Modest yet forceful ARA volunteer left his mark

By David Harrison
By David Harrison
By Ahmed Hagar
A redesigned and more “slender” 29-storey tower looks to be the future for 300 Bloor Street, after a lengthy public process and, finally, an agreement between developers, city councilors, and residents.
The Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) raised over $3,000 after turning its annual Annex Corn Fest into a silent auction.
“It was a great day. We had a lot of people, because we promoted the event quite well. We had a great participation from businesses around the neighbourhood and members of the community,” said David Harrison, president of the ARA.
By Ellie Hayden
Local residents’ associations, business improvement areas, and community organizations are concerned that reducing Toronto City Council from 47 to 25 seats will wreak havoc with the business of the city in their neighbourhoods.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) recently announced that construction would be delayed one year at Dupont Station due to difficulties with the third-party contractor in charge of the project. Elevators are being installed at the Dupont Street and Spadina Road station, which has led to regular traffic delays at the intersection.
Annex Residents’ Association board member Christine Innes, vice-chair Albert Koehl, Peter Steen, and chair David Harrison (from left). Steen received the Community Builder award for building and maintaining an ice rink at Jean Sibelius Park over many years. COURTESY ALBERT KOEHL
By Ahmed-Zaki Hagar
The City of Toronto opened a respite shelter at 348 Davenport Rd. in late January. The shelter will be open until April, when it city staff will decide on a permanent use for the site. BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS
By Geremy Bordonaro
COURTESY KPMB ARCHITECTS An artist’s rendering of the proposed redevelopment of Bloor Street United Church. The heritage aspects of the church will be restored, and a 38-storey mixed-use tower added to the church grounds.
By Geremy Bordonaro
By Geremy Bordonaro
Development dominated the Annex Residents’ Association (ARA) annual general meeting on April 27.
The area has seen an increase in developments over the last few years, most notably the Westbank Projects Corp.’s Mirvish Village development, and that coloured every topic of discussion, from bike lanes to community housing.
PHOTO CREDIT BY BRIAN BURCHELL/GLEANER NEWS: Planned by the OMB: College Street is rife with developments denied by the city, only to have been approved on appeal by the provincial agency.
By Annemarie Brissenden
By Brian Burchell
In an effort to bring transparency to the Ontario Municipal Board’s (OMB) mediation process, Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) took the unusual step of bringing a developer’s confidential settlement offer to the community for comment before that offer is voted on by Toronto City Council.