Designers Michael Fohring and Arancha González Bernardo of Odami have treated the façade of Erin Gano and Marcel Jakubovic's home in Clanton Park as if it were a sliding tile puzzle: shift one window that way slide the canopy to the right.Doublespace Photography Open plan hard lofts had been crowned king Even folks with older homes that were built around the principle of formality – a room for sitting a room for reading – ripped away century-old millwork moulding and cabinetry to expose fine old Victorians to modern whims (in Toronto that had started as early as the 1970s when the “white-painters” came to Cabbagetown) It was a time when coziness and cubbyholes were thrown to the proverbial wolves a time when owners of wood-panelled libraries in Forest Hill or the Annex felt compelled to keep their mouths sewn tightly shut when it was not thought possible that the old ways could be married to the new “I like separation of rooms,” says homeowner Erin Gano “I don’t necessarily want people in my kitchen beyond the inner circle the close friends; there are other places to hang out.” the construction management company that built it – has an air of dignity and old-worldliness about it On a street in Toronto’s Clanton Park neighbourhood filled with postwar it presents a countenance of chunky Owen Sound stone interrupted by smooth bands of limestone that frame windows and doors designers Michael Fohring and Arancha González Bernardo of Odami have treated the façade as if it were a sliding tile puzzle: shift one window that way and find a bit of contemporary within that language,” says Mr who received his Master of Architecture at Montreal’s McGill University “It’s an honest expression of the interior where you have the axis running right through the middle … It was setting up a really ordered system and then finding ways of subverting it a little bit.” Those invited to a dinner party at the Gano-Jakubovic residence will notice the orderliness first walk up three steps and a 19th-century centre-hall plan unravels before you To one’s right is a formal library – ”Every single book here has been read,” Ms Gano says with a laugh – which contains the “best seat in the house,” a Sasufi chair and ottoman by Montreal’s Perez It’s a lovely place to thumb through a Mordecai Richler novel (Mr Jakubovic is on the same family tree) or a book on Georgian interiors monolithic objet has been softened via curved edges and a finish of microcement in Toronto's Clanton Park neighbourhood designed by Michael Fohring and Arancha González Bernardo Odami design studio.Doublespace Photography Walk a little further and the first bit of rebellion occurs: the staircase is not up the middle “I don’t like when you walk into a house and you see stairs,” says Ms “There was a constant back-and-forth between this formal setup we try not to think of things as exclusively as just contemporary … or traditional or this or that but think about things in a timeless way,” adds Mr “We’re not shy about mixing or blending … a sort of idea of a continuation of time … This could’ve been a renovation of an old house.” enclosed dining room with a ‘secret’ door to the kitchen (which is Odami has thumbed their design nose just a little with a contemporary all-white spin on china cabinets and floor-to-ceiling panelling the veining is quiet enough that it won’t cause guests to choke on their hors d’oeuvres … but the price might “I want to say around seven or eight thousand dollars a slab … or more.” the soft curves of the fireplace wall make a reappearance and an informal family room is a few steps down from the kitchen; the separation was intentional their six-year-old’s basement playroom doesn’t require a high ceiling Because the staircase is a side-piece rather than a centrepiece it was allowed to become an objet d’art by encasing it top-to-bottom and front-to-back in white oak veneer: “We wanted to do something that fit the orthogonality of the house … strong and structured … We didn’t really want to do that sweeping kind of staircase that everyone seems to be doing.” Climb to the top – the skylight overhead means electric lighting isn’t necessary much of the time – and rest on an alpaca-upholstered sofa on the generous landing (there’s a lovely lenticular photograph of the moon by Dan Hudson over it) or peek into the boy’s bedroom or the principal bedroom But the dressing room is – another nod to the 21st-century tendency to own a great many more clothes and shoes than our grandparents did Because it was drawn by two talented designers – Ms Bernardo is a registered architect in Spain – there is very little tension between modern and traditional and suited to all eras: a French Baroque chair would look as good as an Eames LCW in any of its rooms both Stein and Regency and Odami are less than 10 years old From out of the mouths of babes comes … great architecture Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following Dave LeBlanc is a contributing writer for The Globe and Mail While other kids were trading hockey cards Dave was charting the progress of the CN Tower and he’s been an architecture lover and Toronto advocate ever since Toronto Metropolitan University and York University He has worked in radio since 1988 and has written for Globe Real Estate since 2003 An authority on Modernist architecture (1945-80) Dave attended “Conserving the Modern” in 2005 and 2007 (Canada) Palm Springs’ Modernism Week (multiple times) and architectural conferences in the Netherlands and Spain He has served as a juror for the Ontario Association of Architects and the City of Toronto Dave’s writing has also appeared in The Toronto Star and Montreal Gazette In 2014-15 he hosted Where Cool Came From Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community. This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff. Non-subscribers can read and sort comments but will not be able to engage with them in any way. Click here to subscribe If you would like to write a letter to the editor, please forward it to letters@globeandmail.com. Readers can also interact with The Globe on Facebook and Twitter Welcome to The Globe and Mail’s comment community This is a space where subscribers can engage with each other and Globe staff We aim to create a safe and valuable space for discussion and debate If you do not see your comment posted immediately it is being reviewed by the moderation team and may appear shortly We aim to have all comments reviewed in a timely manner Comments that violate our community guidelines will not be posted UPDATED: Read our community guidelines here We have closed comments on this story for legal reasons or for abuse. For more information on our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines and our Terms and Conditions Sign up for the Designlines weekly newsletter to keep up with the latest design news trends and inspiring projects from across Toronto From a sprawling family home in Oakville to a coastal-inspired retreat north of the city we present spaces created by architects and interior designers that redefine the contemporary Receive our weekly selection of stories about sensational modern homes The custom oak hardwood flooring, which stretches from the living room to the home’s library, comes courtesy of Lovewood. Accent chair, Muskoka Living The Clanton Park house has no shortage of natural light The central staircase design ensures that while light fills the home the private areas remain intimate and distinct Skylight windows are custom designs developed alongside MZL Roofing & Metal Works A custom table in the dining room pairs seamlessly with the space’s colour palette. Dining chairs, CF Interiors played an active role in ensuring that these goals were met while maintaining a close collaboration with Odami The challenge for the design studio was to balance these seemingly conflicting objectives while adding a layer of subtle timeless sophistication to the 3,365-square-foot home’s design The Clanton Park house stands out for its unusually wide and deep footprint a contrast to the city’s typically narrow lots the designers introduced a central void on the first floor—a broad corridor-like axis that runs from the front to the back of the home This strategic element not only creates an efficient flow between distinct rooms on either side but also sets the tone for the home’s balance between structure and open space As one enters through the wood-clad vestibule the spatial relationships unfold in a series of carefully framed views creating a sense of discovery while moving through the house This axial gesture recalls more traditional layout strategies to create a highly structured home the central void introduces playful visual connections softening what was a super rigid structure by allowing the circulation spaces to double as moments of openness and discovery The central staircase is another defining feature, one that does more than connect the home’s four levels. Positioned under a generous skylight, the staircase acts as a source for natural light, drawing it from the top of the house down to the basement. “It was really an opportunity to bring in as much light as possible, to create a space in and of itself,” says studio co-founder Michael Fohring “The oak guardrail plays a key role here offering moments of privacy and openness by making it highly structured and opaque it not only connects but also hides and blocks views.” the Clanton Park home’s design language reflects a thematic tension between order and flexibility The material palette is intentionally quiet—muted tones of warm wood and soft whites—chosen to allow the space to feel light and breezy “The clients were looking for a forever home something they wouldn’t grow tired of,” explains Aránzazu González Bernardo the design allows the family to layer in their personality over time without the risk of clashing with the home’s aesthetic.” One of the most intriguing aspects of the Clanton Park House is how it bridges the formal and the informal is set apart from the kitchen through the clever use of wall paneling that conceals a hidden door the family room and kitchen at the back of the house exude a more casual ideal for day-to-day living and family time “It was about creating spaces with distinct personalities while maintaining a cohesive flow,” says Fohring The kitchen in the Clanton Park House is a study in understated design aligning with contemporary trends that emphasize simplicity and functionality while maintaining warmth neutral palette of warm woods and soft whites continues into the kitchen creating a cohesive flow with the rest of the home’s interior with clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic that eschews ornamentation in favour of subtle detailing This approach reflects a broader design trend toward quiet luxury where materials and craftsmanship take precedence over bold limestone banding and asymmetrical window placements create a façade that hints at symmetry but playfully disrupts it lending a modern twist to the otherwise traditional volume The window arrangement subtly undermines a certain degree of symmetry The thoughtful integration of traditional and contemporary elements in the Clanton Park House speaks to Odami’s nuanced approach to residential design The project is not about imposing a rigid design language but rather responding to the client’s needs and the site’s unique characteristics but it doesn’t mean monotony,” says Bernardo “We try to stay away from spaces that feel overly opulent or over-designed,” Fohring adds the studio focuses on creating a sense of harmony through simple gestures that are derived from the space and the spatial strategy resulting in a home that feels both timeless and distinctly contemporary—a space with its own unique design language that can evolve with its inhabitants over time a stately home stands as a quiet testament to craft But step inside and a different story unfolds—one of layered materials meticulous detailing and a layout designed by ALMP Group—Zanetti Homes to grow with the family who lives there \"our\") of the service provided by this web site (\"Service\") are not responsible for any user-generated content and accounts Content submitted express the views of their author only This Service is only available to users who are at least {age} years old you represent that you are this age or older or otherwise make available to the Service (\"Content\") may be reviewed by staff members All Content you submit or upload may be sent to third-party verification services (including Do not submit any Content that you consider to be private or confidential You agree to not use the Service to submit or link to any Content which is defamatory You are entirely responsible for the content of We may remove or modify any Content submitted at any time Requests for Content to be removed or modified will be undertaken only at our discretion We may terminate your access to all or any part of the Service at any time or re-publish your Content in connection with the Service These terms may be changed at any time without notice If you do not agree with these terms, please do not register or use the Service. Use of the Service constitutes acceptance of these terms. If you wish to close your account, please contact us You should review the Privacy Policy on a regular basis for any such changes You agree that your continued use of the Website after the revised Privacy Policy has been posted constitutes your consent to such revised Privacy Policy use and disclosure of your personal information as described in the revised Privacy Policy The Website may contain links to other non-Chart websites Chart is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such other websites Chart may collect the following types of information about you: your name gender and any facts that Chart deems to be reasonably necessary for the purposes of completing a transaction with you or to otherwise communicate with you (for example Chart may also collect facts relevant to your participation in a contest or facts relevant to a complaint made by you) In addition to your agreement above to the collection use and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with this Privacy Policy Chart will obtain your consent to the collection use and disclosure of your personal information at the time personal information is collected Chart will make reasonable efforts to ensure that when personal information is collected that you understand why it is collected Chart will seek a form of consent that is appropriate to the sensitivity of the information collected.Limiting the Collection of the Personal Information Chart will limit the collection of personal information to that which is required to provide the necessary service or conduct the necessary activity and will only collect personal information through fair and lawful means You may withdraw your consent to the collection use or disclosure of personal information at any time subject to any specific contractual commitments that you have made with Chart in respect of your personal information and the requirement for you to provide reasonable notice to us A cookie is a message that is sent to your browser from a Web server and stored on your computer's hard drive You can set your browser preferences to reject all cookies but then you will not be able to participate in most customized services and you may be required to repeatedly log in to participate in various services Cookies make your experience easier by saving your preferences and passwords We also use cookies that contain no personal information at all These cookies help us estimate our audience size determine which areas of the Website are the most popular Third party advertisers and our ad server may set and access their cookies on your computer in accordance with their own privacy policies Some parts of the Website use cookies to collect information about visitors' use of the Website and to facilitate return visits Information collected about user activity may be done in partnership using a 3rd party tracking tool The information collected from cookies is tracked to enhance security and to improve the functionality of the Website by avoiding duplicate data entry Cookies on the site may collect the following information: a unique identifier user preferences and profile information used to personalize the content that is shown and membership information to access the Website services Some cookies used by the Website may remain on