E-newsletter 26 November 2020 http://www.lyttonparkro.ca/

The Lytton Park Residents’ Organization (LPRO) is an incorporated non-profit association, representing member households from West to Roselawn and Briar Hill Avenues, to Saguenay and Proudfoot Avenue. We care about protecting and advancing the community’s interests and fostering a sense of neighbourhood in our area. We work together to make our community stronger, sharing information about our community issues and events. “Together we do make a difference!”

LPRO’s E-Newsletter - Sign Up! If you don’t already receive the LPRO E-Newsletter and would like to receive it directly, please register your email address at www.lyttonparkro.ca/newsletter-sign-up or send us an email to [email protected]. Please share this newsletter with neighbours!

LPRO Membership - Time to renew or join for 2021 As a non- profit organization run by community volunteers, we rely on your membership to cover our costs to advocate for the community, provide newsletters, lead an annual community yard sale and a ravine clean-up, organize speaker events and host election candidate debates. Please join or renew your membership. The membership form and details on how to pay the $30 annual fee are on the last page of this newsletter or on our web site at http://www.lyttonparkro.ca/ . Thankyou for your support.

Lytton Park Volunteers Welcome! Interested in connecting to your local community and having positive local impact? Become an LPRO volunteer!

Opportunities include newsletter and website contributor, photographer, local historian, event organizer, issue advocate (e.g. bicycling, greening Lytton Park). We also welcome those who would like to share their expertise in urban planning. For more information, contact [email protected], with Volunteer in the subject line.

Newsletter Content - We are always on the lookout for interesting material for the LPRO newsletter. If you have suggestions/ideas, please send them to [email protected], with Newsletter in the subject line.

Duplex Parkette to Butterfly Park

From Councillor Mike Colle’s Newsletter:

“I am working with the Lytton Park Residents Organization and the community to rename the Duplex Parkette (2906 Yonge Street at Chatsworth) to Butterfly Park. This would align with the Healing Garden planted within the park where Bereaved Families of - hosts their annual Butterfly Release where butterflies are released in memory of lost loved ones.”

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 1 Speed Cameras by Allenby School on Avenue Rd

From Councillor Mike Colle’s Newsletter:

“After years of waiting, the Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) program came into effect in July and is now issuing tickets to speeding drivers. I have long been a proponent of ASE to increase road safety, reduce speeding, and raise awareness about the need to slow down. One month following the start of issuing tickets, the speed cameras issued a total of over 22,000 tickets. Currently there are 50 cameras installed city-wide on local, collector and arterial roads in Community Safety Zones near schools and each ward has two ASE cameras. I look forward to one of our Ward 8 cameras being placed by Allenby Junior Public School.”

Roehampton Shelter Update

As outlined in the previous Shelter Updates, the City has formed a Community Liaison Committee (CLC) for the Roehampton Shelter to improve communication and support a smooth integration of the shelter into the community. LPRO is a member of the CLC. The Terms of Reference, meeting summaries, and Community Bulletins (including the latest bulletin, dated October 27, 2020) can be found here: Community Engagement for Roehampton Residence – City of Toronto

Through its participation on the CLC, LPRO will continue to monitor developments and report to the community.

SHOPPING IN THE UPTOWN YONGE BIA DURING LOCKDOWN With the news of the recent lockdowns taking place in Toronto, our local BIA shops are doing their utmost to stay afloat and keep providing us with their products and services. Where possible, whether it’s permitted for in-store shopping or online curb-side pickup or delivery, we should be shopping locally and supporting those who help make our community a better place for us to live.

