Today in Weston
Seniors home approved for vacant lot
The Etobicoke York Community Council voted to approve a 15-storey affordable rental tower for on seniors on the long-vacant property at 2346 and 2352 Weston Road.
The proposed tower will contain
- 42 bachelor units
- 70 one bedroom units
- 15 two bedroom units
The proposed units would be targeted to older adults and seniors, aged 59 and over.
The EYCC had previously opposed the building because of “built form, density, height, massing, site layout, shadow impact, proximity to the Humber River valley, access, parking and loading”.
In response, the applicant revised the plan with more setbacks, more open space, better wind design, fewer units, and a more amenity space, among other adjustments.
The development will be funded in part through the city’s affordability programs.
The plan will now go to City Council.
Responses to recent shootings
The CBC covered some of the local responses to the recent shootings in Weston and the surrounding area. Several community groups were included, including Stachen Frederick from Frontlines.
At a meeting on Wednesday, she saw someone get the call that a relative had been injured.
“More and more youth are becoming fearful of living in this community,” Frederick said.
They try to engage children as young as six at Frontlines, with youth programming ranging from homework help to fitness and cooking classes. About 460 young people come through their doors a year.
Frederick says there needs to be more effort from all levels of government and more funding so places like Frontlines can be open later and offer more to young people.
She also says there’s a lack of spaces for young people in the community.
Two shot at Weston bar. One dead
Two men were shot the Red Room restaurant on Jane Street. One was killed.
The police say a “man walked in and started shooting”. One man died on the scene. The other was taken to hospital with life threatening injuries.
This is the second shooting in Weston and the fourth shooting in the area in recent weeks.
Today in Weston; November 6, 2019
Lions Park Litter Bins Redux
Faithful readers may remember that the garbage and recycling bins in Lions Park have been an issue since the soccer pitch was installed many years ago. The problem is that the people who use the soccer field remove the bins from their stakes and use them as goal posts.
Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation department and Toronto’s Solid Waste Management people can’t get their act together to solve this fairly simple problem.
Why not lock the bins to the stakes you ask? This was done as a response to my complaints in 2013. Unfortunately, when the Solid Waste people ‘forget’ to lock bins up after emptying, they go missing. This considerably simplifies their job next time.
Despite my many attempts to get this problem addressed permanently, it seems that no one at either the Parks or Solid Waste divisions cares enough to create a fix and follow up with some long-term supervision.
I’ll be phoning 311 and will follow up with a post-script on this article. Incidentally, if more of us phone 311 when there is a problem in our neck of the woods, we will get more action.
Post Script: A very pleasant gentleman knew the location well (Weston Collegiate Alum) took the details and will be contacting the appropriate people. He told me it will be taken care of within a month.
Black Cat Espresso is open!
Weston has a new coffee shop, and it’s great. Black Cat Espresso, in the new commercial development on Rosemount, is super hip and super good. They’ve been under construction for a year, and it’s been worth the wait.
If you hurry, they are selling everything—everything—for $0 today (tips gratefully accepted). Coffee, lattés, baguettes and sandwiches: all free. Amazing.
The building is beautiful, with exposed brick, timber, great decorations, and personality. My double espresso was dark and bitter, just like me. My wife says her latté was the best she’s ever had. She raved.