Reminder – DECA Cocktail Party Tonight

Don’t forget to stop by the absolutely fabulous Melanie’s Bistro tonight beginning at 7 p.m. for our first annual DECA Cocktail Party.  There will be well-priced beverages and delicious appetizers in addition to meeting the people in the ‘hood.  If you’ve ever wondered about getting involved with DECA or if you just like to hang out in your neighbourhood with cool people, come on out.

 

 

Toronto Sun To The Rescue

Phewey on the Toronto Star! I must admit I ‘know’ the editorial page editor of the Toronto Sun, though I had nothing to do with his column today defending the Danforth…

By Rob Granatstein

The overreacting Torontonians do — especially in the media — sometimes borders on the ridiculous. (I know we’re sometimes part of it at the Sun.)

The latest infuriating article ran in the Toronto Star this past Saturday on the decline of the Danforth. And, yes, I’ll declare my bias. That’s my neighbourhood the Star butchered.

But the story made no sense. A shooting at Pape and Danforth means the stretch of Danforth east of Coxwell has gone in the crapper. Huh?

On the same day, the Globe ran a Saturday special on “Just how sketchy is the Annex?”

Yesterday a meth lab was uncovered in the ritzy Avenue Rd./Lawrence Ave. area.

Guess we all better move to Kalamazoo.

The hysteria is a little rich. Yes, there is crime, prostitution and graffiti in Toronto. Extra police has meant more arrests in my area. No, we don’t like crime. But we live in a big city.

Break-ins and graffiti are a problem where I live. Still, look at my neighbourhood. Semi-detatched houses are fetching $500,000, parents are pushing kiddies in $1,000 strollers, real estate geeks say we’re “hot.”

The fantastic Danforth East Community Association (again, bias alert, I happen to “know” the chair) launched a farmers’ market two years ago that quickly became one of the best in the city and brought neighbours together.

Top chefs like Joanne Clayton at Relish and Arul Chettiar and Melanie Ferreira at Melanie’s Bistro, have opened great restaurants between Coxwell and Main.

The community group, it should be noted, didn’t launch in opposition to anything. It formed to improve the Danforth, and is doing that, helping revitalize four stores already.

There are trouble spots, like anywhere else, but far from being in decline, much of the area the Star attacked is actually on the upswing.

“Yes, it’s transforming — for the better,” said Coun. Janet Davis.

Going at the story without a pre-ordained, dictated angle would have uncovered just that.

ROB.GRANATSTEIN@SUNMEDIA.CA

 

 

Small World Needs Your Help

The Small World Cafe needs our help.  Owner, Tony Da Costa, tells me they are sinking deeper and deeper and need some real help to keep the business afloat.  They’ve reduced their costs where they can, but they still aren’t getting a steady enough flow of customers to pay the bills.  Tony says the story in the Toronto Star last week didn’t help things either.

This Saturday, November 21st from 2-4 p.m. the band “Related” will be playing at Small World.  Related usually plays the Black Swan on the Danforth.  It’s just the beginning of what they hope will be more music as Small World.

If you’re not familiar with Small World, it’s a nice little spot on the south side of the Danforth east of Coxwell (east of McDonalds) where you can have a bite to eat and a cup of coffee with the newspaper or hang out with your little ones at the back play space.  Below is the ‘Danforth Gem’ written by Jessica Schmiedchen about a year ago.

Small World Cafe, By Jessica Schmiedchen

You had me at “hello…we’ve got Dufflet pastries and a children’s play area”.

Let’s be honest, Small World Cafe was a bit of a no-brainer for a woman like me.  Up until Tony and Beth Da Costa opened their cafe this summer, I had little to no local options for a place to sit with my kidlets and enjoy a coffee.

Longtime Danforth East residents, and parents of five children, Tony and Beth felt the void in our community and decided to do something about it.  The result is a vibrant space, filled with delicious treats, fair trade coffee from Mountain View, and a child-friendly attitude I’ve never seen in a Toronto cafe.

In addition to the sumptuous brownies and squares from Dufflet, Small World Cafe offers everything from croissants and muffins, to quiche and made-to-order wraps, and my new favourite thing in the universe: portuguese tarts.  Flaky on the outside, custardy and caramelized on the inside, it’s a little piece of heaven for just $2.  Portuguese tarts…you complete me.

