The address is located within the Aga Khan Park and Museum Major Transit Station Area home to a number of surface transit routes and the soon-to-come Aga Khan Park & Museum LRT station stop on the infamous Eglinton Crosstown LRT line and Flemingdon Park station on the Ontario Line Unlike your typical office demo and redevelopment Amexon's vision seeks to retain the existing structure breathing life back into a building that has struggled with high vacancy rates for some time now "Higher vacancy rates within the building have been an historic challenge which has progressively worsened since before the Covid-19 pandemic reflecting the limited demand for suburban office space in this area of the City of Toronto," reads Amexon's planning rationale the building is 83% vacant but is expected to be 100% vacant by this fall and the developer doesn't see things getting better "Amexon affirms the clear industry consensus that construction of new suburban office buildings or the upgrade to existing Class B and Class C offices to higher standards is not currently economically viable outside of very few geographic areas in the Greater Toronto Area." "automobile-oriented in nature," consists of the 14-storey office building a six-storey unused above-grade parking structure and an expansive surface asphalt parking lot — all severely underutilized Amexon is eyeing up the plot for redevelopment "In consideration of the subject site’s strategic and urgent need to increase housing supply the existing substantially vacant building presents an ideal prospect for retrofit and adaptive reuse from office to residential." Because the redevelopment involves retaining the existing building the project is fittingly being framed as an eco-friendly endeavour delivering what Amexon is calling "e-lofts." "By repurposing the existing structure the proposal minimizes construction waste and significantly reduces its carbon footprint when compared to a demolition and new build," reads the planning rationale On top of that, the redevelopment will include new, energy-efficient, exterior façades with solar panels designed to reduce the building’s overall energy consumption, and construction will incorporate environmentally responsible materials. Renderings from Core Architects depict a seamless incorporation of these elements and an overall attractive structure While the site includes both the existing office building and parking areas current plans (Phase 1) only call for the redevelopment of the office building on the western section of the site Amexon may redevelopment the eastern portion of the site (Phase 2) with a high-rise rental apartment the 14-storey office building would be transformed into a 15-storey rental apartment building by adding a level between the vaulted 14th floor to "optimize floor space to accommodate additional critical rental housing units." At-grade is proposed a 1,194-sq.-ft neighbourhood café and office-style “co-working hub." the development would deliver 331 loft-style units meaning residents will enjoy polished concrete floors The units would be divided into 131 one-bedrooms Indoor spaces would be found within the lower concourse level where a pet spa is envisioned while outdoor spaces are proposed at-grade in the form of an entrance courtyard and on the rooftop The rooftop would serve as a hub for residents with plans envisioning the inclusion of a communal herb garden residents would have access to 29 vehicle parking spaces and 369 bicycle parking spaces with plans aiming to incorporate EV charging stations across all residential This proposal seeks to revitalize an under-utilized office building with thoughtful rental housing that aims to create a sense of community and well-being while prioritizing environmentally sustainable building practices it would deliver much needed housing and vitality to the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood \"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. 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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 While hope remains that Line 5 will open sometime this year Line 3 is only in the early stages of construction and is about half a dozen years from opening designed by BDP Quadrangle for Gateway Properties Flemingdon Park is a high-density residential area known for its "towers-in-the-park" design — where most buildings are surrounded by surface parking lots and vast lawns which normally remain unused — along with some townhouses and a couple streets of detached homes Some infill projects have been completed in recent years and many more are going through the planning process.  The 45 Grenoble site sits on the south and west sides of Grenoble Drive where it makes a 90° turn just north of Dufresne Crescent it includes a 28-storey rental apartment building with 217 units and a Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 21,245m² on the site's northern portion that would be retained as part of the development An axonometric view looking northwest to the current site and existing building on the right Bousfields has submitted a Zoning By-law Amendment application to the City of Toronto on behalf of the developer the proposed building features a triangular floorplate above a five-storey podium that would frame Grenoble Drive The new tower would introduce 405 rental units a mix that prioritizes family-friendly living there would be approximately one per 101 units The new building would have a GFA of 28,494m² while the overall site would achieve a total GFA of 49,739m² and a Floor Space Index of 6.0.  