BIA’s early success in an email to me prior to Christmas. "It's nice to see the improvements they've made, and we wish them well." For those who aren't aware the LPOA contributed $25,000 to the BIA, one of the many reasons I argued for its creation in 2014. It looks like money was well spent. Sure there are still plenty of empty stores but Rome wasn't built in a day. The board, in conjunction with their administrator, Cecilia Pye, have a plan that extends into 2016 and beyond that will continue to revive and rejuvenate Bayview by attracting more customers, especially those not accustomed to shopping on the street. It is Leasiders and those in Davisville Village that sustain Bayview and it is those from farther afield that will help it thrive and grow. To all those directly involved in the Bayview Leaside BIA including retailers and property owners, I would like to personally congratulate you on a very strong start; something that wouldn't have been possible without first voting for its creation in late 2014. Let's all toast the Bayview Leaside BIA. You made the holidays a little nicer – and I think a little busier; and here's to an even better 2016. ■
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 27
Keesmaat: She left many feeling let down Co-president, LPOA
Attendees were worried about Leaside being encircled by large developments like the one proposed for Sunnybrook Plaza, the high-rise complex proposed for 939 Eglinton East, and the possibility of large condo/retirement buildings along Laird Dr., not to mention the future traffic impact of condos, shops and office buildings on the 24-hectare Celestica site at Eglinton and Don Mills, when developed. Leasiders do not welcome the density and the quantity of these development proposals. They are frustrated that the city’s planning process appears to look at each application individually, not in context, thus ignoring their overall impact. Leasiders are frustrated and angry that developers can legally leapfrog over public opinion by appealing to the Ontario Municipal Board. When reminded that the provincial government has given the city the tools it needs to
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Carol Burtin Fripp
create a city-centric alternative to the OMB, Keesmaat was distinctly unenthusiastic about the idea, stating that the city’s record at the OMB is not that bad. What we heard from Keesmaat was that change is coming, like it or not: we should negotiate change, rather than oppose it. We were appreciative that the Chief Planner had come to this meeting, and we appreciated her frankness. But many left feeling let down. And when both she and a city solicitor who also addressed the meeting stated that, in many ways, City Planning’s hands are tied because the planning process is provincially mandated, some attendees wondered why, if that is the case, we should even bother to have a city planning department! The very fact that the city’s Chief Planner witnessed such a large number of involved and informed residents at this meeting is itself significant, and a very good sign. Thank you to everyone who attended. It was important to demonstrate – and we did – that Leasiders are determined to protect our community. –––––––––
Leaside Life, January 2016
Do Leasiders complain too much about traffic, or local mega-proposals for huge condominiums, or the impact of ever-expanding retail complexes? As residents in the centre of a major city, should we be expected to just take these pressures on our community in stride and hope for the best? No. We all chose Leaside as our home for its quality of life, its familyfriendly neighbourhood character, with safe tree-lined streets and good schools. We work together to do what we can to protect what is best about the community. But because we face so many challenges it is also important to demonstrate to the city’s planners our determination to stand up for Leaside. When Toronto’s Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat spoke at a meeting arranged by Councillor Jon Burnside in late November, the William Lea Room at Leaside Gardens was filled to overflowing with residents concerned about the future of our community. There is no doubt that the city’s overall plans for a greener, more pedestrian-friendly urban environment are a positive move, but our part of the city looks pretty threatened.
