Spring is chalking up to be a busy time for Danforth East! In addition to the activities listed in a previous post, there’s also a transit expansion and funding discussions, a spoken word celebration via Open Minds and Red Rocket and an education session on encouraging young readers. Take your pick!
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We were thrilled to welcome more than 40 enthusiastic people on the blustery evening of March 27th at Artisans at Work:
The crowd included residents, local business owners, landlords, community organizations, potential pop-up tenants and other supporters of the project. If you missed it, check out the PowerPoint presentation online for photos, to learn more about project successes/challenges and to find out about the models in use around the world.
The Models
Participants discussed three models being used with success around the world to implement pop-up projects and added one more of their own creation. Then everyone voted on the model they felt would be most effective in this neighbourhood. The model that won by an overwhelming majority was the ongoing, incremental increase model:
During the brainstorming, a suggestion was made to base incremental rent increases on a percentage of a tenant’s retail sales. This system provides the possibility of additional growing rent to the landlord and is fair to the tenant (their rent increases as their sales increase). DECA has been experimenting successfully with a similar model and now has direction to finalize the details. Next steps: the Landlord Working Group (see below) can begin asking more landlords to get on board and the new tenant application can be posted on the website by April 30th.
Three Working Groups
Three groups have formed to help make this a success. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting project, please consider signing up to participate in one of the following working groups.
What’s your passion?
There’s lots to do over the next three months! The landlord group is looking at ways to entice more of the 16-18 landlords with empty storefronts to get on board. The tenant group is working out ways to recruit the best tenants, as well as the application and interview process. The big launch event group is brainstorming ideas, making preparations, selecting a name for the event, considering affordability and potential partners in June. Join in by emailing the group co-ordinator; they’ll fill you in and invite you to the next meeting. Expect working groups to meet about once every two weeks over the next three months.
Wanna be part of a cleaning/painting crew? There will be lots of opportunities to volunteer coming up as we recruit more landlords! Stay tuned.
Interested in a retail pop-up shop opportunity? The new tenant application will be posted to the website by April 30th.
Can you believe it? There is less than two months to to before the opening of the East Lynn Park Farmers’ Market! While the first day of the market will be June 6th, we will hold the official Grand Opening Celebration on June 13th. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.
But… what we can tell you is to expect to have all the face painting fun and crafting with Mrs. Darling like in previous years. Plus exciting plans are coming together that include a fresh approach to the festivals and more prepared food so you can grab dinner and do your shopping at the same time!
If you’re looking to get involved this year, here are a few ways you can help out:
If you have other ideas on becoming involved please don’t hesitate to connect with us by emailing Shelley . We’d love to hear from you! Or perhaps you are or know a local business that would like to sponsor an event? We’d really love to hear from you!
April is literacy month! (Note to self, spell-check this post before publishing it.)
Earl Haig Public School is having a used book sale on April 20, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. They are also seeking book donations – read the poster for all the details!
And while we’re talking about Earls…Earl Beatty Public School has a date for their Fun Fair – so mark your calendars – May 25th!!
This year, the 9th annual Earl Beatty Public School Fun Fair will be held on May 25th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is a partnership between the school, the Earl Beatty Community Centre and Beatty Buddies. It is a day of family fun including a ball hockey tournament, inflatable games, face painting, kids raffles, a barbeque and a bake sale. It is our hope that we will build on the success of last year and raise even more funds to help bring much-needed resources into our children’s classrooms and playground. We hope to see you at this fun-filled day!
In the coming weeks, the DECA bloggers (Sheri and Shelley) will be telling you more about ourselves, and about the rest of the DECA Board members. For Shelley and I, you will learn that we are busy working moms, with five kids under the age of 4 between us, and you will understand why there are times when there are no blog posts for a bit, and then a really, really, long one with all sorts of events listed. So while we strive for logical themes, clever segues and pictures in our posts, this one is just going to be a whack of info and dates. Hopefully there is something that will make you flag this for follow up. (Or maybe you get regular REM sleep and have that thing known as “memory”, but I digress.)
In chronological order:
Friday, April 5, 2013 @ 1:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Artisans-at-Work “First Friday”
Location: 2071 Danforth Avenue @ Woodbine
For more info on all of the interesting classes, events, workshops and learning opportunities on offer at Artisans, visit their events page here.
Monday, April 8, 2013 @ 7:00 p.m.
Danforth Mosaic BIA monthly meeting
Location: Toronto Model Photography, 1840 Danforth Avenue @ Glebemount
Saturday, April 14, 2013 @ 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Free Art Exhibit, “Colour of My Soul”, by local artist Renata Dusk
Location: Leeman Nautical Home Decor and Giftware, 1202 Woodbine Avenue @ Mortimer
Leemen is a new store a 1202 Woodbine Avenue – the only store in Toronto selling Nautical Home Decor and Giftware, as well as a wide range of unique gifts for your Cottage and Home. On April 14, 2013, we are hosting an Art Show featuring the work of local artist, Renata Dusk. Her Show is called “Colour of My Soul”, and it will run from 12:00 to 6:00 pm. The Artist’s medium is Acrylic and her web site can be found here.
Sunday, April 21, 2013 @ 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Family Art Workshop “I Do Believe in Fairies” at Colour Creative, $40/family
Check their Facebook page for more info, or email here
Monday – Thursday, April 22-25 @ 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Business Basics Bootcamp, Free business classes offered by Enterprise Toronto
Free Admission, but space is limited – see below for registration info
Location: East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue @ Mortimer
Sunday, April 28, 2013 @ 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Family Art Workshop “Beyond Brushes” at Colour Creative, $40/family
Check their Facebook page for more info, or email here
Speaking of Facebook, have you “liked” us yet? If not, click here. We’re on Twitter too @DECAdiaries (of course)!
