CWNA - Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association
  • Home
  • About CWNA
    • What We Do / Mission
    • Our Members
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • Development
  • Placemaking
  • Heritage
  • Safety
  • Join Us
  • News & Resources
    • Church Wellesley Update
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • Community Directory
    • Planning Documents
  • Map
  • Contact Us

Church Wellesley Update

News from the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association
Subscribe to Church Wellesley updates

Barbara Hall Park improvements

9/20/2023

 
 Barbara Hall Park will be undergoing improvements in the near future.  The City is collaborating with the Church Wellesley community to develop a new vision and Master Plan.  The objectives of the park vision and Master Plan are to enhance the park’s function for everyday use and, as a central gathering space for the City’s LGBTQ2S+ community, a space capable of accommodating passive and active uses, special events, moments of reflection, and to improve park maintenance and safety.

In spring 2023, Phase 1 of Community Engagement took place, with an online survey and an in-person workshop. The results were collated and the following "Drivers of Change" were published on the City of Toronto website:

A place with diverse users and needs
Barbara Hall Park has diverse users with varied needs. In many ways, the space is expected to be “everything to everyone”: a space for the everyday, while also being a place for reflection, mourning, celebration, and where people come to access the services of the 519 Community Centre. In the past, the park accommodated all of these uses quite well, but this has not been the case more recently. There is a lack of cohesion between the different park elements, and the park struggles to accommodate the huge number of users who visit during the annual Green Space Festival.

A green heart in need of improvement
The park is the green heart of the Church-Wellesley Village – a highly prized oasis of green within the community that is also its central gathering place. The raised lawn, garden beds, and canopy trees are all highly valued by nearby residents. However, the park lacks an appropriate range of seating, is not properly lit, and the pathways are not wide enough to accommodate heavy use. The programmed spaces present maintenance challenges that the community would like improved. The park has a lack of flat surfaces which make it difficult to program.

A place for reflection and grief
As the home of two significant LGBTQ2S+ memorials, the Toronto AIDS Memorial and the Trans Memorial, Barbara Hall Park is an important community space for grief, reflection, and activism. There is a strong desire to maintain these memorials as places where people can grieve or reflect quietly. However, there is a feeling that these memorials are not properly or clearly identified or maintained and they are sometimes vandalized. In addition, the AIDS Memorial does not resonate strongly with HIV-positive youth, who feel it should also inspire hope and celebrate the lives of those people who are currently living with HIV.

A place where people sometimes feel unsafe
The lack of clear sightlines throughout the park and the presence of dark corners present safety challenges and often attract undesirable activities, like drug use and drug dealing. Particular areas of the park, including the area to the south of the 519 and the northeast corner of the park, lack good lighting and/or programming and can feel particularly unsafe.

Future phase timeline:
  • Fall 2023: Hire a design team
  • Winter 2024: Phase 2 Community Engagement: Exploring Design Options
  • Summer 2024: Phase 3 Community Engagement: Setting the Direction (final design option)
For more information and to sign up for updates, see the City's web page on Barbara Hall Park Improvements.

Neighbourhood parks update

8/1/2023

 
Barbara Hall Park 
​
The City is collaborating with the local Church-Wellesley Village community to develop a new vision and Master Plan for Barbara Hall Park. The objectives of the park vision and Master Plan are to enhance the park’s function for everyday use and, as a central gathering space for the City’s LGBTQ2S+ community, a space capable of accommodating passive and active uses, special events, moments of reflection, and to improve park maintenance and safety.

Community consultations have started. For more details see our blog post on Barbara Hall Park and the City's page on  Barbara Hall Park Improvements.
​
James Canning Gardens

Of the three linear parks running between Charles and Dundonald Streets, James Canning Gardens underwent a rebuild and was re-opened to the public in 2021.  Since then the lot immediately to the east, at 14 Dundonald, has been transferred to the City as parkland. However, the new open space has not been integrated into the design of James Canning Gardens. There will be a future  opportunity to expand the park and make the combined space more useful.

Picture
James Canning Gardens in 2021
George Hislop Park and Norman Jewison Parks

In 2020 and 2021 the City hosted two public consultations and two stakeholder meetings  on the redesign of the other two linear parks, George Hislop and Norman Jewison Parks; as well as Alexander Street Parkette. (See the Yonge Street Linear Park Improvements page at Toronto.ca  for background.)

R
evitalizations of George Hislop and Norman Jewison Parks had been  projected to start in late 2022; however, construction was delayed until 2023 with a projected completion of mid-2024.
 
Among the improvements, George Hislop Park will feature an LGBTQ2S+ art installation; artist Catherine Tammaro has been engaged to create Indigenous placemaking elements in Norman Jewison Park. 

