South Junction Triangle

The article's title is very misleading, as it calls our area the Junction.

Junction residents play name game

What’s in a name?

For Kevin Putnam and his group, Fuzzy Boundaries, more than they thought.

Fuzzy Boundaries is almost halfway through a two-week voting period that is giving residents in the west-end Junction area a chance to vote on what their neighbourhood should be named.

Starting last May, the group has moved from initial discussions — online and at public forums — to a shortlist of the top 10 names for the neighbourhood.

Read the complete story.

Please take note of this upcoming meeting at City Hall regarding the expansion of diesel train traffic in the Georgetown rail corridor on the western side of our neighbourhood.

Public Forum

All Aboard? Diesel, electric and clean air: Which way forward?

This forum is an opportunity for public discussion of the proposed Metrolinx expansion of the Georgetown South transit line and the rail link from Union Station to Pearson.

The Board of Health supports expanded public transit as a way to reduce vehicle traffic, but remains concerned about health risks and air quality impacts predicted with the proposed diesel rail expansion.

Forum Date: Monday, March 22, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Place: Council Chambers, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street W.
Public Transit: Subway to either Queen (Yonge line) or Osgoode (University line) and walk over to Bay St. Alternatively, take the Bay bus #6 or #6A northbound from Union Station or southbound from the Bay subway station (transfer required). Disembark at Albert Street.

There will be a panel discussion, followed by a question period. Everyone is welcome to attend. Registration is not required.

Flyer for Public Forum on Metrolinx Expansion (PDF)

Background information on the proposed expansion.

Here's another post to get you past the late-winter blahs and all excited about spring. The Campbell-Rankin Community Garden has a brand new website, and they're starting to ramp up for the upcoming garden planting season.

This garden has continued to flourish over the past few years, as local volunteers donated time and materials to beautify this once-neglected patch of land along Rankin Cres. between Symington Ave. and Campbell Ave. Last year, the City provided a large amount of leaf compost as well as a water tap to help the growing efforts along even further. This year they plan to extend the garden to include the third and final section which is still overgrown with weeds.

If you're interested in getting involved with gardening at this site, you can contact the group through their website. They will be meeting every Sunday morning at 10:00am, starting in April or May.

Some background about the garden:

This community garden was started in 2006 on an abandoned City of Toronto Transportation land with a $1500 Beautiful Toronto grant. It is one large Communal Garden Plot. Initially started as a xeriscaping garden by about 8 volunteers.
Since then the city has installed a water source and our garden has flourished with plant donations from the volunteers who come out once a week, to help water and weed. Visitors can now enjoy the many perennial flowers our garden has to offer.

Photos by Vic Gedris, August 8 2009.

The Toronto Star has another article about the Fuzzy Boundaries neighbourhood naming project: The John Doe of neighbourhoods. Just in time for the final vote which starts on Monday March 1st and runs until March 14th.

Some highlights from the article:

The John Doe of neighbourhoods
The Wedge? The Triangle? Residents debate which name will make this junction function
By Mary Ormsby Feature Writer

Are you interested in old photos of our neighbourhood, and watching how this area has changed over time? Well, then keep an eye on this website, as I will be posting a collection of "Then and Now" photos. Most of the historical photos will be from the City of Toronto Archives, and current photos taken by me (Vic Gedris). Many of these were previously on display at the Perth-Dupont branch of the Toronto Public Library as part of the Fuzzy Boundaries project.

Do you have any old photos of this neighbourhood? Please feel free to get in touch if you're willing to share them!

We'll start off this series comparing a photos of the north-west corner of Dupont St. and Perth Ave., taken on October 23 1958 with a modern version taken on March 28 2009.

THEN:
Dupont and Perth, October 23 1958: City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Subseries 100, Item 86

The Fuzzy Boundaries neighbourhood naming group has used the former D&M Lumber building on Wallace Ave. as a canvas to display the Top 10 Names as chosen by local residents. The final vote for the neighbourhood name will run from March 1 to 14, 2010.

This building is scheduled to be demolished on March 17th, to be converted in to the 229 Wallace Lofts.

More photos, info and details on the Fuzzy Boundaries website. Additional photos by local photographer Martin Reis are posted on Flickr.

It's hard to believe, but skating season is almost over at our local rink at Campbell Park. The rink closes after Sunday February 28th, and the final pleasure skating session is on Saturday February 27th from 4:00-6:00pm.

The Saturday afternoon pleasure skate has been a huge success this year. Many people from all over the neighbourhood are coming, not just for the skating but to hang out in the friendly outdoor atmosphere with other neighbours. Lots of kids, and people just learning how to skate too. Even if you don't really like skating, it's fun to just hang out at the park and chat with people, or warm up by the campfire with some freshly-made donuts and hot chocolate.

For pleasure skating and shinny schedules, please check the City Rinks website.

Hope to see you all there.

Illegal dumping on tracks near Wallace Ave.: November 1, 2008

The Toronto Star's "Fixer" has another article about our neighbourhood. Unfortunately, articles from The Fixer don't usually shine a positive light on things. This article discusses the illegal dumping that frequently occurs along the train tracks around Wallace Ave., between Campbell and Lansdowne Avenues.

Illegal dump makes area an eyesore
By Jack Lackey, Toronto Star, 2010-02-17

Some selected quotes:

There are a lot of ways to disrespect a community, but strewing the landscape with junk that could be properly disposed of has to rank near the top.
We went there Tuesday and found an appalling amount of garbage likely dumped in the dead of the night. There was a couch, a mattress, old appliances and several bags of trash.
On a utility pole near the tracks was a sign warning that illegal dumpers can be fined up to $5,000, which sounds formidable but is obviously considered an empty threat.
STATUS: Markings on track equipment identified CN Rail, so we called its media rep, Frank Binder. He said CN did a major cleanup there a year ago, but has since sold the track to GO Transit. GO's Vanessa Thomas took down the details and promised to update us.
A swift cleanup will take place, Thomas said, "if it is determined that this garbage is located on GO Transit property."

Read the complete article online at The Star's website.

Lisa posted this meeting notice on the Sterling Studio Lofts discussion forum:

Hi!
I live in the town homes on Merchant Lane and just received something in my mailbox last night. It was a flyer that read as follows:

"Proposal to demolish the sterling lofts and build two, twenty story structures on the site!
If you wish to oppose these plans please attend the meeting at:
The Ukrainian Cultural Centre
1604 Bloor Street West
Date: February 17th, 2010
Time: 7:00pm"

Seems like awfully short notice for this meeting. Anyone else get this flyer? Going to the meeting?

You can discuss this meeting and development proposal on the Sterling Studio Lofts discussion forum.

UPDATE (12:30pm):

I asked Councillor Giambrone's office about this meeting, and was sent the original meeting notice that was distributed to the residents of 221-227 Sterling Rd. Staff also explained some of the background behind this meeting. Read on below.

Ground floor

On December 7th 2009 I had the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do since moving in to this neighbourhood: I explored the Tower Automotive building Sterling Rd. Four of us from the TLR Club photography group spent the snowy Monday afternoon wandering through the building, admiring the architecture and views, and of course taking many photos.

The Tower Automotive building on Sterling Road is a fascinating place. Because of its height and location (no other tall buildings nearby) it's one of the most easily recognizable features of this neighbourhood, from miles around. I won't go into too much detail about the property or development plans, which you can read about here, so I'll just move on to the photo tour.

These first two photos were taken on the ground floor of the building. I'm not sure why, but the main level had a hardwood floor instead of concrete like everywhere else.