November Annual General Meeting Highlights

​Thank you to everyone who attended our Annual General Meeting on Monday November 18th at the Central YMCA.
 
Treasurer’s Report
 
Marilyn Tait-McClellan reported that membership fees remain at $1.50 per unit.  This year the major expenses were FoSTRA membership fees and donation, website costs, a donation to the 52 Division CPLC donation that went to a children’s program at Beverley School and maintenance and signage for community gardens.  There is a surplus of approximately $20,000 that will be used to develop signage for the Clock Tower Trail.
 
Guest Speakers
 
Councillor Chris Moise, Toronto Centre just attended Dr. De Villa’s last meeting as Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, where a progress report on ‘Our Health Our City’ outlined how safe consumption sites saved lives.  The Mayor and Council have worked to increase housing stock to alleviate the housing crisis, but need help from the provincial and federal governments.  500 refugees arrive in Toronto monthly.  The City’s new encampment strategy is to move people only if there is a place to relocate them.  3 of 4 of the largest encampments are in Toronto Centre, with about 24 residents in Trinity Park, 23 in St. James Park and 20 in Moss Park.  The City has few resources to deal with mental health issues.  The province has turned down the city’s request for 1% of the sales tax.  There were 5 cyclist deaths in 2024, highlighting the need for bike lanes.  Councillor Moise recently attended the Healthy Cities Conference in Copenhagen where there is a mindset to put people in the centre of everything.  90% of Copenhagen residents are cyclists.  It will cost $40M to remove bike lanes as proposed in Bill 212.  Bay Cloverhill projects underway include a parking amendment motion passed at the Toronto East York Community Council to accommodate the loading zones on St. Joseph Street, painting of traffic control boxes, bumpouts on St. Joseph Street and street planters on St. Nicholas Street.
 
MPP Jessica Bell, University Rosedale gave updates on 3 issues.  Bill 212 to speed up construction of highways, make is hard to build new bike lanes and remove bike lanes on Yonge Street, Bloor Street and University Avenue.  MPP Bell worked with Families for Safe Streets to highlight the stories of cyclist deaths, how cyclists just want to be safe and have their fair share of the road.  On streets where there are bike lanes, accidents are reduced and cyclist use increases.  The focus should be on investing in transit and reducing traffic congestion caused by construction.  Bill amendments will be introduced.  There is new legislation to close safe consumption sites in March 2025, including one in Kensington Market.  2,000 people die from opioid addictions and health care workers say more people will die without safe consumption sites.  Bill 214 removes power from the Ontario Energy Board and reassigns it to the provincial government.  The result will be more nuclear power plants supplemented by gas power plants without any cost analysis and consideration of alternative energy.  All the above issues are a diversion strategy by the Conservative government to prepare for a snap election in March.  Important issues like the 2.2 million Ontarians without a family doctor, proper staffing for schools and affordable and supportive housing are not being addressed.
 
MPP Kristyn Wong Tam, Toronto Centre lives in the Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood.  They thanked the police for their efforts.  MPP Wong Tam is the official opposition critic for the Ministry of the Attorney General (justice and court), small business and LGBTQ issues.  The provincial government claims to be tough on crime but are not dealing with public safety which only works when court cases are heard in a timely manner.  80% of people on bail are awaiting trial.  Ontario has the worst record for the ‘Jordan principle’ where cases must be decided on within 18 months.  As a result justice is not achieved for many cases like human trafficking, rapes and car jackings.  The Fall economic statement cut half a billion dollars from the provincial budget, a decrease of 9%.  The province is meddling in local planning.  MPP Wong Tam will be introducing a bill to address the 2 to 3 year backlog in the Landlord Tenant Court and 9,500 cases pending in the Human Rights Tribunal to create a special committee to address the outstanding cases, increase legal aid funding and stop unqualified and patronage appointments of adjudicators.  There were 3 Toronto focused motions proposed by the opposition party that were voted down.  They were: making mental health services part of health services; creating a public housing agency to create 250,000 units and clear the backlog; and a new deal for municipalities to reflect the $44m in services downloaded by the province.
 
Guest Speaker Questions and Answers
 
The vacant buildings at on the north side of St. Mary Street and Yonge Street are part of the 10 St. Mary Street redevelopment.  The Church of Scientology building on the south side of the intersection has been vacant for many years and is in compliance with city bylaws.  The owners are current with property taxes and are not interested in selling as they still plan to renovate the building.
 
