After chaotic shifts of direction, the Toronto Municipal election will go ahead on Oct. 22 with 25 wards. Here is a timeline of events leading up to that outcome, indicating the strong public protest in which HVRA joined:
After several years of contention and discussion, all parties have agreed to a plan for development of properties at the northwest Sussex-Spadina corner. The final stage of discussion was confidential mediation by James McKenzie of the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (formerly the OMB).
… Read more Mediated Settlement for Sussex-Spadina Development
On June 23, City Council approved installation of a traffic light at Harbord and Robert to replace the crosswalk now there. This decision follows HVRA’s June 12 traffic count showing that 35% of drivers failed to stop for pedestrians using the crosswalk.
On July 12, Councillor Joe Cressy and HVRA hosted a community meeting to discuss the next phase of our Green Master Plan and to envision a new public park at the north end of 666 Spadina, flanking Sussex.
The Harbord Village Green Plan identifies opportunities to create new green spaces.
On June 27, City Council unanimously approved new funding for road safety, including more red-light cameras, expedited traffic-calming measures, and improved design of intersections. HVRA’s recent traffic study helped shape public discussions leading to this commitment. The Toronto Star and BlogTO both picked up our June 20 web story and our June 24 letter to City Council and asked us for further comments.
On June 12, 30 volunteers counted wrong-way traffic and incomplete stops at Harbord Village intersections to better understand the risks to pedestrian safety. We spent from 7am to 10am and from 3pm to 7pm at eight residential street corners and the Harbord-Robert crosswalk.
… Read more Counting the Risks: Pedestrian Safety in Harbord Village
ACTION: Tuesday June 12 is car-counting day in Harbord Village. Residents will watch at problem intersections from 7 to 10 am, and from 3 to 7 pm, recording counts of vehicles, wrong-way vehicles, and failures to stop at stop signs.
… Read more Deterring Wrong-Way Drivers? Engineering Students Share Ideas
UrbanToronto.ca tells us that Knox Presbyterian Church has filed an Official Plan Amendment application with the City of Toronto to redevelop its property on the southwest corner of Spadina and Harbord. The application presents two options, both calling for more residential density (including affordable units) along with an expansion of the existing church.
