Yorkville condo and Queen’s Park battle it out

By

-

2:02 pm

While the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) ruled in favour of a condo project slated for the current Four Seasons site near the corner of Avenue Road and Bloor Street, the provincial Speaker of the house is heading to court in hopes of getting the decision overturned in order to preserve the unique presence of the historic Ontario legislature building in the city.

Speaker Steve Peters has the power to make decisions on behalf of the Ontario legislature. He sought grounds for an appeal of the OMB decision at divisional court last month, claiming the development of a 133-metre condo and a 127-metre condo (approximately 40-storeys and 42-storeys) at 21 Avenue Rd. would sully a culturally important vista. “In a nutshell, we didn’t agree with the decision that was made,” said Peters, regarding the action he is taking.

Representing the Speaker at the appeal was lawyer Orestes Pasparakis, who argued that errors were made during the OMB decision process. Firstly, Pasparakis said, the board should have considered specific city planning guidelines for the University of Toronto area that also apply to the legislature. Had this been done, he said, then the OMB would have had at its disposal specific policies that protect select heritage buildings and vistas. He also said the OMB should have picked a more southern location to view the legislature’s vista from, which would have made the potential condo obstruction more noticeable.

According to lawyer Chris Paliare, who represented condo developer Menkes at the grounds for appeal hearing, the OMB decision was a complicated one that included weighing many planning and policy guidelines. Paliare also noted that both the city planning department and the developer agreed with the OMB’s final decision.

Coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam said, while it’s unfortunate that the city’s work may go to waste, she agrees the legislature’s vista should be protected: “There has to be a sense of common purpose when it comes to preserving our cultural institutions, the historical institutions of our city."

Dunlap developer mounts OMB appeal

By

-

2:00 pm

0

Corsica Development Inc., owner of the David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) lands, has now appealed planning applications to permit low- and medium-density residential development to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). David Bronskill, a lawyer acting on behalf of Corsica, sent a letter to the Town of Richmond Hill shortly after the 180 days the municipality had to respond to such applications expired. A staff report is still pending, so the matter has yet to go before town council.

While he indicated his client’s continued willingness to work with the town, Bronskill cited a lack of progress as the impetus behind taking the plans to the OMB.

“Faced with near silence from town staff, an obvious site for appropriate infill development, and planning applications that are worthy of approval, our client has determined that it must appeal the applications … to move this matter forward,” he wrote.

DDO Defender Karen Cilevitz described the news as unfortunate.

“We sit in this limbo where we honestly do not know where our town stands and how our town is going to address this,” she said. “We remain in constant fear of what could happen to this property.”

The Richmond Hill Naturalists have already applied to be a party to the hearings.

Councillor Godwin Chan said he was surprised and disappointed to learn of the appeal, but he acknowledged the developer’s right to do so.

“This is not really respectful of the democratic process, whereby we, the elected officials, would be deliberating the issue and make the decision,” he said.

Chan stressed that there will be a public meeting regarding the applications, (hopefully early in the new year) since council will have to take a position after it receives the staff report.

At press time, no hearing dates had been scheduled at the OMB.

Buttonville out, redevelopment in

By

-

1:59 pm

0

Ongoing speculation about the fate of Buttonville Airport has now been confirmed. Flights out of the Markham-based terminal are expected to be grounded within the next five years to make way for recently announced redevelopment plans.

The continued viability of Buttonville Airport, owned and operated by the Sifton family since 1963, was called into question more than a year ago. In April of 2009, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority stopped a $1.6 million subsidy it had extended in exchange for coverage of overflow from Pearson Airport.

Derek Sifton, president of Toronto Airways Limited, said that efforts to secure replacement funding from other sources failed.

“All the levels of government have basically walked away from us,” he said.

As the private provider of a public service, Sifton said he made it known that Buttonville Airport’s future was ultimately at stake.

“Nobody came to the table, nobody wanted to help keep our facility open,” he said.

Faced with rising costs, among other issues, Sifton said it was time to go a different route and tap into the value of the site. He described the vision for redevelopment as a “town within a city.” With the plans, Sifton anticipates that more jobs will be created in the area than will be lost with the departure of the aviation hub.