the user's computer after they leave the Web site Most browsers can be configured to reject cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent it is possible that some portions of the Website may not function exactly as intended Chart may also collect IP addresses for the purposes of systems administration or to report information in aggregate form to our advertisers (e.g how many visitors logged in to the Website) An IP address is a number that is assigned to your computer automatically when you use the Internet When you visit a particular the Website web page Your IP address is not linked to anything personally identifiable Chart understands the importance of protecting your personal information and will implement safeguards to protect personal information against unauthorized access including the use of the latest Internet security protocols to protect personal information collected through the Website you should be aware that the Internet is not a secure medium Chart does not represent or warrant the complete security of the personal information provided by you to Chart through the Website You understand that you are transmitting such information to Chart at your own risk.Employees of Chart who will be involved in the collection of personal information will be educated with respect to the importance of maintaining the confidentiality of personal information.Chart will use care in the disposal and destruction of personal information in order to prevent unauthorized parties from gaining access to the information Chart uses your personal information for one or more of the following purposes: service or information you requestedIf you are a customer of our publication we use your name and address (postal and/or e-mail) in order to deliver the product service or information you requested and to follow up with you about the transaction (i.e. notify you that your subscription is expiring If you enter into a contest offered through the Website or printed publications we use your personal information to administer the contest on our own behalf or on behalf of our sponsors (b) To process paymentYour credit card number for pre-authorized payments is used only for processing payments and for presenting you with payment options - not for marketing purposes (c) To send you informationFrom time to time we may send you further information about the Website or the publication (d) To respond to complaints from youWe may use your personal information to identify you and respond to any complaints that you may make to us we may use your personal information for the following purposes:· to detect and protect Chart and other third parties against error and to audit compliance with Chart policies and contractual obligations;· to understand your needs and preferences including to contact and communicate with you and to conduct surveys research and evaluations;· for any other purpose we may indicate to you from time to time We will provide you an opportunity to “opt out” of any such other purposes Your personal information will not be used to place you on any mailing lists Under no circumstances will we sell our customer lists or rent your personal information to third parties from time to time Chart may offer you the opportunity to respond to an “opt in” solicitation to receive marketing information from other carefully selected organisations and partners by email Chart will only pass on these details if you opt in Chart takes all measures possible to ensure that the contact you receive will be from reputable organisations Chart however cannot accept any responsibility for use of the data once it has been passed on and is no longer within Chart’s control Chart will take all reasonable steps to update or correct your personal information when necessary Chart will keep your personal information only as long as necessary for the identified purposes or as required by law Upon your written request and subject to the exemptions stipulated by law use and disclosure of your personal information and provide you with access to that information You may be required to provide sufficient information to permit Chart to provide an account of the existence Chart may charge a reasonable administration fee ($15) for providing access to the personal information in accordance with your request Chart will respond to the request for personal information within thirty (30) days of receipt of your request and if Chart is not able to produce the information within this time frame Chart will provide an explanation and will indicate when the information will be produced Chart is responsible for personal information under its control and has designated a Privacy Officer who is accountable for Chart’s compliance with this Privacy Policy and PIPEDA If at any time you have any questions or complaints about this Privacy Policy or your personal information and how it is being used collected or disclosed (including if you wish to request to update or correct any personally identifiable information you have provided) or you wish to withdraw your consent to “Use of Personal Information” Chart Communications Inc.5255 Yonge Street On Friday, November 8, community leaders, healthcare professionals, and government officials gathered to break ground on the new Neshama Hospice in Toronto's Clanton Park neighbourhood southwest of Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue 12-unit facility will be North York's first residential hospice designed to provide dignified and supportive end-of-life care Attendees at the ceremony included Toronto City Councillor for York Centre James Pasternak, MPP and Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, Neshama Hospice's Board Chair Mindy Herman Their attendance highlighted the collaborative efforts of the community and government in bringing this essential facility to life "Neshama Hospice will have a transformative impact on seniors and others in our community," said Councillor Pasternak "It aligns with the Toronto Seniors Strategy and our city's vision to honour the generations that have built Toronto." Councillor James Pasternak speaking to the crowd Designed by Hilditch Architect with landscaping by Martin Wade Landscape Architects the hospice aims to accommodate approximately 250 patients annually Each patient will have a private room equipped with a washroom and an outdoor patio The masonry facade and soft landscaping were designed to create a residential atmosphere The hospice will include landscaped gardens Amenities will also include a kosher kitchen and accommodations for Sabbath observance honouring the hospice’s Jewish heritage while embracing individuals of all cultural backgrounds "Many Canadians prefer to spend their final days at home most end up in hospitals," noted Kronenberg "Residential hospices like Neshama offer a compassionate alternative providing 24/7 care that addresses physical Buchman emphasized the holistic approach Neshama Hospice will take: "Our goal is to address all domains of human suffering at the end of life not just for patients but also for their families and caregivers." Ground breaking ceremony for Neshama Hospice The hospice will function as part of the public healthcare system It will serve as a more cost-effective alternative to hospital care with its services costing roughly one-third of an acute care bed "We are incredibly grateful to the visionary founders and volunteers who have given so much of themselves to make this hospice a reality," said Mindy Herman "Our mission is to ensure that everyone has access to a dignified and compassionate end-of-life journey." the Neshama Hospice reflects community spirit as a significant addition to Toronto's healthcare and support to those in their final stages of life Completion is anticipated for the fall of 2026 UrbanToronto will continue to follow progress on this development you can learn more about it from our Database file you can join in on the conversation in the associated Project Forum thread or leave a comment in the space provided on this page UrbanToronto has a research service, UTPro, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe — from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider that tracks projects from initial application.​​​ 50 Wilson Heights Boulevard/Kirkor Architects vehicular spaces have been reduced from 159 to 155 and bicycle parking has been reduced from 230 to 209 spaces Block 1 included a portion of the site known as Block 9 which has been created for the existing sewer lands running along Allen Road Block 1 will represent the first step in realizing a vibrant master-planned community offering 1,484 new housing units The project is joined by 19 other sites allocated by the City for housing development “Our vision for Toronto is to see families live, work and thrive without having to worry about securing affordable rents, accessing transit or finding childcare or green spaces for kids to play," Mayor Olivia Chow said at the Wilson Heights groundbreaking ceremony "This transit-oriented community brings all of these elements together creating a sensible and replicable model for city-building." Construction has begun with the process of dismantling the parking lot and first occupancy is expected to begin in early-2029 Note: renderings reflect 2021 building plans This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter The latest home prices and home sales data from the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board Compare house and condo sales in Bathurst Manor Here’s how North York’s housing market performed by neighbourhood in June 2024 according to the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board: Bathurst Manor and Clanton Park home prices averaged $1.25 million up 19.7 per cent from May 2024 and up 24.5 per cent compared to June 2023 Don Mills and Don Valley West home prices averaged $1.12 million down 9 per cent from May 2024 and down 16.3 per cent compared to June 2023 Lawrence West home prices averaged $2.11 million down 7.1 per cent from May 2024 and down 2.7 per cent compared to June 2023 North York Core East home prices averaged $1.02 million up 2 per cent from May 2024 but down 9.1 per cent compared to June 2023 North York Core West home prices averaged $1.27 million up 3.3 per cent from May 2024 and up 16.9 per cent compared to June 2023 North York Northeast home prices averaged $1.05 million up 2.2 per cent from May 2024 but down 3.1 per cent compared to June 2023 North York Northwest home prices averaged $906,693 up 1.2 per cent from May 2024 and up 1.4 per cent compared to June 2023 North York Southwest home prices averaged $942,027 up 6.3 per cent from May 2024 and up 3.9 per cent compared to June 2023 Bridle Path and York Mills home prices averaged $3.08 million down 4.9 per cent from May 2024 and down 10.6 per cent compared to June 2023 Those home sale prices compare to an average of $1.17 million for the City of Toronto and $1.16 million for the Greater Toronto Area There were 31 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 20 days on the market and 147 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 22.5 per cent and active listings were up 69 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $1.53 million down 7.1 per cent or $116,753 month-over-month and down 6.6 per cent or $108,390 year-over-year There were 22 detached house sales after an average of 17 days on the market and 49 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $760,000 down 0.3 per cent or $2,000 month-over-month There was one townhouse-style condo sale after nine days on the market and four active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $545,963 down 10.7 per cent or $65,406 month-over-month and down 9.9 per cent or $59,800 year-over-year There were eight apartment-style condo sales after an average of 28 days on the market and 93 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in Bathurst Manor and Clanton Park has increased 103.6 per cent including a $718,858 gain for detached houses a $265,000 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $235,058 gain for apartment-style condos There were 60 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 23 days on the market and 199 active listings at the end of the month Sales were up 17.6 per cent and active listings were up 67.2 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $2.29 million up 17.5 per cent or $341,423 month-over-month but down 4.8 per cent or $116,214 year-over-year There were 14 detached house sales after an average of 18 days on the market and 66 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $1.02 million down 18 per cent or $224,150 month-over-month and down 10.9 per cent or $124,167 year-over-year There were three semi-detached house sales after an average of eight days on the market and 10 active listings at the end of the month Attached houses (↘) averaged $1.15 million down 13.6 per cent or $181,500 month-over-month There were two attached house sales after an average of 29 days on the market and 16 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $975,000 down 11.2 per cent or $122,933 month-over-month but up 39.3 per cent or $275,000 year-over-year There were three townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 44 days on the market and 11 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $711,558 down 6.9 per cent or $52,978 month-over-month and down 4.2 per cent or $30,824 year-over-year There were 38 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 23 days on the market and 95 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in Don Mills and Don Valley West has increased 53 per cent including a $887,446 gain for detached houses a $528,333 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $374,692 gain for apartment-style condos There were 64 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 24 days on the market and 204 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 9.9 per cent and active listings were up 100 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $2.61 million down 4.9 per cent or $132,866 month-over-month and down 11.2 per cent or $329,507 year-over-year There were 43 detached house sales after an average of 20 days on the market and 114 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $1.56 million down 7.4 per cent or $124,500 month-over-month and down 4.7 per cent or $77,500 year-over-year There were two semi-detached house sales after an average of 11 days on the market and four active listings at the end of the month down 3.4 per cent or $50,000 month-over-month There was one attached house sale after 13 days on the market and six active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $808,667 down 34.5 per cent or $426,333 month-over-month but up 24.4 per cent or $158,667 year-over-year There were three townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 31 days on the market and five active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $1.11 million down 2.6 per cent or $29,508 month-over-month but up 10.1 per cent or $101,290 year-over-year There were 14 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 37 days on the market and 69 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in Lawrence West has increased 59.3 per cent including a $975,716 gain for detached houses a $635,000 gain for attached houses and a $560,904 gain for apartment-style condos There were 84 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 26 days on the market and 371 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 5.6 per cent and active listings were up 95.3 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $2.18 million down 4.9 per cent or $111,746 month-over-month and down 9.9 per cent or $240,247 year-over-year There were 16 detached house sales after an average of 22 days on the market and 87 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↗) averaged $984,000 up 34 per cent or $249,400 month-over-month but down 19.1 per cent or $232,496 year-over-year There were four townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 20 days on the market and 29 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $731,546 down 0.6 per cent or $4,506 month-over-month and down 3.5 per cent or $26,764 year-over-year There were 63 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 24 days on the market and 240 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Core East has increased 73.2 per cent including a $862,091 gain for