The parking lot is paved, and now Adam is going to meet with us

Our community meeting with *the* Adam Giambrone is being held at Casa dos Acores. This community centre, which serves alcohol, is at 1136 College Street, just west of Dufferin. This photo above shows how bleak the "community centre" looks from the back... a boring old patch of pavement will match it perfectly, don't you think?

Be there at 6:30pm, even though the parking lot was paved this morning. :(

Our parking lot is bordered by busy and scary College and Dufferin Streets

The photo beside this is taken at about 2pm. Not rush hour but definitely busy... you can imagine how scary it is to walk here around 4 and 5pm when all sorts of big trucks and such are moving through.

How would you like this to be your front yard?

Today was a great day. The pavement has happily not been laid yet, and we enjoyed putting our feet and connecting with our Mother Earth without any ashphalt or fences getting in our way. We went out and connected with beautiful children, teenagers, and adults who all care about what happens in their back yards.

Not one person walking through Dragon Alley during the busy rush hour after school and work was able to tell us that they had received any information about this parking lot project.

Our location for our community meeting has not yet been set, and it happens at 6:30pm tomorrow! Is it really going to happen? Councillor Giambrone's office suggested that we meet at the community centre/restaurant that stands to gain the most from 30+ new parking spaces.

If you're looking for free parking, the site is not monitored at this point. Tons of children walk through these alleys during their jaunt to and from school, and there is no increased signage or speed bumps to ensure that these children are going to be safe from cars vying for a free parking spot.

Let's ensure that not one child ends up seriously injured or dead because we've got too many cars and no safety measures in a small, overcrowded space that is right on the edge of St. Helen's School.

Stay tuned, more to come....

The pavement is coming

Many residents in front of Dragon Alley were feeling sick to their stomach this evening when they came home from work/school to find a bunch of paving equipment parked inside the vacant lot.

Gwyn Thomas, president of the Toronto Parking Authority, had assured us by telephone that NO PAVEMENT would be laid until:

1. We consult the community

2. The spring comes

Interesting that Adam Giambrone has not yet even scheduled a location for our meeting on Tuesday. Residents aren't sure what to do... it is clear that the steps are being taken to pave the lot TOMORROW!!

One resident plans to set up a tent and camp out. Others are calling Adam and visiting his office. Still, others are making direct calls to Gwyn Thomas to stop the madness. We don't want anything else to happen before our meeting on the 16th.

Also interesting... we tried to copy the site plans for the parking lot, but were denied. "We don't own them," said the staffer at Giambrone's office.

Please call to help us stop the pavement... once that goes in it seems there will be no turning back.

Gwyn Thomas, Toronto Parking Authority

416-393-7275

Email: tpamail@toronto.ca

Adam Giambrone

416-392-7012

Email: councillor_giambrone@toronto.ca

Anyone wanna discuss our parking lot?

Jonathan from Toronto Public Space is going to be on Goldhawk Live, an hourlong phone-in show about local issues, from 7-8 this evening.

He is joining Rami Tabello of IllegalSigns.ca and Councillor Howard Moscoe (Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence) in discussing the new billboard bylaw. The last time the program dealt with billboards, a large portion of the callers were people from the industry posing as concerned citizens in favour of advertising, and I would not be surprised if the same happened tonight.

Please call in to the show (the number will be onscreen) if you believe that the callers aren't reflecting your own views.The show airs live at 7pm and repeats tomorrow morning at 4pm and 9pm on cable channel 10 in most of Toronto and 63 in Scarborough.

Read Jackson's take on the parking lot.

Parents know that streets are indeed for people

Last night we attended a meeting with local parents who are working to develop an awesome new learning place for children called The Grove School.

This alternative school will have social justice and environmentalism as it's focus (along with academic excellence), and there is no school like this here in Toronto. It's encouraging to be a part of this work and it's great to have the support of other parents who want their children to grow up thinking about and experiencing the things that are the most important (ie; nature and community).

The Grove School will be a neighbour to the new parking lot. The parents at the meeting discussed the recent outcry against the proposed parking lot at the Matador (at College and Dovercourt). It was funny how the Toronto Parking Authority and Adam Giambrone would discuss the issue... there was some "blame" on the West End YMCA, another important community hub. The "blame" was that the YMCA was responsible for urging the creation of a new parking lot. The YMCA responded by explaining that it encourages its members to walk, ride bikes, and take public transit to their facilities--they had NEVER asked for a parking lot! The community rallied together and the parking lot never became a reality. The legendary Matador still stands!

It's winter now and the Matador parking lot is a distant memory to some. The winter blues tend to set in for a lot of people during this time. It's cold out there, and there's not a lot of sunshine. Many of us live in cramped apartments and dream of sunnier shores. There are not many people in the alley now. Where are all the people? Are they coming to the meeting? Do they care?