“Collectively, we believe that what we’re about to embark on here is something really, really special,” he said.

Toronto Airways’ parent company, Armadale Co. Limited, has entered into a joint venture with real estate giant Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited to realize the site’s transformation.

In an e-mail, Heath Applebaum, a spokesperson for Cadillac Fairview, said the concept for the 170-acre site is to create a high-density, mixed-use development that may include condos, hotels, offices, restaurants and retail shops.

“We hope to make this very pedestrian friendly and built according to green sustainability standards,” said Applebaum.

Cadillac Fairview doesn’t expect it will require an official plan amendment for the proposed development but intends to submit a secondary plan application in the near future, he said. He added that he thinks it will be supported, as he believes the project will benefit the community.

Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman said he has concerns about Buttonville Airport’s impending closure. A big one is what will happen to the 350 aircraft and users that currently operate out of and rely on the facility as well as the impact it will have on trade. Shurman noted that the airport has been generating nearly $100 million in trade in recent years.

“I think it’s sad,” he said. “I think that Buttonville is a lifeline for York region.”

Shurman indicated that the airport had tried to get support from the federal and provincial governments through the infrastructure program.

“I think that some level of government should have seen to Buttonville’s needs,” he said.

It’s not necessarily the end for Buttonville Airport, though. Toronto Airways is also looking at relocating the terminal.

For Sifton, the federally-owned 18,600 acres in Markham, Pickering and Uxbridge known as Pickering Lands, would make the most sense. But he’s in talks with other municipalities, including Barrie, Oshawa and Peterborough.

Buttonville Airport will remain in operation until the redevelopment plans take shape, he said. And that will depend on getting the appropriate permissions in place.

No planning applications have been made to the Town of Markham at this time, as the project is still in the preliminary stages.

Downsview Park to add 630 housing units

By

-

1:58 pm

0

Nearly 16 years after the government announced plans for an urban park on the former military base, Downsview Park is bound for change.

Despite continued community concern, the Parc Downsview Park (PDP) board members are planning on formally submitting their proposal for 630 housing units to the Ontario Municipal Board in January. David Soknacki, PDP’s chair, said these additions, which include plans for further residential developments, shops and restaurants, are necessary in order for the park to sustain itself financially.

“I have not been able to identify one person in Downsview who supports this application as presented,” said Coun. Maria Augimeri. “They are so angry that the local MP allowed for the sale of public parkland, about half the park, and whenever I say ‘park,’ I put it in quotation marks because I don’t believe there ever was a park.”

Soknacki said they have no choice but to make an appeal because North York Community Council deferred the project indefinitely.

“The problem with PDP is that the federal government, when it donated the land, raised expectations to impossible heights while failing to clearly explain that development revenue from a portion of the property would have to be used to pay for the open space projects,” said urban affairs expert John Lorinc. “It was only several years in, after a long period of middling public space projects, that the PDP people started seriously talking about the development piece. And then the local communities went berserk.”

But Soknacki remains optimistic about the future of the park. “It’ll be a real investment in North York and in the Downsview area, not only in the construction and the jobs, but in terms of allowing us to continue creating this great national park. It’s absolutely essential. So once the dust settles it will be just wonderful for the local residents,” he said.

The Downsview Lands Community Voice Association will meet with ward councillors at their next monthly meeting to discuss their concerns.

Richmond Hill resident tries to slay TV dragons

By

-

1:57 pm

0

Richmond Hill resident Marina Campagna Portnoff and business partner Sharon Green recently tried to dust off a deal at the CBC’s Dragons’ Den with their personalized cleaning service, Maid to Order. The pair asked for $55,000 for a 33 per cent share in their less than two-year-old business to help them expand.

“It was very exciting to stand in front of the Dragons,” said Portnoff.

Although the business partners went home without a deal, they got helpful advice from Boston Pizza’s CEO, Jim Treliving. Rather than looking into franchising, he recommended a different route, she said.

“We’re actually working with a few people interested in licensing our name,” said Portnoff.

The editing didn’t really reflect their experience, she said, highlighting the most sensational six minutes of their 25-minute presentation. But she felt they represented themselves well and they accomplished their other goal of getting exposure. They also managed to pick up some new clients — producers and staff from the hit TV show.

