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YQNA

QQ Revitalisation - Digging Where and When

TAI CHI CLASSES AT HARBOURFRONT COMMUNITY CENTRE

Tai Chi cultivates both body and mind to restore and maintain good health through slow and graceful movements. This program will move beyond the beginner level to the intermediate stage. Tai Chi reduces tension, improves flexibility, and increases circulation. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.

For more info:

HCC, 627 Queen’s Quay West Toronto, t: 416.392.1509, www.harbourfrontcc.ca

July 21 Consultation Meeting - Street bylaw

July 20th meeting - Co-generator at Redpath?

Illegal Advertising blights our Neighbourhood

In the last several weeks, three companies have defaced our neighbourhood with their illegal advertising. If you object to their tactics, please contact them directly. They are:

1. Warner Brothers - Robin Mogal, Publicity Department, 416-250-8384 (they painted an ad for their upcoming movie - Legends of the Guardians on the sidewalk at QQ and Bay)

2. SAB Miller - J. Meyer Kahn, CEO, www.sabmiller.com - A Dutch company that hired Mark Anthony Brands (647-428-3131) to paint an ad for Grolsch Beer on the sidewalk in front of the LCBO

3. Telus, who hired a company to project an ad on the side of the Harbour Castle Westin from a portable projector mounted atop a car parked in front of 10 Bay

Sugar Beach Opens!

Toronto Centre MPP Glen Murray, Toronto City Councillor Pam McConnell, Federal Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty, Waterfront Toronto’s Chair Mark Wilson, Mayor of Toronto David Miller, and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Brad Duguid official open Canada’s Sugar Beach and phase one of the Water’s Edge Promenade.

WATERFRONT UPDATE BY BRAZ MENEZES

Environmental Assessment on Bay and Yonge St. ‘down ramps’ off the Gardiner
Various stakeholders from the communities affected by the ‘re-engineering’ of the down ramps, were invited for a-four hour ‘charete’ on Sat February 6^th to discuss preliminary findings and explore options.

A public meeting will be called shortly to discuss the final selection of the best option based on further technical evaluation currently underway. The objective is to improve traffic flows at the various intersections, and in the process do away with the ugly concrete ramps in front of Harbour Square (the circular ramp and the long east ramp into Bay Street. Four teams, working independently of each other, all concluded on the basis of the presentations, that the best of the four options was the one that brought traffic strait down to grade at Lower Simcoe. This will also facilitate traffic turning north into Simcoe, with two lanes continuing east on Lake Shore, with options to turn north or south on York; and continuing east on Harbour Road. The EA team will provide more data on the study of traffic flows for each option (including pedestrian volumes on York, Bay and Yonge Streets.

East Bayfront Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting (Thursday Feb 11, 2010)

Readers are recommended to visit Waterfrontoronto’s website.

Sugar Beach

This park on the water’s edge of Lower Jarvis will be completed in the summer of 2010, at about the same time as the new Corus building will be ready for occupation.

George Brown College Waterfront Campus

An integrated health professional training campus is moving ahead of schedule. Construction is already underway. Representatives of GB College and their Architects (Stantec/KPMB in Joint Venture) made an impressive presentation. The first phase for up to 2500 students will be completed in 2012. The food facilities/ library and some other areas will be open 24/7. There is excellent integration with the public realm and the water’s edge.

Water’s Edge Promenade and Stormwater Management Facility

Construction of the boardwalk (to match that already constructed along Harbourfront Centre) is underway and will be substantially completed by 2011. Design is by the competition winners for the redevelopment of Queens Quay – West 8 and DTAH.

Parkside Development Update

At Lower Sherborne a major new park is planned. This includes a body of water that penetrates from the Lake inland to the edge of Lake Shore East. A competition is underway for naming this park. On it eastern edge a development by Great Gulf Group of Companies is planned. This is a mixed use high-rise complex, with the ground floor providing extensive commercial retail space (restaurants, etc) to maximize public access and interaction. The project was conceived by Moshe Safdi, architect for the Montreal Expo. A representative for Quadrangle Architects Limited, made a presentation. This project has still some ways to go to finalise design, planning approvals, and secure financing. Project completion is scheduled for 2015.