There would be 914m² of indoor and 706m² of outdoor amenities with the latter connecting to a rooftop terrace Planned landscaped areas include a communal garden and shaded play area Parking and access would be provided via a consolidated entry point at the northwest corner of the site from Grenoble Drive A three-level underground garage would offer 138 existing spaces There would also be 365 long-term and 81 short-term bicycle parking spots.  TTC bus routes ply Flemingdon Park's internal streets and Don Mills Road Flemingdon Park station on Ontario Line 3 will be approximately 450m to the west while the Science Centre interchange station with the Line 5 will be about 700m northwest.  An aerial view of the site and surrounding area 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.​​​ A woman is dead and a man is in critical condition following a two-alarm blaze in Flemingdon Park on Wednesday afternoon Fire crews were called to an apartment on Grenoble Drive in the Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue area just before 3:30 p.m Fire officials say two people were rescued from the 21st-floor unit while nearby residents were asked to shelter in place as they contained the fire Paramedics say a man in his 50s and a woman in her 30s were taken to hospital in life-threatening conditions Toronto police say the woman has since been pronounced dead Fire Chief Jim Jessop said the man is still fighting for his life in hospital The Office of the Fire Marshal has been called in to investigate alongside Toronto Fire Services and Toronto police to determine the cause of the fire Jessop said there is currently no risk to other residents and those on the 21st floor who had to evacuate will be allowed back into their units later tonight The fire did not spread to any other units but there is substantial damage to the unit affected Jessop thanked his firefighters when speaking with the media saying high-rise fires are very challenging and very demanding going into high heat and while performing numerous critical tasks simultaneously they were able to quickly conduct their primary search and rescue the occupants,” explained Jessop The fire chief added Toronto police were currently notifying the next-of-kin of the woman who died WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Mark Carney will have to navigate a delicate balance during his first in-person meeting with Donald Trump today A planned peaceful vacation has spiralled into a prolonged two-month ordeal for Ontario man David Bennett who remains stranded in the Dominican Republic despite having all criminal charges against him.. A Canadian man arrested on vacation has been proven innocent Melissa Nakhavoly with why he is still being held in the Dominican Republic Warmer temperatures but showers are expected on-and-off for the next few days Meteorologist Natasha Ramsahai has your seven-day forecast Ontario Premier Doug Ford calls on Prime Minister Mark Carney to prioritize a list of projects including the proposed Highway 401 tunnel Monday is calling for rain and thunderstorms Stella Acquisto has the long-range forecast listen to NewsRadio Toronto live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts weather and video from CityNews Toronto anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices VideoFatal apartment fire in Flemingdon Park claims life of woman in her 30sA woman in her 30s is dead after a fire broke out on the 21st floor of a building in North York. One man is also in critical condition. CP24’s Courtney Heels reports. Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter The flames erupted in a unit on the 21st floor adding that multiple occupants were rescued One person died and another continues fighting for their life following a two-alarm highrise fire Wednesday afternoon at Grenoble Drive in North York The two-alarm fire broke out at a building on Grenoble Drive near Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road last Wednesday afternoon A man is continuing to fight for his life after a two-alarm fire broke out at a highrise apartment building in the Flemingdon Park area of North York last week Fire crews were called to a building on Grenoble Drive in the area of Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road just before 3:30 p.m A man was in hospital in life-threatening condition The fire was “deemed accidental,” Toronto police said on Sunday The man remained in life-threatening condition which was really scary,” said Martin Lyght who lives on the top floor of the 28-storey building but I was worried it was going to get worse and worse.” Lyght said he was very sad to learn that a woman had died “I don’t know their names yet — but I know a lot of people in this building,” he said speaking with the Star outside the highrise Firefighters encountered “significant flames” and “high heat” at the 21st-floor blaze said Toronto Fire Services chief Jim Jessop at the scene on Wednesday evening Crews had to force their way into the unit with the fire “I did have a chance to get up to the unit of origin with other senior staff and I can tell you crews were in that with absolute zero visibility high heat and significant flames,” Jessop said Fire crews searched the unit and found the two people who they removed adding that he doesn’t know the relationship of the two victims at this time “My heart was pounding,” said Yanique Brunel a neighbourhood resident who saw the fire as she was walking by the building Brunel said she could see smoke coming from the highrise as dozens of residents evacuated from its main entrance and gathered on a patch of grass by the street The fire was contained to the unit from where it originated though there is “smoke and heat