When asked if affordable housing can be a requirement of all new developments, it was explained that the province has not approved the City’s inclusionary zoning policy with the requirement that all developments include affordable housing.
 
The removal of bike lanes in Toronto should be a concern for all Ontario residents, but it is being ignored by the media outside Toronto.  It is a wedge issue for the probable Spring election.  Congestion in Toronto is caused by 100,000 Uber drivers, CafeTO installations and lane closures from construction, telecommunications work and Metrolinx.  It was pointed out that congestion on the highways is not caused by bike lanes.
 
The provincial government is using federal healthcare funding for private healthcare instead of public healthcare, without any repercussions.  The provincial government is blaming socialist mayors.  MPP Bell encouraged residents to support the Ontario Health Coalition, who is against private healthcare, and to share their stories about long waitlists for necessary surgeries with the media.  UHN has apparently cut surgeries by 30%.
 
The province has turned down the federal government’s offer for $250M for matching funds to end encampments.
 
Licensing and regulation for micromobility devices is lacking by the provincial government.  The City is advised by an Toronto Accessibility Advisory Committee that declined to participate in an escooter trial. Residents are encouraged to participate in the this Committee to have their voice heard.
 
The recent changes to the brick walls around the 7-11 at Bay Street and St. Joseph prevent them from being used as seats.  Scheduled street furniture installations will provide additional seating in the area.
 
The most effective way for the Bay Cloverhill Community Association and residents to influence changes for issues that are important is to join forces with other associations, like FoSTRA and FoNTRA, and be involved in the election process.
 
Ask Anthony
 
Constable Anthony Lamanna, Community Relations Officer, 52 Division, Toronto Police Service believes the city is safe despite media coverage.  He speaks to people living on the street and with mental health issues.  More police officers are being hired, but it doesn’t make up for the police officers that are retiring or transferring to other jurisdictions outside the city.  It is very challenging to retain and recruit new police officers.  American tourists in town enjoy the ability to walk around the city and find it clean and safe.  Be careful of nefarious individuals during holiday shopping.  Pickpockets use distraction techniques.  Avoid being distracted while using your cell phone.  Organized crime is behind car thefts, where vehicles can be sold for $200k overseas.  Always be aware of your surroundings.
 
Fall 2024 Update
 
The Fall 2024 Update was presented an overview of the activities like meetings, monitoring developments, public realm projects and cooperation with other resident associations.  There is involvement with, and letters of support for, Federation of South Toronto Resident’s Association (FoSTRA), Avenue Road Safety Coalition, No More Noise Toronto, use of Section 37 development funds, sidewalk safety/micromobility and Bill 212 regarding removal of the Yonge/Bloor/University bike lanes.
 
Developments
 
The Immix a 38 storey building at 494 Yonge Street that opened to 425 tenants this spring.  8 Wellesley Residences at Yonge at 8 Wellesley Street West is a 55 storey 599 unit condominium building under construction with completion estimated in March 2025. The facades of the historic townhouses on Wellesley have been restored.  
 
Developments that have been approved with construction pending are: 1075 Bay Street is an existing 13 storey office that will be replaced by a 66 storey 541 condominium building including 8 storey that may be converted from office to rental housing. 2G, 26 Grenville Street and 27 Grosvenor Street consists of a 50 and a 35 storey 700 unit rental building including 30% affordable housing.  73 Queens Park Crescent would demolish the existing 4 storey Northop Frye Hall and construct a new 5 storey institutional building. 510 Yonge Street is a 59 storey project with 500 condominium units with an affordable housing component.  Podium Developments is a new partner in 510 Yonge Street and it will be changed to student rental housing.  95 St. Joseph Street will be a 51 storey building with a 12 storey seniors residence and a 39 storey 502 condominium tower.  25 St. Mary Street is proposed to be 54 and 59 storey towers containing 300 rental replacement units and 800 condominium units.  646 Yonge Street is a new project for a 75 storey 675 unit condominium building.
 
Developments that are proposed but still in the planning process include 10 St. Mary Street, a 63 storey condominium with revised plans pending.  The heritage facades on Yonge Street and St Nicholas Street will be retained. The building at 100 College Street is under demolition, and a new 20 storey educational/research building will be constructed on the site.  The Kelly Library will be demolished and a new light filled library, new event space, about 50 storey student residence tower will be built.  Loretto College at 70 St. Mary Street will be redeveloped into a 40 storey building with institutional, Loretto sisters residence and female student residence on the lower floors and condominiums on the upper floors.  530 Yonge Street is a 67 storey 860 unit residential building that was just submitted to the City.
 