Waterfront Resident Against Airport Expansion

It is not just Island residents that object to further expansion. It is a growing movement and it is almost everyone who lives on the Waterfront who is against it. This is a regional facility. TPA effort should be spent mitigating the disaster already there, and adhering to conditions in the Agreement,instead of bulldozing expansion.

The Tri-partite Agreement that opened the way for Commercial flights was drafted 27 years ago, when almost all the land south of the tracks was vacant. There are now about 50,000 residents on the Waterfront;
In any developed country, any expansion would require a major Enviromental Assessment carried by out by experts, in consultation with all three levels of Government, AND the community;
There are major issues of noise, health, safety, traffic and air and water pollution that are not being addressed. We heard at a meeting of the Toronto Board of Health, that toxic de-icing fluids are infiltrating the city's water system, and may also be flowing directly into the Lake.
The issues relating to Airport Security, to bring it in line with USA requirements, has probably not even been discussed, and the physical barriers and traffic chaos that will entail are still to unfold, slowly, as have all the other announcements in connection with this airport.
There is a childrens park and playground almost abutting the fence of the TPA ferry dock; as well as a major school and a community centre a hundred meters or so away;
The use of the of the Music Gardens is all but lost, due to the noise. If you walk along the water's edge some mornings, you can smell kerosene fumes; residents complain of layers of grit on their balconies; others already talk of spouses being nursed behind closed windows, because of respiratory illness and cancer.
Please help wake up our larger Community to what's ahead, because of one stupid decision.

I personally do not know of any other airport in a major city with this proximity to a residential area; nor of any developed country that will sacrifice a major resource such as what Waterfront Toronto are in the process of developing, ironically with the funds (taxpayer's money) from three levels of Government.

Finally, I want to say how disgusted I was at the bullying tactics displayed by the TPA officials, at the so called 'Public Meeting'. People were expected to drift around some complex panels stuck around the wall, and ask individual questions. There was no Chairperson, no seating, no microphone. There was however, an incredible display of arrogance, almost sneering, at the thought of having to put up with 'Community', and having to respond to serious questions, raised by a number of concerned residents; of course there seemed to be no credible answers from the CEO and MD of TPA.

We have hundreds of young men coming home on a regular basis, draped in flags; and thousands of others wounded. They have been sent to teach 'Democracy' in Afghanstan. Please let us start by more civility and a display of Democracy at home, by our Federal Agency at the TPA.

Thank you for raising this issue for public discussion.

Written b: Braz Menezes, Urban Planner and Resident

WATERFRONT COMMUNITY VS. AIRPORT NOISE POLLUTION

Representatives of the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association, CommunityAIR, The Toronto Island Community Association, the Harbourfront Community Centre, the YQNA and dozens of members of the waterfront community attended the Toronto Port Authority’s meeting regarding the Draft Noise Study Report for the Island Airport.

The February 17 meeting, which was well-attended and included heated exchanges between the community and TPA officials, took place at the Queens Quay Radisson Hotel.

A technical Advisory Group consisted of representatives from all Waterfront associations was set up by the TPA in Nov 2008 to give input to the Noise Study. The Advisory Group has met with the TPA only twice since the Study commencement in Nov 2008. The Feb 17 meeting is being held without any significant input into the Noise Report contents by the Technical Advisory Group since project commencement. The TPA is calling the meeting a 'public meeting' despite only 9 days official web posting notice spanning a long weekend and no advertising in local papers. The Advisory Group feels that the motive for the TPA in circumventing the Advisory Group is to suppress informed technical inquiry into the findings of the noise study report. This presentation of the Noise Study by the TPA will be the first one seen by the Advisory Group.

York Quay Revitalization - Public Meeting

Waterfront Toronto and Harbourfront Centre plan to replace the 212-spot surface parking lot — a 1.4 hectare area in the heart of the Harbourfront Centre site — with an underground parking garage.

This important new piece of parking infrastructure will open up this spectacular waterfront site for future public space including Canada Square, a beautiful waterfront square and a second urban square above the parking garage.

On March 2nd, Harbourfront Centre and Waterfront Toronto will be holding a public meeting to present plans and discuss key features of the York Quay Revitalization Project, Phase II including the underground parking garage, Canada Square and the planning of a future Cultural Retail Village.