damage” to the rest of the building Sheltering in place during a highrise fire is “common practice,” said Jessop adding that some residents evacuated once they heard the fire alarms He said it can be safer to remain in a highrise unit during a fire “than to venture out into the stairway and hallways.” Except for the floor where the fire broke out residents were allowed to return to their homes about two hours after the fire began “The rest of the building is absolutely safe which is why we’ve allowed people to go back in,” he said emergency responders started to leave the scene and many residents had re-entered the building after it was cleared by fire crews A highrise fire is “labour intensive” and requires two-and-a half times the human resources to simultaneously perform the tasks needed to combat a fire we have to do primary and secondary searches “But the crews here did another outstanding job today.”  The privately-owned residential highrise was built in 1966 and contains 217 units 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 soaring buildings, designed by Arcadis feature an attractive design defined by a golden exterior and two-storey windows at grade that give the building a sense of grandeur a total of 26 trees within planting beds are proposed across both street frontages and the new public park frontage "to support a pedestrian-oriented public realm," says the Planning Rationale future tenants would have a choice of 150 studio apartments ft of indoor amenity space across all three buildings and 27,577 sq which is "strategically positioned at the Deauville Lane and Grenoble Drive intersection aiding in providing visibility and connectivity to the greater community," according to the Rationale there will be a total of 648 vehicular parking spaces including 12 accessible spaces and 280 for electric vehicles located in an underground parking structure Also available to residents would be 2027 bicycle parking spaces the proposed development couldn't be better situated Located approximately 575 metres to the south of the planned Aga Khan Park & Museum stop (Line 5) and 500 metres to the east of the planned Flemingdon Park station (Ontario Line) the future development will have access to some of the City's most direct transit routes The site is also well-positioned near multiple existing transit routes including the 34 Eglinton East and 100 Flemingdon Park bus routes Nestled in the fork between the east and west branches of the Don River the development will also be surrounded by some of the most expansive public green spaces in the city so future residents would get to enjoy a plethora of hiking trails and activities Toronto1 person dead, another in hospital after highrise fire in Flemingdon ParkBy Bryann AguilarOpens in new windowPublished: March 19 A woman is dead and a man is in critical condition after a two-alarm fire broke out at a highrise in Flemingdon Park Wednesday afternoon TFS Chief Jim Jessop said crews discovered the fire in a unit on the 21st floor and encountered high heat, significant flames, and “complete blackness.” “During their primary search, while at the same time conducting fire operations, they removed two persons from the unit,” Jessop said. Both were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, but one of them was later pronounced dead. The victim’s identity has not been released. Jessop said he did not have information about the relationship between the two individuals. Crews now have the fire under control and have completed smoke ventilation throughout the building, the fire chief said. Most residents who evacuated during the fire have been allowed to return to their unit. “Our crews have done their air monitoring. The rest of the building is absolutely safe, which is why we’ve allowed the people to go back in,” the Jessop said. The cause, origin, and circumstances of the fire are unknown. Jessop said TFS investigators and the Office of the Fire Marshal had been notified. its three high-rise towers would rise to 44 The L-shaped site is located south of St Dennis Drive and spans approximately 10,830m² it is occupied by a 7-storey rental apartment building which would be demolished for this development The surrounding area includes mid-rise apartment buildings and townhomes while the Don Valley Parkway lies to the east An axonometric view looking northwest to the site and surrounding area WND Associates Ltd has submitted Zoning By-law Amendment and Plan of Subdivision applications to the City of Toronto on behalf of the developer The proposal includes three towers ranging in height from 148.9m to 165.2m A total of 1,833 residential units are planned The shortest tower would sit atop a 5-storey podium with the taller towers sharing a 5-6-storey podium forming a street-wall along Deauville Lane The redevelopment would have a Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 112,679m² Amenities include 3,670m² of indoor area and 2,562m² of outdoor area spread across the podium levels The tower floor-plates range from 770m² to 827m² notably exceeding the City’s typical 750m² guideline for residential point towers Each tower would be served by four elevators resulting in a ratio of approximately one elevator per 153 units This indicates significantly longer than preferable wait times for residents The two-level underground garage would provide 356 parking spaces Bicycle parking provisions include 1,650 long-term and 367 short-term spaces for residents The development propose to make a 1,081m² parkland dedication to the City at the south end of the site while a new public street would be introduced at the north end providing an east-west