detached houses a $514,967 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $329,304 gain for apartment-style condos There were 61 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 28 days on the market and 324 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 26.5 per cent and active listings were up 75.1 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $2.07 million up 3.9 per cent or $77,247 month-over-month and up 0.9 per cent or $18,399 year-over-year There were 23 detached house sales after an average of 25 days on the market and 110 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↗) averaged $1.23 million up 8.1 per cent or $92,667 month-over-month and up 4.2 per cent or $49,167 year-over-year There were three semi-detached house sales after an average of 22 days on the market and three active listings at the end of the month Attached houses (↘) averaged $1.46 million down 31.5 per cent or $669,925 month-over-month but up 28.5 per cent or $323,075 year-over-year There was one attached house sale after six days on the market and 10 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $720,833 down 18.6 per cent or $164,687 month-over-month and down 13 per cent or $107,437 year-over-year There were six townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 64 days on the market and 15 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $725,596 down 0.5 per cent or $3,298 month-over-month but up 0.1 per cent or $789 year-over-year There were 28 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 24 days on the market and 185 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Core West has increased 102.1 per cent including a $986,770 gain for detached houses a $294,458 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $350,482 gain for apartment-style condos There were 109 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 22 days on the market and 452 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 14.8 per cent and active listings were up 93.2 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $2.27 million up 17.9 per cent or $343,929 month-over-month and up 20.2 per cent or $379,947 year-over-year There were 19 detached house sales after an average of 19 days on the market and 69 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↗) averaged $1.17 million up 2.5 per cent or $29,120 month-over-month but down 7.5 per cent or $95,225 year-over-year There were eight semi-detached house sales after an average of 11 days on the market and 14 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $814,523 down 25.9 per cent or $284,203 month-over-month and down 13.3 per cent or $124,412 year-over-year There were 13 townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 19 days on the market and 42 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↗) averaged $742,932 up 6.7 per cent or $46,457 month-over-month and up 1.2 per cent or $8,693 year-over-year There were 69 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 25 days on the market and 327 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Northeast has increased 87.2 per cent including a $1.27 million gain for detached houses a $405,126 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $418,502 gain for apartment-style condos There were 96 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 25 days on the market and 335 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 10.3 per cent and active listings were up 61.8 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $1.22 million down 4.4 per cent or $56,908 month-over-month and down 0.6 per cent or $6,999 year-over-year There were 21 detached house sales after an average of 20 days on the market and 70 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $977,338 down 1.3 per cent or $12,986 month-over-month and down 6.1 per cent or $63,156 year-over-year There were 37 semi-detached house sales after an average of 24 days on the market and 62 active listings at the end of the month down 1.7 per cent or $16,775 month-over-month but up 1.7 per cent or $15,929 year-over-year There were five attached house sales after an average of 45 days on the market and 22 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↗) averaged $687,447 up 1.9 per cent or $12,630 month-over-month and up 0.1 per cent or $547 year-over-year There were 19 townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 22 days on the market and 45 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↗) averaged $528,000 up 0.3 per cent or $1,798 month-over-month and up 3.2 per cent or $16,232 year-over-year There were 13 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 31 days on the market and 132 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Northwest has increased 134.3 per cent including a $637,814 gain for detached houses a $443,142 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $318,616 gain for apartment-style condos There were 51 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 19 days on the market and 248 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 34.6 per cent and active listings were up 66.4 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $1.16 million up 4.4 per cent or $48,662 month-over-month but down 5.2 per cent or $63,506 year-over-year There were 31 detached house sales after an average of 17 days on the market and 102 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $885,000 down 10.1 per cent or $99,000 month-over-month and down 10.4 per cent or $102,250 year-over-year There were two semi-detached house sales after an average of 11 days on the market and 11 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $736,667 down 0.3 per cent or $2,083 month-over-month but up 5 per cent or $34,953 year-over-year There were six townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 17 days on the market and 34 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $494,783 down 13.9 per cent or $79,582 month-over-month and down 18.8 per cent or $114,192 year-over-year There were 12 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 28 days on the market and 98 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Southwest has increased 137.4 per cent including a $630,082 gain for detached houses a $428,178 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $280,620 gain for apartment-style condos There were 10 home sales in June 2024 after an average of 24 days on the market and 174 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 47.4 per cent and active listings were up 39.2 per cent compared to June 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $4.15 million down 5.2 per cent or $225,403 month-over-month and down 13.6 per cent or $651,692 year-over-year There were six detached house sales after an average of 24 days on the market and 138 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↗) averaged $1.68 million up 15.9 per cent or $231,000 month-over-month but down 0.1 per cent or $2,500 year-over-year There were three townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 25 days on the market and 16 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $820,000 down 40.4 per cent or $555,800 month-over-month and down 47.3 per cent or $734,700 year-over-year There was one apartment-style condo sale after 24 days on the market and 15 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in St Bridle Path and York Mills has increased 93.1 per cent including a $1.79 million gain for detached houses a $816,271 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $4,455 gain for apartment-style condos Find out how the housing market performed elsewhere in the GTA. This story was automatically generated using data collected and maintained by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account the buildings would rise steps from the subway station within its Major Transit Station Area.  Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to the City of Toronto call for three mixed-use buildings comprising five residential towers arranged around a central publicly accessible open space The towers would rise from 21 (83.57m) to 49 storeys (164.09m) with the tallest positioned at the northeast corner Each tower would be set atop a six-storey podium activating the ground level with residential lobbies larger than the 750m² floor-plates the City seeks in its Tall Buildings Guidelines The project proposes a total gross floor area of 151,655m² including 149,161m² of residential use and 2,493.4m² for retail and community functions such as the daycare with a Floor Space Index of 8.5 time coverage across the 17,745m² site A total of 2,055 unspecified residential units are planned the three buildings would have approximately one elevator for every 78 to 98 units which indicates generally good service levels Despite the site’s location within a Major Transit Station Area the proposal does not include any dedicated affordable housing component While the site falls within the Downsview Secondary Plan area the plan remains under appeal and is not in force The proposal includes 6,740m² of indoor and 4,344m² of outdoor amenity areas The former would be distributed across the first with outdoor terraces located on the podium rooftops.  Two levels of underground garage for the site would contain 804 spaces for residents Bicycle parking entails 1,403 long-term and 148 short-term spaces for residents and 49 publicly accessible short-term spaces.  Site circulation is structured around a new private driveway running north-south from Wilson Avenue to Billy Bishop Way while a pedestrian-priority woonerf would extend east from Billy Bishop Way to the private drive A 1,775m² POPS (Privately-Owned Publicly-accessible Space) would be located at the heart of the site The western edge of the site would include a 15m-wide extension of the Green Spine park corridor on the western edge the 2,882m² Ministry of Transportation setback would be repurposed as a pedestrian corridor with its existing connection to the adjacent station entrance putting residents within 48 metres of the subway Cyclists are supported by the Allen Road Pathway as well as nearby bike lanes on Faywood Boulevard and multi-use trails in Downsview Park and Earl Bales Park.  UrbanToronto has a research service, UTPro, that provides comprehensive data on development projects in the Greater Golden Horseshoe — from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider that tracks projects from initial application TorontoSenior dead after being struck by driver in North York By Joanna LavoieOpens in new windowPublished: January 29, 2025 at 10:39AM EST A woman has died after being struck by the driver of a vehicle in North York on Wednesday morning. The collision happened at around 9:15 a.m. in the Clanton Park neighbourhood, near Wilson Avenue and Faywood Boulevard, just east of Allen Road and north of Highway 401. Toronto police said a pedestrian walking eastbound on Wilson crossed the street at Faywood when they were struck by the driver of a blue Honda Odyssey who was travelling southbound on Faywood and turning left onto Wilson. Speaking with reporters at the scene on Wednesday afternoon, Duty Insp. Scott Shutt said when officers arrived at the scene they found a woman in her 70s with serious injuries. He said that she was in the “middle of the road” when she was hit. Paramedics said they transported an adult female to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries. She was pronounced dead there a short time later, they said. The driver remained on scene and is “cooperating with the investigation,” said Shutt, adding that police won’t “speculate on charges” until the investigation is complete. He said that investigators are taking in consideration numerous factors including weather, lighting, the speed of vehicle, and the direction the pedestrian was travelling. Toronto police are asking residents, businessees, and drivers, who may have seen, heard or filmed security or dash camera footage of the area or incident, to contact Traffic Services at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously. Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience Construction has begun in Clanton City Park on the new splash pad that is expected to be ready for the upcoming hot summer months Construction for the new bridge in Ollie Park to replace the current trailer has started A rendering of what the finished bridge in Ollie Park will look like The City of Clanton celebrated the beginning of construction on the splash pad in Clanton City Park and the bridge at Ollie Park that are anticipated to be ready for the upcoming summer season Construction on the projects began last week Both projects have been in the works for a while after the city was approved for a 50/50 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs’ (ADECA) Land and Water Conservation Fund a handful of years ago with $228,765.95 coming for the city’s portion was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the grant had to be reissued due to increased construction costs The new 50/50 grant from the ADECA Land and Water Conservation Fund is for $667,295 with $333,647.50 coming from the city’s portion of the projects The splash pad will be installed next to the city pool in Clanton City Park and the bridge in Ollie Park will go over Goose Pond Creek and replace the current trailer that takes park users across the creek now It is the city’s hope that the splash pad will be ready for use by the summer and the bridge is completed in time for this year’s Peach Jam Jubilee a second pedestrian bridge and associated sidewalks are being added to Clanton City Park through a Transportation Alternatives Program grant obtained from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) The grant is an 80/20 grant with the TAP Fund providing $517,120 and the city providing the remaining $129,280 for the $646,400 project The bridge will connect the overflow parking area adjacent to Highway 31 to the park The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) take on the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday the Brooklyn Nets (21-39) take on the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) at 6 p.m.