Raw food restaurant arrives in Yorkville

By

-

12:38 pm

0

Rawlicious, the raw food bar that brings you dishes like pad Thai with kelp noodles and nut milk shakes, has opened a second location in Yorkville.

Owner Chelsea Clark says no changes are being made to the original menu, just a fresh, new location for the eatery in a neighborhood where, Clark says,“people care about what they’re putting into their body.”

The new location and the original spot on Dundas West are both available for holiday parties, plus they do catering.

Rawlicious is located at 20 Cumberland St., 416-646-0705.

Thursday in T.O.: Cdn. Tenors, 45 Books in 45 Minutes

By

-

12:26 pm

0

The snow is here and the holidays are fast approaching so get in the spirit of giving by taking a little time to give back to yourself. Here are PostCity.com’s picks for Thursday evening.

The Canadian Tenors

If you’re looking for a way to get into the festive mood, check out tonight’s concert, A Christmas To Remember, by The Canadian Tenors at the Sony Centre. The quartet, along with some friends, will be belting out their Christmas favourites in perfect harmony. Tickets start at $39.50.

Thursday, Dec. 2-3, 8 p.m., Sony Centre, 1 Front St. E., 416-872-2262

45 Books in 45 Minutes

In a presentation of about one book per minute, Ben McNally and Lynn Thompson, of Ben McNally Books, will describe the top 45 fiction and non-fiction titles of the season. Refreshments will be served – and you may even score some wine and cheese. Call the store to reserve a seat.

Thursday, Dec. 2. 6:30 p.m. Ben McNally Books, 366 Bay St. 416-361-0032

Low set to rise again at Lee's Palace

By

-

8:55 am

0

In 2000, legendary Toronto band Lowest of the Low reunited to play a concert at the Warehouse. The show sold out almost immediately, and as more dates were added, the little reunion show snowballed into a tour, then another, a live record and a new full-length album.

Although they have no plans for anything major this time around (FYI: they didn’t back then, either), the 20th anniversary of their first and most popular album, Shakespeare My Butt, was enough of an incentive for the band to get back into the rehearsal studio in preparation for two sold-out shows at Lee’s Palace this month, with more to come this spring.

“Every time we have a reason to come out of hiatus, we always have a little trepidation that this will be the time we hear the crickets in the background and everyone has forgotten who the band was,” says Ron Hawkins, who founded the band along with Steve Stanley and drummer David Alexander back in the early ’90s.

“And every time it’s great. I think it’s a testament to the fact that, when people became Low fans, they became fans for life in a way that doesn’t always happen. It really brings home to us that we built something cool.”

Before “the Low,” as they are affectionately known, Hawkins, Stanley and Alexander were known as Popular Front.The band was typical of the U2-influenced ’80s — big Bono hair, songs about politics and world events, and loads of attitude. But, according to Hawkins, it wasn’t working. “For the last year and a half only our girlfriends would come to our shows,” Hawkins says and laughs. “And not even to every show.”

After the band took a step back, went acoustic and started writing about what they saw on the streets around their east end Toronto homes, their flagging careers picked up momentum. Renaming the band Lowest of the Low completed the revival. And when Shakespeare My Butt was released, local radio station CFNY played the hell out of it and the band’s popularity skyrocketed, kickstarting a made-in-Toronto indie music renaissance.

The album — which Hawkins and Stanley admit is no great feat of production — is filled with songs that are smart, fun and infectious, written about the band’s Toronto haunts from the Carlaw Bridge to their beloved Only Café. The album went gold and is one of the best-selling independent releases ever released in Canada (next to the Barenaked Ladies’ first release, The Yellow Tape). Chart magazine dubbed the album one of the top ten in Canadian music history.

“Artistically, to date, on a sonic level, that is the worst sounding record we’ve ever made. It was small and boxy, but it is the most beloved record in our catalogue,” says Hawkins. “It just goes to show that the music is important: the vibe that you set up and what you’re trying to say.”

“As I go through life, on a weekly or monthly basis, strangers I meet tell me how much that record meant to them, and I can relate to that because we all have records like that,” says Stanley. “It must make you jump back a bit and say, ‘Wow.’ It is amazing that we had that kind of effect on people’s lives.”