connection from Deauville Lane to more redevelopable land in the vicinity Two TTC bus routes stop within 50m of the site, connecting to multiple stations on Lines 1 and 2. The site is 500m east of the upcoming Flemingdon Park station on the Ontario Line, 575m south of the Aga Khan Park & Museum stop on the LRT, and 750m southeast of Science Centre station Existing bike lanes on Deauville Lane and Eglinton Avenue East provide cycling infrastructure with future improvements planned for Don Mills Road UrbanToronto has a research service, UrbanToronto Pro, that provides comprehensive data on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal through to completion. We also offer Instant Reports, downloadable snapshots based on location, and a daily subscription newsletter, New Development Insider Check back in with us at any time to find out what's happening President Donald Trump is planning to put a '100% tariff' on movies produced outside of America Erica Natividad with how this may impact Canada's closely tied industry The family of an Ontario man who died in a correctional facility in 2016 is calling out the provincial government for failing to act on recommendations made in an inquest into his death President Donald Trump is planning to put a ‘100% tariff’ on movies produced outside of America Erica Natividad with how this may impact Canada’s closely tied industry The effort to relieve congestion with a tunnel under Highway 401 is now on PM Mark Carney’s radar Premier Ford listed the project as one of Ontario’s top priorities in need of federal support Ontario’s measles outbreak is showing no signs of slowing and for the first time in a while the province’s top doctor publicly addressed the growing health crisis preparing for a first meeting with the U.S and some say simply getting America to agree to a framework for negotiations going forward is the goal The woman who says she was sexually assaulted by five former world junior hockey players faced cross-examination as defence council questioned what she said happened in a London hotel room in 2018 One of the busiest air travel hubs in America is entering a second week of mounting delays and cancellations Laura Aguierre looks at the mounting frustration as the U.S Federal Aviation Authority copes with a staffing shortage Jury selection has begun at the trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Leigh Waldman discusses the charges the music mogul is facing and why finding an impartial jury could prove difficult National Weather Service is in worse shape than previously thought due to a combination of layoffs Ivan Rodriguez explores the impact that could have as hurricane season approaches 80% of the Cardinals who have the task of choosing a new Pontiff were named by Pope Francis this is a group that will be significantly different from the ones who have chosen other Popes in the past The developer has retained BDP Quadrangle to design the building and renderings from the firm depict an attractive brick and glass structure with a fun geometric base supporting a 34-storey tower element above Between the existing apartment building and the new development significant public realm improvements have been proposed On level five would be an additional 7,163 sq ft of indoor amenity space alongside a 4,620-sq.-ft rooftop atop the podium the 405 units would be divided into 174 one-bedrooms Also accessible to tenants would be 264 vehicle parking spaces comprised of 138 existing spaces and 126 proposed spaces including eight new accessible spaces across three levels of underground parking 446 bicycle parking spaces have been proposed including 81 short-term spaces and 365 long-term spaces located in the parking garage and mezzanine level TorontoInvestigation now underway into fatal Flemingdon Park fireBy Joanna LavoieOpens in new windowPublished: March 20 An investigation is underway following a two-alarm fire in Toronto’s Flemingdon Park neighbourhood that claimed that life of a woman in her 30s and left a man in his 50s with critical injuries The blaze broke out on Wednesday at a high-rise building at 45 Grenoble Dr. just east of Don Mills Road and south of Eglinton Avenue East Toronto Fire Services said they were called to that address just before 3:30 p.m and “complete blackness” inside a unit on the 21st floor while at the same time conducting fire operations they removed two persons from the unit,” Fire Chief Jim Jessop said on Wednesday afternoon Both were taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries but a female victim was later pronounced dead The identity of the victim has not been released and it is not known what may have been the relationship between the two individuals While many tenants sheltered inside their unit a number of residents were evacuated due to the fire but have since been allowed to return home the Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) confirmed to CP24 that it is investigating the cause “We have dispatched two investigators to begin the investigation,” spokesperson Sean Driscoll said adding that he “cannot speculate on any suspicion of criminality.” Toronto police took the lead on the investigation with the support of Toronto fire investigators Toronto police’s forensics team remains on hand Police told CP24 on Thursday that at this time the cause of the fire remains unknown Neighbour Meet Shah said he was getting ready or work when he heard people shouting in the hallway and opened his door to see what the commotion was all about That’s when he said he started packing a bag to leave his home and tried I went down all the way from 21st to the ground floor and then I could