News

Toronto’s ineffectual enforcement contributes to ongoing gridlock

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Toronto traffic jam

After years of writing about traffic enforcement and pedestrian and cyclist safety, I became convinced that Toronto police either just don’t like or don’t respect policing the roads, and the leadership doesn’t see good reason to change that.

A former police officer told Habibinia much the same. There is a long-standing culture inside the police service where traffic enforcement is not considered “real police work” compared to “sexy” crime-fighting. Yet city hall, which sets the police budget, believes gridlock is a major problem, for people and for the economy.

Too many pedestrians and cyclists are killed by cars. There are solutions

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For too long, society accepted that death was a fact of life on the roads. It was the cost of convenience to move from A to B as fast as possible in a car. We call crashes “accidents,” even when the causes, from driver speed to road design, are deliberate choices. It’s a cultural problem that such incidents are viewed as ordinary.

Cities must redouble their efforts to make change happen.

Push. Pray. Walk: After yet another death, should Toronto replace these dangerous pedestrian crossovers?

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Push button crosswalk

There’s a certain anxiety that activates when some of us pedestrians push the button to activate one of Toronto’s standalone pedestrian crossovers.

You take a deep breath as the overhead orange flashing lights activate. You try your best to make eye contact with any approaching drivers. If you’re pushing a stroller, you grip the handles tightly. If you’re the religious type, maybe you say a little prayer. Perhaps you just cross your fingers while crossing the street. And you hope.

City infrastructure projects in our Ward

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Infrastructure 2024

As well as all the building construction we are experiencing in our area, the City has provided a map and list of road and other infrastructure projects underway or scheduled for the near future in Ward 11.

Collectively these will affect traffic and getting around our Ward, and two are within our ABC borders: Watermain replacement at Yonge/Macpherson and Ramsden Road Park reconstruction.

Jane Jacobs would reject Toronto’s “city of yes” too!

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429-435 Broome St. NYC

“A green light for cataclysmic development” is how Jane would characterize City of Yes, not the city of gradual change that she observed to be what strengthens cities. If approved, buildings will be constructed on tight lots, out of scale, and high in income. Design contortions will be invented to take advantage of the as-yet-unidentified empty spaces. Buildings will be razed and truly affordable units lost. 

Sound familiar? The proposals for NYC will sound eerily familiar to Torontonians.

Resubmission of Development Proposal at 126-130 Avenue Rd.

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126-130 Avenue Road proposal

On behalf of ABCRA, we want to provide feedback on the recent resubmission of the development proposal for 126-130 Avenue Rd

Our primary concern is the omission of a G type loading zone in the resubmitted proposal. Avenue Rd. is already a hazardous environment for pedestrians, a fact acknowledged by the city’s ongoing investments to enhance safety in this area. Allowing street-level garbage pick-up on either Bernard Ave. or Avenue Rd. would only exacerbate existing safety issues, placing pedestrians at even greater risk.

Another One? Mizrahi’s second Yorkville condo project now in receivership

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128 Hazelton condo

A receivership order granted last Tuesday, June 4, has appointed KSV Advisory as the receiver and manager over the property at 126–128 Hazelton Avenue in Toronto. The order effectively allows KSV to exercise control over the property moving forward.

Constantine Enterprises Inc. (CEI), which has a 50 per cent stake in the condo project at 128 Hazelton Ave., first made a plea for receivership back in February, with court documents showing that CEI filed for KSV to manage and possibly sell the project to recover debts, identifying Sam Mizrahi as the principal of both Mizrahi 128 Hazelton Inc. and Mizrahi 128 Hazelton Retail Inc.

Troubled condo project The One looking for $1.2-billion sale – or else lenders won’t unload it

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The One

The receiver for The One condo tower is seeking to sell Sam Mizrahi’s unfinished skyscraper, saying creditors won’t accept anything less than $1.2-billion for the troubled project.

The One’s lenders are owed $1.5-billion after Mr. Mizrahi and the tower’s co-owner, road-paving magnate Jenny Coco, defaulted on loan payments during the construction of the luxury condo and hotel tower in downtown Toronto.

Say bye to Starbucks

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Starbucks Demolition

Starbucks on Yonge is demolished to make way for new building.