The Holiday Bonus e-Gift Card has SOLD OUT. Thanks to all the LPRO residents who purchased a card. Any balance left on your e-card does not expire + can be redeemed at any of the businesses listed at http://www.uptownyonge.com/uptown-yonge-e-gift- card/

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 2 Yonge & Alexandra Blvd. - Proposed Development

A Preliminary Report was prepared by City Planning and presented to Community Council on November 4. The purpose of a preliminary report is to outline the proposal, existing policies, and to begin the process of setting up a community consultation meeting. No decisions have been made with regard to the proposal. LPRO submitted a letter to North York Community Council outlining our preliminary concerns. The Developer is required to provide 10% of the site as parkland to expand the adjacent Park. The building should include adequate setbacks and step-backs. Given that the proposal includes 127 units, LPRO would like to see a vehicular drop-off area on the Developer’s site to mitigate traffic issues on Alexandra Blvd. We have also noted the height of the building as a concern. LPRO will provide details about the community consultation once a date has been confirmed.

3180 - 3202 Yonge Street at Woburn - Proposed Development

East side viewed from Yonge and Woburn Rear (West) side facing the neighbourhood

This site is located on the west side of Yonge Street and includes all properties between Bedford Park Avenue and Woburn Avenue with the exception of the TD Bank on the northwest corner of Bedford Park Avenue. The site is currently occupied by 12, 2-storey buildings with independent retail on the first level and a mix of commercial and residential uses on the second level.

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 3

A proposal was submitted by NYX Yonge LP on November 4, 2020 to construct a 12-storey building. The building would include 5 retail units on the ground floor and 109 residential units on floors 2-12. The building would be 46.1m in height. While the proposal is 12 storeys, it will appear taller as it includes very tall ceiling heights and a full mechanical level above floor 12. The proposed building would include 91 underground parking spaces exiting onto a private easement-encumbered laneway at the rear with access to Bedford Park Avenue and Woburn Avenue.

LPRO has submitted a letter to the Planner and Councillor Colle, expressing concern with the proposed development. The proposal would be much taller than any buildings north of Lawrence and exceeds the height permitted by the Mid-Rise Guidelines by 70%. The rear of the building does not appropriately scale down towards the adjacent neighbourhood and it is too close to the rear/west lot line shared with Blessed Sacrament Catholic School. The building would result in a 12-storey wall with balconies looking west down into backyards on Woburn Avenue. The proposal will result in substantial shadow impacts on the neighbourhood. The upper storeys do not adequately terrace back from Yonge Street, giving the impression of a large slab. We believe this proposal suffers from many of the same issues as the development LPRO is currently opposing at 2908 Yonge Street and would create a negative precedent for the Yonge Street corridor. For these reasons, LPRO does not support the development in its current form.

LPRO is working with the local resident group for the subject site, the Bedford Park Residents’ Organization, and has reached out to other resident associations in the Yonge-Lawrence Area to oppose the current proposal and request changes.

Avenue Road and Lawrence Ave W (NE Corner) Development Update

A virtual community meeting was held on October 22. The meeting consisted of a presentation by City Planning and the Developer’s consultants. This was followed by an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions or comment on the proposal. Questions were raised about the absence of required parkland from the proposal, driveway access issues, and the height and step-backs of the proposal. There are numerous issues with the current proposal. LPRO will continue working with neighbouring resident groups, City Planning, Councillor Colle’s Office and the Developer to advocate for changes to the proposal. Given that the City has requested an on-site parkland dedication of approximately 1,470m2 and none is currently proposed, revisions to the proposal are inevitable.

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 4 Expand winter sidewalk snow clearing across all of Toronto Motion before City Council November 26th