Location: 1775B Danforth Ave (east of Coxwell)

Hours: 8-8 M-F, 9-5 weekends

Highlights: Great coffee, great food.  Children’s play area and change table, Portuguese tarts, Dufflet pastries, Three’s Company food, Friendly, local ownership

Danforth Decline and DECA boundaries

Well that Toronto Star story certainly got your attention.  It has created quite a stir on the comments section of the blog and I know many of you have written letters to the editor.  Thanks for passing them along.  If nothing else, it’s got us talking about our neighbourhood and what we love and hate about it.  Thanks to everyone who has posted comments, I think the discussion is really good.

 

I sent a letter to the editor as well and one thing I said was that we, as residents, are demanding more patrols and more enforcement from the police and they’re responding.  This is boosting the crime statistics, sure, but it’s because there is more police activity in the area.  This is all good.  Let’s take this and really run with it.  Make a commitment to putting these two phone numbers in your cell phone and putting them near your home phone (South of Danforth, 55 Division – 416-808-5500) (North of Danforth, 54 Division – 416-808-5400).  When you see something that isn’t right – report it.  The police may not come right away, but after several phone calls, they will and it will make a difference.  It will improve the safety of our neighbourhood. This is what the police continually ask us to do.  They can’t be everywhere, they’re looking for our help.

 

On a happier note – remember the DECA Cocktail Party is one week away.  Monday, November 23rd beginning at 7 p.m. at Melanie’s Bistro.  Note – DECA is considering extending it’s official boundary to Monarch Park.  If you have a concern or any questions about this please let me know.

Danforth Decline? Doubt It

After you read this story from Saturday’s Toronto Star, you may feel inclined to write a letter to the editor at lettertoed@thestar.ca.

Danforth’s decline: Drugs, prostitutes now in the open

November 14, 2009

Robyn Doolittle

A trip to the Danforth for many means niche boutique shopping in Greektown, a wine list at lunch and a Starbucks for the ride home. Three subway stops east, at Coxwell, the streetscape has changed.

Trendy eateries are replaced with fast-food restaurants. Parking lots and sterile storefronts hopscotch one another down the Danforth drag. And the further you go, the more it slides.

The kitsch of Greektown dries up at Jones Ave. Pass Donlands. An auto shop. A fried chicken joint. A funeral parlour. Coxwell is the dividing line.

By Main Street, bars on shop windows, payday loan stores and dingy pubs are the norm. Drifters who have been turned away from the local shelter sleep in long alleyways. Dealers work out of side-street crack houses. Prostitutes walk the Victoria Park strip.

It’s only getting worse. In the last three years, the drugs and street workers moved into the open. Deals that used to go down in the back of grimy Internet cafes now happen in broad daylight. Prostitutes moved out of rub-and-tugs and onto street corners.

Now, the crime has seeped west.

Last week, a known gang member was fatally shot in the face on a residential street just west of Pape, in the heart of gentrified Greektown. Police are still trying to determine what 27-year-old Theo Tiku was doing in the quiet family neighbourhood. It may have been a blip, but it was enough to send shock waves through the community.

Residents and police are pushing back.

“There has been a general decline in the (east end of Danforth),” said Det. Christopher Higgins of 54 division’s major crime unit. “So we’re being very proactive with our enforcement.”

In the last year, Higgins and his team have been going after drug fronts, johns and rub-and-tug parlours. In October, police rounded up 70 johns. In March they netted 57. Last fall, 21.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s more, just that we’re getting better at catching them,” said Higgins.

Police have partnered with Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to ensure local bars – predominantly those that hawk $2.50 pints – are following the rules.

Faced with a graffiti explosion, the Danforth Business Improvement Area hired Scarborough-based Goodbye Graffiti to remove sprayings as they happen.

“We call it the cockroach effect. Graffiti attracts more graffiti,” said John Kalimeris, the company’s managing director. “If you’re victimized and you clean it up, it may come back. But if you don’t, your neighbour gets it and it will just continue to spread.