Sure, they do care, but they feel defeated. This lack of consultation and common sense about this space has got mixed up with never ending rhetoric that we hear each time we contact someone different from the City of Toronto. There are also language barriers. Whenever people have low English literacy (and this is our major working language here), they become discouraged and disempowered. Some don't want to say anything because they're afraid it will all come out the wrong way.

All those people in their apartments--put a big red circle on your calendar for Tuesday, December 16th. Adam Giambrone's office still has not set a location, so let's hear if you're attending so we know if we need a large space. AND in the good news, Adam's office is making site plans available. Go down to his office and check them out:


1232 College St. W. (at Margueretta)

Office hours:
Monday: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Saturday: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
(Other times are available by appointment)

Stay tuned. We're planning a community party in the parking lot to remind you that the streets are for people (and fun).

Show us the plans, Councillor Giambrone!

We've been working hard to try and get some site plans for the new parking lot. We have talked with the president of the Toronto Parking Authority, who pretends to know something but truly doesn't know anything.

Our concerns about the parking lot are numerous. We have been asking the TPA president about the flow of cars, and when he answers us it is clear that there are no clear plans that he is aware of. This is discouraging... there are plenty of hidden angles and children walking around in Dragon Alley. It is already scary to walk down there because you never know if cars will see you when they're turning off of Dufferin. A poorly planned parking lot will just make things more frightful.

We have received the following email today from the mayor's office. Let's see the plans Giambrone!!

Thank you for writing. We have spoken with Councillor Giambrone's office and ascertained that they have a copy of the site plan which they are more than willing to share with you. As you know, the land is owned by and construction co-ordinated by, the Parking Authority of Toronto, the Mayor does not have plans for the lot.

Please contact Councillor Giambrone's office to arrange a meeting and view the site plan.

Thanks again for writing,

Chris Phibbs, Senior Advisor

Office of Mayor David Miller

100 Queen Street West

Toronto, M5H 2N2

p: 416 338 7106

e: cphibbs@toronto.ca

Save Dragon Alley

Thank you to Jackson for this poster. Look for these up in the community shortly, and let us know if you'd like any.

Smooth Operator

Photo by Cheryl Douglass
This photo was taken in the fall when our 50+ year old tree and old horse barn were still standing in the site of "our" future parking lot.

The work on the potential new parking lot continues. Today there was a beautiful snow fall in Toronto so the work installing lighting fixtures and connecting them to the energy grid was probably somewhat unpleasant for the contractors who were there today...

Contractors for this job are probably happy to be making some extra money for their holidays, but local residents aren't getting anything except for a collective cringe every time any work moves forward. We joke, "The lights will be helpful for our community garden," but we all concede that the giant concrete structures are aesthetically very disgusting and depressing. While they're tolerable with a light dusting of snow, we wonder how they'll feel on a smoggy summer's day.

If you'd like to send any insight or comments on our new parking lot, please feel free to email us and we'll post your comments as soon as possible.

Today's playlist:
Wilco: Impossible Germany
Gentleman Reg: You Can't Get it Back

Feist: Secret Heart

Davenport Councillor Adam Giambrone supports controversial new parking lot

Photo by Jackson Couse

Residents of the College and Dufferin community in Little Portugal are glad that the City of Toronto has finally agreed to consult with them before any more work moves forward to build a parking lot in their backyards.

The Toronto Parking Authority plans to run the lot, and is supported by Davenport and local area counsellor Adam Giambrone. His support of the issue has troubled local residents, who wonder why the chair of the Toronto Transit Commission has sanctioned a multi-million dollar conversion of the site into paid parking.

Many community members are troubled about the development of the lot into paid parking because they were not consulted. Local artist Moira Bayne explains, “When people wanted to build back porches on the street behind that laneway, letters went to residents whose apartment backed onto that. We were surprised and dismayed to hear that a parking lot was going to built when no one had consulted us.”

A City of Toronto staff report dated October 25, 2007, states that the parking lot is needed for “short-term parking.” The report says that the 34 spaces will “accommodate the high demand for parking in the area.”

Local residents have taken stock of how much street parking there is at different times of the day. They have debated how the space may be used, and haven’t been in agreement that the local community needs it. Local people point out that the Dufferin Mall, with its wealth of free parking, could be used by those with cars. Attempts to get a response from their councillor have resulted in the following.

The City of Toronto says that it did a feasibility assessment. Alex Shevchuk, acting supervisor at the Parks, Forestry & Recreation Division, states that his department doesn’t support a “parkette” at this location “primarily because of its hidden location behind the buildings on all surrounding streets: College Street, Lindsey Avenue, Dufferin Street and Sheridan Avenue. “

Shevchuk continues, “Good frontage on a city street with good views to the surrounding area to promote surveillance and ‘eyes on the park’ as well as comfortable access to the surrounding neighbourhood are key criteria for siting parks within our parks system.”