Understanding the Project
Harbourfront Centre operates a 10 acre site along Toronto’s central waterfront which encompasses York and John Quays. In 2000, Harbourfront Centre developed a master plan for the revitalization of its site designed to reclaim underutilized spaces for recreational, cultural and commercial purposes and strengthen public access
to the water’s edge. The master plan also included a vision for Canada Square, an urban plaza at the water’s edge.

This project, now known as the York Quay Revitalization Project, has since evolved to include elements from the winning submission of Waterfront Toronto’s 2006 Central Waterfront Design Competition. In its submission, the design team, West 8 + DTAH envisioned a vibrant, mixed-use cultural village for the site including Canada
Square and another urban square bordering Queens Quay. World renowned landscape architectural Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Landscape Architects recently won the contract to design this Phase II work.

An overview of the project will be provided by Harbourfront Centre and Waterfront Toronto, and a presentation on some preliminary ideas for the parking garage and Canada Square will also be given by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Landscape Architects.

Public feedback will be solicited and members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions and share ideas.

Public Meeting Details:
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
York Quay Centre, ―Lakeside Terrace‖ Meeting Room
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Presentation and Discussion)


For more information:
Please visit www.waterfrontoronto.ca
or contact Andrea Kelemen at
416-214-1344 or akelemen@waterfrontoronto.ca
www.waterfrontoronto.ca

WATERFRONT RESIDENTS MEET WITH THE MAYOR TO DISCUSS THE ISLAND AIRPORT

On Monday, February 8, a dozen waterfront residents met with Mayor David Miller in his office at City Hall. The delegation, which included representatives from the Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association, the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association, CommunityAIR, the Harbourfront Community Centre, the Toronto Island Community Association, the YQNA, and Councillors Pam McConnell and Adam Vaughan, met with Mayor Miller for nearly an hour.

The residents spent the first part of the meeting detailing the repeated violations of the Tripartite Agreement, unbearable traffic problems, Porter's frequent curfew violations, the Toronto Port Authority's failure to appear before last month's Board of Health meeting, and the water, noise and air pollution generated by the Island Airport.

The second part of the meeting was spent working out a detailed plan for remedying the resident's concerns. Mayor Miller promised that the city would begin taking a more active role as one of the three partners of the Tripartite Agreement.

Residents advise Board of Health about Island Airport pollution

Fifteen deputations, including representatives from the Harbourfront Community Centre, Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association, Port Lands Action Committee, Community AIR, Harbourfront Community Association, St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Association and the YQNA spoke before the January 18 meeting of the Toronto Board of Health at City Hall. The agenda focused on pollution control at Pearson International Airport and Toronto City Centre Airport (TCCA), better known as the Island Airport.

While the Pearson representatives gave a detailed report of their successful efforts to cut down emissions and noise, with exemplary public participation, the TCCA provided none of the materials the Board had requested and didn’t send any representatives.

Many citizens filled the committee room, and delegate after delegate spoke with elegant indignation about the water, air, and noise pollution caused by the Island Airport. Several spoke of the myriad carcinogenic chemicals contained in the cloud of diesel fuel that hangs over the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood and others detailed the damage, and cost to the city, from the airplane de-icing fluid which the Island Airport disgorges, untreated, into the city’s sewer system.

After all the deputations, our two City councillor, Pam McConnell and Adam Vaughan and Board of Health members introduced motions that included directing the Board to look into the long term effects of water and noise and air pollution generated by the Island Airport. The motions also asked the Board of Health to study what Environmental Assessments are required before Porter Airlines is allowed to proceeded with its planned tripling of passenger volume and flight frequency.

This hearing was a turning point for residents who have watched the unchecked growth of this airport. It is supposed to be governed by a Tripartite agreement between the Federal Government, Toronto Port Authority (TPA) and the City of Toronto. The first two partners have managed to expand the airport with taxpayers’ money and little oversight or concern for the Waterfront. Meanwhile, the City of Toronto has been inexplicably lax, though it is reportedly owed $38 million in back taxes from the TPA. So it was a pleasant surprise for citizens who spoke to be understood and well received by the Board of Health, which has six City Councillors as members. We are hoping these sympathetic councillors will give a wake-up call to the rest of City Council before the Waterfront becomes completely compromised by this growing and very polluting airport.

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.