New in the neighbourhood: Burger Cellar

By

-

3:59 pm

0

This is not your usual burger joint. For one, the concept pairs wines (not beer) with burgers. And the space is so far from being fast-foody that I feel a bit underdressed in my jeans.

The jawdroppingly knowledgeable and affable service elevates the experience even more, as do the thoughtful touches listed on the menu — homemade ketchup, say, and organic options.

As the moniker suggests, burgers are the focus of the menu, with three types of hand-packed beef patties — AAA black Angus, natural (Ontario Pine Valley Farms raised without hormones or antibiotics), or Kobe — gussied up in seven assemblies, plus one for vegetarians.

In the Hog Town, two strips of apple-cider bacon and melting aged white cheddar drape over a cooked-medium-rare, succulent natural beef patty ($9 or $8/black Angus or $14/Kobe).

Whole chickpeas and whole red kidney beans stud a patty made of puréed pumpkin, peppers, zucchini, cream cheese, spinach and onion in the vegetarian burger ($9). Deep-frying the patty gives it a falafel feel and taste, made thankfully lighter with the topping of freshly diced avocado and tomato, plus crumbles of good goat cheese.

Those who are fed up with the whole burger fad have choices, too, as in a grilled four-cheese sandwich, rare seared ahi tuna tacos, steak frites, sweet-chili chicken and greek salad.

Nine side dishes round out burgers and sandwiches. Sweet potato fries knock our socks off ($5): just-crisp-enough and with a dusting of salty-sweet. Slices of sweet vine-ripened tomatoes and slabs of quality fior de latte alternate in a tumbled tower under fresh basil leaves and judiciously drizzled balsamic and olive oil, plus dribbles of pesto sauce in Emma’s caprese salad ($8).

The concept — which takes a ubiquitous theme (the burger trend) and steps things up a notch, by pairing it with wine and by serving patrons in a sophisticated-feeling room — suits the Lawrence Park neighborhood to a T.

Burger Cellar, 3391 Yonge St., 647-345-0084

Mother & daughter bake it to the limit

By

-

2:34 pm

0

THE BREAD WINNER
PETITE THUET, 1162 YONGE ST.

The “tap factor” is what Haynes and Connell look for in a croissant — that is, the way the shell of a great pastry will shatter when tapped. So when mother and daughter start tapping away like journalists on deadline, we’re not too surprised. The tap factor for Petit Thuet’s winning pastry, a traditional six-fold design that takes 24 hours to make, is high.

“Golden brown with a nice shine, and there’s a nice flakiness to it,” says Connell, who studied at the Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Haynes notes the nuanced transition from the crunchy, crispy shell to the moist interior and finally the rich, dark Callebaut chocolate at the core. “You can feel the layers in between. I really like this one,” she says.

Price: $2.75

FIRST RUNNER-UP

Patisserie La Cigogne 1626 Bayview Ave.

Haynes pulls at a corner, and the chocolate croissant unravels like a spool. “Ooh, I really like how it unfurls like that. There’s a good buttery taste and a little sweetness in the chocolate,” she says. Connell adores the light pastry and dark 44 per cent French chocolate.

Price: $2.10

BUTTER ME UP

La Bamboche 4 Manor Road E.

“It’s flaky, really flaky,” says Connell, but it doesn’t have that “buttery lusciousness” they’re looking for. They find the 55 per cent dark French chocolate better than La Cigogne’s and the snail-shell spiral gives it a nice appearance, but overall it’s not enough to steal second place.

Price: $2.50

HEY, GOOD COOKING

Patachou 1120 Yonge St.

“It’s like meeting someone who is goodlooking, and they turn out to be not very nice,” says Haynes, who loves the appearance — “this was sheeted by someone who knows what they’re doing” — but is disappointed by the “overworked” dough.

Price: $2.10

D’OUGH!

Grodzinski Bakery 1118 Centre Street, Unit 3

This sizable croissant with semi-sweet chocolate chips seems more like bread than pastry. “This is a real tragedy,” says Haynes. “Whoever made this should go back to pastry school, if they ever went.” “Do you smell the artificial vanilla flavour?” asks Connell.