… The Tampa Bay Lightning versus the Florida Panthers is a game to catch on a Monday NHL slate… The Wake Forest Demon Deacons versus the Duke Blue Devils is one of two games on the college… There are several strong matchups on Monday in AAC hoops including the Wichita State Shockers taking on the… By Ashley MahoneyPublished: Nov. 11, 2024 at 6:09 AM ESTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCHARLOTTE, N.C. (Axios Charlotte) - Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is focusing on adding skate parks, dog parks, spray grounds and more pickleball courts to existing parks across the county Why it matters: Historically the county has funded parks or trails But it’s also working to add highly requested amenities that the region doesn’t have enough of Park and Recreation senior planner Katie Lloyd tells Axios Driving the news: The county is seeking feedback on the design to expand Renaissance Park’s skate park at 1536 W. Tyvola Road. You can submit your input here by Nov By the numbers: In June, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners approved $429.5 million for Park and Recreation capital projects beginning between fiscal year 2025-2029 Many Toronto neighbourhoods are rebuilding their identities through new investment in development and burgeoning shopping and dining scenes it's a tall order to narrow down ones that are on the cusp of something great Here are some neighbourhoods in Toronto undergoing some big changes you might not know about The spaghetti plate of intersecting lanes that gave the Six Points intersection its name has been wiped off the map replaced with a new fully at-grade interchange Correcting one of the most tangled intersections in the city has made the area much more hospitable to pedestrians and cyclists, and a new Kipling Station bus terminal has improved transit The upcoming Etobicoke Civic Centre is set to be the area's crown jewel, and other developments are opening up possibilities for a refreshed retail and dining scene in the area. Even Farm Boy has its eyes on the neighbourhood The Clanton Park area of North York is really a tale of two neighbourhoods. At its east end, close to the Bathurst and Wilson intersection, Clanton Park is home to Little Manila Top Silog is one of the many great restaurants you can find in Little Manila A vibrant yet largely undiscovered restaurant scene is a constant draw for locals looking to discover another facet in the city's cultural mosaic The west end of the Clanton Park neighbourhood is an entirely different story Pressed up against the Allen Road and Highway 401 interchange a dense pocket of development has been growing for a few years now building up the area's population of students and young professionals Immediately west of the Clanton Park neighbourhood, this concentration of new development spills over into the Downsview area. Downsview Park has been given a recent facelift with picnic areas There's lots of development happening these days near Downsview Park Townhomes and condos have added new life to the once-deserted park, while a 2017-opened subway station at the north end of the park has made the area much more accessible Often overshadowed by Greektown just to the south, Pape Village is a real hidden gem proving that you can find so much more if you venture a little off the beaten path on the Danforth Representative of the broader cultural variety in the area, Hanamaru Market and Bento opened earlier this year, offering Korean and Japanese fare. There's also a new burger joint, the always popular Cafe Serano and its bakery sibling and lots of signs of new places opening soon Neighbourhoods around the city are redefining themselves with big and tall developments, but few transformations compare with the vast skyline set to emerge from Scarborough's Golden Mile This strip of big box stores is getting a massive infusion of urbanity with the coming Eglinton Crosstown LRT. New transit is fueling a tidal wave of redevelopment plans that will line Eglinton Avenue with sky-scraping mixed-use developments in the coming years TorontoSuspects smashed front door of North York jewelry store during attempted robbery: policeBy Joanna LavoieOpens in new windowPublished: February 01, 2025 at 4:16PM EST Police are on the hunt for an unknown number of suspects who allegedly smashed the front door of a North York jewelry store, but were ultimately unsuccessful in gaining entry. The attempted robbery happened on Saturday in the Clanton Park neighbourhood, near Wilson Avenue and Billy Bishop Way, just west of Allen Road. Toronto police said they were called to that area around 2:20 p.m. In the end, the suspects did not obtain any merchandise and no injuries have been reported, they said. Investigators said the suspects fled the area in a vehicle. This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information, including anyone with cell phone or dashcam video, is asked to contact Toronto police or Crime Stoppers anonymously. Spring Toronto Mayor John Tory and Toronto Police Service (TPS) Chief James Ramer held a public session at North York’s 31 Division to share details on the expansion of the city’s Neighbourhood Community Officer Program (NCOP) for the first time The mayor and police are pushing the expanded NCOP as a model of police reform and renewed community commitment What it really represents is an expansion of layered policing—the intensification and extension of police powers throughout communities through embedded relationships (in business and community organizations) that allow for greater surveillance and social control As I have discussed previously expanding layered policing has proven a popular go-to for police forces looking to expand funding in the wake of growing movements for abolition and police defunding following the police execution of George Floyd in 2020 It provides police a cover of reform and public relations and criminalization—making policing even more invasive It provides a base for police to spread their tentacles throughout the community in relations with non-police groups (which now become adjuncts of police) it gives police access to new avenues of funding: money that should be earmarked for health care youth sports or education is instead going to layered policing projects in each of these activities Toronto’s Neighbourhood Community Officer Program was initiated in 2013 It was revised to advance layered policing goals in 2019 based on police requested studies at Humber Polytechnic in 2019 The June 2022 expansion will see 208 NCOP officers deployed in 51 of Toronto’s 158 identified neighborhoods This broadened program adds an additional 13 neighborhoods and at least 52 more officers on foot The new neighborhoods include Rockcliffe-Smyth (12 Division) Clanton Park and Englemount-Lawrence (32 Division) Eglinton East and Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn (43 Division) and Danforth and Taylor-Massey (55 Division) That this is a targeted policing program is made clear by the TPS announcement that it determined which neighborhoods to expand into through analyses “of crime and demographics.” The TPS have not disclosed what those demographic factors are or what “crime” measures motivated their decision-making The TPS also outlined some of the activities they will undertake to “foster relationships with individuals and groups in the community.” These include silly copaganda events like “coffee with a cop” spectacles where they get coffee shops to give out free coffee and snacks while cops mingle with customers police presence at local events like open houses of course regular meetings with business owners Constable Niran Jeyanesan, an NCO in Downsview-Roding-CFB gives examples of some of the quarters with whom police will take their lead—social service agencies and apartment management teams. In his words: “We’re now helping empower our community partners to do their work.” The work of policing But the real effects of broken windows-based policing have not been reduced crime or improved public safety. They have always been racial and class profiling, criminalization, and the expansion of carceral systems. The result has been a clearing ground for gentrification and property development in poor communities—dispossessing and displacing longtime residents Research shows that community policing calls are made up largely of “social disorder” issues Much of what public crime panics focus on is not crime but the survival strategies of oppressed and exploited people Often it is simply a stand in for things that business and property owners and developers do not want to have to see—discarded needles Rather than fund waste disposal and pick up or public bathrooms let alone housing—the propertied entrepreneurs push policing Community policing might assuage their fears but it will only make things worse for people already experiencing the greatest social deprivations Indeed, the TPS, in their statements on the NCOP program are explicit about this, asserting: “They are embedded in one neighbourhood for at least four years to actively co-develop solutions and mobilize Toronto Police resources in order to reduce crime fear of crime and anti-social behavior” (emphasis mine) More intrusive targeting of less harmful or even harmless “anti-social” or disorderly activities has the effect of criminalizing people without addressing the larger social harms that might underly such behavior—whether poverty or simply the pain of trying to survive under capitalism notions of anti-social behavior can be constructed in myriad ways and often reflect merely behaviors that some economic or political powerholders with privileged access to police simply do not like (from loitering There is a cynically circular logic to layered policing which benefits police in terms of public relations Layered policing expands access to communities and their residents and increases street checks These policing “successes” come in handy at budget time when police can show their “results” to secure more funding and resources claiming how much they have been able to accomplish in “catching the criminals” and contributing to “public safety.” This allows for more of the same As scholar-activists Alyssa Aguilera and Alex Vital note “Community policing tends to turn all neighborhood problems into police problems the range of community problems extends far beyond serious crime Why should the police necessarily be the sole or even lead agency in developing strategies to address community concerns about disorder and public safety?” Yet community policing programs and their deceptive and asocial “outcomes-based” analytics measures give them a privileged position within local government budgeting debates What this will really mean is reduced safety for the most oppressed and exploited community members All of these policing practices disproportionately target Black and Indigenous people Increased contacts with police also mean opportunities to wield their infamous “discretion” which reinforces harms to poor and racialized people The social factors of inequality and injustice behind police targeting will be erased of course in police reports to council which will simply read “crime reduction.” Against the repression and violence of community policing we need real community organizing for care and wellness it means community mobilization to defend residents and workers who are targeted by layered policing: community defense of unhoused neighbors organizing of harm reduction and community care spaces It can mean community counter-policing and observing and documenting police interactions It also means continued calls for the defunding of police and the cancelling of community policing projects and resources Some lower-level actions, for those for whom it s safe to do so, can involve disrupting copaganda community policing events and mobilizing against the businesses that host them. In Surrey, our abolitionist group Anti-Police Power Surrey disrupted a coffee with the cops event and the RCMP have not held one here since and would bring 417 new units to Toronto's Clanton Park neighbourhood The 4,454 m² site is irregular in shape given the abutting Tippett Road cul-de-sac to the east and the Highway 401 westbound to Allen Road northbound on-ramp to the south and west The site is currently occupied by a 4-storey commercial office building surrounded by associated surface parking currently 74% vacant. The proposal seeks to redevelop the site with a 34-storey residential building comprised of a 6-storey base and a 28-storey tower element in a north-south orientation The total GFA is 24,926 m² –all of which is residential space– resulting in a gross density of 5.6 FSI The site is a few minutes walk from Wilson subway station on University Line 1 and within the Provinicially mandated Major Transit Station Area around it where high density is encouraged The building's neighbours to the north are all residential in nature and completed within the last decade gradually transforming this area from commercial and light industrial uses ACDF teased this their first design in Toronto on Instagram as early as November The firm has been the recipient of several national and international architecture awards including the prestigious Governor General of Canada Medal in 2010 and 2012 Its portfolio includes dynamic residential buildings in Montreal the new T-A-St-Germain Library in Saint-Hyacinthe The proposed 2 Tippett footprint follows the shape of the site to accentuate a future linear park along Allen Road easement The southern tip of the site at the end of Tippett Road is left free to connect the two pedestrian walkways planned by the city to create a ‘vegetation loop’ all around the project The podium is sculpted by the site and extruded upwards to 6 storeys Its ground floor has been designed to maximize porosity in the residential lobby which is intended have a dynamic presence on the surrounding landscaping the project extends from podium to tower using curves as interpretation of flow and movement experienced by its proximity to the highway.” The proposed tower has been designed by ACDF with a high degree of architectural detailing and would be clearly delineated from the base building through a substantial step-back on the west elevation Grey brick with Corten steel accents are specified at grade level while white precast concrete is specified above with stainless steel accents on balconies and around the windows Rounded balcony edges and rounded privacy panels create a textured façade against the structural grid — a design the architectural firm refers to as 'Squaring the circle' ACDF is proposing architectural strategies it has developed across its projects: Close up of the textured façade and concept ‘squaring the circle’ the proposal comprises 417 dwelling units [including 7 affordable units] in the following mix: 101 studios (24%) it is anticipated that the 410 market units would be condominium in tenure The proposal includes an affordable housing contribution of 760 m² which is currently configured as seven 2-storey townhouse units at grade with both external and internal access to the building and to its amenities They would share three elevators for the 410 above-ground suites making for a ratio of 137 suites per elevator indicating potentially prolonged wait times View from pedestrian walkway at end of Tippett Road Residents would have access to a total 924 m² of indoor amenity space The proposed outdoor amenity space is a 748 m² terrace occupying the Level 5 roof directly accessible from the contiguous indoor amenity room It includes a mix of seating and planting areas and an outdoor pool Four levels of underground parking would provide a total of 195 vehicle parking spaces (172 residential a total of 320 bicycle parking spaces are proposed inclusive of 290 in the garage and 30 “short-term” at-grade The proposal includes several publicly accessible open spaces including an extension of the Allen Road Pathway within the required 14.0 metre Ministry of Transportation highway setback; an east-west pedestrian mid-block connection running parallel to the north lot line; and a 443 m² privately owned publicly accessible open space (‘POPS) at the southeast corner of the site The enhancements are intended to significantly expand the public realm on and around the private site and will be landscaped with a mix of new perennial plantings trees and hardscaped elements to create a pedestrianized “vegetation belt” around the proposed building footprint Here’s how North York’s housing market performed by neighbourhood in April 2024 Bathurst Manor and Clanton Park home prices averaged $1.26 million up 5.3 per cent from March 2024 and up 20.3 per cent compared to April 2023 Don Mills and Don Valley West home prices averaged $1.06 million down 17.1 per cent from March 2024 and down 23.4 per cent compared to April 2023 Lawrence West home prices averaged $2.22 million up 10.8 per cent from March 2024 and up 1.8 per cent compared to April 2023 North York Core East home prices averaged $1.09 million down 2.9 per cent from March 2024 and down 8.5 per cent compared to April 2023 North York Core West home prices averaged $1.26 million up 5.9 per cent from March 2024 but down 4 per cent compared to April 2023 North York Northeast home prices averaged $961,084 down 7.3 per cent from March 2024 and down 3.2 per cent compared to April 2023 North York Northwest home prices averaged $823,029 down 8.1 per cent from March 2024 and down 4.8 per cent compared to April 2023 North York Southwest home prices averaged $893,925 up 5.1 per cent from March 2024 and up 6.3 per cent compared to April 2023 Bridle Path and York Mills home prices averaged $3.46 million up 9.4 per cent from March 2024 and up 17 per cent compared to April 2023 Those home sale prices compare to an average of $1.15 million for the City of Toronto and $1.16 million for the Greater Toronto Area There were 23 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 22 days on the market and 120 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 23.3 per cent and active listings were up 39.5 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $1.82 million up 10.8 per cent or $177,774 month-over-month and up 20.7 per cent or $313,461 year-over-year There were 12 detached house sales after an average of 16 days on the market and 43 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $596,700 down 6.6 per cent or $42,250 month-over-month and down 9.2 per cent or $60,175 year-over-year There were 10 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 30 days on the market and 69 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in Bathurst Manor and Clanton Park has increased 122.5 per cent including a $976,194 gain for