“There’s an implied threat, when people see graffiti, that there are undesirables in the neighbourhood. People will shop at the big box stores instead. People think: `If you aren’t cleaning your walls, are you cleaning your store. Are you cleaning the kitchen?’”

Abubakar Siddique runs a struggling, 10-year-old clothing shop near Victoria Park. He pines for quieter days.

“Customers don’t come into the store because the homeless people are standing out front. I don’t blame them. It’s not their fault. But they walk around swearing or whatnot and people don’t come in.”

Two weeks ago, a woman scooped up a bunch of clothes, headed to the dressing room, then came out naked, suggesting a trade. There are break-ins in the area – mainly junkies trying to support a habit.

Siddique isn’t the only one hoping to resurrect the Danforth of the past. Three years ago, a group of families and professionals formed the Danforth East Community Association. They’ve been knocking on storefronts in need of TLC. Eight have been revamped so far.

Concerned about drug dealers in East Lynn Park, the group campaigned to get families out and about. They held movie nights and square dances. Two years ago, Alison McMurray spearheaded what has become a popular farmer’s market in the reclaimed space.

“Even a little thing like revitalizing the park, when you’ve got so many mommies and daddies with strollers everywhere, that isn’t really a comfortable place to do your drug deals. I’m not saying we’ve got ridden of it, but we’ve pushed it out of the area,” said McMurray.

In the 1950s, before the arrival of the subway, the wide sidewalks of the east end created a walking neighbourhood. Once people went underground, foot traffic dried up and shops closed. With rents declining, landlords were less picky with retailers. The clientele went next. And the cycle continued.

McMurray has hope. “I think there is slowly becoming a return to that age. Where you come to the Danforth to walk and shop and eat and spend time with friends. That’s what our group is trying to do.”

Notes on safety and green movies

Notes from the November meeting of the 55 Division Community Police Liaison Committee:

• You are encouraged to submit traffic or parking issues to the traffic division of Toronto Police.  They want to hear about traffic initiatives from you.
• As there have been a number of car break-ins lately, remember to remove all valuables (like Christmas presents!).
• If you suspect child abuse – report it.
• Be careful of door-to-door fundraising scams – a woman was arrested last week for unlawfully soliciting funds for Canadian Diabetes.
• RIDE begins November 26 – January 1.
• If you see drunken behaviour outside a restaurant or you suspect a drunk driver – report it!
• If you would like to receive recorded messages about incidences in your neighbourhood, sign up at TPSlinks@torontopolice.on.ca

 

This Saturday’s green movie – Earth 2100 – about peak oil – has been rescheduled to November 21st 7-9 p.m. at 2480 Gerrard St. E.  Contact Mary Margaret McMahon for more info at spargy@rogers.com.

2055-2057 Rezoning Application Report

Thanks to Councillor Janet Davis for pointing us in the direction of this city staff preliminary report on the rezoning of 2055-2057 Danforth - or as we like to call it – The Big Hole.

This report is 14 pages long and includes renderings, the details of the application, background info, issues, staff recommendations and contact info.

 

 

 

 

Empty Danforth Plot Undergoes Redevelopment Plans

From the good people at Spacing Toronto…specifically Nicole Bruun-Meyer…

I recently attended a community meeting regarding the redevelopment proposal for 2055-2057 Danforth Avenue, at the intersection of Danforth and Woodbine. This site, empty since 2001, is slated for a 12-storey condominium with retail space at the ground level. The reason for the community meeting, held by Councillor Sandra Bussin, was because of a rezoning application for the site, which would allow the developer the extra building height.

Prish Jain, of TACT Design, presented the concept for the new building, showing its footprint on the overall site, with its affect on sun and privacy for the local residents. This was followed up with remarks by Leontine Major, Senior Planner, City of Toronto Planning Department and then a question and answer period. The  gathering, which attracted about 50 attendees, was a chance for the local residents to raise concerns on specifically the height of the proposed building. The current bylaw allows for five-storeys, while Toronto’s Official Plan suggests a density of nine-storeys for this area.

