Yes in my community! Join the tour and community building discussions on Saturday Sept. 29th

You are in for a treat when you say “Yes!” to this event. DECA is thrilled to partner with The Toronto Public Library Danforth Coxwell Branch to host an event in the series “On Civil Society” about community building!

On Saturday, September 29th, 2018 at 3:00pm join us for a walking tour from East Lynn Park to the Danforth Coxwell Library. Pssst… our walking tour includes a rare peek inside the Danforth TTC Garage! If you are curious about this site, here’s your chance to see a bit more.

Then at 4:15pm meet us at the library for refreshments and TED like talks and discussions.

“TED” Talk Participants:

Gill Penalosa, 8 80 Cities

Gill is incredibly passionate about transforming cities into places for all people. He has inspired and advised decision makers and communities in more than 300 different cities around the world on how to create vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or socio-economic status. His focus is on the design and use of parks and streets as great public places, as well as sustainable mobility. His call to action is to move ‘from talking to doing’.

Michelle Senayah, The Laneway Project

Michelle is an urban designer who is passionate about the public realm and what happens in it. She works collaboratively with designers and planners, community members, municipal staff, students and politicians to plan, design and implement projects and policies that redefine how we think about and use our public space.

Matthew Browning, ARUP

Matthew is a senior transportation consultant with a civil engineering background, and leads Arup’s Transportation Master Planning work in Canada. He most often seeks out projects where he can promote sustainable modes of transportation such as transit, walking and cycling and has led the development of numerous master plans and street reconfigurations across Canada, the US, the UK and the Middle East. Working alongside architects, designers, stakeholders, municipalities and members of the community, Matthew finds ways to overcome ingrained thinking about traffic engineering and build cities for people, not cars.

Billy Dertilis, Red Rocket Coffee & Danforth Mosaic BIA Chairperson

Billy is a business strategist looking to share his skills and knowledge and contribute to the neighbourhood he grew up in. The son of a Danforth shopkeeper, some of his earliest memories are of his father’s shop and the sense of connection that grew out of a strong and vibrant retail strip. As BIA chair, Billy is a tireless advocate for deeper ties between the business community and neighbouring residents. 

Moderated by: Mary Vallis, Professor of Journalism at Centennial College, former DECA Board Member & Founder of the DECA Arts Fair

TPL_DECA-poster_Yes-in-my-community!-event

Itinerary:

3:00PM: Meet at the entrance to East Lynn Park. This is a community tour highlighting East Lynn Park, sites of the DECA Pop-Up Shop initiative, the old Crossroads building, and the Danforth TTC Garage site (which is slated for redevelopment with Toronto Police Services).

The final stop on the tour is the Danforth TTC Garage – we’ll take you inside for a rare look around!

4:00 PM: Tour will head to Danforth Coxwell branch of the Toronto Public Library for light refreshments.

4:15 PM: All are welcome to join us on 2nd floor of Danforth Coxwell Library for TED style talks with guest speakers with questions/discussion to follow.

You are welcome to share the event on Facebook and help us spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/events/273495250153006/

Danforth pop-up street makeover meeting on Thursday at Hirut!

Do you care about making the Danforth safer, more fun and useful for people of all ages (whether you are age 8 or 80 or anywhere in between)? We do too! That’s why DECA is so excited to be partnering with 8 80 Cities, Better Block, and the Danforth Mosaic BIA to create an exciting Danforth Pop-Up Street Makeover!

We’d love to have your input and ideas! Please join us for a presentation and community discussion on Thursday (tomorrow). You’ll meet some neighbours, the folks from 8 80 Cities and Better Blocks who are coming to make this amazing thing happen – and you won’t have to make dinner because Hirut is cooking for everyone. Drinks will be available for purchase.

Where: Hirut Restaurant, 2050 Danforth Ave.

What: Danforth Pop-up Street Makeover Discussion and Free Dinner!

When: Thursday, September 6 from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

If you can, please RSVP here, or just drop by!

 

Keen to lend a hand or know someone who might be?

We’ll also be needing some pop-up street makeover volunteers who can roll up their sleeves and lend a hand to re-design the street. We’ll be using temporary paint and materials, building and installing wikiblock furniture, and overseeing program activities for neighbours of all ages. The event and prep will take place October 4th – 6th. If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to be involved, please email gay@deca.to for more information.