Unfortunately, George Hislop Park has been fenced off from public access since the summer of 2021, after the City cleared an encampment. Looking forward, there is a good possibility that George Hislop Park will have a small expansion to its southwest as a part of two proposed development projects to its immediate west.

Picture
A larger image of the George Hislop Park plan is here (after opening, click the image for maximum size).
Picture
A larger image of the Norman Jewison Park plan is here (after opening, click the image for maximum size).
Alexander St. Parkette

Alexander Street Parkette's improvements are being coordinated with a garage roof replacement project for 25 Maitland Street's underground parking.  The garage project is now underway and the park has been excavated and fenced off. The rebuild of the park should be complete by mid-2024.   ​
Picture
15 Wellesley Green P Parking Lot

Looking further forward, the Green P parking lot that sits across from the Wellesley subway station has been promised, in Toronto's Official City Plan, as parkland for many years. 

In the recently released, "TOCore Implementation Strategy: Downtown Parks and Public Realm Plan," 15 Wellesley East is listed as one of the “New Parks Secured through Development and Acquisitions.” 
​
The City has not yet determined if the entire lot will go to parkland or if some will be allocated to affordable housing.  Given the significant increases in our neighbourhood's population in the past years -- and for many years to come -- the CWNA supports the allocation of the entire lot to parkland.

Improvements to existing parks and the addition of more green space will be very welcome in our rapidly densifying neighbourhood.

62 storeys approved for 88 Isabella

7/15/2023

 
In July 2023, Capital Developments received approval from City Council to demolish the 14-storey apartment building at 88 Isabella Street and replace it with a 62-storey condominium tower.  

The site is one building east of Church Street, adjacent to Al Sparrow Lane. The existing apartment building has 82 units.  The new tower will include 720 residential units, 82 of which will be rental replacement units. 

Details about the proposal can be found at the City's Development Application Information Centre   and the Staff Decision Report. 

Capital Developments is also proposing a tower next door at 90 Isabella.

Picture
Picture
current building at 88 Isabella
Picture

45 storey tower proposed at Barbara Hall Park

5/15/2023

 
On May 2, BV Realty Partners proposed to demolish the houses from 2 to 12 Cawthra Square and to redevelop the site with a 45-storey residential tower, including a 3-storey podium.  The proposal is for 488 residential units.

The proposed building would tower over the northeastern corner of Barbara Hall Park.  As proposed it is very dense, set close to the street,  and would see  mature trees fronting the existing houses removed.  Significant new shadow would fall on Gloucester Street.  There is no provision for on-site parkland dedication.

The City has 90 days to respond to the application. If it does not the developer can appeal directly to the Ontario Land Tribunal.  The City is moving to have 6-12 Cawthra Square listed on the Heritage Register.

You can review the development application documentation, including the architectural plans, the block context plan and the shadow study by clicking "Supporting Documentation" at the Development Application Information Centre page for this application.  On the same page, you can register to be notified of a community consultation and submit your comments on this project.

57-storey Yonge and Isabella proposal appealed to Ontario Land Tribunal

5/14/2023

 
The development proposal for the the southeast corner of Isabella and Yonge       (619-637 Yonge; 7-9 Isabella) has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal. 

In November 2021, Colliers Strategy and Consulting (on behalf of YI Developments Limited) submitted an application for a 57 storey tower at the site. 


The  Yonge Street frontage would be retail space, with the residential entrance  on Isabella Street, and servicing, parking and loading accessed via Gloucester Lane.

The site is within the Yonge Street Heritage Conservation District, which the City of Toronto designated in 2016 under the Ontario Heritage Act.  However, a group of developers, including YI Developments, has appealed The Heritage Conservation District Plan to the Ontario Land Tribunal. The current development proposal calls for the demolition of the existing buildings. 

City staff released a Preliminary Report with recommendations in January 2022. 

In July 2022, the Toronto Preservation Board recommended that City Council designate the existing buildings as heritage properties.  In August 2022, the City issued a Notice of Intention to designate the buildings  as heritage properties.  

In May 2023 the developer ​appealed the application to the Ontario Land Tribunal. A case management conference has been scheduled for June. ​
Picture
Picture
Application Information Centre:
https://tinyurl.com/57rvbt6s

Ontario Land Tribunal
https://tinyurl.com/ycxcrym3Development

Urban Toronto:
https://tinyurl.com/yckr9fd2

Church Wellesley Northwest tower nears approval

5/11/2023

 
ONE Properties has submitted revised documentation and images for the proposed tower at 64 and 66 Wellesley Street and 552-570 Church Street. The revisions are in response to final negotiations with the City Planning Dept., following the January 2022  City Staff Preliminary Report and the  June 2022 Community Consultation.

