The Upper Avenue Fall Festival is back—and bigger and better than ever!
Join the celebration on Saturday, October 3, from 10 AM to 4 PM for a full day of family fun, entertainment, shopping, food and community spirit! This year’s much-anticipated neighbourhood street fair is proudly presented by the new Upper Avenue BIA, carrying on the beloved tradition started several years ago by Deputy Mayor Mike Colle.
This year’s festival promises even more to enjoy, with exciting new kids’ shows, expanded activity areas and festivities stretching into both the north and south portions of the BIA. And don’t miss the Fall Sidewalk Sale, where you’ll find great deals and fantastic finds from our local shops and businesses. Bring the whole family and make a day of it in Upper Avenue!
Ontario’s Data Centre Playbook
On August 13, the Ontario government released the framework for its proposed Data Centre Playbook (PDF), a provincial tool intended to guide how data centre projects are evaluated and approved for connection to Ontario’s electricity grid. The framework is part of Ontario’s broader effort to attract investment, strengthen digital sovereignty, and support AI-driven economic growth.
Also read the Citizen’s Guide linked HERE from the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives.
3180 YONGE STREET – DEVELOPER AGAIN APPLYING TO INCREASE BUILDING DENSITY
The saga continues… First, BPRO and LPRO went through a lengthy and onerous settlement hearing before the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) in 2022 to reach a settlement with the developer resulting in an 11-storey condominium.
The developer subsequently made an application in 2024 to the City to increase the building height to 14 storeys and the number of units. Despite resident objections, including from BPRO, and the City’s refusal, the developer appealed to the OLT, which gave its blessing.
Now again the developer is seeking changes, appealing to the Committee of Adjustment to increase the number of storeys to 15 although maintaining the same height. More importantly, the units will change from condominiums to rentals and there will be 77 more, going from 80 to 157.
We will keep you posted when a date before the Committee of Adjustment is known.
Want a More Comfortable Home?
Want to make your home more comfortable AND more energy efficient? The world of environmentally friendly and cost-effective home energy solutions is changing fast, and sometimes it’s hard to keep track! BPRO member Marjorie Nichol is working with the city to put people in touch with home retrofit advisors.
If you are interested in an ABSOLUTELY FREE telephone consultation with a highly qualified home energy advisor, please contact Marjorie Nichol at 416-433-7085 (text is fine, but feel free to call her if you want) or by email at marjorienichol@hotmail.ca (NOT .com!). Do feel free to call or email Marjorie if you have any questions.
BEDFORD PARK HAS REACHED A NEW HIGH
The first home in the Bedford Park neighbourhood with 3 storeys built ABOVE a garage is now under construction at 249 Elm Road. The FSI is over 1.2 – more than double the allowable 0.6 maximum which was approved unanimously by the Committee of Adjustment as a minor variance.
A plan for a house of similar scale at 251 Elm Road went before the Committee of Adjustment earlier in the spring, where it was defeated unanimously. The owner returned in June with minor revisions and the plan was defeated again, this time 3–2. Inconsistent decisions by the Committee of Adjustment as to what constitutes a minor variance have left neighbours unsettled.
A Multiplex zoning policy was put in place in Toronto in 2024 to address the city’s housing shortage and the Province’s Bill 60 allows variances as of right for new builds and promotes larger buildings near subway stations.
While we all support more affordable housing options, there is nothing to stop a builder from using these permissions to just build bigger one-family houses.
Oversized homes overwhelm the lots on which they are built and the homes around them. Lawns and gardens are sacrificed and neighbouring properties are overshadowed by towering walls, light is obstructed, and privacy is diminished with decks and balconies that look down on adjacent backyards.
The increasing size of infill homes in the Bedford Park neighbourhood threatens to have a dramatic, permanent and negative impact on our neighbourhood.
Helpful links:
Notice of Motion: Clarifying the Distinction Between Duplexes and Secondary Suites