The site is quite unique, with no real precedent for its development. It fronts onto Danforth Avenue, while also having access from Woodbine Avenue. The back part of the plot is directly adjacent to residential backyards, providing a high impact on the direct community. It also covers two different planning designations, the front, along Danforth, is considered Mixed Use Area, while the rear is under Neighbourhoods. These two designations have different planning criteria, height restrictions, density allowances and objectives. This creates its own challenges for the site and the surrounding areas. Within the ‘mixed use’ portion of the site, the height limit allowed is 14 and 12 metres, whereas the ‘neighbourhood’ areas have a limit of 10 metres. In Section 4.2 of the Official Plan, it distinguishes between Apartment Neighbourhoods and low-rise Neighbourhoods, since, for the former, “a greater scale of buildings is permitted and different scale-related criteria are needed to guide development.” The predominent height in this area of the Danforth is three to four storeys high, so whether this proposal is the City’s suggested 9-storeys or the designed 12-storeys, it will be the tallest structure in the vicinity.

The site also falls into the Avenues category of the Official Plan, which according to Section 2.2.3, states Avenues are “important corridors along major streets where reurbanization is anticipated and encouraged to create new housing and job opportunities, while improving the pedestrian environment, the look of the street, shopping opportunities and transit service for community residents.”

The predominant concern of the community was the  height issue, but they were also concerned with losing the character of their neighbourhood, as one attendee said, “ruining the uniqueness of this area,” while others are worried about the big box commercial retailers pushing the local business owners out. However, as a local business owner pointed out, “from the commercial side, if we do not have more people, we won’t survive.” From the residents to the back of the site, they are obviously concerned about over-looking and privacy.

The proposed building steps back from Danforth, starting at 4-storeys to 9-storeys, 12-storeys and back down to 4-storeys. The Architects have also pushed the bulk of the building into the mixed-use zone, keeping the underground parking entrance and drop-off point in the neighbourhood zone, using the access from Woodbine Avenue. It has incorporated the garbage and recycling bins within the building to keep them out of view of the residential neighbours.

I will be writing about the future of this development and the implementation of city-wide planning guidelines within smaller communities. There is a concern about losing our ‘neighbourhoods’ and their uniqueness, however Toronto is a growing and changing city, which presents its own challenges to intensification and reurbanization.

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As for DECA’s position on this; we will be having a special meeting on this issue in particular and at that point will be deciding what our role and official position will be.  Stay tuned.

 

 

Shop Local!

O.k. first things first.  The Home Hardware is open for business on the south side of the Danforth, east of Woodbine.  I, personally, bought a toilet roll holder there this weekend and was delighted with my shopping experience. Second – there is a new Ethiopian restaurant opening between Coxwell and Woodbine called Hiruth (I think).  All I can say about it is the sign looks darn nice.  Third – a DECA diary spy tells me there is a bakery (a bakery!) opening on the north side of Danforth, just west of Woodbine.  They’re going to sell breads and other baked goods.  My spy tells me the owners are a young couple who live on Cedarvale and they’re hoping to open by early December, if possible.  Well let’s hope all three of them do a booming business.

Two local, eco-friendly online stores are coming together to celebrate the season with a one-day sale on the Danforth Saturday November 21^st!  Kai Kids and Little Footprints Toys and will be hosting the Eco Family Holiday Sale between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 1390 Danforth Avenue!

Kai Kids specializes in ethically-made and earth-friendly clothing and accessories for babies to preschoolers and pregnant and nursing moms.  Little Footprints is Canada’s online eco toy store dedicated to fun and games for kids of all ages. They offer a unique selection of sustainable, non-toxic and planet-friendly products. There will be toys for the kids to try  and Amanda Pedro of Music Pups will be on hand from 10:30 to 2:30 every hour on the half hour to keep the kids entertained while you shop!  For more visit www.planetfriendlykids.com.

Christmas Cachet at the Children’s Peace Theatre

Shop for the holidays at the Christmas Cachet.  Gifts are crafted by local artisans.  Saturday, November 21 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at 305 Dawes Rd.  There will be hors d’oeuvres and seasonal spirits along with music and art displays.  A portion of the proceeds to benefit the Children’s Peace Theatre.