detached houses and a $218,615 gain for apartment-style condos There were 40 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 23 days on the market and 165 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 25.9 per cent and active listings were up 73.7 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $1.97 million down 5.4 per cent or $112,851 month-over-month and down 13.6 per cent or $309,504 year-over-year There were 11 detached house sales after an average of 13 days on the market and 43 active listings at the end of the month down 8.7 per cent or $97,083 month-over-month and down 8.1 per cent or $89,500 year-over-year There were four semi-detached house sales after an average of 11 days on the market and eight active listings at the end of the month down 22.9 per cent or $295,500 month-over-month There was one attached house sale after seven days on the market and 10 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $787,500 down 6.9 per cent or $58,500 month-over-month and down 9.1 per cent or $78,500 year-over-year There were two townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 25 days on the market and 12 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $646,248 down 8.2 per cent or $58,073 month-over-month but up 1.3 per cent or $8,248 year-over-year There were 21 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 33 days on the market and 88 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in Don Mills and Don Valley West has increased 68.4 per cent including a $939,092 gain for detached houses a $345,790 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $301,974 gain for apartment-style condos There were 77 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 18 days on the market and 163 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 3.8 per cent and active listings were up 31.5 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $2.86 million up 10.8 per cent or $278,216 month-over-month and up 6 per cent or $161,267 year-over-year There were 45 detached house sales after an average of 16 days on the market and 93 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $1.65 million down 11.7 per cent or $219,504 month-over-month but up 2.5 per cent or $39,717 year-over-year There were five semi-detached house sales after an average of six days on the market and five active listings at the end of the month Attached houses (↗) averaged $2.07 million up 33.6 per cent or $521,000 month-over-month There was one attached house sale after two days on the market and one active listing at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↗) averaged $1.82 million up 111.3 per cent or $957,500 month-over-month and up 51.8 per cent or $620,000 year-over-year There were two townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 14 days on the market and three active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↗) averaged $1.21 million up 47.3 per cent or $387,711 month-over-month and up 19.1 per cent or $193,510 year-over-year There were 23 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 22 days on the market and 57 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in Lawrence West has increased 64.9 per cent including a $1.26 million gain for detached houses a $867,500 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $680,511 gain for apartment-style condos There were 93 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 23 days on the market and 293 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 20.5 per cent and active listings were up 103.5 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $2.54 million down 1.6 per cent or $42,189 month-over-month and down 6.2 per cent or $168,562 year-over-year There were 15 detached house sales after an average of 35 days on the market and 72 active listings at the end of the month Attached houses (↗) averaged $1.68 million up 25.9 per cent or $344,500 month-over-month and up 0.8 per cent or $13,400 year-over-year There were two attached house sales after an average of 15 days on the market and four active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $886,014 down 10.7 per cent or $106,486 month-over-month and down 24.4 per cent or $286,487 year-over-year There were seven townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 16 days on the market and 15 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↗) averaged $779,914 up 6.6 per cent or $48,532 month-over-month and up 4.5 per cent or $33,826 year-over-year There were 69 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 22 days on the market and 198 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Core East has increased 59.4 per cent including a $1.11 million gain for detached houses a $290,014 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $364,997 gain for apartment-style condos There were 73 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 20 days on the market and 228 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 21.5 per cent and active listings were up 58.3 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $1.95 million up 3.8 per cent or $71,163 month-over-month but down 14.9 per cent or $341,880 year-over-year There were 28 detached house sales after an average of 16 days on the market and 81 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $1.17 million down 8.3 per cent or $105,830 month-over-month but up 6.8 per cent or $74,433 year-over-year There were three semi-detached house sales after an average of nine days on the market and five active listings at the end of the month Attached houses (↗) averaged $1.29 million up 1.9 per cent or $24,000 month-over-month and up 3.9 per cent or $49,000 year-over-year There were two attached house sales after an average of 14 days on the market and eight active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↗) averaged $892,857 up 20.9 per cent or $154,357 month-over-month and up 15.4 per cent or $118,874 year-over-year There were seven townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 13 days on the market and 20 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↗) averaged $747,906 up 3.9 per cent or $28,361 month-over-month but down 3.2 per cent or $25,063 year-over-year There were 33 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 26 days on the market and 114 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Core West has increased 74.8 per cent including a $870,009 gain for detached houses a $414,232 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $393,087 gain for apartment-style condos There were 104 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 24 days on the market and 361 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 30.2 per cent and active listings were up 142.3 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $2.01 million down 2.5 per cent or $50,600 month-over-month but up 0.7 per cent or $13,901 year-over-year There were 14 detached house sales after an average of 29 days on the market and 71 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $1.18 million down 2.3 per cent or $27,169 month-over-month and down 0.8 per cent or $9,737 year-over-year There were six semi-detached house sales after an average of eight days on the market and five active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↗) averaged $910,200 up 15 per cent or $118,736 month-over-month but down 0.1 per cent or $506 year-over-year There were 15 townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 26 days on the market and 34 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $740,862 down 1 per cent or $7,419 month-over-month but up 6.7 per cent or $46,432 year-over-year There were 69 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 23 days on the market and 251 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Northeast has increased 75.3 per cent including a $1.02 million gain for detached houses a $438,514 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $371,299 gain for apartment-style condos There were 74 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 23 days on the market and 266 active listings at the end of the month Sales were down 20.4 per cent and active listings were up 57.4 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $1.25 million up 0.7 per cent or $8,454 month-over-month but down 10.8 per cent or $150,438 year-over-year There were 14 detached house sales after an average of 17 days on the market and 61 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $941,978 down 2.4 per cent or $23,454 month-over-month and down 3 per cent or $29,515 year-over-year There were 23 semi-detached house sales after an average of 18 days on the market and 53 active listings at the end of the month down 4.3 per cent or $44,200 month-over-month and down 12.1 per cent or $133,875 year-over-year There were three attached house sales after an average of 13 days on the market and 15 active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↗) averaged $717,222 up 11.2 per cent or $71,972 month-over-month and up 5.5 per cent or $37,323 year-over-year There were nine townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 16 days on the market and 34 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $506,954 down 3.5 per cent or $18,182 month-over-month and down 3.5 per cent or $18,606 year-over-year There were 24 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 35 days on the market and 101 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Northwest has increased 85.9 per cent including a $636,754 gain for detached houses a $492,391 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $260,807 gain for apartment-style condos There were 79 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 20 days on the market and 193 active listings at the end of the month Sales were up 9.7 per cent and active listings were up 27 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↗) averaged $1.24 million up 3.2 per cent or $38,449 month-over-month and up 6.4 per cent or $74,284 year-over-year There were 37 detached house sales after an average of 14 days on the market and 70 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↗) averaged $1.01 million up 3.3 per cent or $32,000 month-over-month but down 1.3 per cent or $13,250 year-over-year There were three semi-detached house sales after an average of 16 days on the market and six active listings at the end of the month down 4.9 per cent or $45,667 month-over-month and down 9.5 per cent or $92,500 year-over-year There was one attached house sale after eight days on the market and three active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $636,000 down 14.1 per cent or $104,000 month-over-month and down 2 per cent or $12,686 year-over-year There were seven townhouse-style condo sales after an average of 27 days on the market and 30 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $531,335 down 10.1 per cent or $59,576 month-over-month and down 5.4 per cent or $30,240 year-over-year There were 31 apartment-style condo sales after an average of 26 days on the market and 84 active listings at the end of the month the average sale price for all houses and condos in North York Southwest has increased 92.1 per cent including a $648,681 gain for detached houses a $297,786 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $335,682 gain for apartment-style condos There were 25 home sales in April 2024 after an average of 32 days on the market and 132 active listings at the end of the month Sales were up 13.6 per cent and active listings were up 43.5 per cent compared to April 2023 Detached houses (↘) averaged $4.21 million down 1.3 per cent or $54,922 month-over-month but up 3.8 per cent or $155,381 year-over-year There were 19 detached house sales after an average of 32 days on the market and 105 active listings at the end of the month Semi-detached houses (↘) averaged $1.28 million down 5.8 per cent or $79,250 month-over-month There were two semi-detached house sales after an average of 18 days on the market and two active listings at the end of the month Townhouse-style condos (↘) averaged $1.33 million down 1.3 per cent or $17,700 month-over-month but up 3.8 per cent or $48,200 year-over-year There was one townhouse-style condo sale after 32 days on the market and 13 active listings at the end of the month Apartment-style condos (↘) averaged $926,267 down 29.4 per cent or $385,136 month-over-month and down 38.5 per cent or $580,483 year-over-year There were three apartment-style condo sales after an average of 48 days on the market and 10 active listings at the end of the month Bridle Path and York Mills has increased 54.9 per cent including a $1.69 million gain for detached houses a $528,000 gain for townhouse-style condos and a $32,566 drop for apartment-style condos The student and adult volunteers that helped create the sensory path at the Clanton City Park playground on Nov Students from Chilton County High School’s Student Government Association and Chilton County’s 4-H program helped paint the path at the playground Students were able to paint their own portions of the path and put their own creative twist on it the Clanton City Park playground received a new sensory path that is designed to encourage physical activity by children in the community in another fun way The Chilton County Extension Office and the City of Clanton partnered on the project for the new vibrant and interactive pathway that allows children to walk a brightly painted path with their entire bodies march like ants or take a moment to relax like a tree “The sensory paths add a vibrant and attractive touch to walking paths and community spaces,” Sherry Carter an Alabama Cooperative Extension System Supplemental Nutrition Assistance “These markings encourage physical activity and guided play helping participants improve their strength A partnership between the Alabama Extension SNAP-Ed Program and the City of Clanton made the pathway possible SNAP-Ed community partners applied for the mini-grant to receive sensory stencils and paint to create the path and Clanton was selected as one of the beneficiaries Chilton County High School’s Student Government Association and Chilton County 4-H students volunteered their time to create the path at the playground on Nov The students got the opportunity to add their own personal touches to the path and project leaving an everlasting mark on the children in the community Student and adult volunteers that came out to assist with the path’s creation included Dani Claire Brock “The sensory path is a fantastic addition to our playground,” Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims said “It’s another step in ensuring our parks provide inclusive spaces where all children can play We’re proud to invest in initiatives that enhance the quality of life for families in Clanton and help children build a foundation for a healthier future.” The sensory path is now open for use at the Clanton City Park playground and all children in the community are welcome to explore the new feature this proposed 11-storey residential building would add another mid-rise to the area situated at the southeast corner of Sheppard Avenue West and Yeomans Road designed by MAR Architect Inc for EL Regency Group The latest Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application calls would house 259 residential units ranging from 1-bedroom to three-plus-bedroom layouts The development would have three elevators a ratio of approximately one elevator for every 86 units Amenities are set to include 577m² of indoor space and 567m² of outdoor space Looking southeast to 665 Sheppard Avenue West an assembly of four lots addressed to 665 through 671 Sheppard Avenue West it is occupied by four single-detached dwellings with these structures slated for demolition The site is bordered by a blend of 1- and 2-storey commercial establishments and single-detached homes Across Yeomans Road to the west is a nine-storey residential mixed-use building mid-rise developments. The neighbourhood beyond is marked by occasional green spaces the Finch Site of the North York General Hospital and a community centre that contributes to the area's family-friendly appeal The proposal has a Gross Floor Area of 17,438m² The design incorporates a terraced rear structure stepping back on the 6th and 9th floors to transition to the surrounding low-density neighbourhood to the south drivers would access the development from Yeomans Road The facility is set to accommodate 211 vehicle parking spaces of which 53 are dedicated to electric vehicles this project was planned to include a variety of townhome styles: 40 four-storey stacked and seven three-storey standard townhouse units The location is served by multiple TTC bus routes running along Sheppard with a bus stop right in front of the site connecting residents to Sheppard West subway station on University Line 1 and Sheppard-Yonge subway station on Yonge Line 1 and Sheppard Line 4 Cycling infrastructure is found close to the site on Faywood Boulevard while the City is planning to add lanes on Bathurst Street An aerial view of the site and surrounding area These buildings are predominantly 9 to 10-storey structures Clanton will have multiple warming stations available for residents to stay warm during the frigid temperatures and weather that is coming in over the next few days and into the weekend there are three confirmed heating stations that will be available for residents to use throughout the wintry weather The first will be at Clanton City Hall with it opening each evening starting at 4:30 p.m An officer with the Clanton Police Department will be onsite to assist residents The Chilton County EMA and Chilton County Sheriff’s Office confirmed a warming station will be available from Jan Clanton — the old Senior Connection building The location will be open from 4:30 p.m.