News

Winners Announced for the 2023 Heritage Toronto Awards

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Albert Campbell Branch Library

Canadian architects and urbanists were at the helm of five projects that were among the winners of the the 2023 Heritage Toronto Awards. The Heritage Toronto Awards bring together leaders, innovators and emerging professionals from across cultural, development, and policy-making sectors to celebrate achievements in Toronto’s heritage. The event is also Heritage Toronto’s major fundraiser of the year and raises monies in support of its public programming.

Advocacy groups call on Toronto for full moratorium on unhoused evictions

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Homeless man resting in doorway in Toronto

An advocacy group is calling on the mayor and city council to vote in favour of a full moratorium on evictions and address “service restrictions” practices across the entire shelter system. Voices for Unhoused Liberation wrote an open letter outlining demands, including investment in more indoor space and starting an accountability process, including people in Toronto’s homeless population and advocates.

City of shadows

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Shadows created by tall buildings on Bloor Street's "Mink Mile"

The new buildings were just what Toronto needed. More than 800 new rental apartments, about a third of them permanently affordable. These new homes would rise on the site of an old provincial building. The problem: They were too tall. One tower would rise 50 storeys into the air, and so it would cast shadow on a park half a block away – covering about a quarter of its surface – for up to three hours a day.

Investors now own more than 50% of Toronto’s new condos

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Monopoly game

Experts say real estate has become a game, where investors rather than end users are the main players, buying and selling property to cash in on Toronto’s hottest commodity. In the process, they’re driving up prices and pushing out prospective homebuyers like Jaqueline Belardi, who just want somewhere to live.

Debunking the “Business Case” for relocating the Ontario Science Centre

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Ontario Science Centre

Scratch below the surface, and there’s clear problems with the province’s math.

This week, Doug Ford’s government struck a deal with the City of Toronto giving the province fuller control over the future of Ontario Place, in exchange for the province taking on responsibility for the DVP and Gardiner Expressway, as well as additional funding for transit and addressing homelessness.

Recommended amendments to zoning by-laws for bars, restaurants and entertainment venues

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Yonge St. at night

We appreciate the opportunity to comment on the recommended amendments to City-wide Zoning By-law 569-2013, and all Former General Zoning By-laws, as amended, as it relates to zoning regulations for bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues. We understand the need and advantages and indeed support a vibrant night economy for Toronto but not at the loss of healthy liveable communities for its residents. This important balance can be achieved as we see in Austin and Vancouver but it is not yet met in the staff recommendations before you.