see all the police as well as the fire brigade this was the first time I saw this big of a thing,” he said Fellow tenant Sans Gautam said her kitchen and living area became filled with smoke “I was scared and I ran out of the building and I called my brother,” she said “That lady who passed away I’m not sure but I’m so sad for her and I hope every body else is safe in the building.” In a post on X, local Coun. Jon Burnside said his “thoughts are with the woman who lost her life, her family, the man critically injured, and the neighbours affected by the fire.” “Thank you to Toronto Fire Service, Chief Jim Jessop and all the first responders for their efforts to ensure this wasn’t a worse tragedy,” Burnside added. With files from CP24’s Bryann Aguilar nd CTN News Toronto’s Allison Hurst Running from Exhibition Place in the west, through the downtown core, over to the east end, and north to Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park, the future Ontario Line will bring 15 new stations to Toronto and three landmark bridges that will transform the cityscape which will carry trains across the Don Valley in the north segment of the Ontario Line each bridge was developed with its specific site’s requirements in mind but there is a sound reason for that,” said John Potter senior manager subways sponsor at Metrolinx “The impulse driving the designs starts with the optimal structural solution for each bridge.” The future Don Valley Crossing Bridge is a balanced cantilever design that will be about 34 to 38 metres tall at its highest point The first significant new elevated crossing of the Don Valley since the Leaside Bridge was constructed in 1927 it will carry Ontario Line trains between the Minton Place tunnel portal and Thorncliffe Park Conceptual rendering of future Don Valley Crossing bridge features the same balanced cantilever construction method and will connect the Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park guideways and stations Both bridges have been designed with long spans between support columns which will mean minimized impacts during construction as well as reduced long-term impacts once construction is completed and the site is re-naturalized "We wanted something very slender and elegant like ribbons crossing the valley,” said Potter “We aimed to minimize the visual clutter that often mars the beauty of civic structures we have integrated the downspouts into the piers The resulting designs are impactful and complement their location rather than compete with it "The valley itself is the feature,” said Potter The Lower Don Bridge will have a steel network tied arch structure which will allow it to clear span over both the Don River and the Don Valley Parkway meaning that piers won’t have to be introduced either in the river or the parkway "Another benefit of this arched bridge design is that it's also quite a beautiful structure that can become a marker of the east side of downtown in much the same way that the Humber Bay Arch Bridge is a visual marker when you're approaching the downtown from the west,” said Potter "We also included an aesthetic lighting scheme so that you would see this bridge at night – the form would always be legible to people passing by and looking at it.” Rendering of the future Ontario Line bridge over the lower Don River the materials and finishes for the Lower Don Bridge were chosen for their longevity and appropriateness for the site custom coating will be applied to all steel surfaces kicks up a lot of salt spray or salt fog in the winter which is extremely corrosive,” said Potter these three bridges will transform Toronto’s urban landscape and become defining landmarks of the Ontario Line but we also are very cognizant about their place in the city and we spent a lot of time sculpting elements on them to get the details right,” said Potter Carrying Ontario Line trains across the Don River and the Don Valley they will play a role in connecting communities across the city from downtown to the West Don Lands to Flemingdon Park The future Ontario Line will also make it faster and easier to travel within Toronto and beyond A trip from end-to-end of the 15.6-kilometre subway line will take less than 30 minutes instead of the 70 minutes it takes on transit today It will also put 227,500 more people within walking distance to transit by Truc Nguyen Senior Editorial Content Producer Personal information is collected under the authority of the Metrolinx Act Personal information you provide will be used add you to an e-mail list that may send promotional messages or otherwise provide you with a personalized experience Those who frequent Flemingdon Park Golf Course will soon have to find a new spot for a tee time An application filed earlier this month by a development group known as Don Valley Trails Park Holdings details plans to transform around 95% of the North York site into 40 acres of publicly-accessible parkland The remaining 5% is to be occupied by four residential towers Municipally known as 155 St. Dennis Drive in the neighbourhood of Flemingdon Park m privately-owned golf course has been around since the early 1960s Although avid golfers may baulk at its demise it’s hard to fault the particulars of the proposal The development is expected to add 2,170 residential units to the neighbourhood Around 5% of the residential GFA will be dedicated affordable housing units m of indoor and outdoor amenity spaces are proposed and four levels of underground parking have also been proposed “This once-in-a-generation public land contribution provides an opportunity to enable the ecological restoration and stewardship of the Don River and