Celebrating Waterfront Police

YQNA member Lloyd Graham led the spontaneous singing of “.. and they are jolly

good fellows” for the guests in uniform. Here he is with constable Neil Hall.

YQNA threw a wonderful dinner party in appreciation of police officers from the Marine Police and 52 Division. Our association has constant access to them though our members of the Police Community Liaison Committee. Around 30 police officers and 30 residents filled dinner tables in the party room at Waterclub, Nov. 23.

One constable said, as he refilled his plate, “We thought we would be invited for pizza!” Instead the elaborate potluck dinner offered delectable foods from around the world, sumptuous desserts, a bar and door prizes. The room was donated by Waterclub, flowers by Sobey’s, gifts from Mariposa Cruises and MP Olivia Chow gave an enormous cake along with a certificate of thanks to the Police. YQNA member Cyndy De Los Santos organized a great party with many cooks in the kitchen.

One of our Member Condos wins TOP AWARD

YCC 510, more commonly known has 55/65 Harbour Square, has won the Canadian Condominium Institute's prestigious CONDO OF THE YEAR AWARD. The award, which carries a value of $5000, was presented to members of the Harbour Square Communications Committee which is headed by Doug Dempsey.

The Canadian Condominium Institute is an independent, non-profit organization formed in 1982 with chapters throughout Canada. Its Toronto Chapter represents more than 500 condo corporations.

Congrats to the Brookfield Management team, staff, and residents of Harbour Square.

The bottom of Yonge Street has become an attractive Promenade and adds a new bike lane to the Waterfront. At the ribbon cutting were (left ot right) Downtown Manager of Planning and the guiding force behind this $5.1 million project, Al Rezoski, Michael De Cotiis of Pinnacle International, City Councillor Pam McConnell, Barry Fenton of Lanterra Development, and Yvonne Bambrick, Director of Toronto Cyclists Union.

Good planning does happen in Toronto. The new Yonge Street Pedestrian Promenade was officially opened on September 29th with City Councillor Pam McConnell and Downtown Manager of Planning, Al Rezoski, giving a tour of the new, attractive streetscape.

The densely populated neighbourhood put great demands on the pedestrian realm. Rezoski was praised for his tenacity and urban savvy, giving this formerly sad part of Yonge Street a green and pedestrian-friendly look. It now has wide sidewalks, planters edged with seating, 125 trees in raised beds, wide pedestrian crossings and 86 new roadway lights in the railway underpass. A charming plaza, open to the public, was created by Pinnacle International on Harbour Street.

One tall condo tower houses as many people as a subdivision, so bike lanes, parking and lock-up rings for bikes were important additions. Yvonne Bambrick, Director of Toronto Cyclists Union attended the event along with Michael De Cotiis of Pinnacle International and Barry Fenton of Lanterra Developments. Residents from St. Lawrence and York Quay Neighbourhood Associations applauded the promenade, which is one of several that will connect the Waterfront to downtown.

Traffic continues to flow at this busy intersection at Yonge Street. The major improvements are for people on two legs or two wheels. They’ll be safe and can enjoy a beautiful entry to the Waterfront.

Simcoe Ribbon Cutting

(Photo: L-R: Ribbon cutting attendees, Braz Menezes, Waterfront BIA and YQNA; and Adam Vaughan, Councillor, Ward 20)

Simcoe Street opened recently and is already a much-used artery between Queens Quay and downtown. It includes bike lanes that YQNA had pushed for, to provide a safe ride for cyclists. Thousands visit the Waterfront on two wheels, and many residents here either bike or walk to work. The pedestrian routes on Simcoe are also well designed, though the parts across Lake Shore Boulevard and under the Gardiner are still rough and unfinished. At least we can now drive, bike and walk much faster to many downtown destinations, such as the theatres on King Street.

A similar ribbon cutting was taking place September 29 (after the Update deadline) at Harbour Street and Yonge Street. The new streetscape here is also designed to include bike lanes, and the sidewalks have a generous width. Councillor Pam McConnell was the key speaker, and many Waterfront residents attended.

Silos to Go?

YQNA has participated in many meetings that focused on what to do with the Canada Malting Silos on Queens Quay near Bathurst. They are an eyesore and a danger because the walls are deteriorating.

Would it become a music school? A museum? A condo/hotel development? After years of discussion and studies, we now hear that the silos might be torn down. That’s a surprise, because we have always been told that it would be too expensive to remove these solid concrete structures. The cost in the past was estimated to be $8 million, which may be eclipsed by the land value today despite being next to the landing path to the Island Airport.

