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FORUM (Oct. 2017): Building a better Bickford Park

November 2nd, 2017 · Comments Off on FORUM (Oct. 2017): Building a better Bickford Park

Large fenced off-leash area for dogs

The new and improved Bickford Park is a great place to take in the autumn leaves. It features large fields, a customized dog park, and new benches. GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS

By Mike Layton

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

NEWS (AUGUST 2017): Palmerston goes green

September 13th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (AUGUST 2017): Palmerston goes green

Residents’ association follows model set by Harbord Village

By Emilie Jones

The Palmerston Area Residents’ Association (PARA) unveiled its plan to go green at a public meeting in early August. The association, which has been developing the plan with the office of Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), was looking for ideas and feedback from the neighbourhood.

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Tags: General

NEWS (AUGUST 2017): Regulating short-term rentals

September 13th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (AUGUST 2017): Regulating short-term rentals

Vacancy rate for apartments getting even lower

By Geremy Bordonaro

If you’re coming to the Annex for a quick visit, you’re in luck. From hotels to condos to student residences, there’s lots of places that will give you a taste of what’s it like to live in Toronto’s most livable neighbourhood. If you actually want to live here, however, you’re out of luck. Long-term housing, especially affordable housing, is at a premium.

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Tags: Annex · News

GRADING OUR GREENSPACE (JULY 2017): Open spaces in the heart of the Annex

August 1st, 2017 · Comments Off on GRADING OUR GREENSPACE (JULY 2017): Open spaces in the heart of the Annex

Lots of places for ambling with a dog, playing sports, or watching the world go by

PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: There’s lots for kids to do at the recently renovated Margaret Fairley Park, where the installation of a new wading pool and seating area is almost complete. The revitalized park has a determined Muskoka feel to it that might strike some as a bit too sterile.

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Tags: Annex · Life

FORUM (JULY 2017): Recognize and reconcile Canada at 150

August 1st, 2017 · 1 Comment

Take personal actions to work towards reconciliation

By Mike Layton

As festivities wind down from Canada’s 150th birthday, we are granted an important opportunity to look back at where we have been as a nation and chart our course for the nation we want to become.

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Tags: Annex · Columns · Opinion

FORUM (JULY 2017): Butter tarts, tourtière, and raisin maple donuts

August 1st, 2017 · Comments Off on FORUM (JULY 2017): Butter tarts, tourtière, and raisin maple donuts

Local politicians celebrate Canada at 150

As the nation celebrated the big 150 this month, we wondered how our local politicians marked our big day. Member of Provincial Parliament Han Dong (Trinity-Spadina), councillors Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) and Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), and Toronto Catholic District School Board trustee Catholic School Board Jo-Ann Davis (Ward 9, Spadina-Fort York) shared their Canada Day plans, and some of their favourite Canadian facts, books, and treats!

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

NEWS (JUNE 2017): Affordable housing on the agenda

June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (JUNE 2017): Affordable housing on the agenda

PARA AGM focused on Mirvish Village development

By Geremy Bordonaro

Westbank Projects Corp.’s Mirvish Village development was the focus of the Palmerston Area Residents’ Association (PARA) annual general meeting last month.

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Tags: Annex · News

CHATTER (JUNE 2017): Building business on Bloor Street

June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on CHATTER (JUNE 2017): Building business on Bloor Street

Cycle Toronto has launched a new program aimed at boosting business on Bloor Street. Pick up a “Bike and Buy: Tour de Bloor Passport” from Cycle Toronto and have it stamped every time you eat or shop at one of 73 participating businesses between Avenue Road and Shaw Street. Passport-holders will be entered in a draw for discounts and prizes, including a Simcoe Bike valued at $850 from Curbside Cycle. The program will run until the end of the September. Passports are available at Curbside Cycle, Sweet Pete’s B-Side (Annex), and bloorlovesbikes.ca.

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Tags: Annex · News

EDITORIAL (APRIL 2017): Westbank’s positive precedent

April 10th, 2017 · 1 Comment

The Toronto and East York Community Council unanimously endorsed a planning staff recommendation to approve Westbank Projects Corp.’s application to redevelop the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst streets on April 4. It’s a significant milestone that comes after three years of community consultations and collaborative work between the Vancouver-based developer, planning staff, and community representatives.

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Tags: Annex · Editorial

FORUM (APRIL 2017): San Francisco a model to follow

April 10th, 2017 · Comments Off on FORUM (APRIL 2017): San Francisco a model to follow

Building diverse and sustainable cities

By Mike Layton

Our city is changing. In some Toronto neighbourhoods, the pace of change is difficult to manage, and even more difficult to get ahead of, because it is so rapid.

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Tags: Annex · Opinion

NEWS (MARCH 2017): Westbank presents latest proposal

March 22nd, 2017 · Comments Off on NEWS (MARCH 2017): Westbank presents latest proposal

Community, city closer to approving Mirvish Village development

PHOTO COURTESY WESTBANK PROJECTS CORP.

By Geremy Bordonaro

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Tags: Annex · News

FORUM (MARCH 2017): Build a neighbourhood

March 22nd, 2017 · Comments Off on FORUM (MARCH 2017): Build a neighbourhood

Not just buildings

By Joe Cressy

If you’ve ever made your way to a development meeting in Ward 20, you’ve heard me talk about the need to build community as we grow and change. With almost one quarter of all proposed development in the entire city occurring in our ward, we’d be leading ourselves astray without this focus. This has been my primary focus in the review of the Mirvish Village redevelopment proposal, which continues to evolve after three iterations.

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Tags: Annex · Columns

CHATTER (FEBRUARY 2017): Welcoming the rooster

March 5th, 2017 · Comments Off on CHATTER (FEBRUARY 2017): Welcoming the rooster

PHOTO BY GEREMY BORDONARO/GLEANER NEWS: Dragon City Mall on Spadina Avenue was crowded wall-to-wall for the Chinatown BIA’s celebration of the Lunar New Year on Jan. 28. Representatives from the Toronto Police Service’s 14 Division joined councillors Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina), Mike Layton (Ward 19, Trinity-Spadina), Adam Vaughan (MP, Spadina Fort York), and Han Dong (MPP, Trinity-Spadina) for a day of jubilation featuring a traditional dragon dance and inking of the dragon’s eyes.

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Tags: Annex · News