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A photo essay on the vacant store fronts along Queen West:

 
The historic former post office building at 1117 Queen Street West (@ Lisgar) is being listed for sale.

The video also mentions potential for intensification at this site:




 
At first blush, this report to next week's Executive Ctte is about 249 Queen's Quay West; which it is........


But, the proposal, which involves to sale of the City's strata interest in the property, is tentatively poised to help fund the acquisition of the Parkview Arms on Queen West as permanent affordable housing.
 
Article on the Bovine Sex club, which are celebrating their 30th year on Queen West:


I have indulged in many evenings of debauchery there. It's the only remaining hold-out of the fantastic counter-culture scene of 90's Queen Street.
 
I have indulged in many evenings of debauchery there. It's the only remaining hold-out of the fantastic counter-culture scene of 90's Queen Street.

I was too young to fully enjoy it, but here's a couple well detailed articles about the Big Bop:


 
Last edited:
I was too young to fully enjoy it, but here's a couple well detailed articles about the Big Bop:



I was a regular there too...
 
At first blush, this report to next week's Executive Ctte is about 249 Queen's Quay West; which it is........


But, the proposal, which involves to sale of the City's strata interest in the property, is tentatively poised to help fund the acquisition of the Parkview Arms on Queen West as permanent affordable housing.

From the CBC:

The City of Toronto has unanimously passed a motion to explore the purchase of a west end rooming house to boost its affordable housing supply.

Coun. Joe Cressy, who represents Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York, said last week that the city had entered into an agreement that gives it the first right of refusal to buy the Parkview Arms, a rooming house at 935 Queen St. W., across from Trinity-Bellwoods Park. It contains 58 rooms.

Mayor John Tory's executive committee considered the item at its meeting on Wednesday morning. It was moved unopposed and the item will now be considered by council on Nov. 9.

According to the council agenda, the funding for the city to buy the rooming house would come from the sale of a city-owned property at 249 Queens Quay West.

That property is tenanted by the Silver Hotel Group, which operates the Radisson Blu Toronto Downtown.

The property had been identified by the city "as an under-leveraged asset that could be better utilized to support other city building opportunities."

The net proceeds of the sale of the property would go towards the funding of the city's new Multi-Unit Residential Acquisitions Program (MURA), which grants funds to non-profit housing organizations or community land trusts to purchase and convert "at-risk private market affordable rental housing" into affordable housing.

"By purchasing the Parkview Arms, the City will be able to ensure that the property and rooms remain affordable," Cressy said in a news release.



The Star also have an article out for this today, although it is completely locked and paywalled:

 

Toronto businesses hoping to update storefronts decry $20K charge to cover TTC's power lines


Nov 07, 2021

Some businesses on Queen Street West hoping to emerge from the pandemic with updated storefronts have been hit with an unexpected $20,000 setback from the Toronto Transit Commission.

The eight businesses and building owners recently banded together to hire a contractor and are ready to refurbish and repair their row of facades near Trinity Bellwoods Park.

They've also been approved for a city grant that will cover half the cost of improvements to masonry, lighting, signage, windows and doors, up to about $12,500, said Robert Sysak, executive director of the West Queen West business improvement area..

"It's helping the block look great, bring more people to the area," he said.

The issue is the overhead electric wires that power the TTC's streetcars and run about two metres from the storefronts. After five months of conversations, Sysak said the transit agency has taken a firm line, allowing only one company to do the job and estimating it will cost upwards of $20,000 with no room for negotiation.

"However, [the $20,000] is split up or shared, it's just another cost they can't afford," Sysak said.

"The TTC corporation looks like they just don't care, honestly, because they basically say, 'Pay the bill or you're on your own.' They don't give you any other option. It's so irritating and frustrating."

TTC should pay for power lines, business owner says

The city said it's aware of the issue with the TTC wiring and is hoping to find a resolution.

TTC spokesperson Stuart Green said: "We have no control over contractor costs that may be incurred" to meet safety precautions on construction sites.

The transit agency has refused to follow what Toronto Hydro has done in the area, rotating its wires outward instead to give workers space to safely do the construction without businesses incurring the extra cost, Sysak said.

James Yurichuk is among the business owners hoping to make improvements. He's upgrading his Wuxley store's facade and repairing the outside of the building, which has been chipped away by animals and needs to be stabilized.

"It's going to look great too," he said. "It's going to give it a bit of a facelift on the block."

But he said it's unfair for the TTC to "drop" the extra cost on their project and makes more sense for the agency to take responsibility for its own lines than handing the burden to independently owned business that are struggling to stay afloat.

While he said his coat business has weathered the COVID-19 lockdowns, he's seen many nearby stores shut down.

"It really looks like a retail graveyard out there."

 

Toronto businesses hoping to update storefronts decry $20K charge to cover TTC's power lines


Nov 07, 2021




This article contains something shocking!

The first good publicity for Toronto Hydro as it pertains to streetscape projects in years!

"The transit agency has refused to follow what Toronto Hydro has done in the area, rotating its wires outward instead to give workers space to safely do the construction without businesses incurring the extra cost, Sysak said."
 


575 QUEEN ST W
Ward 10: Spadina-Fort York

To alter the existing mixed use building by constructing a rear second storey addition, a rear third storey addition, a complete fourth storey addition, a partial fifth storey addition, and a front third storey balcony.. Also to permit a deficiency of one parking space.


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The property seen below with the Mokuba storefront signage, just east of Portland Street:


moku.JPG
 
An older pic from early autumn that I forgot to post, but this grouping of buildings along Queen, just east of Dovercourt were boarded up and in need of an extensive renovation or refresh:


20210818_181352.jpg
 
Article on the impact of the pandemic on Queen Street West retail:

 
The "Love Shop" at 439 Queen St W, just east of Spadina on the SE corner of the intersection, has been ordered to close after the city has deemed the physical condition of the historical building to be unsafe:

 
The above needs to be met w/the harshest possible penalties.

Allowing the building to deteriorate and to be further damaged is unconscionable.

The City should be directly overseeing any work here before further damage is done.
 

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