General Members' Meeting Highlights

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the virtual General Members' Meeting on Monday August 21, 2023.  A special welcome to our newest member, St. Nicholas Housing Cooperative!

The Neighbourhood Projects division of the City's Transportation Services introduced a wonderful re-imagining of Breadalbane Street from Yonge Street to Bay Street.  Streetscaping improvements will be done in conjunction with scheduled capital resurfacing in 2025.  The project is budgeted to cost $390,000 and will be funded from Section 37 development fees from 11 Wellesley Street West.  The objectives are:

1. Pedestrian connections:  green loop pedestrian crossing between Dr. Lillian McGregor Park and Opera Place Park; safer crossings at Bay Street and Yonge Street intersections; addition of seat walls
2. Traffic calming:  curb extensions (bumpouts) to reduce vehicle speed and expand the sidewalk area; stamped asphalt surface looks like brick 
3. Green infrastructure: storm water capture; planting of new trees; expansion of pits for existing trees; installation of bicycle rings​

The BCCA Executive will approach the owner of the Ethiopian Restaurant at 4 Irwin Avenue to see if any assistance is needed with finding another location, due to a development proposal that would demolish the building.

Event coordination continues to be a challenge when there are road closures on Yonge Street or Bay Street that affects St. Joseph Street.

Residents are encouraged to support the signage proposal for the North Downtown Green Loop on the Toronto Centre Projects website from Ward 13 Councillor Chris Moise - www.torontocentreprojects.ca.  11 projects from the Bay Cloverhill neighbourhood were submitted for consideration of $750,000 in participatory budgeting.  The City is undertaking feasibility and costing of the projects, when residents get to vote on their preferred projects in October.

The June meeting of the 52 Division Community Police Liaison Committee included an interesting presentation on car jacking.  High end vehicles are targeted and immediately sent overseas.  Some vehicles are stolen for use in other crimes, especially pharmacy robberies.  Police recommend drivers park in well lit areas, pay attention to their surroundings and check their mirrors.  Traffic safety is prioritized in 'Project Beeline' which uses Special Constables to ensure critical intersections are kept free from gridlock during rush hour.  'Project Safeguard' builds on the success of last year to educate and ticket cyclists on the sidewalk and vehicles parked in bike lanes.  The Wednesday August 9th community event and barbeque was a success with funds raised for Contact Alternative School.  The addition of online CORE reporting for cyclist incidents has been requested and increased police patrols at Bay Street/St. Joseph Street due to disturbances from street people.  A new Care Program will be launched this fall that partners a roving team of police, city and health care services that will respond to homeless/mental health/addiction issues.  7 new officers were hired at 52 Division.  There was an increase in the number of crimes compared to last year.  Details available at www.data.torontopolice.on.ca.

Police Constable Anthony Lamanna is available for building safety audits and will be scheduling a safety meeting for building representatives and property managers.  In addition, a neighbourhood safety walkabout will be scheduled in September or October.

Residents are encouraged to sign form letters to support a federal assessment of Ontario Place and demand increased consultation for the proposed Ontario Place redevelopment by the province at www.ontarioplaceforall.com.

Key items from the FoSTRA General Member's Meeting in June included work from the Advocacy and Activism, Parks, Affordable Housing, Intensification and  Environmental Committees.  There was an illuminating presentation on Bill 109 Act, More Homes for Everyone Act, 2022 which involves massive shortening of development approval timelines and potential loss of almost all development fees.  The informative and educational Meet Your Next Mayor event was held on June 22nd with  Brad Bradford, Chloe Brown, Mitzie Hunter and Josh Matlow attending.

There is a vacancy for a Director on the BCCA Executive.  Any candidate must have been a Building Representative for 6 months and be nominated by 2 Building Representatives by the October 16th General Members' Meeting.  One individual has expressed interest and will be acclaimed if no other candidates come forward.

Councillor Dianne Saxe requests that residents email any complaints about noisy gas powered leaf blowers to [email protected].

Upcoming community and special events were reviewed.​​ The next virtual meeting is Monday October 16th at 7 pm.  The Annual General Meeting to be held in person at the Central Toronto YMCA on Monday November 20th at 7 pm.