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 28
Leaside Life, January 2016
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A few words on traffic and traffic studies of the Leaside area. There are three studies either underway or about to begin. They are covering traffic issues in different ways: - The LPOA study is identifying long term permanent solutions to flowthrough and speeding problems on our residential streets, concentrating on the post-LRT construction period. LPOA’s public meetings will begin early in the new year, to ask for your feedback and suggestions. - Councillor Burnside’s North and South Leaside groups are looking at current flow-through problems, many of which are related to present LRT construction, for measures which can be adopted in the near future. They, too, are planning public meetings in the new year. - Finally, a city-run traffic study will cover a larger area from Leslie through Overlea, with different terms of reference. Look for more details in future Leaside Life columns ––––––––– The LPOA board meets at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month, at the Trace Manes building on Rumsey, by Leaside Library. These meetings are open to the public, and we encourage you to attend, with questions, or issues you’d like advice on, or just to listen in. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, Jan. 6. ■
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 29
Some former tenants back at Kelvingrove Publisher Leaside Life
She moved back in at the end of February. She and her 11-year-old cat Boots were both happy to return. Boots gave the place a solid inspection, inside and out, and then settled right in. Four in her block of apartments have returning tenants. The other 24 are newcomers. Under the Landlord and Tenant Act returning tenants were offered the right of first refusal for their unit when it was completed, with the prescribed, allowable percentage rent increases. There is a similar mix of old and new tenants in the other two renovated sets of apartments. Someone new coming into the building, however, is paying a different rental amount per month, which means that, while very nice, the apartments in these buildings have now gone from being quite affordable to being, as they are described on the advertising signs, luxury rentals, with a two-bedroom unit
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renting for $1,700 a month with parking extra. Many of the tenants who needed to move decided for a variety of reasons that they weren’t up to coming back again. Cosy, convenient for shopping and transportation, a good place to rest your head, a community of neighbours, were just some of their positive comments about the place many of them had lived in for years. And you can see that the way the buildings are set up does make it easier to become friendly neighbours. Instead of interior corridors, each apartment exits onto the grounds, so when you’re going to your garage, or the back garden, or out to catch a bus, you will run into people and get to know them. At the back of the buildings, there is a runway of blackcovered BBQs, certainly making an opportunity to chat. The big plus for this two-block stretch of apartments is that they are still low-rise, have had essential components upgraded, and for returning tenants the price is reasonable. The corresponding minus is that they are no longer as affordable. Part and parcel of what is happening elsewhere in Leaside too. ■
Leaside Life, January 2016
The red-brick apartments on the east side of Bayview between McRae and Sutherland were in the news six years ago when the owners originally had thoughts of evicting tenants and doing a complete re-build. After all the dust settled the apartments continue as rental units. The current owner, Realstar, refers to all of them in the complex as the Kelvingrove Apartments, although during an Ontario Municipal Board hearings, the Leaside Property Owners’ Association, who fought the owner on behalf of the tenants, called them the Talbot Apartments. One of those tenants, Eileen Ryan, had lived there 13 years when she had to move out for complete building renovations in August of 2013. She was fortunate to find accommodation nearby for the anticipated year to 18-month period while her building was gutted to provide new plumbing, replace knob and tube wiring, put insulation between the floors, install air conditioning, stainless steel kitchen appliances and new bathroom furnishings. The finished apartment also had Venetian blinds installed on the living room and bedroom windows.
LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 30
Burnside Leaside Life, January 2016
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From Page 25
with our concerns. Given that 92 percent of complaints were from elsewhere in the division one can understand why we don't see police enforcement as often as required. 2) Numerous "blitzes" have been conducted in both North and South
Leaside and approximately 50 percent of all vehicles stopped for infractions were driven by local residents – a surprise to many in attendance. 3) Chief Saunders spoke about his desire to see a move into technology-based enforcement beyond red light cameras. I was very pleased to hear this; nine months ago, Council approved my motion to investigate the feasibility of investigating technology- based traffic enforcement and we should
hear back early in the New Year. With Mayor Tory now promoting this as well, we may see portable cameras aiding in the enforcement of stop signs, prohibited turns and even speeding in the very near future. If you have any traffic concerns, please continue to call my office (416392-0215) as well as Staff Sgt. Moyer (416-808-5354). Let's start the process of making our community and city safer by improving our own driving habits. â–
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 31
Leaside Life, January 2016
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LeasideLife issue 45_LeasideLifev1 15-12-20 11:15 PM Page 32
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