Church Wellesley Update
News from the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association
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We want your input! The CWNA's 2019 AGM will be held on Thursday, March 21, 6:30pm at the 519. What do you want to hear about? Fill out our short (1 question) survey to let us know!
 With our neighbourhood undergoing rapid intensification, battling noise pollution is more important than ever. The City is reviewing the Noise Bylaw and wants to hear from you. The review aims to introduce updates that reflect our growing and vibrant city, while enhancing the noise standards that protect residents. The City began reviewing the Noise Bylaw in 2015. In 2016, a Noise Working Group was convened with stakeholders from resident associations, business improvement areas, the music and entertainment industry, the construction and building industry and other city divisions and agencies. The Noise Working Group met nine times and concluded in 2017. The group reviewed current and proposed amendments to the noise bylaw and highlighted outstanding issues. In April 2018, a report documenting these outstanding issues and next steps in the noise bylaw review was brought to City Council. The City has also undertaken additional research and consultation, and is now hosting five public consultations seeking feedback on emerging Noise Bylaw updates: 1. Power Equipment (for example: leaf blowers) Monday January 28, 2019, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. North York Civic Centre Member’s Lounge (5100 Yonge St.) 2. Motor Vehicles Tuesday January 29, 2019, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Metro Hall, Room 310 (55 John St.) 3. Amplified Sound (for example: music from bars) Wednesday January 30, 2019, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Scadding Court Community Centre (707 Dundas St. West) 4. Construction Noise (for example: condo developments and residential infill) Tuesday February 5, 2019, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Centre for Social Innovation, Regent Park Lounge (585 Dundas St. East) 5. General Prohibition (for example: general noise that is likely to disturb others) Wednesday February 6, 2019, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Garage (720 Bathurst St.) Your feedback will be used to recommend updates to the Noise Bylaw in a report going to Council in spring 2019. You can also submit feedback by email until February 28, 2019 at mlsfeedback@toronto.ca More information on the Noise Bylaw Review is available on the City of Toronto website.  Join MPP Suze Morrison and meet your neighbours at a Community Update Meeting. MPP Morrison will share her updates with community members like you about her work advocating for Toronto Centre at Queen’s Park. You will also have the opportunity to share your concerns at this meeting.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019 7:00 - 8:30pm Glad Day Bookshop - 499 Church Street.  [This article was updated in January 2019]
In the wake of a wave of murders that shook the Church Wellesley neighbourhood in 2017, the City and federal government, local organizations and the Toronto police are working hard to make our community safer. A Year of Fear and Anger The urgency for action was obvious following the chilling events of 2017:
The community was shaken to the core, as a sense of fear and vulnerability led to anger and questions about how the police had dealt with the cases. Did the sexual orientation, gender-identity and race of the missing and murdered affect the level of attention these crimes were given by investigators? Compounding the sense of vulnerability on the streets of the Village: an ongoing epidemic of opioids, crystal meth and other drugs, combined with mental health issues, resulting in bizarre and sometimes threatening behaviour and an increase in property crimes. Manulife Real Estate is proposing a redevelopment of the Traders Building at 625 Church Street. The proposal would add a rental tower atop the stately six storey 1956 brick building and allow for street level retail along Church Street. On December 6, Manulife hosted an open house to inform the community of its plan and receive feedback. In the renderings only the Church Street facade is shown as preserved. The south side of the building, on Charles Street, would have an increased footprint, eliminating the current patio space and moving the new structure closer to the sidewalk. The proposal is in its very early stages; the height and look of the new building is yet to be determined. We we can expect further community consultation before a development applications is made to the City. To comment or be added to the mailing list, email 625ChurchStreet@strategycorp.com  Church Street view  Charles Street view  Church and Hayden corner view  Church and Charles corner view Get involved and stay informed at these upcoming meetings, happening this week in and around our neighbourhood. Education in Ontario - Community ConsultationThe 519 is hosting a meeting give community members space to discuss changes to curriculum, incl. the Sex Ed roll-back from 2015 to 1998. Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Time: 6:30pm – 8:30pm Place: The 519, 519 Church Street MPP Jessica Bell's Emergency Affordable Housing Town HallMPP Jessica Bell (University-Rosedale) will be joined by MPP Suze Morrison (NDP Critic for Housing), Councillor Mike Layton, Kensington-Bellwoods Community Legal Services, the Federation of Metro Tenants' Association and ACORN, to discuss how we can advocate for change, learn about our rights and organize against things like illegal evictions and bad landlords. Date: Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm Place: Alliance Française, 24 Spadina Road (Pierre Leon Gallery) Community Consultation 55-61 Charles Street EThe City is holding a Community Consultation meeting where you can learn more about this application, ask questions and share your comments. You can view a copy of the Preliminary Report providing background information at https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-116934.pdf and the submitted plans and reports at http://aic.to/55CharlesE Date: Wednesday, December 5, 2018 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Place: St. Paul's Bloor Street Church, 227 Bloor Street E (Great Hall) 625 Church Street Redevelopment Open HouseManulife Real Estate is proposing a redevelopment of 625 Church Street that aims to incorporate the current architectural design of the building, while providing new rental housing and amenities for the neighbourhood. Join them to learn more about the proposed project and provide your input.
Questions? Email 625ChurchStreet@strategycorp.com Date: Thursday, December 6, 2018 Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm Place: St. Paul's Bloor Street Church, 227 Bloor Street E (Grand Hall) Hello neighbours! We're looking forward to meeting you at our 2018 Annual General Meeting. The AGM is taking place on Thursday, March 22, at the 519. Sign-in will begin at 6:30pm, and the meeting will begin at 7:00pm.  Our agenda for the evening is:
6:30pm Sign in & refreshments 7:00pm Welcome and opening remarks 7:20pm Remarks from Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam 7:25pm Presentations and updates by our Board of Directors 8:10pm Open discussion 8:40pm Board of Director elections Whether you're a member, or a friend of the CWNA, we hope to see you there! The Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association  On Sunday, we held our first meeting with members of the CWNA, BIA, and experienced volunteers, to discuss a potential safe walk program in the Church Wellesley neighbourhood. While we learned a lot about what a successful safe walk program looks like, we still have many questions that need to be answered. We want to create something that is sustainable in the longer term, and that will take time and ongoing community efforts.
 The City is holding a meeting where you can comment on the development application for 552-570 Church St & 66 Wellesley St E.
City Planning recommended that the proposed application be refused, and this was accepted by Toronto East York Community Council (TEYCC) on November 15. You can see the Refusal Report here, and all the information on the initial application, including plans, wind studies, and more, on the development application page. Our November newsletter is out now, read it here. See all our past emails to members and neighbours in our newsletter archive.  |