The proposal is for a 28-storey tower stepping back from Church Street.  The laneway that once separated the Church building from the Wellesley building has been eliminated and the corner at Church and Wellesley has been rounded. A City Staff recommendation is expected to be submitted to the Toronto and East York Community Council in June.  

For full timeline of this project, see our dedicated article.

The Beer Store site put up for sale

5/10/2023

 
The Beer Store site at 572 Church Street has been put up for sale for $13,250,000. There has been no activity on this site since an August 2019 Settlement Offer was agreed to that would have seen a 12 storey condominium built there. 

In mid-2017, the developer proposed a 16-storey condominium, replacing The Beer Store and its parking lot. The City rejected the proposal.  The developer  appealed to the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal. A Settlement Offer which would see a 12 storey building with a 44 degree viewing angle was agreed upon in August, 2019. 

The sales document provides details of the approved proposal, but there is still a possibility that a new owner may submit a new development proposal.

For more information:
City Staff Preliminary Report:
https://tinyurl.com/ybepxspc

Local Planning Appeal Tribunal:
https://tinyurl.com/yader7a2

Urban Toronto:
https://tinyurl.com/ycnbv97m

Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods Study

4/17/2023

 
The City hosted a virtual community consultation meeting on March 1, 2023 for residents to learn about the Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods Study and to communicate what is valued about Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhood-designated lands in the Upper Jarvis Area and what changes may be desirable.

The meeting included a presentation, a Question & Answer session, a discussion of the physical elements that define the Upper Jarvis Area and priorities for its future.

Further consultations will be taking place, with the goal of creating an Upper Jarvis Planning Framework.

New Board Elected

3/17/2023

 
A new Board of Directors was elected by acclamation at the CWNA's Annual General Meeting on March 16. 

Congratulations to the new directors: Luben Blagoev,
Matti Charlton, Corina Death and Parker Gauld. Neil Gibb, Connie Langille and Robert Packham were re-elected to one-year terms. They join continuing directors Donald Altman and Tara Schorr.  Trevor Hennig has retired from the Board.

Upper JarvisĀ  Community Consultation - March 1

2/21/2023

 
 Date: Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
To Register:
On the City Planning Consultations page, find the "Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods Study" by searching for "Jarvis" in the search box located to the right of "Upcoming Events."

The City Planning Division of the City of Toronto is hosting a virtual information session at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, for those who wish to learn more about the Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods Study and to participate in a meeting to help identify what spaces and attributes of the Upper Jarvis Area are valued and what conditions could be improved.

The Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods Study concerns lands that are designated Neighbourhoods and Apartment Neighbourhoods in the City of Toronto Official Plan in the Upper Jarvis Area  Lands designated Neighbourhoods in the City of Toronto Official Plan are considered physically stable areas where new tall buildings are not permitted.

The City has received applications to amend the Official Plan to change the Neighbourhoods designation on three sites in the Upper Jarvis Area to permit the development of tall buildings.

In response to these applications, Toronto and East York Community Council directed Planning Staff to undertake a study of the Upper Jarvis Area to help evaluate these proposed developments and to develop a planning framework to help assess future development applications.

The feedback received as part of this public meeting will be used to help inform the development of a planning framework which may outline key principles for evaluating current and future development applications in the area.

This study area includes lands between Bloor Street to the north, Sherbourne Street to the east, Wellesley Street to the south, and Church Street to the west.

How to participate:
To register, on the City Planning Consultations page, find the "Upper Jarvis Neighbourhoods Study" by searching for "Jarvis" in the search box located to the right of "Upcoming Events."

The City Planning Consultations Webpage will also provide you with the link and/or call-in number to join, once registered, and provide you with more information about how to join and participate in the meeting and our code of conduct.

Attendees are encouraged to email the Planner questions prior to the meeting. (Abraham.plunkett-latimer@toronto.ca). The Planner will answer submitted questions as part of the Question and Answer portion of the agenda. Attendees will be able to submit questions through the Q&A feature in Webex Events and receive a response during the meeting. The ability to accommodate live verbal questions will be based on the number of participants.
Picture
<<Previous
    Subscribe to Church Wellesley Updates

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    October 2015
    August 2015
    March 2015
    June 2013

Join CWNA Today!   -   Subscribe to email updates
Home      Development      Placemaking     Heritage     Safety      Map     CW Update
  • Home
  • About CWNA
    • What We Do / Mission
    • Our Members
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • Development
  • Placemaking
  • Heritage
  • Safety
  • Join Us
  • News & Resources
    • Church Wellesley Update
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • Community Directory
    • Planning Documents
  • Map
  • Contact Us