Price: $1.85

If money were no object

By

-

2:09 pm

0

FIRST PLACE: PURSE DE RÉSISTANCE

HERMÈS “KELLY” FRAMBOISE HANDBAG $7,500; CHANEL PLEATED SILK STOLE $505

“Some of these handbags are just irresistible,” says Beker. “You just want to eat them up!” Though choosing her favourite bag of the bunch wasn’t an easy task, Beker ultimately settled on this stunning Hermès “Kelly” piece — and paired it with a luscious Chanel scarf. “It’s expensive … but it’s a forever piece,” she says of the bag, “the kind of thing you can pass down to your daughters.”

Where to get it: (handbag) Hermès Boutique, 130 Bloor St. West; (scarf) Chanel Boutique, 131 Bloor St. West

HANDBAG HEAVEN

CHANEL MESSENGER BAG $2,525 SALVATORE FERRAGNO SCARF $325

“Nobody knows how to make an elegant little bag like Chanel,” says Beker. “This one is classic, with a twist. This caramel-toffee colour is very luscious; it looks fantastic with black.”

Where to get it: (bag) Chanel Boutique; (scarf) Holt Renfrew, 50 Bloor St. West

CLUTCH PLAYER

PRADA CROSS-BODY CLUTCH $1,045 PASTEL HERMES SCARF $420

“We always love a little Prada,” says Beker. This [bag has] a great hot pink colour. This is a very classy little piece that’s wonderful for evening, especially.”

Where to get it: (bag and scarf) Holt Renfrew

BAG-TASTIC

HERMÈS FICELLE BIRKIN $23,600 HERMÈS SILK SCARF $420

“The pièce de résistance has to be this incredible little Hermès bag,” says Beker. “This demands a moment of silent reverence … but you could feed a whole village for a year for the price of this handbag.”

Where to get it: Hermès Boutique

ALL-STAR CARRYALL

BURBERRY HANDBAG $1,595 CHRISTIAN LACROIX SCARF $360

“Burberry has been making such a great statement these past seasons. There’s a classic feel to this bag — you could fit your life in a bag like this!”

Where to get it: (bag and scarf) Andrews, Bayview Village

TOTE-ALLY RAD

GUCCI COGNAC TOTE $1,295 GUCCI SILK SCARF $355

“This great Gucci bag is very functional,” says Beker. “You can fit a lot of stuff in this bag! I like the fact that it has a longer strap … it’s very roomy, very sporty. And lots of fun.”

Where to get it: (bag) Gucci Boutique, 50 Bloor St. West; (scarf) Holt Renfrew

SACK IT TO ME BABY

VALENTINO PETALE HOBO $1,365 ECHO SCARF $85

“For those of you who really want to dazzle, and who really love the ultra-feminine, you’re going to love this bag,” says Beker. “The leather is so fine … it’s incredibly chic.”

Where to get it: Where to get it: Holt Renfrew, Yorkdale Mall

Jeanne Beker is the host and segment producer of Canada’s leading fashion series FashionTelevision. Catch her Sunday nights at 5:30 p.m. ET on CTV or visit www.FashionTelevision.com

Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman

By

-

12:54 pm

0

DONOR Gerry Schwartz and Heather Reisman

TITLE CEO, Onex Corp., and CEO, Chapters Indigo.

GIFT Lead gift for Schwartz/Reisman Centre

Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman will see their names on the newest development within the UJA’s most ambitious undertaking yet, the sprawling Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Jewish Community Campus, located on fifty acres at Bathurst and Rutherford.

The local husband-and-wife power couple is better known by their business credentials than by their names: Schwartz was a cofounder of CanWest and, later, the private equity investment firm Onex Corporation, and Reisman is the founder and Chief Executive of Indigo Books.They were the lead donors for the new phase of the site’s development project.

According to the UJA, the 100,000 square foot facility will include recreational, educational and social resources.

“The Schwartz/Reisman Centre, at the heart of this amazing [Joseph and Wolf Lebovic] campus, will be a resource—a beacon—for community members of all ages and interests,” Schwartz said in a statement earlier this year.

THE BREAD WINNER PETITE THUET, 1162 YONGE ST.