-8 a.m The Chilton County EMA and CCSO confirmed that if temperatures stay below freezing for longer than Jan extended operation hours for the warming station may be put into place Both parties thanked Liberty Christian Academy and Liberty Hill Baptist Church for their help to secure the warming station the front entrance of the Chilton County Jail will also be open and operate as a warming station during the wintry weather it is encouraged that residents use the Clanton City Hall or Park Plaza warming stations All warming stations are currently operating The Clanton Advertiser encourages readers to share information on additional warming stations around Chilton County if they become available The City of Clanton recently announced a farmer’s market that will be starting at Corner Park in downtown Clanton on May 20 The farmer’s market has been in the works since last fall and the time has come to open the downtown location to local farmers and growers every Monday throughout the spring and summer months “We just wanted our residents to have another place to sell their vegetables and a lot of people are just raising stuff in their yards,” Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims said “We are trying to keep down the stuff outside of produce but steering away from arts and crafts (for this market) The city took a poll with the local farmers in the area Mims and the city were able to make the project a reality The farmer’s market will be held each Monday evening at 5-7 p.m. and vendor setup starts no earlier than 4 p.m No business license is needed to set up at the park but an Alabama Growers Permit or a Cottage Law Certification is needed to operate Items being sold at the downtown market are limited to fruits and no poultry products are permitted for sale To register for the farmer’s market as a vendor contact Debbie Street at dstreet@clantonal.gov or at 205-755-1105 Clanton Corner Park is located at 616 Second Ave 2014This article was published more than 11 years ago A new measure is being used to rank Toronto's neighbourhoods – the "neighbourhood equity score" which combines ratings for economic opportunity participation in decision-making and physical surroundings change the way Toronto's 140 neighbourhoods are evaluated by city staff when they decide where to direct services The new rankings are likely to set off a lively debate about the city's role in providing social services and what areas of the city are most deserving of extra funding and attention – all against the backdrop of the fall civic election The new measures were developed in conjunction with researchers at St Michael's Hospital's Centre for Research on Inner City Health and are adapted from work done by the World Health Organization Chilton County delegates gathered at Higgins Ferry Park on Feb 22 to showcase the improvements and additions made to the park in recent months wheelchair-accessible pavilion that was built as part of the improvements around Higgins Ferry Park The old seawall was replaced with a concrete seawall that will prevent the water from coming onto the bank The staircase down to the boat launch at Higgins Ferry was also renovated during the improvements Chilton County Park Ranger Donald Giles and his wife Kathy and other Chilton County delegates gathered at Higgins Ferry Park in Clanton on Feb 22 to showcase improvements and additions made to the park in recent months wheelchair-accessible pavilion was built at the park near the boat launch and a new designated swimming area was created near the new pavilion and away from the boat launch and boating traffic on the lake for visitors to use Other improvements and additions to Higgins Ferry included a new concrete seawall to replace the old one that was allowing water to wash onto the bank replacing the steps going down to the boat launch renovations to the John Trobaugh Pavilion and weigh station and culvert concerns around the park Visions for the improvements at the park began three years ago and when the Chilton County Commission budgeted the improvements into its park finances Commissioner Darrell Bone took ownership of overseeing the work being done Bone was assigned to the park as part of his duties as commissioner “I want to give him credit for all of the hard work he has done and he has done a good job putting all of this together,” fellow commissioner Randell Kelley said and we appreciate everyone who had a part in it.” Kelley and the other commissioners in attendance gave Chilton County Park Ranger Donald Giles a special thank you for the upkeep of the park and the cleanliness that has been associated with it in recent times as the improvements were being made “(The park) has improved tremendously over the last few years and thank you to the county commissioners for allowing the remodeling and adding on of this stuff,” Giles said “We are getting more campers coming in and out and the county is not having to put in as much money towards the park as it used to Keeping it clean is a pretty big job sometimes plays a huge part in the upkeep of the park as well as being the volunteer public relations director and donating her time for the enjoyment of visitors “She cares about the county and this place and we really thank her for her time,” Chilton County Commissioner Jimmie Hardee said and this park is now like nothing it has ever been.” food trucks and other events at Higgins Ferry making the park a community thing and a fun experience for all visitors you are with it full time,” Kathy Giles said so if someone says ‘My battery is dead,’ I do not care if it is 10 p.m Anything we can do to help the public and make sure they have an enjoyable experience here swimming area and just giving the general public access to the water it gives everyone an area to come and make memories with their families there are a lot more additions to come in the future The improvements at Higgins Ferry allows anyone who visits the park to utilize its lake Other improvements to the park are in the works and plans are to budget those into the park financials in the next fiscal year as well Bass tournaments and other events are being planned for the park following the improvements it is for people outside of the county too because people from all over use this lake,” Hardee said and the key is to keep this park where we can afford to keep it open I cannot say enough about Donald Giles and his wife they are the reason why this park looks the way it does and commissioner Bone spent countless hours down here making sure everything is taken care of someone has to take the ball and roll with it Higgins Ferry Park is located at 11161 County Road 28 will be released in the upcoming weeks for the 2025 Peach Jam Jubilee Arts and crafts for kids will be part of the festivities included in this year’s Peach Jam Jubilee The first details of the 2025 Peach Jam Jubilee were recently released that will mark the 20th anniversary of the beloved community gathering in Clanton this June the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce has put on the Peach Jam that got its start when former director Mike Robertson held the first one in downtown Clanton With Robertson’s careful planning and the support of the community and sponsors the Peach Jam has grown from around 50 vendors to now over 350 vendors and thousands of people “We are so excited to be celebrating Chilton County its peaches and its farmers for the 20th year with the Peach Jam Jubilee,” Rachel Martin Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director  “We are so grateful to be able to showcase the hard work of these peach farmers that have put Chilton County on the map Being able to offer this event completely free of charge and have a family friendly event that everyone can enjoy shows the true dedication of our community and the heart of Chilton County.” Peach Jam 2025 will take place in Clanton City Park and Ollie Park from June 13-14 The first night will be from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Last year’s event brought in over 20,000 people to enjoy the arts Announcements regarding the musical acts that will be performing at this year’s Peach Jam on both nights will be announced in the coming weeks after Rhett Walker headlined night one and Chris Janson headlining night two last year Sponsorship and vendor booth spaces are both available now Chilton Chamber members will have an exclusive opportunity to set up on June 13 during the Christian concert and remain in that spot throughout the following day on Saturday as well and there will be no additional charge for the early set up and will give vendors an extra night of sales The second annual Michawk’s Car Show took place on July 1 at West End Park in Clanton and Michael Hawkins put on the car show that featured vendors “It was a very good turnout,” Hawkins said “A lot of people came in from out of town to participate in the activities … It was a lot of fun.” Trophies were handed out at the show as well Best in show cars were also crowned at the event “There were a lot of trophies given away,” Hawkins said I really appreciate the turn out we had for it.” The city of Clanton recently unveiled a monument in Clanton Corner Park in downtown that marks the exact center of the state of Alabama After new coordinates and measurements were recently made Clanton was named the new direct center of the state The Birmingham Association of Realtors made a $7,500 donation to the city to assist in the purchase of the monument Members of the Birmingham Association of Realtors the Clanton City Council and other city officials gathered around the new monument on July 11 for a photo The inside of Skye Apothecary has changed its look and updated its inventory for visitors Patrons look through vendors at one of Skye Apothecary’s events in their parking lot Scenes from one of the events held at Skye Apothecary in Clanton Skye Apothecary in Clanton has grown a lot since opening its doors in June 2021 The business has been proactive about holding events since opening to get as many people in the community to their location as possible it has outgrown the parking lot and Skye Apothecary is holding its Night Skye Market at Richard Wood Park in Thorsby on Sept The apothecary holds events each quarter of the year in the parking lot of their shop and for the last event during the summer the staff had to limit the number of vendors who could come because the number interested in coming outnumbered the spaces available in the parking lot To combat the space problem and to accommodate the growth Skye Apothecary will use the Thorsby park to welcome over 60 small businesses and handmade vendors that have already signed up from 2-8 p.m “I wanted to do a night time event because I enjoy the idea of people being able to shop small businesses at night with really cool lights under the tents,” Rebekah Nevins so I thought moving it to a park we could have as many vendors as we want and it works out better that way.” The event will feature food trucks as well as live music by the band Chasing Payne from Fort Payne Nevins has sent out a few more vendor requests this week and expects more to sign up before Sept Vendors are being invited from across central Alabama to attend the market “I love supporting small businesses and handmade vendors because I was one “I did not expect to own a business that is so supported in this community and has grown to the magnitude of needing to move an event to the park to be able to hold all of the people.” She said it makes her emotional to think how much the apothecary has expanded and gained notoriety since opening Nevins added that every week people are coming in to visit the store for the first time Skye Apothecary is facilitating this growth by adding new inventory to its shelves on a weekly basis to keep things fresh and new for visitors The event’s Facebook page has over 700 people who have responded to it and over 650 who are interested in attending “I want to encourage the community to come out and support these people because we have so much talent in all of these handmade and small business vendors,” Nevins said eat some food and just be a part of the community.” Richard Wood Park and the Night Skye Market will be held at 9017 Franklin Street Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Two teenagers have been charged with murder from a deadly southwest Charlotte shooting in October, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police close to Clanton Park; officers were called for an assault with a deadly weapon He was taken to an area hospital and died early in the morning on Sunday CMPD states that a 13-year-old juvenile was arrested and after further investigation a 15-year-old juvenile was identified as a suspect 30 the CMPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT) located and arrested the juvenile and transported them to the Law Enforcement Center The 15-year-old juvenile was charged with first-degree murder and has been transferred into the custody of the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice The investigation into this case is active and ongoing The CAWACO Resource Conservation & Development Council met with dignitaries at the 2024 Strawberry Festival in Thorsby to present a check for a $10,000 grant that will go towards funding improvements to city’s Richard Wood Park CAWACO RC&D representatives met with 42nd District Representative Van Smith and Thorsby Mayor Robert Hight at the festival to present the check that will be used to update and improve the park’s restrooms with new paint and fixtures The funds are appropriated to CAWACO RC&D by the state legislators including the Chilton county legislative delegation “to help empower local organizations and strengthen local communities,” a press release from CAWACO RC&D said “These funds from CAWACO help put dollars back into the economy,” Smith said in the press release “When we appropriate money to RC&D we know it will benefit communities like Thorsby by providing much needed funding for projects like these upgrades to Richard Wood Park The improvements to the park will not only help with the Strawberry Festival but with all other future events at the park.” Alabama Senator April Weaver also offered her thanks to CAWACO for their partnership with the Thorsby community “I love to see the money we appropriate to CAWACO RC&D going to worthwhile projects like the upgrades to Richard Wood Park,” Weaver said in the press release and I am grateful for CAWACO and Thorsby working together to improve the quality of the park.” Hight said he and the Thorsby community are thankful for the support from CAWACO Smith and Weaver to bring in funds for much needed projects at the park The $10,000 grant from CAWACO will also be used for improvements to the park’s stage and upgrading the electrical system to provide more power options for events “The City of Thorsby is grateful to CAWACO Weaver for the generous grant they secured for improvements to our city park generosity and their appreciation for our small-town values.” said Hight in the press