Today, Toronto City Council voted 34-5 to approve a staff report proposing numerous Roncesvalles streetscape improvements, including new public spaces and accessible transit stops. This report borrows many ideas from the BIA’s 2003 streetscape strategy, and was unanimously approved by the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee a few weeks earlier, following an extensive Environmental Assessment process. From here, the approved … Read More
Spacing Magazine examines “Grey Spaces”
The latest issue of Spacing deals with issues of direct relevance to our soon-to-be-reconstructed street, and the BIA encourages everyone to pick up a copy. The topic is “Grey Spaces,” those areas that occupy a middle ground between completely private and completely public spaces, where different rules apply. Roncesvalles is such a space, where members of the public interact with … Read More
Roncesvalles EA open house materials available online
Thanks to everyone who attended the open house on March 23. The meeting was part of the provincially-mandated Environmental Assessment process, whose main purpose is to report on the environmental impact of permanently keeping Roncesvalles a two-lane road. This is how Roncesvalles presently functions, except for weekday mornings, when west-side parking is prohibited and Roncesvalles becomes a three-lane road. Likely … Read More
What stormwater management is really about (Hint: rhymes with “spit”)
Cities across the world have made stormwater management a top priority, encouraging green roofs, downspout disconnections and innovative drainage systems. In Toronto, the annual budget for stormwater management is $40 million. To a non-expert, this may all seem fine, but we often remain unclear on why stormwater management is so important. The fact is, we can’t name the real problem … Read More
Open House to present Roncesvalles streetscape improvements – March 23
The City of Toronto has scheduled a second Open House to present its proposals for Roncesvalles streetscape improvements: Monday March 23, 2009 6:00pm – 9:00pm (presentation at 7:00 pm) Howard Jr Public School, 30 Marmaduke St. Via Councillor Gord Perks: Thank you to everyone who continues to stay engaged in this project. I know that it has been a while … Read More
Will Roncesvalles’ hanging signs comply with a new bylaw?
The City is currently drafting a permanent sign bylaw. The new bylaw is apparently a response to criticism of the large number of unlicensed, illegal billboards that have appeared throughout the city. Such signs have the effect of dispossessing Torontonians of their own public spaces. The Roncesvalles Village BIA strongly supports City efforts to restore a sense of public ownership of these … Read More
Walk and Bike for Life Community Meeting
We know a lot of our neighbours along Roncesvalles are cyclists. We’d like to invite you to a discussion in mid-January about better integrating cycling into the neighbourhood. We’ll also talk about enhancing the experience of pedestrians and making Roncesvalles a true “slow” street, in the best sense of that word. At the meeting, we’d like to hear your ideas. … Read More
Western Waterfront Master Plan public meeting and open house – December 9
From the City of Toronto’s Waterfront website: The Western Waterfront Master Plan Team would like to invite you to attend the 3rd Public Meeting and Open House for the Master Plan to be held on December 9th at St. Joseph’s Health Centre (30 The Queensway, Toronto), at 7:00 p.m. Meeting Notice City of Toronto: Western Waterfront Public Consultation
Volunteers use paintbrushes to beautify Roncesvalles and fight graffiti
Look up! Where you might have once seen an ugly graffiti-strewn wall, today you will likely see a colorful mural, painted by local artists such as Leanne Mlanden (above). Ms. Mlanden is one of several community volunteers who have given their time and skills to the Roncesvalles Top to Bottom Mural Project. Lisa Rainford from Inside Toronto has the scoop. … Read More
Roncesvalles EA display boards available online
On July 9, the City of Toronto and the TTC hosted an open house to outline various proposals for the 2009-10 reconstruction of Roncesvalles. The open house is part of the Environmental Assessment process, required under provincial law. The City’s Roncesvalles EA page can be viewed here. The City also posted the display boards that were shown during the open … Read More