Interim Control By-Law In Force For Bathurst Street

This landed in my inbox yesterday, from Councillor Vaughan's office:
"Today at City Hall, Councillor Mike Layton and I moved an Interim Control By-Law covering both sides of Bathurst Street.
This move, the most powerful planning control available to the city, is aimed at stopping certain types of development applications from Queen Street to Dupont Street while the Bathurst Street study is underway. Most critically, it will stop any new big box applications (even as-of-right applications) while the planning study does its work.
The move is not aimed specifically at any particular property, nor will it necessarily apply to any active application currently in hand at the city. The motion can be viewed online here:
2013.MM37.70 - Bathurst Street - Interim Control By-law - Final Report - by Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Adam Vaughan
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.MM37.70
The Bathurst Street Study is critical to the future of the neighbourhoods that line both sides of the street as it moves south from Dupont Street. In particular, it will give us time to understand the major intersections where transit lines cross. The Interim Control By-law will give us the time needed to stop applications while new and updated rules are developed for the corridor.
In addition to this move at City Council, Councillor Layton and I have been working with City staff to bring forward a proposal to hold a community consultation explicitly focussed on the intersection of Bathurst and Bloor. Recent news coverage of the future of Honest Ed's makes this decision to focus City Planning's attention on these four corners critically important.
As in all planning exercises in Ward 20, local residents, neighbourhood organizations, and area businesses will be gathered to proactively engage the challenges. Details of the meeting will be announced shortly.
Sincerely,
Adam"

So, people, if the future face of Bathurst -- and Bathurst/Bloor in particular -- is important to you, I suggest that you sign up for Councillor Vaughan's updates and have your say. When it counts.

Cheers,
Vanessa

Black History Month

February is Black History Month and there will be a slew of celebrations, displays and events to mark it. The city of Toronto also has events planned.
Hogtown's archives hold some interesting artifacts and the webpage write up succinctly explains the origins of our strong black history.
"Toronto has had a Black population from its earliest days as a settlement. United Empire Loyalists, Americans escaping enslavement, rural Canadians moving from Nova Scotia or southwestern Ontario, Jamaicans following economic opportunities, Somalis and Ghanaians establishing themselves in a new land; each individual and each community has contributed to the growth of Toronto as a unique city."
I mention it on this Blog because Bathurst Street, our area's western boundary, has "always been part of Black life in T.O."
Cheers,
Vanessa

John's Italian Restaurant on Bathurst

A question today: I walked past John's Italian Restaurant on the west side of Bathurst, south of Dupont, yesterday and noticed it for the first time.
Has anyone tried it? Or know anything about it? The menu looked interesting.
Cheers,

Vanessa

Fire on Bathurst Street

Were you woken up early this a.m. by seemingly endless sirens?
This is all I can find about it online:
http://www.toronto.ca/fire/cadinfo/livecad.htm
It was a fire at what is listed as "a high-rise residential building."
I just walked past there and Bathurst Street is closed from Olive/Wells to Dupont.
I hope nobody was hurt... does anyone know anything more?
Vanessa