release CAWACO RC&D is one of nine RC&D councils across the state and the one covering Chilton County also covers Blount Its mission is “to improve the quality of life of residents by the reasonable and responsible protection of the natural and human resources of Central Alabama.” Caleb Byers won the men’s intermediate division Participants played two rounds in the tournament Chandler Smith won the men’s novice division Mabrey Marsalis won the women’s advanced division Jason Swam won the men’s masters 50+ division Olivia Scott won the women’s novice division Jonathon Haley won the men’s advanced division Payton Wasden won the men’s recreational division The second annual 2022 Peach City Classic was held at Clanton City Park on July 30 with over 85 disc golfers flocking to the tournament The two-round tournament saw 87 of the 88 players who signed up attend the event and the player’s score from both rounds were combined to make their final tally Caleb Byers took home the male intermediate division posting a tournament best 19 under par for a total of 95 Dakota Steele and Clanton’s Jason Harley finished in a tie for second place two strokes behind Byers with a total of 97 Chandler Smith from Dora won the male novice division with a 19 under par performance for a total of 95 as well Jonathan Haley from Calera won the male advanced division with an 18 under par score of 96 Hines who finished second 12 under par for a total of 102 Mabrey Marsalis from Calera won the women’s advanced division just four months after having a child She posted a 1 under par for a total of 113 Olivia Scott from Alabaster took home the other women’s division Jason Swam from Birmingham won the male master’s 50+ division with a 9 under par for a total of 105 Payton Wasden took home first place in the male recreational division with a 12 under par total of 102 He edged Jerod Brown and Clanton’s Brian Jones who finished tied for second place with a score of 105 at 9 under par we have had a couple messages from people just saying they were happy with how it went again and they are looking forward to more (events) this year and are definitely coming back next year,” Hines “I was excited to see the new disc golfers we had this year as well as the ones who are always there to support us as well.” While all the division winners were from Alabama there were many out-of-state players coming from as far as Colorado and Illinois Hines said there was really competitive disc golf throughout all the divisions and that was seen with the close finishes in a number of the divisions and received a players pack for attending the tournament The players pack featured a premium plastic disc with the tournament logo on it a clay sack to dry hands and a mini disc marker “Everyone was super happy with their player packs,” Hines said No one hit an ace during the tournament on hole 17 that had a sunken hole that laid on the ground the winner hit an ace on the hole during the ace runoff and was awarded half the money pot Many businesses in Chilton County donated items for the raffle that was held after or made donations to help the event go on without a hitch Hines wanted to thank those businesses for helping make the tournament possible “Overall it was a great event,” Hines said and everything being laid out well and being clean and upkept That is a big shout out to our city park workers that help us maintain that facility.” The next disc golf event in Chilton County will be the Raleigh’s Place Flex Start Charity Event at the Raleigh’s Place course on Sept The C-tier event will directly benefit the Raleigh’s Place mission The flex start will allow players to show up between 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m Hines is also trying to setup a scenario where players can donate $5 and try to improve their score Details and registration for the event can be found at https://www.discgolfscene.com/tournaments/Raleighs_Place_Charity_Event_2022 The Clanton fall disc golf league will begin on Sept By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith | Community Columnist The Clanton City Council will meet on March 25 at 5 p.m at Clanton City Hall to discuss the future of Head Start in Chilton County The meeting was scheduled after Head Start was contacted by the City of Clanton informing them that their five-year lease is ending and the lease amount will change from $1,000 per month to $4,000 per month and utilities Henry Head Start program is currently the only Head Start program in Clanton “This is all we have for the children that live near the Clanton Housing Authority,” Jacklyn Baker-Christian “I am an Early Childhood Education major and know the importance of Head Start programs The majority of minorities are not meeting grade-level reading Henry Park is slowly being closed to the community the senior citizen building has a chain around the door These are important resources for the community.” Baker serves as an advocate for parents within the Head Start community and updates parents of activities and monthly news She currently has several petitions circulating throughout the community in support of keeping the E.M “Parents within the community can currently walk their children to school which is an important benefit for households without a car,” said Baker “They gave us notice that if we cannot pay $4,000 a month that we will have to close by July or move.” Henry Head Start program is operated and organized by Family Guidance of Montgomery and has been since 2020 but has served Chilton County for 30 years “We have spoken to Clanton’s Mayor and understand their desire to increase the lease,” Debbie Pinnock Interim Program Director for Head Start at Family Guidance in Montgomery “We do not want to close the Head Start Program for Clanton residents It offers much more than a day care center early childhood development and soft skills for at-risk communities We teach children to read and have learning centers they can play in Research shows that a child who has been in a Head Start program is much more successful at school in their first two years than those that attend a regular day care center.” If the City of Clanton does not decrease the amount of their lease the only other option for Head Start to stay in Clanton is to find a new location and be reconstructed to fit the state-mandated specifics required for childcare which may or may not be located in an at-risk neighborhood Henry Head Start currently serves twenty-six low income families and employs seven individuals For information on signing the Keep Head Start petition contact Jacklyn Baker-Christian at 334-657-8240 All Clanton residents are welcome to attend the public council meeting on March 25 the Clanton Lion’s Club and the City of Clanton Arts Council met at Clanton City Hall on Dec The 2024 Peach Jam Jubilee will be a two-day event from June 7-8 kicking off the month of peaches in Chilton County Events throughout the month of June will be planned to turn the month into a month-long celebration of Chilton County’s most precious resource There will be two nights of musical acts on stage and the second night a major country music artist By Billy Singleton | Clanton City Councilman the Clanton Lion’s Club and the City of Clanton Arts Council met recently to announce plans for the 2024 Chilton County Peach Festival and Peach Jam Jubilee the Peach Jam Jubilee will kick-off the annual Peach Festival celebration and will be expanded to become a two-day event 2024 the Peach Jam Jubilee will be the first of a series of events planned for the month-long Peach Festival the Peach Festival parade and auction will held on June 29 and multiple events at Corner Park in downtown Clanton will be scheduled throughout the month of June as the community celebrates its most famous agricultural product and the farmers who produce this enduring symbol of Chilton County The Friday night portion of Peach Jam will include a gospel music theme from the stage in Ollie Park The Saturday main event will be headlined by a major country music recording artist complimented by a very popular rock and roll tribute band The Peach Jam Jubilee will also feature local “Chilton’s Got Talent” performances for finalists selected during preliminary competitions Leading up to the musical portion of the Peach Jam Jubilee the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor more than 150 arts and crafts and other vendors in Ollie Park The venue will include a Farmer’s Market and numerous food options to satisfy every appetite Look for additional information on the 2024 Peach Festival and Peach Jam Jubilee in the coming weeks Make plans to be a part of our annual tribute to our most famous fruit and the growers who produce the product that makes Chilton County the Peach Capital of Alabama Let’s make “Everything Peachy” in Chilton County for the 2024 Peach Festival The 35th annual Swedish Festival packed Richard Wood Park in Thorsby on Oct The 2023 Swedish Festival Queens during the festival on Oct Children having fun on the park’s swing set The Thorsby High School cheerleaders were among the many entertainment performances throughout the festival Some of the classic cars that were on display at the car show at the Swedish Festival Vendors packed the park as well offering items to patrons The 2023 Swedish Festival Queens before the parade that kicked off the festival Some of the artwork that displayed as part of the Swedish Festival art contest The annual Swedish Festival in Thorsby that celebrated its 35th year of honoring the city’s deep Scandinavian heritage on Oct The festival recognizes the Swedish and Scandinavian settlers that were among the first to call Thorsby home in the 1800s The 2023 edition of the festival was held in Richard Wood Park that welcomed in thousands of visitors to see the vendors cars and people that make the Swedish Festival one of the most anticipated events of the year in not only Thorsby with the Swedish Festival parade that featured the newly-crowned 2023 Swedish Festival Queens local dignitaries and floats that threw out candy to the crowd who lined the streets in downtown Thorsby Around 100 vendors set up tents in the park to offer household items handmade candies and food and art to those who came out The traditional car show at Thorsby High School and the art contest made their return to the festival lineup in 2023 and multiple different forms and groups of entertainment performed throughout the festival The workshop on the property of Cynthia Bean was destroyed by a tornado on April 2 Debris from the workshop on the Bean’s property in a tree in their front yard Heavy winds threw debris from the workshop across the Bean’s yard and into the field on the other side County Road 37 More damage to the workshop on the Bean property As severe weather swept through central Alabama in the evening of April 2 a powerful storm pushed across southeastern Chilton County leaving damage in its path Just south of the Fairview community on County Road 37 between Clanton and Billingsley Cynthia Bean and her family came dangerously close to an EF-0 tornado The storm swept through the area at around 11 p.m. and Bean tried to react as best as she could to keep herself and the children in her house safe “I was so frantic trying to get my kids safe and we had four kids in the house,” Bean said but when we came out to try to get in the storm pit we could barely get the door open We knew it was too late and took shelter in the house.” her daughter looked outside during a flash of lightning to see the workshop on their property completely leveled to the ground The shop was 40 feet by 60 feet and the family repaired vehicles and used it for storage Pieces of the building were littered across the Bean’s yard high up into trees in their yard and in the field on the other side of County Road 37 Another shop on the property adjacent to the Bean’s property was destroyed by the tornado as well The storm system continued to move through southeastern Chilton County and a tornado warning was issued for the areas of Higgins Ferry Park and Lake Mitchell at 11:11 p.m for “a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado that was 10 miles east of Clanton moving east,” according to the National Weather Service as the system moved quickly into Coosa County The NWS conducted a survey of the damage in Chilton County on April 3 and confirmed that it found evidence of EF-1 damage in Plantersville near the Dallas and Chilton County line Winds of 95 MPH were estimated with the storm to earn the EF-1 rating The survey also confirmed the same system continued to travel northeast to the Pools Crossroads community where the Bean residence is and it confirmed an EF-0 tornado impacted the area Winds were estimated to peak at 85 MPH and it was on the ground for 17 minutes crossing over Interstate 65 near U.S The Chilton County Sheriff’s Office fielded more than 30 calls for road hazards trees and power lines being down throughout the night and into the morning of April 3 The strong storms throughout Chilton County knocked out power in communities as well just after the storms pushed out of the area that 3,690 customers were without power in central Alabama Most of the power outages were focused in southern Chilton County in the Verbena area 926 customers were still without power in Chilton County all of which are south of Clanton towards Verbena and east towards the Coosa River Alabama Power is working quickly to restore power for residents and it is expected that power will be restored before 10 p.m Chilton County Schools were closed on April 3 due to the power outages in the county No deaths or injuries were reported from the storms on April 2 Bean and other residents compared the storm and the tornado on April 2 to the EF-1 tornado that struck on March 17 2021 and took a similar path from the Cooper community to Higgins Ferry Park A Ventnor man is headed to prison for a stabbing at a youth baseball park in 2021 24-year-old William Clanton was sentenced to three years in state prison on a third-degree aggravated assault charge According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, during the pre-dawn hours of New Year's Day 2021 officers with the Absecon Police Department responded to the Field of Dreams Park after receiving a call about a stabbing cops found a victim with four stab wounds to the head Officers performed lifesaving treatment and the victim was rushed to the hospital where he survived Clanton was found in the park with two knives and admitted to stabbing the victim during a fight The investigation was led by the Absecon Police Department in conjunction with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit Gallery Credit: Chris Coleman A Ventnor man is headed to prison for a stabbing at the Field of Dreams in Absecon in 2021.