Here are some of my reflections on art and architecture as I took a walk through the ward recently. The article will be published in a BIA (Busines Improvement Area) newsletter.
Change and the Art of Living in a City
By Adam Giambrone
I often like to spend time on the weekends walking around our neighbourhood, so I get to see all the new and exciting projects people are working on, as well as note areas where there are problems or improvements are needed. During these walks I’m often reminded how dynamic urban life is. It’s usually not too hard to tell when you’ve arrived in a part of the city that works well; one can often sense a vibrancy and sense of community in these areas that’s great to experience. Figuring out the reasons why these areas work well is much more difficult, but this is a crucial question as we try to plan for our city’s future. As the local City Councillor, I want to see our neighbourhood thrive, with vibrant streetscapes and public spaces, architecture and art, culture and community, all working together to create synergies that improve the quality of life for us all.
On a recent walk down College Street, I was pleased to see that new businesses have moved in and they are making the best of the existing architecture. The new arrivals are taking the facades of the old storefronts which once housed appliance shops or convenience stores and making them beautiful again by adding accents like awnings, new paint jobs, large windows and flower pots. As well there are places (at least three between Dovercourt and Dufferin) to sit out front—just simple lawn chairs—and enjoy a coffee and chat with a good friend. Residents here also do their part and one can see that many of these old homes are lovingly maintained, with wooden tiles, stained glass with floral designs in the windows, fountains and art in the front courtyards. It’s pleasant and very comfortable here and it’s nice to see how things are improving.
Later on that day, I was walking on Queen West and stopped in briefly at the Gladstone Hotel to take shelter from a passing thunderstorm. I’ve always thought this hotel was an interesting example of urban renewal and what can be achieved when we respect our architectural heritage. When it first opened in 1889 as a stop for the railways, the Gladstone was considered a trendy inn, but as the years flew by and the rail station moved, the Gladstone began to lose its lustre. Eventually the building deteriorated so badly that not so long ago many people thought it would be condemned and demolished.
Fortunately, the new owners decided to restore the building rather than rebuild. The renovations are fantastic and I especially love the rich hard wood floors and that they restored Toronto’s distinctive red bricks.
It was with mixed feelings that I stared out the window at the construction starting on the south side of Queen Street. The Ontario Muncipal Board had approved new buildings much taller than what I had wanted and I am sad that we will soon lose the historic building at 48 Abell Street. On a brighter note, we had managed to secure many concessions from the developers, such as some affordable housing and artist live/work spaces, a pedestrian mews and lots of retail spaces on Queen, funding for a new art and theatre centre, and a new park on Lisgar Street. The key thing now is to ensure that the vibrant community along Queen is preserved and I hope that these new developments will still provide “fertile ground for the plans of thousands of people.”
As our lifestyles change in response to the challenges of the 21st century, more and more Torontonians will choose to live in the city versus the suburbs. That change means there will be higher density in the downtown core, but if we do things right, by allowing appropriate development along major arteries, while preserving our residential neighbourhoods, the potential benefits are cleaner air, a stronger sense of community and a higher quality of life for all of us. To make that happen in Toronto, we need to plan our streets, communities, neighbourhoods and the city as a whole in a way that allows every neighbourhood to be successful, with high quality architecture, revitalized public and green spaces, a transportation system that allows every mode of travel to be viable, reduced energy use, and public art that reflects the character and contributions of each community. This city is the place where we and our children spend most of our time—quite simply, it’s our home. It’s important that we all take care of it and invest in ourselves, our neighbourhoods, and our city’s future.
I was honoured to be asked to be the Mayor's designate to open this year’s Caribana parade.
The day started with a breakfast, followed by opening ceremonies at 10:00am. I gave a short welcome and greeting on behalf on Mayor Miller and helped to cut the ribbon which officially began the parade.
This year an estimated 1 million revellers came out from across the GTA, Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe and all over the world to join Toronto in dancing and celebrating Caribbean culture and music. If any of you were at the parade I’m sure you experienced the morning downpour and the blazing sun. Still it was worth it. The costumes were resplendent and I’m truly amazed by the grace of the performers- being able to dance in the heat and rain while wearing a delicate outfit which probably weighs at least 30 to 40 lbs.
My job was great. I was able to hear great music, see some old friends and greet visitors to Toronto. I would be more than happy to host Caribana again and encourage all of you to attend next year. Please send me an email and let me know about your Caribana experiences.
All the best,
Now that it's spring, I've been doing some "Spring Cleaning". At the same time I've been thinking about my environmental impact on Toronto. I recycle, compost, take the TTC (I really do!), conserve paper (I'm digital) and heat. Still, I feel compelled to do more. To help, our mayor, David Miller, has unveiled a new program that will encourage all of us to do our part and a little bit more. Here's his message about Live Green Toronto:
Mayor's Message
Living green. Here in Toronto, it’s more than a trend; it’s becoming a way of life.
We hope this new, one-stop website filled with tips, success stories, learning opportunities, information updates – even rebates and grants – will inspire you to keep taking the small steps that lead to a healthier planet.
As you may have heard, Toronto has targeted an 80% reduction of our greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It’s an ambitious target, and we're rising to the challenge. To reach our target we not only need to take big, bold steps as a local government, we also need every resident of Toronto to take action in their home and in their neighbourhood.
The Live Green Toronto program is designed to inspire and support every resident who wants to do something right now to make Toronto an even greener city.
I hope you find this exciting new site a terrific resource for action.
We all know how good we feel when we do our part. So thanks for living green for a greener Toronto.
Mayor David Miller
City of Toronto
What We’re Doing
As a City we are doing our part too. We're taking action to continue to reduce our impact on the environment. Read more about how we're changing how we do things:
EXPLORE YOUR CITY AND YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD- DOORS OPEN
Hi there,
I hope you all had a relaxing Victoria Day weekend. Though the weathr wasn't as warm as I'd like it to be it was a chance to be with family and friends.
As the summer season approaches there are many wonderful events happening in the city that you and your family and friends should experience. One of those is Doors Open Toronto.
This free annual event will give you the opportunity to explore over 140 buildings of historic and cultual significance that we see from the outside but rarely from the inside. The focus this year is on multicultural places of worship and Toronto's National Histoic Sites.
Some of the buildings are in Ward 18 such as St. Anne's Anglican Church at 270 Gladstone Ave. Live perfomances by Tafelmusik will be held on Saturday at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm. The church will be open from 10am to 5pm with the last admittance at 4:45.
So book this weekend to walk and explore the awesome architectural heritage of the city.
Doors Open is Satruday and Sunday, May 24th and 25th and it's all free. For more information go to the Doors Open website at
http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/
The new blue bins began to arrive in Ward 18, Davenport in early May. By now, most of you have received your new bins and some of you have called your my office regarding problems or concerns you may have had.
If you are experiencing any problems such as:
• Bin not delivered
• Bin is the wrong size for your home
• Nowhere to store bin
Please contact: Target 70 at 416-392-BINS (2467). If you're not able to get through please feel free to contact me or my staff at 416 392- 7012 and we'll be happy to help.
Target 70 is an ambitious program that aims to reach our maximum recycling goals. It's a change, but a change that will affect our city in a positive way.