The MacDonald Block reconstruction ongoing since 2018 may be completed in 2025 or 2026.  The approved 7 storey office building at 880 Bay Street (current construction staging site) is being reconsidered by Infrastructure Ontario.
 
2024 Accomplishments
 
‘No dogs or litter’ signs were installed in the St. Joseph community garden and Bay Street bioswale to discourage dog waste and garbage.  Colourfully decorated waste and recycling bins in Dr. Lillian McGregor Park and Breadalbane Park.  The speed limit on Queen’s Park Crescent from Bloor Street to College Street was reduced to 40 km/h.  The custom made Great White Oak bench was installed in Queen’s Park North.  St. Luke Lane was resurfaced from the north half of Grenville Street to College Street.  The alternate Museum TTC Station exit in Queen’s Park North opened.  The Green Loop was renamed the Clock Tower Trail.  Approval was granted for a commercial loading zone and a passenger drop off area on St. Joseph Street.  A list of local restaurants was created and is available on the website.  The Sidewalk Safety Committee worked with Toronto Police Service on a cyclist education/enforcement campaign and distributed ‘Walk your Wheels’ poster to local buildings and restaurants.  The Historic Yonge Heritage Conservation District study was approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal.  Work on the study started as part of the Official Plan Amendment 183 in 2013.  Many volunteers worked on the study, which was completed in 2015 and approved by the city in 2016.
 
Projects
 
Toronto Centre Projects Participatory Budgeting Planning project to install tree surrounds and expand tree beds on St. Nicholas Street and Irwin Street will happen in late 2024, with installation in Fall 2025.  The conversion of the existing island and right hand turn lane at Dr. Emily Stowe Way (on the south side of Women’s College Hospital) will be converted to an expanded sidewalk with new seat walls, reconfigured bike racks, a new BikeShare station and installation of a 3 oak tree bioswale.  A traffic light will be installed in 2025 on Yonge Street by College Park and Granby, as part of the Clock Tower Trail.  Road resurfacing in 2025 on Breadalbane will create a link between Dr. Lillian MacGregor Park and Opera Place park with installation of seat walls, traffic calming curb extensions, green infrastructure to capture storm water and reduce flooding, as well as new trees and more bike rings.  The temporary green concrete curbs and metal planters on St. Joseph Street at Yonge Street and Bay Street will be replaced by permanent sidewalk extensions in Summer 2025.  The 3 year process to get a plaque for the Primrose statue continues.  The loading zone/passenger drop off zones on St. Joseph Street have been approved by the Toronto East York Community Council, with planning and hopefully installation in 2025.
 
The Toronto Centre Projects 2023 Participatory Budgeting art murals on St. Luke Lane has been cancelled because the landlords won’t cooperate.  The money will be reallocated to other projects.
 
There are 3 priorities for 2025.  Logo design for the Clock Tower, the creation of a community plaque for Dr. Lillian McGregor Park recognizing the work of the community to create the park, and artwork installation for traffic control boxes. 
 
The main projects that are active include replacing the obsolete fountain in Queen’s Park North with a sundial, installation of street furniture, laneway design standards as well as lighting, bumpouts on Grenville Street, the  installation of a traffic light on Wellesley Street West by Century Plaza to Dr. Lillian McGregor Park, St. Luke Lane resurfacing from Grosvenor Street to Grenville Street and Breadalbane Street to Grosvenor Street and south half of Grenville Street to College Street, mail box locations and details of mail boxes that have been removed, and signage for the Breadalbane Off Leash Dog Park.
 
Other Business
Next year marks 30 years since Bay Corridor Community Association started in 1995.  In 2025, there will be acknowledgement of the efforts of the many founding and contributing members as well as stakeholders, recognition of community accomplishments and perhaps promotional giveaways.  Legacy highlights will be featured on the website and be the focus of the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
 
Cathy Carnevali was acclaimed as Secretary and there are 2 vacant board positions available.
 
This week there will be a flu/COVID vaccine clinic at University of St. Michael’s College, as well as a popup CD sale.  An virtual information session on the Loretto College redevelopment will happen on November 28th and the annual Christmas Market will be held in early December.