\nRead More According to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office, during the pre-dawn hours of New Year's Day 2021 Kathy Giles cuts the ribbon during the opening ceremony for Kathy’s playground at Higgins Ferry Park Donald Jason Giles (Jr) tests out the new swing set Children enjoy snacks provided at the event while checking out the new equipment Community members celebrate the new playground An opening ceremony attendee tests out the new spyglass The new playground has been named Kathy’s Playground in honor of Kathy Giles Excitement was in the air at Higgins Ferry Park on March 27 as community members gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new playground The project was the culmination of months of work and numerous donations organized by a committee of Chilton County residents who wanted the park to have an updated “This is such a great moment,” committee member Durwood Brown said during the ceremony “We are so proud for our community and for our county and even for Central Alabama.” The play area has been named Kathy’s Playground after Park Ranger Donald Giles’s wife Kathy for her work on the project Brown said the name was chosen at a meeting the Giles couple was unable to attend Seeing the completed project “was more gratifying than I can explain” for Brown He said the project was a good opportunity for the committee members to be “a part of something bigger than ourselves.” “I think that was just a bright spot of 2020,” Brown said The project received tremendous community support government boards and community families all gave toward the project The donation account set up for the project received about $50,000 Many of the major contributors to the playground are recognized with a plaque near the gate The Chilton County Road Department also did the dirt and rock work needed for the project Commission chair Joseph Parnell highlighted that the playground will benefit children all over the county Commissioner Jimmie Hardee spoke about the passion of the committee and commended the Giles couple on their work in making the park better for everyone Kathy Giles said they want to “see the park continue to grow” and thanked the Commission for its support Commissioner Randall Kelley also thanked the committee and complimented the finished project Donald Giles estimates 30-40 children will use the playground on an average weekend The playground committee had its first meeting in August 2020 “A few months before that two ladies go together Kathy Giles … and Nancy Piccolo,” Brown said “Nancy Piccolo being a long-time Lake Mitchell resident and Kathy Giles being a newcomer being the park ranger’s wife.” Piccolo wanted to see improvements to the park and Kathy Giles recommended replacing the playground as something that needed to be done The project was given the green light to proceed by the Chilton County Commission with some funds to get started at an October meeting it’s important to know where storm/tornado shelters are located in central Alabama Below is a list of storm shelters organized by county. We also have a list of storm shelters that allow pets If you have a storm shelter you would like included in this list, click or tap here to email the WBRC digital team If you need a place to stay during the storm Click or tap here or more information on storm shelters in Jefferson County Craft Community Center: 7115 County Hwy 19 If your storm shelter center is listed above and has changed or needs to be removed, please click or tap here to email the WBRC digital team It was all fun and smiles at the 2025 Chilton County Special Olympics for special young children who got their day to shine on the athletic fields The events were held at Clanton City Park on April 24 and the athletes entered the football field in unison as each school was recognized The athletes gathered on the football field in front of a standing-room-only crowd for the opening ceremonies that passed out awards to senior students and those in the community that helped support the event Chilton County Schools Special Education Director Michelle Coppedge appreciates the crowd each year that comes out to support the athletes with a lot of planning going into the special Olympics each year the athletes were released for the Olympics to compete in games that included basketball shaved ice and photo opportunities were also a part of the morning fun for the athletes This map shows the Matthews Elementary School site navy blue represents the site of the future replacement school and museum and green represents the existing school and future park space MATTHEWS – Town Manager Becky Hawke has shared details of a partnership that could lead to Matthews Elementary School a Discovery Place Kids museum and a downtown park sharing the same campus The plan involves Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools replacing Matthews Elementary School on its existing property with a new building that incorporates the Discovery Place Kids museum under the same roof Once the school moves into the new space in 2029 the older building will be converted to a downtown park “There are so many positives to this project it’s hard to think of any downside,” Hawke told commissioners April 28 Hawke said the community will save 50% off of construction costs with the design site development and construction of the replacement school and museum being combined into one project Hawke said the site will be designed in a way that allows for on-property queuing that gets vehicles off Trade Street The school and museum may get separate entrances to prevent traffic from one slowing down access to the other The project would also create a much larger Stumptown Park Town staff and CMS are currently getting appraisals and surveys done on the sites which will help determine the exact boundaries for a land swap will be part of the planning for the replacement school CMS will also manage the construction of the school and museum The future park would be an add-alternate to the school’s construction bid package “That would allow us to get a hard cost of what that would require to make sure that would be feasible,” Hawke said then that would be something that would be a phased approach that we can come back at a later date and develop that park.” Another element of the partnership is that CMS would receive a portion of town property at McKee and Pleasant Plains roads for a future relief school Once the land swap boundaries are determined town leaders have the option of developing a park on that property Mayor John Higdon and multiple commissioners expressed excitement about the project and credited town staff for their work on developing this partnership “Can you imagine going to an elementary school when you can just walk next door for a field trip?” Higdon said Hawke explained that town staff has been exploring the idea of adding a park to a portion of the Matthews Elementary School campus since summer 2022 Discovery Place approached the town about a partnership in fall 2023 Commissioner Renee Garner sought assurances that the public would have an opportunity to learn about the project Garner said she would not feel comfortable voting on any agreements until the public gets a chance to weigh in Hawke said she would try to schedule a public input session soon and mentioned there would be opportunities throughout the development process for feedback Town commissioners and school board members are expected to vote on formal agreements outlining the partnership and land swap during May meetings Hawke described the downtown park as a replacement for Stumptown Park which prompted Commissioner Mark Tofano to ask if Stumptown will remain a park Hawke replied this would be a board decision and there has been conversations about the need for a bigger space for the downtown farmer’s market • Matthews and CMS approve memorandum of understanding • Request for proposal for qualified architects/builders • Completion of park construction at McKee and Pleasant Plains roads • Old school would be removed; construction begins on a new park Email notifications are only sent once a day there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles A Clanton man was shot multiple times and killed on Oct Clanton Police Department was notified after a 911 call came in regarding a subject shot in the area of Ollie Park around 3:19 a.m “Patrol officers responded and located a subject that had been shot multiple times It was determined that the subject was deceased Detectives conducted a preliminary investigation and determined that the victim was Alex Nasson Postell a suspect was identified as Jermik Rashon Lykes a 25-year-old resident of Chilton County.” Deputies with the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office and detectives with CPD attempted to make contact with Lykes at his place of residence on County Road 9 “Attempts to initiate contact with the subject by loudspeaker were unsuccessful,” stated the release “The CCSO tactical team responded to assist in the arrest the suspect exited the residence and surrendered to deputies without incident.” Lykes is currently in the Chilton County jail on a murder charge with no bond “Preliminary indications are that the incident was not a random act of violence,” stated the release “It appears that both the suspect and offender shared an interest in a female who was present at the time of the offense.” “Due to the cooperation between CCSO and CPD we were able to quickly and safely get the subject in custody,” said Capt “We ask for prayers for all of those who have been affected by this incident.” CLANTON — Eight-year-old Mandy Ross was all smiles when her mother handed her a cone of peach ice cream a much anticipated treat that’s all part of the family’s stopover at Peach Park on their annual trip to Alabama’s Gulf Coast “We were really worried this year,” her mom “We didn’t know if the beaches were going to be open in time for our vacation And of course we had to stop here and get our peach fix They are the best peaches we have ever had.” Peaches and peach farming are big business in Chilton County making an impact in everything from local cash registers to the culture And it’s right in the middle of peach season which traditionally runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day Peaches are the state’s leading commercial fruit according to the Alabama Farmers Federation and Chilton County is responsible for two-thirds of the crop Fruit farming in the county generates an annual economic impact of $14.6 million according to the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service And it’s the sweet peach that’s the leading fruit crop here It doesn’t take long to see how important the fuzzy orbs are There’s the iconic peach-shaped water tower just off Interstate 65 at exit 212 The 120-foot-tall tower serves as a unique milepost for travelers There’s the annual Peach Festival and crowning of the peach queens that are the highlight of the summer social calendar the cancellation chalked up to the coronavirus Last year’s queens will get an additional year added to their reigns Peach Park and Durbin’s Farmer’s Market are destinations for travelers and state residents alike The famous fruit stands sit at opposite ends of  the 205 exit The businesses offer everything from a hot lunch to fresh fruits and produce to peach salsa and relish Generations of teenagers had their first jobs at the businesses Keith Wise is one of the 1,000 or so peach farmers in the county The 54-year-old farms about 40 acres of orchards just south of Clanton He’s an easy going sort with a self-deprecating sense of humor “Too long,” is his answer to how long he had been peach farming When asked why he got into peach farming his answer is just as wry “Crazy he’s been in the business about 20 years “I looked around and about the only people who were making a living farming were farming peaches,” he said fruit and vegetables; strawberries and squash among them There are 20 varieties of trees in his orchards Farmers routinely mix varieties as a way to keep production going throughout the season Most of Wise’s peaches are sold just up the road at Peach Park Kay Ivey closed state beaches ear as part of the effort to control the spread of the coronavirus “Folks going up and down the interstate are our biggest customers A lot of folks in Chilton County were relieved when the beaches were re-opened That meant the beach traffic was going to come back.” So far the early estimate is for a “fair” crop “It’s not a bumper crop like we’ve had before,” he said reaching up and plucking a peach from a low hanging branch So folks won’t be disappointed.” From the weather to the fickleness of the markets so many uncontrollable things play a role in whether it’s a good year or not The life span of a peach tree is 12 to 15 years There is a constant juggling act of rotation of removing old trees and planting new ones in orchards a farmer may get some production from a two-year-old tree but usually it takes three to four years for the trees to make a good crop A late cold snap or frost could wreck early varieties But the trees require a certain amount of chill hours each year The cold weather allows the trees to go dormant which is necessary to produce fruit for the next season Each variety requires a different amount of chill hours And as we all remember from fourth grade science class “You can wind up loosing a bunch of trees if they don’t leaf out,” Wise said “But we stay at it,” he said with a quick grin There are other areas in the state with peach orchards The Tennessee Valley is one and there’s a swath in the Wiregrass near Dothan that has shown promise of late But if you ask most folks about peaches in the state just what makes Chilton County ideal for growing peaches The short answer is magic dirt and location They all come together to make Chilton County the spot a regional field agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service “The sandy loam soil in Chilton County is ideal for peach production,” he said “It drains so much better than heavy There is plenty of rain and a long growing season The days have ample sunshine and sunshine means sugar in peaches so that’s why Chilton County peaches are so sweet.” The rolling lay of the land has a role as well On any given year there are about 2,000 acres of peach orchards in production “Most of the orchards in Chilton County are planted on ridge tops,” he said So the ridge tops give the farmers the required chill hours but protect the crop from late season cold and frost “There’s really a very narrow area where all of these factors come together There are some peach orchards in extreme northern Autauga County But if you get 10 to 15 miles out of Chilton County those perfect conditions disappear.” Peaches have been grown in the country for centuries but the modern commercial production goes back to the 1920s Auburn University and the extension system recognized the crop’s importance and established an agricultural experiment field and station in Clanton just after World War II to concentrate on peach production That means there is plenty of cutting edge information available to farmers to go along with historical knowledge Peach farming is a generational thing here your father and grandfather likely grew peaches,” Gray said “So they have learned from experience what works and what doesn’t.” The market area for the peaches is the Southeast and east of the Mississippi River Which means peaches can be on the tree today and on store shelves in two or three days “The close proximity of the markets mean farmers pick tree ripened fruit,” Gray said “They are either sold in farmer’s markets or stores that are relatively close by The peaches aren’t picked green to ripen in shipment That means that the peaches are sold at their peak flavor.” varieties and the vagaries of weather don’t mean much to little Mandy Ross good!” she said with a big smile after the first lick of her ice cream cone Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com Packed park: The annual Peach Jam Jubilee brings thousands of attendees to Clanton City Park The Peach Festival’s largest event this year promises more fun than ever Thousands of attendees are expected at the free event which is hosted by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Ready to jam: Birmingham-based Rollin’ in the Hay will perform from 6:40-7:25 p.m “We at the Chamber feel that the Peach Jam is very significant as it fills the gap in the ‘Peach Week’ activities,” Chamber Director Janice Hull said “We have visitors who come for some portion of the Peach Festival and Saturday’s parade so it makes sense to have an event on Friday evening but special thanks go to our event sponsor Chairman Jason Calhoun and staff members Lynsie Glasscock and Christina Wilkins plan all aspects of the event The Stokes Automotive Kick-Off will be at 5:05 p.m. with the National Anthem performed by Hannah Tierce National Guard ceremony and recognition of public officials Senior Connection members will perform a line dance shortly after the Opening Ceremony the band Rollin’ in the Hay will take the stage for a 45-minute set Rollin’ in the Hay will resume at 7:35 p.m Deja Blue Band will cap off the evening by playing from 8:45-10 p.m the band is described as “high-octane groove grass with a touch of down-home foot stompin.’” Rollin’ in the Hay has opened for artists including Greg Allman and has produced six self-released albums and 15 nationally released instrumental tributes called the “Pickin’ On” series Band members are Rick Carter (vocals and guitar) Johnny Kulinich (guitar and mandolin) and Leif Bondarenko (vocals and drums) Deja Blue presents the best in rhythm and blues and dance favorites with four lead vocalists The weather forecast calls for a warm but dry day with the high temperature reaching 95 degrees but cooling somewhat by the time the event begins and more so when the sun goes down The Peach Festival will conclude with the Peach Parade beginning at 9 a.m which is a fundraiser for the Clanton Lions Club to be held at Jack Hayes Field at Clanton City Park 7:25-7:35 Stokes (introduction of local queens)