Councillor Josh Matlow’s motion before the City Council meeting of November 26th, was adopted 24 to 1. Councillors Matlow and Layton worked closely with Mayor Tory to receive the support of nearly all of the councillors. Thank you to all the residents who contacted the Mayor and Councillors regarding this motion. The aim was to expand winter sidewalk snow clearing across all of Toronto, including our Midtown neighbourhood. During this pandemic winter, it is important for our residents to be able to walk safely without risking a slip-and-fall injury that could land them in the hospital. After snowfalls, sidewalks are often a slippery, treacherous patchwork of uncleared and icy sidewalks. This impacts seniors, families with strollers, people in wheelchairs or with mobility devices, people walking to transit or to our struggling businesses. This impacts not only local residents, but also visitors from other parts of the city, employees and service workers like mail carriers. Expanding City sidewalk clearing across the entire city would help to prevent slip-and-fall injuries from putting added pressure on our hospitals during the COVID pandemic when more people are walking than ever before. It would also save the city from spending some of the $7.5M it pays annually to settle slip-and-fall lawsuits. The motion approved by City Council is that: 1. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to seek and implement measures to increase the snow clearing sidewalk pilot for this winter, including the possibility of obtaining more equipment and stretching the hours of service. 2. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the December 2, 2020 meeting of the Toronto and Community Council with the streets that will receive sidewalk snow clearing during the 2020-2021 winter season, the rationale for not providing full sidewalk clearing harmonization, if applicable, and a path forward to full harmonization for the 2021-2022 winter season for City Council's consideration.

trying not to slip Duplex behind Green P lot Rosewell - dragging baby carriage over hardened snow

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 5 Councillor Colle’s Motion: Request to get Bike Lanes in Midtown along Yonge Street

At the City Council October 27th meeting, Councillor Colle’s motion was overwhelmingly passed with a vote of 19-3! The Motion directs City staff to consider and explore a temporary bikeway along Yonge St or parallel streets, from Bloor St. to Lawrence Ave. The motion addresses a need for a north/south route through Midtown and connecting with the Bloor Street cycle tracks. It would provide a safe option for commuting and shopping along Yonge, rather than using the overcrowded subway line or increasing car traffic.

Similar cycle tracks have been installed downtown as part of the ActiveTO program and in conjunction with CafeTO. The additional cycle tracks on Bloor West, The Danforth, and Central Bloor are good examples of a win-win for both commuters and businesses.

The City study will be reviewing the street design in conjunction with on-street patios, road safety and traffic- calming measures, and other streetscape improvements identified through consultation with local residents and businesses along Yonge over this coming winter. If approved the temporary bikeway would be implemented by the second quarter of 2021.

LPRO will be advising when and how the consultations will take place so you can have your voice heard regarding this important initiative.

Bike Related Articles:

From the Toronto Star: Yonge St. bike lane would prove hugely popular

From Bloomberg: How the ‘15-Minute City’ Could Help Post-Pandemic Recovery

Winter Bike Riding Tips

Great winter cycling tips from CycleTO: https://www.cycleto.ca/winter-riding-tips

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 6 The Future of Ontario Place

Insightful video discussing the past and future role of Ontario Place, by Ken Greenberg: https://www.yo,utube.com/watch?v=yWIdspbYZFo

Future Role of Conservation Authorities Under Fire

From Ontario Nature: “On November 5, the Government of Ontario revealed its plans to severely curtail the role of Conservation Authorities in watershed planning and management. Schedule 6 of omnibus Budget Bill 229 proposes numerous changes to the Conservation Authorities Act (CAA) that will undermine efforts to conserve biodiversity and build community resilience to climate change.

The vital role of our Conservation Authorities in watershed-based land use planning and permitting must be retained to prevent unchecked development that puts communities at risk from flooding and other climate change impacts through loss of wetlands, woodlands and farmland.

Given how quickly Bill 229 is likely to move through the Legislature, we need to act together – quickly and decisively.”

We need to call on the government to retain the current mandate of the Province’s 36 Conservation Authorities. Please join Ontario Nature in asking the government to withdraw Schedule 6, in its entirety, from Bill 229

TTC has the largest fleet of electric buses in North America!

The TTC now has 60 battery-electric buses in service. In addition to having the largest fleet of eBuses in North America, the TTC is the only agency with vehicles from all three builders of long-range electric buses — BYD Canada, New Flyer Industries and Proterra. Learn more here.