Read more about this exciting project here.

Community Meeting Sept 6

Local police stations are merging and will be seeking a new location

Thanks to DECA Visioning Committee for this blog post!

You probably received a notice with your mail recently about public meetings the city and Toronto Police Service are holding on the next two Tuesday evenings regarding plans for a new local police station. (TPS plans to amalgamate its 54 and 55 Divisions under one roof.)

The discussion is particularly important for us because one of the three short-listed sites is the nearly five-acre TTC property at Danforth and Coxwell.

Danforth East TTC Barns at Coxwell. Photo credit Google Maps.

The Danforth East Community Association was formed a decade ago with a goal of making our area’s main street more vibrant, walkable and safe; to succeed we need to continually attract more people to the Danforth sidewalks for different reasons at different time of the day. World-renowned urbanist Jane Jacobs (who died in 2006) identified that TTC site as one of only two in the DECA area with significant potential for creating the type of multi-use hub that the community will need for revitalization.

While DECA has not taken a position, our Visioning Committee and some members are concerned — especially in an era when police stations tend to be walled, big-box fortresses — that this may not be an appropriate use for such a rare and valuable site on our main street.

The other two locations on the short list are East York Civic Centre and the current 55 Division at Dundas and Coxwell.

The two meetings are slated for:
– Tuesday, October 10 (6:30 to 9 p.m.) at East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell;
– Tuesday, October 17 (6:45 to to 9:15 p.m.) at SH Armstrong Community Centre, 56 Woodfield Rd.

To learn more about the community consultations and plans for a new site for these police stations, go to: https://www.torontopolice.on.ca/TheWayForward/new-54-55-building.php

Looking back at “Imagine the Danforth” 
The images below are renderings of possibilities for the TTC site, created by students, that were presented during Imagine the Danforth in May 2015. The meeting was hosted by DECA and featured the top 10 ideas for Danforth East developed by students at Ryerson and U of T.

Imagined sketch for new use of Danforth East TTC Barns by Ryerson Students, Nov. 2014
Imagined site plan for new uses of Danforth East TTC Barns by Ryerson Students, Nov. 2014

Merrily, merrily Shop Re-opens Saturday

Merrily, merrily Shop Re-opens Saturday

Handmade whale
Handmade whale ready to take home from Merrily, merrily.

Happy news for the parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles of Danforth East! Merrily, merrily is re-opening their pop-up shop – this Saturday, January 10 at 10am – in their new home: 1854 Danforth Ave (right near Oaks ‘n’ Acorns). They’ll be popping up for 6 months (and if we’re lucky, they might just decide to make this their forever home).

The store hours will be 10 to 6, Tuesday – Saturday, and 11 to 4 on Sundays.

If you haven’t checked them out online yet (merrilymerrily.ca), Moxie and Jane carry gently used and very lovely clothing and goods for children, and they sell unique handmade and upcycled pieces by members of our own community. Isn’t the denim whale totally charming? In the upcycled category, they also have reversible, full-body bibs; cool superhero aprons; and neck-cowls made from hockey socks (does it get more Canadian than that kind of cold-weather, artful ingenuity?!).

They’re a consignment shop so your purchases also help out other parents in the neighbhourhood. Jane and Moxie say they are always looking for wooden toys and puzzles, classic books, Padraig slippers, Toms, Converse, Bogs, designer clothing and any other baby and children’s clothing or linens in pristine, like-new condition — so if you have any of those, you have an extra reason to pop in for a visit!

Merrily, merrily pop-up shop
1854 Danforth Ave
10 to 6, Tuesday – Saturday, and 11 to 4 on Sundays
www.merrilymerrily.ca
facebook.com/merrilykids

Danforth East Renew Updates Galore

Revitalization Updates

There’s a ton of great info packed into this guest post from the Danforth renewal dynamic duo, Tina & Gay.  Read on for all the exciting changes the team has been working on to improve the ‘hood.

Whether you shop local, work local, eat local or pitch in to lend a hand on renewal projects, you’re supporting the revitalization of our commercial strip. We all get stoked when new businesses open and DECA and WoodGreen are excited to continue renewal efforts on the Danforth! There’s lots going on and we’re grateful for funding support from the Metcalf Foundation as we head into year 2.

WGAnnualRep
Pop-up successes looking fabulous in WoodGreen’s annual report.

