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about events or issues affecting our community.
In this issue:
1. Humber Theatre update
2. Chains moving in: restaurants, Walmart
3. Cleanup & Environment Days
4. Upcoming local events
- Home Show, Village Pillage Garage Sale
5. Federal election candidates
1. HUMBER THEATRE DEVELOPMENT
The Preliminary report by City Planning department was accepted by Community &
City Council this month. As a result, Councillor Saundercook will be organizing a public
meeting on the development, probably in May. Public notification, at the request of the
Swansea Ratepayers will be in a much wider area than City staff originally recommended.
For details:
- the Preliminary planning report: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/legdocs/2004/agendas/committees/tw/tw040407/it005.pdf
(it's also in WORD format on our website)
- for info on the Council decision, see: http://www.city.toronto.on.ca/legdocs/2004/agendas/council/cc040415/tw3rpt/cl038.pdf
We will report more on the development, the meeting -- and
the potential Bloor West Village "Visioning Study" (see our newsletter #145).
2. CHAINS (More on the way)
a) Restaurants:
In newsletters 143 & 145, (http://www.newsletters.world19.com)
we commented on several restaurants and bars closing; some to be replaced by chains. A
couple of updates:
- Fiasco & Zsa Zsa's: Long-time Village staples, owned
by the family that owns Max's Market, they will be closing in early May. The location will
be taken over by the Il Fornello pizza/Italian restaurant chain. We're not certain if it
will be operated as a single restaurant or two locations with a joining passage. The area
is still under control of a City bylaw limiting the size of restaurants and bars. Staff at
the restaurant still do not know their future. It's been suggested they might be able to
stay, but have had nothing firm. The owners also recently sold their other restaurant,
Nevada's in the Beach.
- Billy Bob's: we mentioned a rumour that some or
all of the location may be sold. What we have heard more recently is that agents for the
Wynn family, owners (and prospective developers) of the Humber site had been inquiring
about also purchasing the neighbouring properties (2 for 1 Video, Scotiabank & Billy
Bob's), but it doesn't appear that any of these additional properties are being sold to
the Wynns.
- Lviv: we hear many conflicting stories about
what's happening with this location. It has sat empty for months now, with a sign
explaining "technical difficulties".
b) Here comes Walmart
And, aside from the food business, north of the Village, the large empty property
south of St. Clair and west of Runnymede, originally slated for development as a Building
Box will soon be turning into a Walmart. A staffer in Councillor Nunziata's office, was
happy to describe it as a wonderful development for the neighbourhood. We don't think
everyone agrees.
3. CLEANUP & ENVIRONMENT DAYS
Today, April 22 is Earth Day, so an appropriate time to remind people of some
events:
This weekend has two "Clean up Toronto" events.
Friday, Apr. 23, will feature a "20 Minute cleanup" event, encouraging
Torontonians to spend 20 minutes at 2pm cleaning up their neighbourhood. And Saturday is
"Community Cleanup day", designed to involve thousands of residents to join
together to help clean up the city. See http://www.toronto.ca/litter/clean-up/index.htm
for details.
If you want to join an orgnized cleanup crew see http://www.toronto.ca/litter/clean-up/pdf/tor.pdf
for areas and times that groups will be working. There are several locations in the Wards
13 & 14 area. See our http://www.world19.com for
locations.
As well, the annual city Environment days are beginning. Take
hazardous waste items for collection, bring unused or unwanted Sporting goods, clothing,
books, small household appliances and computer equipment for re-use, recycling or
disposal. Pick-up water-saving kits, composters, recycling boxes, yard waste containers
and leaf compost. See http://www.toronto.ca/environment_days/index.htm for more info.
Local dates include:
Ward 13: Sun. Apr. 25, 10am - 2pm: High Park, around the Grenadier Restaurant
Ward 14: Sat. May 1, 10am - 2pm: Wabash, between Macdonnel & Sorauren
4. UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
a) West End Community Home Show - May 2
The following note was sent to us recently:
Come join the excitement at the West End Community Home Show
on Sunday, May 2, 2004, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Swansea Town Hall. Special guests
will open the show. We have something for every member of the family! Exhibitors will
cover all your home renovations needs, plus answer your questions about banking, real
estate, landscaping, kitchen design and so much more. Take advantage of our complimentary
stroller cleaning service and free entertainment for the children.
Admission is free for ages 0 to 101! Be sure to enter our
free raffle and win amazing prizes, which have been generously donated by local
businesses.
We're located at the Swansea Town Hall, 95 Lavinia Avenue.
Between Jane and Runnymede just south of Bloor West. Only a five-minute walk from the
Bloor/Runnymede subway station. For further directions, please call the Swansea Town Hall
416-392-1954.
b) Village Pillage Community Garage Sale - May 29:
This event, reported by us earlier, moves ahead. This email was sent to us by the
organizer:
Hi All
Just wanted to let you all know that we had a meeting in late
March regarding the Village Pillage Garage Sale. The date of the sale will be May 29 2004
(rain day Sunday May 30th). We are asking anyone wanting to participate to simply set up
their garage sale items on the front lawn on the morning of the 29th. The sale starts at
9am. For those without front lawns, we are trying to get permission from a local area
school to set up tables. We also ask that 10% of sales be donated to either the Runnymede
Chronic Care hospital, St Joseph's Health Centre or the Daily Bread Food Bank. Donation
envelopes will be made available. For more info email me at
villagepillage @ <substitute "at symbol here>yahoo.ca
[actual email address has been altered to stop spammers. Just make the obvious
substitution]
Thanks Taras Pater
5. FEDERAL ELECTION Speculation about a June
election is increasing (but by next week, rumours may be pointing to the fall). However,
all the major parties have their candidates set in Parkdale High Park:
- Liberal: Sarmite Bulte, running for re-election to her third term.
- NDP: Peggy Nash of the CAW, her first electoral campaign
- Conservatives: Jurij Klufas, a producer with Omni Television
- Green: Neil Speigel, who has previously run federally and provincially for the
Greens in PHP.
For world19,
John Leeson
world19:
Supporting citizen involvement in our community and its future.
Phone: 416 766-8605
email: world19@world19.com
web: www.world19.com
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