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.