Wastewater is the very definition of an unsexy subject, but the issue seems to be attracting more and more attention from environmental activists and regulators. The attention explains the urgent need for Roncesvalles Renewed’s proposed Living Sidewalk, which would transform Roncesvalles from a concrete funnel flushing stormwater down our combined sewers into a massive absorption pad, with healthy trees sucking … Read More
Public Meeting: Roncesvalles Construction Design – June 27 – CANCELLED
Update: Gord Perks has confirmed that this meeting will be cancelled due to the strike. More info to come. The latest preliminary streetscape concepts are available for viewing. The BIA urges all businesses and community members to examine the PDFs of the sidewalk plan (part one is the southern half, and part two is the north), and please let … Read More
Toronto Sun op-ed: Roncesvalles redo a victory for neighbourhoods
On Friday, the Toronto Sun published an op-ed by John Bowker, chair of the BIA’s Beautification Committee and the BIA’s representative in Roncesvalles Renewed. The article celebrates the unity of our neighborhood, as we prepare for the 2009-10 reconstruction of Roncesvalles. It also criticizes efforts by suburban councillors to turn Roncesvalles into a busy highway for commuters from North York … Read More
City Council votes 34-5 to approve Roncesvalles streetscape proposal
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
Bombardier gets streetcar contract – “sweet ride” promised
The TTC’s new fleet of streetcars will be longer and air-conditioned, with room for 260 people, bikes and two wheelchairs. Low floors will make the streetcars accessible for strollers, grocery carts and the disabled. And the 204 mini-trains will be assembled in Ontario, at the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay, reports the Toronto Star today. Now the TTC just needs … 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
BIA calls for greater local control over new federal infrastructure funding
The Roncesvalles Living Sidewalk Project has received strong support from all three Residents’ Associations and the Roncesvalles Village BIA, and yet a substantial funding gap remains. The federal government has proposed to release new funds for infrastructure projects, of which our project certainly deserves priority: Our project would integrate Roncesvalles’ stormwater sewer with an innovative new tree planting system that would finally allow urban trees to … Read More