The City’s Heritage Preservation Services oversees the silos. So far, they have not invited us to a public consultation on what’s going on. YQNA has asked to be included, especially because of the effort that our residents have put into this issue. We know that a Toronto Museum is no longer in the cards for this location. Many people wish the silos gone, but don’t want other tall buildings to take their place.

Queens Quay Redesign

Newspaper reports from a recent board meeting at Waterfront Toronto gave vague and different reports about delays of the redesign of Queens Quay. YQNA is now investigating what – if anything – has changed. Councillor Adam Vaughan says the construction will go ahead as planned, starting next fall. To be certain, YQNA will get together with representatives from along the Waterfront in a meeting with Waterfront Toronto management. We want to keep the momentum going on Queens Quay.

The High Price of Harmonizing

Rosario Marchese, Member of Provincial Parliament, was guest speaker at YQNA’s meeting on Sep. 15. He talked about the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that McGuinty plans to introduce in July 2010. It would increase condo fees – along with numerous other services and products – to levels that could make life difficult for the most vulnerable people on fixed incomes.

Instead of the HST, Marchese would prefer to tax the highest earners more and leave some basic needs at the current, lower tax. At the well-attended meeting, he urged us to sign his petition on www.RosarioMarchese.ca or write premier McGuinty with a request to stop the HST.

Sherbourne Park begins

Wielding shovels in the photo are L-R John Campbell, President of Waterfront Toronto; Toronto’s Mayor David Miller; Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and George Smitherman, Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.

On July 23rd, Waterfront Toronto, together with the Governments of Canada and Ontario and City of Toronto, officially broke ground on Sherbourne Park, a spectacular new waterfront park that will transform a formerly industrial area into much needed public green space on the lake. Located just east of Lower Sherbourne Street, this 1.5 hectare park spans more than two city blocks, from Lake Ontario in the south to Lake Shore Blvd. in the north, on both sides of Queens Quay.

Sherbourne Park will become the new heart of East Bayfront bringing a feeling of life at the lake to the area. To bring the lakeside experience to life, the park features three key elements in its design: woods, water and wide open green space.

The north part of the park features a grove of pacific sunset maple trees, benches and play structures creating an outdoor living room for East Bayfront residents. Wide-open green space on the south side of the park provides ample space for festivals, concerts and other citywide events overlooking Lake Ontario. In total, the park includes 182 new trees, 26 play structures and 49 benches.

Successful Neighbourhood Clean Up

On Saturday, July 18, the YQNA and the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association organised a Waterfront community clean up. Close to 20 volunteers worked from 9 am to 3 pm cleaning out 21 overflowing garbage bins along Queen's Quay from Bay to Stadium Road (approximately 2 kilometers).

All together we filled 52 garbage bags.

The successful clean up was made possible with the assistance of the Waterfront BIA, Harbour Castle Hotel, Radisson Hotel, and the 15 individual property managers of condo buildings along QQ who each allowed us to throw two or three filled bags into their individual bins.

Another Waterfront community clean up is being considered for the middle of August.

We have a new Deck!

The series of undulating boardwalks on the Central Waterfront have a new addition -- the spectacular Simcoe WaveDeck that opened June 12, with representatives of Waterfront Toronto and three levels of government at the ribbon-cutting.
The first deck at the bottom of Spadina was completed last summer. A third deck is underway at Rees Street. These unique decks open up the areas at the water's edge, with benches for relaxation and structural curves that will build up leg muscles in those who climb on them. They are the brainchild of architects from West 8 in Rotterdam and du Toit Allsopp Hillier in Toronto.

We are now waiting for the much touted redesign of Queens Quay with wide sidewalks, bicycle lanes and street furniture. YQNA hopes construction will begin soon and take precedence over other Waterfront developments.

Ulla
YQNA

But is it ART?

Edgy Art, Acrobats, lots of people, lots of fun. All at our doorstep. Could this be some of the reasons why we live here at the Waterfront?

Article in The Bulletin about excessive noise

'With summer at hand, members of the York Quay Neighbourhood Association (YQNA) are once again gearing up for their annual war against excessive noise...."(click link below to read more)

http://www.thebulletin.ca/cbulletin/content.jsp?sid=16586292777869520453332974461&ctid=1000136&cnid=1002202

Illegal parking on Queens Quay

It is always disappointing for residents to see cars, taxis and buses illegally parked on our local streets and sidewalks. Don't give up. There is something we can do!