Local residents discuss how the parking lot used to house the racing horses at Dufferin Grove Racing Track. Today, the strip directly north of the vacant lot is a collection of apartment dwellers. Many are low-income, have multiple children, and are from diverse and multi-lingual backgrounds. Many residents in the area ride bikes, walk, and take public transit. Children of various ages can be found in the back lane looking for a space to play—until construction crews recently fenced off the area, they often used the vacant space for organizing after-school sports.

“It’s a meeting place where people help each other out; the kids all play with each other; there’s lots of parents watching the kids. The fact that it is a safe place to be helps neighbours help each other. It let’s us work as a community where there’s a network of people to watch each other’s children,” says Bayne.

Some residents feel confused as to how city politicians believe that a parking lot is safer than a park. At least 40 apartments face the vacant lot, filled with a large group of parents who are watching out the windows for their children.

Two buildings at 9 Bonar Place were demolished on Tuesday, November 11th. Construction crews continue to make progress in their effort to build a parking lot by next spring.

Local residents and the media are invited to take part in a community meeting on December 16th at 6:30pm. Feel free to email Adam Giambrone to tell him you'll be there, as a location has not yet been set as we try to figure out how many people want to be heard on this issue. Participants are encouraged to support Adam Giambrone’s TTC by taking the street car or bus to the meeting, or walk/ride your bike.

One email from Adam Giambrone dated November 25

Photo taken on December 3, 2008, by Jackson Couse

Thank you for your email pertaining to the parking lot being constructed south of Bonar Place between Sheridan Avenue and Dufferin Street.

Residents originally came to me seeking a green space at the above location. After investigation from the Acting Supervisor for Area Landscape and Planning Initiatives it was found that converting this area into a park space was not supported because of its hidden location behind buildings.

The Toronto Parking Authority (TPA) has been working with local small business organizations to find locations for off-street parking that will help to keep them competitive with other, larger corporate retailers nearby. For many years these community businesses on College Street have requested nearby accessible parking to serve their needs. The Dufferin Mall parking lot is private property that is not available to the businesses on College for customer parking. Even if it were, it would not serve College Street , being too far away from them, and too close to their competitors.

I have received complaints over the years about the lack of maintenance on this site in question, as well as unwanted activities. Experience has shown that having a well maintained area helps to deter such activity. The TPA will maintain and supervise the site, something that isn't currently happening.

I am not sure that we will necessarily agree completely on this matter, but I do hope you will feel free to continue to approach me for assistance and consideration in the future.

Sincerely,

Adam Giambrone

Toronto City Councillor

Ward 18,

Davenport

Chair, Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
http://www.adamgiambrone.ca/

Dragon Alley

Drawing by Moira Bayne

Save Dragon Alley!

Councillor Giambrone: Let's work together. NO PAVEMENT TIL WE TALK!

College and Dufferin. It's not a glamourous neighbourhood. It's not a rich neighbourhood. But its where we live. We raise our children here. Work. Play. Rest. We're bordered by busy streets. Buses full of people pass every 10 minutes. Streetcars shuttle by. Cars zoom, idle, stop, start.

There's no real human-scale meeting place in front of our homes. We're right on College Street. The laneway behind our houses is where children have space to play with their friends, ride bikes, chat with neighbours, where adults can talk together with a little quiet from the noise busy-ness of the streets around.

The City of Toronto wants to fill our laneway with pavement and cars. So far the City has ripped out an established tree (planted by the great-grandfather of 7-year-old who lives here) and dug up decades-old shrubs and plants. The new parking lot will hold over 30 cars in a small space where children have played for over 50 years.

We don't need more pavement and concrete in this neighbourhood. This is excellent earth for growing. It gets full sunshine in the summer.You've done a lot of damage in the last three weeks: Ignored residents, ripped up established trees and shrubs, smashed up an old barn, dug up the earth. Let's generate a local solution for people and parking .... together.

Come and voice your ideas about a new, multi-million dollar parking lot that is being built at 9 Bonar Place (one block north of College at Dufferin). Local councillor and supporter of the parking lot project, Adam Giambrone (ironically, the Chair of the TTC Commission and supposed supporter of a green city) has finally agreed to meet with all local residents for those living in the Davenport neighbourhood of College and Dufferin streets on December 16th.

Local residents have been trying to get a meeting with him for many weeks, while the Toronto Parking Authority promised there would be no work done on the site until spring. Cement trucks have been spotted and everything on the lot has been demolished. Come and help shape your vision of the future for the College and Dufferin community.

When: December 16, 2008 starting at 6:30pm
Where: Location to be announced shortly.
Why: Tell your city councillor if you think a parking lot is good for your community.

Contact: If you like more information, contact Moira Bayne by email at info@huntinghawkcommunications.com.

**Keep checking back because we'll be adding updates daily. Feel free to send any messages to us and we will post them for everyone to read as well.***