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 7 A Brief History of Lawns

Why do lawns enjoy such widespread popularity? Although they demand constant maintenance to look their best, they attract neither butterflies, birds, nor other wildlife nor do they provide food.

Lawns originated in the Middle Ages, when French and English aristocrats began tending carefully cropped patches of grass at their castle entrances.

According to Yuval Hariri in his book Homo Deus, “You could even assess a nobleman's wealth by looking at his lawn: if a lawn was massive and well kept, it indicated a powerful family.... If …in bad shape, the nobleman was probably broke.”

Feudal barons used lawns for sports and cut down trees around their castles so intruders were easier to see. These lawns evolved into Turfgrass “greens” for tennis & croquet courts and putting greens. The elite raised livestock on vast grasslands, maintained by servants. Only a few could afford to hire people to scythe and weed their grass. By mid-17th century England, only rich landowners had lawns that were a monoculture of short, manicured grass.

Wealthy North American settlers modeled their estates’ landscapes on the manor lawns of British aristocracy, bestowing an image of wealth and power since a team of servants was necessary to maintain these extensive lawns.

North American lawn history was also heavily impacted by settlement agriculture which first required clearing vast amounts of forests for farms and, later, destroyed the perennial, diverse eco-systems of the vast grasslands. By 1890, mass-produced push mowers made lawns affordable to the general public and lawns became middle-class status symbols. Joseph Lessler of Buffalo patented the underground sprinkler in 1871, making lawn care easier. Today, intense industry marketing reinforces widespread public embrace of lawns.

Fake Grass vs Real Grass Lawns vs Natural Landscapes

Fake grass is sometimes touted as the panacea for a perfect lawn that needs no watering nor mowing. Fake grass, however, is not environmentally sound. The environmental drawbacks of fake grass are outlined in Toronto Public Health’s 2015 Report, Health Impact Assessment of the Use of Artificial Turf in Toronto .

Issues with fake grass include:

1) most synthetic lawns are made with non- renewable petroleum 2) insects and birds are deprived of beneficial habitat 3) it does not absorb carbon dioxide and does not release oxygen to perform photosynthesis 4) natural rainwater is prevented from flowing naturally to trees and plants 5) heat emanates to the surroundings rather than having a cooling effect 6) contaminants may be released into the ground water or air

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 8 The Toronto Public Health’s April 2015 Report states: “Some of the major ecosystem benefits provided by natural surfaces include: rainwater entrapment, retention and water recharge; climate regulation; soil building capacity; oxygen generation; carbon sequestration; and absorbing pollutants from the air ….. Natural surfaces also provide a habitat for insects and other organisms. Artificial turf on the other hand, does not have these ecological benefits and provides no organic biodiversity due to its compacted base structure. Artificial turf can also compromise tree development.” and

“… a study done for Upper Canada College when it installed its artificial turf field estimated that the total GHG emissions from the manufacturing, transporting, installing, maintaining and disposing of a 9,000 square meter artificial turf field over a 10-year period would emit 55.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide while the construction and maintenance of a natural grass field of the same size was would remove 16.9 tonnes of carbon dioxide ….The study estimated that 1,861 trees would need to be planted to achieve a 10-year carbon-neutral artificial turf field at this site.”

Real grass lawns are also not environmentally ideal.

According to the Audubon Society’s Four Tips for a Climate-Friendly Yard “Tidy turfgrasses might be fixtures of the American landscape, but ecologically speaking, they're bad news. For all the water, gasoline, and chemicals we use to keep our lawns looking fancy, they provide little value for wildlife and contribute to our overall carbon output.”

On new building sites, plant assemblages native to the neighborhood are often bulldozed over and replaced with large, manicured lawns that are bordered by a relatively few species of popular ornamentals from other continents. The native plant diversity that historically supported our favorite birds and mammals is decimated.

