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City of Toronto – Community Consultation Meeting for 2359 Danforth Ave

2359 Danforth Community Consultation, November 12, 2013 7:00-8:30pm

We’ve previously posted about the development proposal at 2359 Danforth Avenue (currently the Morris Auction Sales building).  Well, the official City of Toronto’s Community Consultation Meeting regarding the application for a 10-storey mixed use (retail and residential) has been scheduled.  It will be Tuesday, November 12th at the Danforth Mennonite Church, 2174 Danforth Avenue from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

2359 Danforth Avenue notice_1

Correction! Indoor Winter Farmers’ Market is on Thursdays

Yesterday we posted about the indoor winter farmers’ market at Artisans at Work and mistakenly said that it will take place on Tuesdays, when in fact, it will take place on Thursdays.  We corrected the post, but wanted to note the correction since 1000 of you get our posts by email!

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Danforth Development Updates

Well, that wasn’t a very exciting title for this post, but here you are reading it so now you are validating my lack of creativity.  The truth is that development along the Danforth is a topic that we all want to know about.  Thanks to our most excellent City Councillors in Wards 31 and 32, we have lots of great info to share!

2362-2388 Danforth Avenue (formerly Status Auto, north side @ Westlake Avenue)

Since we have all had a chance to recover from the shock of losing our trusted mechanics at Status Automotive (they sold and closed up shop a few weeks ago), it’s time to start asking – what will become of the empty auto shop now?  It appears that it will be used as a car wash!  Thanks to Ward 31 Councillor, Janet Davis for this update and for organizing a community meeting about it:

The City Planning Department has received an application to construct an 8 bay car wash at 2362-2388 Danforth Avenue, on the north side of Danforth Avenue, west of Westlake Avenue. A car wash is permitted on this site, and no amendments to the official plan or zoning by-law are required. A site plan application and minor variances will be required.

While no community consultation is required, I have asked the applicant to meet with the community to provide neighbours the opportunity to ask questions and share their views. The Community meeting details are as follows:

Proposed Car Wash at 2362-2388 Danforth Community Meeting
Wednesday May 22, 2013 @ 7:00 PM
Danforth Mennonite Church, 2174 Danforth Avenue

Representatives for the developer will provide an overview of the design and substance of the proposed development. City Planning staff will be present to comment and answer questions.

2359 Danforth Avenue (Morris Auction building, south side just west of Sobeys)

We mentioned that this site had been bought by developers and Ward 32 Councillor, Mary-Margaret McMahon hosted a community meeting with them last week.  Did you go?  Well, about 40 people showed up and were able to chat about concerns related to noise, shadows, building height, parking etc.  Generally, people were quite happy to hear that the site is being developed.  The derelict, burned out lot will not be missed by those of us who live in this neck of the ‘hood.

Last week’s meeting was not part of the formal application process, but an attempt for the developers to proactively consult with neighbours and get input as early as possible in the process.  DECA is not taking a position one way or another on this development at this stage, but as we’ve said before, we really appreciate the transparency and goodwill.  Many thanks to Councillor McMahon for facilitating the conversation between the builders and neighbours.  We are so glad to start this process off on such a good note.

The application will be submitted in the coming weeks, and then it will go through the wheels of City bureaucracy for a while.  We are told that the mandatory community consultation will likely take place sometime in September.  Stay tuned!

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New development and a new date for Investing 101

New Development – Community Meeting on May 14

There is a new development being proposed at 2359 Danforth Avenue.  Do you know where that is?  Go ahead, guess.  Okay fine, I’ll tell you.  It’s the Morris Auction Sales building, on the south side between Woodbine and Main.  As someone who lives close to that desolate patch of Danforth Avenue, I am tentatively excited about something coming in to add some more life to our lonely little stretch.

Here’s the really cool news so far – the people who purchased the property and who hope to develop it, they are working with Councillor McMahon to get community input on their plans early on, which is over and above the two mandatory meetings that they are required to hold. DECA is reserving judgment on the proposal until we know more, but we like the effort, and we are urging you to show up and have your say now.  They are listening.

Community Meeting for 2359 Danforth Development, with Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon
May 14, 2013 @ 7:00 p.m.
Main Square Community Centre, 245 Main Street (just south of the apartment buildings)

Investing 101 – date moved to May 13

You know how it is.  You send out a blog post for an event and the next day, a scheduling snafu occurs and you have to change the date?  Yeah, so, that’s what happened.  New date is May 13 and all the other info is the same (7:30-9:00 p.m. at Lazy Daisy’s Cafe 1515 Gerrard St E).  Here’s the updated post – please join us for this great DECA Learns event!