We suggest that everyone put the parking enforcement dispatcher number is his or her cell phone. Then, when an infraction is observed, a call to the dispatcher can be made immediately. We believe that if enough residents contact Parking Enforcement on a regular basis, the Enforcement Unit will make a greater effort to be on top of the problem. The number is 416-808-2222 ext 0. Ask to be connected to the parking enforcement dispatcher. The dispatcher will take the details of the infraction. The Enforcement Officer does respond to our phone calls and, in on-the-street conversations, has commented that he appreciates the community support. If you do not have a cell phone, please call as soon as possible from home.

The City of Toronto Police Parking Enforcement Unit maintains a website at http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/parking/. At this website, the Unit provides some general information, a contact number and a clickable box with important information.

The clickable "Parking Enforcement" blue box in the top right corner contains two links of importance to us. The first link, "Top 10 ways to avoid receiving a parking ticket" leads to a printable document that contains information on enforcement rules and responses. This is worth printing because it explains the rules. A sample quote is: "Drivers leaving their vehicles in bus stops, no stopping zones, no standing zones, rush hour routes or parking illegally around schools, will not be warned. These vehicles will be ticketed and towed immediately."

The second link "Tour Bus on-street parking locations" leads to a printable map that shows where the bus parking is in the Harbourfront area.

Carry the map when you go for a walk. Use it to explain to the bus drivers where they should be parked. Not every bus will move because a resident has requested it, but some do. Taxis regularly park in the no standing zone in front of Queens Quay terminal. A polite request to move along is often enough to get them to clear out. Failing that, you can phone Parking Enforcement.

We often see vehicles displaying the disabled person sticker parking on our streets. Are they parking legally or illegally? The answer is at http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/parking/disabled_parking.htm. Of particular note is that these vehicles are NOT exempt if parking in a designated no standing or no stopping area. Also, they cannot park on the sidewalk.

Become familiar with the parking lots and garages in our area so that you can assist visitors in finding off-street parking. The parking garages on the north side of Queens Quay and to the east of the Westin are not too obvious to visitors.

Sound engineer reports on Harbourfront open stages

Don Rodbard of the King-Spadina Residents Association is an engineer who presented a very impressive report on sound problems that continue to bother residents near Harbourfront Centre’s open stages. A circular open stage next to Queens Quay is new this year, and the old Sirius Stage is still a basic platform that’s open in all directions. It is YQNA’s hope to persuade Harbourfront Centre to invest in these stages – as they invest in other projects – to contain the sound to the audiences around them. Don’s report is on this website

No Mega-Concerts for the Island this summer

The Island parks are cutting back on mega-concerts that rock the waterfront and attract huge crowds. Pam said that Wakestock, Virginfest and other rock concerts will move elsewhere. That makes the parks and ferries available all summer long as Toronto’s favourite recreational area. YQNA questions the use of public parks for commercial events, and we are concerned about unmanageable crowds as well as destruction of parks.

Cruise ship noise

A group effort, lead by Cathy Waiten of YQNA with Councillor McConnell, Councillor Adam Vaughan, members of Municipal Licencing and Standards (MLS), Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) and the Toronto Passenger Vessel Association is making great strides in making the Waterfront more livable and safe for millions of visitors. Noise and overcrowding are major concerns. As a result of several meetings, the tour boat operators are working effectively on controlling the noise from ‘party boats’.

Residents can find our noise complaint log on the home page and a Tour Boat Field Guide that identifies the large tour boats in the bay. If any excessive and continued noise bother residents, they must identify the vessel in the complaint form.

Pam McConnell special guest at our May meeting

City councillor Pam McConnell was special guest at a packed YQNA’s meeting in May in the Radisson Hotel. She gave us an update on the tall structures north of us: the Telus Building will open in July; Air Canada Centre will close this summer to complete expansions; Maple Leaf Plaza will follow shortly; Maple Leaf Square will be finished in 2010. The signage plans for this general area are still incomplete, but YQNA will keep an eye open for possible billboard applications during the summer.

Earth Day Cleanup at Harbourfront

Mayor David Miller and City Councillor Pam McConnell were in our
neighbourhood April 24, 2009 to celebrate Earth Day. Dozens of people who live and work on the Waterfront joined in the annual 20 minutes of spring clean up that took place throughout the city.

Here is the Mayor and our popular Councillor (in blue) with YQNA members Ulla Colgrass and Bob Rasmussen, ready with their plastic bags and gloves to get to work. Bags were filled with food containers, cigarette buts, coffee cups, broken glass – even a rusted bicycle wreck was removed!