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Neighborhood News
Harbourfront, Toronto, Ontario
February, 2008
A by-law to curb toxins
 Toronto's waterfront is usually shown with sunshine, fresh breezes and clear skies. But as we know, pollution is a problem here as everywhere in Toronto. Among the locally produced pollution is heavy traffic on the Gardiner and Lake Shore Boulevard, airplanes coming and going at the Island Airport, and the pollution generated by office and condo towers.
At YQNA's January 15 meeting in the Radisson Hotel, Lina Cino from Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) told members about a proposed by-law that will identify and help curb the "small" sources of toxins that are found in the air we breathe and the water we drink. The large polluters that use more then 10 tonnes of a chemical a year and employ more than 10 people are identified and regulated - and this list includes Redpath Sugar on Queens Quay.
In one year, over 7,000 tonnes of chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems were released into Toronto's environment. This barrage came from 200 large industries that are regulated by Federal law. Toronto's City Council is now attempting to force 40,000 additional smaller polluters to report their releases of toxins by passing a by-law called "The community's right to know."
To back TEA's campaign, readers can email their support to publichealth@toronto.ca before the February 6 deadline, and detailed information is available at www.torontoenvironment.org/toxics . YQNA, representing the Central Waterfront, officially backs the proposed by-law on the premise that we can only solve our pollution problems if we identify their sources.
The Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David McKeown, recognized our concerns and will include them in his report at a Board of Health meeting on May 20 this spring. It will be open to all and the public is invited to make verbal or written comments. We will.
Queens Quay plans
Waterfront Toronto (WT) held a public meeting Jan. 10 in the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel to present their options for transforming Queens Quay as part of the Waterfront Renewal. They showed four design possibilities and explained the advantages and disadvantages of each one. In the end, a pedestrian-friendly boulevard with trees, bike path, and local traffic on two lanes appeared to be the preferred choice. Some people in the crowd of 300 disagreed and voiced concerns about the flow of traffic. That will be the topic of the next public meeting, when WT will propose traffic patterns showing access to our many Queens Quay sites and buildings. Notices of this meeting will be mailed to all.
Braz Makes Headlines
 The attractive award-winning magazine Spacing carries a profile of Harbour Square resident Braz Menezes in the current issue. The magazine is a user-friendly key to understanding Toronto's urban landscape, which is Braz's bailiwick as a retired architect and planner. Under the headline "Waterfront's World Visionary" is his picture with an account of his international career - and of course a generous sprinkling of his great ideas for making our neighbourhood more liveable. Way to go!
Another Giant Development
Lanterra, the developer of Block 9 in York Street - the large parking lot at Bremner on the west side of York - invited seven members of YQNA to meet architect Emeric Kaspar. He and his colleague Peter Clewes have designed three towers on a low podium for the site. There will be an office tower to the north and two slim set-back condo towers, at 55 and 65 storeys respectively. This was our first look at the still fluid plans. As more details emerge, Lanterra will call a public meeting. YQNA has already suggested certain improvements and requests to be consulted about the use of Section 37* funding in our community.
* Section 37 of the Planning Act permits the City of Toronto to authorize increases in permitted height and/or density through the zoning bylaw in return for community benefits.
Simcoe finally connects
There is finally light at the end of tunnel of Simcoe Street after a 25-year delay (!) in opening up this important connection between the Waterfront and downtown. The $45-million project is a private and public partnership, and it will open up even more lands to be developed nearby. Simcoe is expected to be completed this spring.
Future Visions
The parking lot on York Street at Bremner - among the last open spaces in our neighbourhood - will be the site of three towers. The proposal shows two 55 and 65 storey condo towers, and an office tower of unknown height. Stay tuned, because we are meeting with the developer.
Any reader can be added to YQNA's mailing list and receive a couple of newsy emails a months, or return to www.yqna.ca.
Ulla Colgrass
Chair, YQNA
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