July 18th, 2022 · Comments Off on FOCUS: Wiener’s Home Hardware 100th anniversary a day to remember (July 2022)
On June 18, Wiener’s Home Hardware celebrated their 100th anniversary with a block party hosted by the Bloor Annex Business Improvement Area, Annex Residents’ Association, and the Harbord Village Residents’ Association. The community enjoyed live music, food, and got a chance to learn about the history of the family-run store (pictured top-right). The block party gathered four generations of the Wiener family to celebrate (pictured above). Marty Wiener also accepted a plaque from Mayor John Tory, presented by Councillor Mike Layton, on behalf of the Wiener family commemorating the store’s contribution to the community over the past 100 years (pictured right). This celebration will surely be a day Annex residents will remember. —Fox Oliver/Gleaner News.Read more
May 17th, 2022 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Annex Residents’ Association AGM covers pressing issues (May 2022)
The ecological restoriation of Paul Martel Park (formerly Ecology Park) was one of the agenda items at the ARA’s AGM. The park is now home to a Bloor Annex BIA-sponsored mural created by First Nations artists led by local artist Joseph Sagaj. NEILAND BRISSENDEN/GLEANER NEWS
The Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) held their annual general meeting on April 21 via Zoom. Those in attendance included members of the ARA, residents and representatives from development teams, city council and Toronto Police Service. The most notable discussions were about improving safety on Avenue Road, the West Annex Heritage Project, vandalism at St. Alban’s Square and the restoration of Paul Martel Park. Read more
Amendments to bylaw increase density in established neighbourhoods
New bylaw allows backyard buildings to be residences. FOX OLIVER/GLEANER NEWS
By Joshua Snow
The City of Toronto has been talking about garden suites for years, and on Feb. 2, council agreed to a policy that allows homeowners to build a detached suite in their backyards. Read more
April 11th, 2022 · Comments Off on DEVELOPINGS: Developments on your doorstep (Spring 2022)
New and continuing developments in the Annex
By MADELINE SMART with files from HENRY WIERCINSKI, Annex Residents’ Association Photos by BRIAN BURCHELL, renderings from developers’ and city’s websitesRead more
The site of the former Just Desserts restaurant is slated to be the new home of Designers Walk Building, a 22-storey “vertical forest” with trees on every terrace. The condo tower by Cityzen and Greybrook Realty Partners will be the first of its kind in Toronto. COURTESY CITYZEN AND GREYBROOK REALTY PARTNERS
December 17th, 2021 · Comments Off on NEWS: A tribute to Edward Leman (Dec. 2021)
Modest yet forceful ARA volunteer left his mark
Never a NIMBY, Edward worked hard to persuade developers to work with the community and make adjustments and improvements to their proposals.
COURTESY THE ANNEX RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION
November 11th, 2021 · Comments Off on CHATTER: ARA’s ambitious tree audit planned for renewal in 2022 (Fall 2021)
This 400 year old oak tree off Spadina Avenue is one of the oldest trees in the city. The ARA is about to update its survey of all 10,000 trees in the Annex. New data will help protect the tree canopy from developers, says project lead, Terri Chu. GLEANER FILE PHOTO/COURTESY MICHAEL LOW
In 2009 the Annex Residents Association (ARA) took on the impressive task of cataloging over 10,000 trees in the Annex neighbourhood. A team of forestry students and numerous volunteers worked over the course of four summers logging the trees’ species, age, varieties and their ownership. Now, 12 years later, they’re looking to do it all over again. Read more
ARA, city, seek to find ways to accommodate growth
(From left) Jessica Bisson (project administrator and survey technician), Kristina Martens (lead cultural heritage specialist), Meredith Stewart (researcher and survey coordinator) and Rebecca Sciarra (principal-in-charge, not pictured) of ASI Heritage consultants will be surveying the West Annex’s 1,007 properties from September to November as part of the West Annex Heritage Project. ARA project lead, Sandra Shaul (right), hopes the research will convince the city to declare the West Annex a Heritage Conservation District. NICOLE STOFFMAN/GLEANER NEWS
July 15th, 2021 · Comments Off on CHATTER: Annex Residents’ Association holds virtual AGM (June 2021)
Over 40 people were in virtual attendance at the Annex Residents’ Association’s (ARA) Annual General Meeting on April 22. Because of the pandemic, it was the first AGM in two years, but participation was up thanks to Zoom. Read more
March 5th, 2021 · Comments Off on ARTS: Annex is still film set central (Feb. 2021)
Strict COVID-19 protocols being followed
Rebecca Breeds, as the heroic Clarice Starling, and her fellow FBI Agents after catching a killer on Walmer Road in the TV series Clarice. COURTESY MGM TELEVISION AND CBS STUDIOS
Former ARA Chair, Metro and City Councillor Ila Bossons passes at 83
By Nicole Stoffman
When big decisions hang in the balance at city hall, councillors often form predictable coalitions along the political spectrum. Ila Bossons was one councillor who bucked that trend. “The middle way is the best way,” the independent candidate declared in 1988, during her successful campaign to become Metro Councillor for the new ward of Midtown, which included the Annex. Read more