Natural landscaping with plants that attract pollinators is the ideal environmental solution. The City of Toronto’s Ravine, Biodiversity and Pollinator Strategies recommends that we grow plants that attract pollinators such as birds, bees, and butterflies. So ingrained is the status symbol of a perfect lawn, that many municipalities reinforce the acceptance of lawns with ordinances penalizing those who have replaced their lawns with native plants. Growing awareness of climate change, however, is altering the status quo.

The Washington Post: Rethinking the Nature of Nature Meet Ecologists Who Wants to Unleash Wild Backyard: “Envision your property, biologist Doug Tallamy writes, ‘as one small piece of a giant puzzle, which, when assembled, has the potential to form a beautiful ecological picture.’”

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 9 Online Public Forum – Long Term Care, November 30th

For information and meeting details, visit https://www.joshmatlow.ca/longtermcareforum

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 10 BetterHomesTO Program

From the BetterHomesTO Team:

“City of Toronto program - BetterHomesTO was created by the City to help homeowners take steps to improve the comfort and efficiency of their homes and reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change.

Why is that important? Because improving the energy efficiency of their homes may be the biggest thing residents can do to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Homes and buildings generate about half of the GHG emissions in Toronto today.

BetterHomesTO offers a one-stop website (BetterHomesTO.ca) that makes it easy for residents to find information, tips and resources to help them take action. At BetterHomesTO.ca, Toronto residents can: • learn about the top 15 home energy improvements that can help them decarbonize, save energy and reduce their energy bills – everything from air sealing, smart thermostats, and air source heat pumps to solar panels and more • watch videos of a recent webinar series featuring experts that explore the home energy upgrades that make Toronto homes more comfortable, healthy and climate-friendly • find rebates and incentives available from multiple sources • apply for a low-interest loan to cover the cost of their home energy retrofit through the City’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) • find out how an EnerGuide home evaluation can help them identify where their home is losing energy”

City of Toronto to more than double its supply of winter park washrooms

Most of the City's park washrooms are not winterized. Given the resurgence of COVID-19 in Toronto and the increased need for access to outdoor space through the winter months, staff have determined that an additional 28 park washrooms can be kept open. These additional locations were inspected to ensure they can remain open without damage to the infrastructure, and in some cases minor retrofits were made to support winter use. The expanded locations include washrooms at golf courses, fieldhouses and stadiums that are not normally kept open through winter months. Additionally, portable toilets will be deployed to 51 high-use locations where winter activities will occur. Snow clearing will be provided at all winter washroom locations in parks.

Washrooms will be also be available at 47 outdoor rinks once the season begins in late-November, weather dependent. The increase of 79 new locations brings the total number of washrooms available from 64 to 143.

The City maintains 187 park washrooms. Most are closed by Thanksgiving weekend. Seasonal washrooms were not designed or constructed for winter use. Generally, they lack insulated plumbing and sufficient electrical for heating of the building. They must be closed in advance of winter to avoid temperatures that would result in water pipes freezing and bursting.

Winter accessible public washrooms are also available in community recreation centres, libraries and City-owned buildings throughout Toronto. The City is working to post a comprehensive list and map of locations on the City’s website.

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 11 COVID

Visit the City of Toronto web site https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/ for new information and resources.

COVID ALERT APP From the Federal web site: “Together, let's limit the spread of COVID-19 and prevent future outbreaks. COVID Alert helps us break the cycle of infection. The app can let people know of possible exposures before any symptoms appear.”

COVID 2020 QUOTES:

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 12 On-street Electric Vehicle Charging Station Pilot

City of Toronto News Release - November 7, 2020: Mayor John Tory announced today that the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro have officially launched the new on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging station pilot across the city.

The new 12-month pilot, delivered in partnership with Toronto Hydro, sees 17 on-street EV charging stations – made possible by Toronto Hydro through an agreement with charge station manufacturer FLO – installed and activated for public use at locations around the city.