Change like this happens through the incredible work and dedication of local volunteers. Thank you!

Danforth Mosaic BIA’s AGM: this TUESDAY

The Danforth Mosaic BIA is the longest BIA in the city. It extends from Westlake to Jones. The BIA aims to stimulate business and improve economic vitality. Local business and property owners volunteer their time and can be elected to the BIA Board of Management. Their Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place on Tues. Oct. 28th at 7:00 p.m. at 695 Coxwell Ave., on the 6th floor of Tobias House. All business and property owners within the BIA have a vote. For more information email danforthmosaicbia@gmail.com

BIA is Working to Re-brand Shopping on the Danforth

There’s a new BIA marketing committee, and in September local businesses and residents were invited to contribute their vision of the area.

Over 30 people came together during three sessions to participate in a range of activities designed to help define the area. Participants shared their thoughts, used pictures, and tested their artistic skills to envision what the Danforth could be. This was the first step to generate input for the BIA’s new marketing plan to put the area on the map! Keep your eyes peeled in the coming months!

BIA Marketing consult
A BIA marketing consultation session.

DECA’s Business Revitalization Team Strikes Again

In August, DECA’s Business Revitalization Team (BRT) created a splash on the Danforth with another storefront makeover! Helen’s variety store (1781 Danforth Avenue) was transformed from the old shabby, faded blue façade to a clean, bright new look featuring yellow and white stripes.

How does something like this happen?! Needless to say, it’s a lot of work. It takes the passion of a team lead (Pat Young) and the talent of many volunteers to design, research, consult, promote and then implement this brand new look! Why Helen’s Variety? Watch this one minute video to find out.

Makeover1
BEFORE: Helen’s Variety’s awesome make-over team.
makeover2
AFTER: owner Tom poses with the new & improved Helen’s.

Turning Ideas into Reality:
Reimagining the Laneways

Did you know renovations are planned for Coxwell station? So why not look at ways to improve the adjacent laneways? That thinking led to a DECA/WoodGreen sponsored consultation, during Art of the Danforth last May, facilitated by

architect Michelle Senayah. City Councillor Janet Davis pitched in, connecting DECA/WoodGreen to the TTC and Green P Parking Authority. Over 20 people attended the consultation held adjacent to the laneways, on TKOS’ patio.Fast forward to September and we are delighted to report that everyone’s dreams and ideas to improve the laneways are closer to becoming a reality! Things like murals, better lighting, signage and wayfinding, and more attractive fencing, were on the table at a meeting convened by Councillor Janet Davis. Representatives from the TTC, Transportation Service, the Public Realm at the City, Green P Parking Authority, DECA, WoodGreen and East End Arts are working together to find ways to move forward. Teamwork takes time and there are no guarantees; still it’s awesome to know that improvements are coming. We’ll keep you posted!
Coxwell-laneway-consult
The Reimagining Coxwell station laneway session.

#DEdreams in Pictures

A huge, big thank you to everyone for coming out and making last week’s Danforth East Dreams event such a fun and successful day!

Over 400 (!) of you joined us to share what you love about the ‘hood and your dreams about how we can make it even better. There were tons of great ideas, including:

  • starting a community garden (Attention those of you who loved this idea: good news is coming soon!)
  • a neighbourhood wide golf tournament in which everyone sets up a hole on their lawn
  • bringing back monarch butterflies to Monarch Park
  • bike lanes on Danforth
  • converting the TTC buildings at Coxwell (South side of Danforth) into a public space with a park, stores and housing
  • rabbits (the young lady didn’t elaborate on her vision, but rabbits are indeed pretty cool all on their own)

We even spied an idea that looked an awful lot like a marriage proposal (possibly a DECA first?). We’ll continue collecting all the ideas and share the full results in the next few weeks. Until then, have a look at the fantastic pictures taken by Bruce, Tina and Casey. See if you spot your idea or recognize someone you know posing with their dream.

Once again, many thanks to Melanie’s Bistro, Moberly Natural Foods, Beau’s, LEN, Rebel Therapy Yoga, Air Zound bike horns, Ankh Yoga, 32 Spokes, Mrs. Darling’s Imaginarium for Girls & Boys, Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon for the use of her popcorn machine, the Toronto Repair Cafe and the owners of 1811 Danforth, Haig and David.