Final Farmers’ Market and Other Goings On

First off – a giant thank you to Mary Margaret McMahon and Alison McMurray for their hundreds of volunteer hours at the East Lynn Farmers’ Market this season.  Without them – this incredible community event would simply disappear.  A grande size thank you to Rebecca Green and Alisha Austin for their amazing face painting and general labour at the market week after week after week.  Thanks to Catherine Porter for organizing the unique ‘feed the farmers’ program.  Thanks to all of you incredible chefs who sliced, diced, simmered and baked for our farmers this year.  It is an important part of what makes our market one of the farmer favourites.  And thanks to Diana Gonzalez our market day manager for helping to pull it all together.

We would be remiss if we didn’t heartily thank our partners at Farmers’ Markets Ontario for helping us bring the farmers to our fair park.  Most of all – thanks to you for coming out once again to support the farmers, support the market, support your community and support the Danforth businesses.

If you’d like to be involved in the farmers’ market next year, whether it’s on the payroll helping out at the barricades, volunteering at the market or at some of the special events, or cooking a meal for the farmers, please send me a note and we’ll be in touch.

If you’re already longing for the farmers’ market I have some darn good news for you.

• Kind Organics is delivering salad mixes to the Plank Road Market.  kindorganics@gmail.com
• Belanger Organic Farm will be delivering veggies and meat to the Big Carrot, but you are welcome to place an order directly with Josh Belanger and he’ll meet you there.  He’ll also deliver orders over $100 directly to your door.  Why not get together with a few neighbours and make a full order for the holidays?  pcbelanger08@gmail.com or 705-835-3031
• Bee Universe and Monkton Bakery can be found at the Wychwood Barns farmers’ market
• Sovereign Tomato Farms can be found, as always, at the North St. Lawrence Market every Saturday

Don’t forget the DECA Cocktail Party – Monday, November 23rd at 7 p.m.  We are delighted to be guests at the fabulous Melanie’s Bistro.  Come enjoy a well-priced glass of wine and some delicious appetizers with your neighbours.

Local Air Quality Study and Liaison Committee

The Medical Officer of Health and the City of Toronto’s Environmental Services Department have been working on a multi-year air quality study of the air in the Beaches-Riverdale communities.  This is a result of monitoring the impacts of the Ashbridges Bay sewage sludge incinerator.  A lot of work has been done on the air quality in these neighbourhoods (and beyond) and the City would like to establish a residents liaison committee as a sounding board to look at the information and provide feedback before the City begins larger scale public meetings on the issue next year.  DECA has been invited to join this residents’ committee.  If you are a member of DECA (or would like to become one) and are interested in sitting on this committee and feeding back information to us, please let me know and I can provide you with the details. natasha.granatstein@gmail.com

Beaches Santa Clause Parade – Would you like to wear a pea or a carrot costume and walk in the Beaches Santa Clause Parade to promote DECA and the Farmers’ Market?  Or do you have another great idea for the parade to promote the Farmers’ Market?  We’ve been invited to join the parade.  If you want to be involved, let me know.  natasha.granatstein@gmail.com

Check out the East York Rotary Auction.  I understand there is excellent goods to be had for amazing prices.  And hey – they’re doing good for the community so everybody wins!

Community Police Liaison Committee – A few notes from the 55 Division CPLC meeting in October.

• Remove GPS devices from your vehicle as they attract thieves
• Protect your ATM card carefully when keying in your password.  Thieves tape your transaction with mini cameras and then withdraw money daily until your account is empty
• 911 will be available in 22 languages soon
• When you suspect a problem – call the police.  They may not always come, but it goes on record and the more calls the more action will be taken.  The squeaky wheel definitely gets police attention

Green Movies

Green Cafe presents: The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.  This film will be shown at the Cafe Florentin at 2010 Queen St. (across from Kew Gardens) on Wed. Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m.  It will be followed by a discussion on creating change in our own neighbourhood.  The event is free but pre-registration is encouraged at mrowley@toronto.ca or 647-208-1810.

If you like that, you’ll love this…Earth 2100 – another film about peak oil will be shown at 2480 Gerrard St. E. on Saturday Nov. 14th at 7 p.m. or Sunday, Nov. 22nd at 1 p.m.  Contact Mary Margaret McMahon at spargy@rogers.com for more info.