On-street stations have been installed and activated in the following neighbourhood parking permit locations: • Alton Avenue near East (two charging stations) • Bowmore Road near Eastwood Road (one charging station) • Mountjoy Avenue near Gillard Avenue (two charging stations) • Palmerston Avenue near Queen Street West (two charging stations) • Shaw Street near Dundas Street West (two charging stations) • Westlake Avenue near Oakcrest Avenue (two charging stations) Stations have also been installed and activated at three other locations, including two downtown sites: • Commissioners Street near Carlaw Avenue (two charging stations) • Elizabeth Street near Foster Place (two charging stations) • Wellington Street West near Clarence Square (two charging stations)

The charging station parking spots are open to all electric vehicle owners with a “Level 2” connection on their vehicle. Overnight, when permit parking regulations are in effect, only permit holders with an electric vehicle that is actively being charged (plugged in) can park in these spots. Users will be charged a rate to charge their electric vehicle. Toronto Hydro, in agreement with the City of Toronto, established the EV charging rates, which are competitive with the cost of other public charging stations in Toronto.

To use the stations, EV drivers can quickly register for an account online with FLO, Canada’s Largest EV charging network. Once signed up, users can download the app and order a FLO card that they will use to activate the station and charge their vehicle.

Locations were selected because they have enough capacity for dedicated EV parking spots which allowed for easy installation with minimal disruption to pedestrians and the community. In total, 11 residential parking permit spots in three City wards have been allocated for use by electric vehicles that are charging.

More Toronto residents than ever before own electric vehicles. In 2018, more than 6,200 EVs were registered in Toronto compared to just 1,600 EVs in 2016, and that number continues to increase. In a poll conducted in preparation for the pilot, 71 per cent of residents who participated were likely to purchase an EV in the next five years, and more said that they would consider purchasing EVs if charging stations were available.

The pilot will be measured against a variety of information including usage data, feedback from electric vehicle owners who use the stations, and feedback from the community.

In 2019, Toronto City Council voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency and adopted a stronger emissions reduction target: net zero by 2050 or sooner. The EV charging station pilot is one of many initiatives that will help the City advance that goal. More about the EV Charging Stations Pilot and locations at torontohydro.com/evcharging

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 13 Together We DO Make a Difference

At Eglinton St. George’s Church - Lytton & Duplex

As Seen in the Hood

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 14 Lytton Park Residents’ Organization Annual Membership $30.00 per household Join or Renew For 2021!

We encourage you to become a member or to renew your membership with Lytton Park Residents’ Organization, especially if you care about protecting and advancing the community’s interests and fostering a sense of neighbourhood in our area. LPRO’s membership year extends from January to December, so it is time to renew your membership for 2021. Your support helps us vigorously represent our shared neighbourhood interests. Our collective voice has an impressive impact and effectiveness in matters affecting our community. Thank you for your continued membership support. It is pivotal for our representative credibility and funding needs. There are approximately 3,000 households in the Lytton Park area. Thank you in advance for supporting your community. Ways to Join or Renew: 1) MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO Lytton Park Residents’ Organization Inc. and mail it with the completed form below to “Lytton Park Residents’ Organization Inc., MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 1348, 2708 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4P 3J4”; 2) or even easier - donate via Credit Card/PayPal: visit http://www.lyttonparkro.ca/join-volunteer-donate; or 3) Cheques with this form can also be dropped off at 235 Glenview Avenue. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2021 Membership Form - Membership Type: New / Renewal

Name: ______Date: ______

Address: ______Home Phone: ______

Email Address 1: ______Other Phone: ______

Email Address 2: ______

I would like more information about the LPRO: Yes/No

I am available as a community volunteer: Yes/No

I would like to help in the following areas: ______

Comments: ______

Questions? Email us at [email protected] Together, we DO make a difference!

LPRO E-Newsletter – 26 November 2020 15