Valley and Indigenous place keeping opportunities,” reads the planning rationale prepared in support of the application Views of the central "landscape gateway" New public open space south of the proposed development The subject site is located within the "Forks of the Don" -- defined as "a unique urbanized area wedged between the East and West Don Rivers that features a ravine and open space network," including E.T The area is also home to numerous regional and city-wide destinations focussed on arts The site will be served in future by the Wynford Stop of the Eglinton Crosstown LRT The proposed development in the context of the community the proposed development will represent one of the largest private land contributions towards new public open space in Toronto The details of the ownership and management of the public parkland are expected to be resolved during the development application approvals process A pocket of Flemingdon Park could become home to hundreds of new residents in the not-too-distant future A new proposal submitted to the City of Toronto plans to significantly improve an underutilized tower site at 200 Gateway Boulevard with a massive new development and add transit-supported density to accommodate the growing population The development will sit steps away from the future Flemingdon Park Ontario Line Subway Station. The construction of the Ontario Line officially broke ground last March A proposal submitted by SvN Architects + Planners on behalf of developer Novi Properties outlines plans to introduce a 47-storey residential building with eight townhouse units connected to its podium as well as a 12-storey residential building with 353.2 sq m of accessory commercial uses at-grade and two townhouse blocks A total of 558 new residential units are proposed for the site The public park is part of a Block Plan to holistically improve the public realm and public block pattern The plan maintains several mature trees and is expected to improve pedestrian connections by removing existing barriers and introducing new animated and safe pathways Surely coming as a relief to its residents the existing 17-storey apartment building at 200 Gateway will be retained and will benefit from several building improvements four new apartments will be introduced at-grade The site’s existing apartment tower was built in the early 1960s and features 284 rental units 65.5% of which can be considered affordable by the definition provided by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for 2022 While the timing of the completion of the shiny new Flemingdon Park subway station is anything but certain -- especially judging from the infamously delayed construction of the LRT -- one thing is guaranteed: this pocket of Flemingdon Park is going to look a lot different in the coming years director of family and wellness at TNO (The Neighbourhood Organization) stands at the Eglinton Crosstown construction near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue Sept Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong stands near the Eglinton Crosstown LRT location at Don Mills where a mix of residential For Flemingdon Park residents who rely on public transit the Eglinton Crosstown will speed up their travels and the information within may be out of date Crosstown is a series looking at how the Eglinton Light Rail Transit (LRT) line will affect the Toronto communities it passes through we explore the potential impact of this project on Flemingdon Park But some are concerned about the unintended impact of the light rail transit line on the neighbourhood located in the southeast corner of North York Don River’s west branch to the west and Don River’s east branch to the east “You can just see the gentrification beginning to spill further and further into the community and my biggest concern is displacement of current residents as they’re pressured out of the community because of the increasing rent costs,” said Darcy MacCallum which provides programs and services in Flemingdon “The history of the city has shown that where you put rapid transit is where developers want to go … and this is going to be a very attractive place to live.” will have four stops in Flemingdon: Sunnybrook Park “You’re going to have the Ontario Line (a subway line that will run between Ontario Science Centre and Exhibition Place) linking up there as well unscrupulous investors and developers are going to come in and just look from the profit angle and not think about the displacement angle,” MacCallum said “What we’ve seen already is that there’s been an incredible amount of pressure placed on families in the community around rents that have continued to go up and up and up.” Flemingdon is a lower-income part of the city compared to $65,829 for Toronto as a whole according to the city’s 2016 Neighbourhood Census Profiles “This is some of the lower-cost housing in Toronto Where do you go from here if you get displaced?” MacCallum said “We don’t think about ethical gentrification how do we improve areas … and we don’t think about how do we then help the people that are currently there be able to stay there and enjoy the benefits of these new developments.” which will have 25 stops between Kennedy Road and Mount Dennis is expected to be 60-per-cent faster than the existing Eglinton bus service “The Eglinton Crosstown LRT will bring service to areas with already huge demands for transit including the Flemingdon area,” Metrolinx spokesperson Ross Andersen said in an email the Crosstown LRT will be a part of a network solution with interchange stations to existing and future rapid transit lines and to the network of streetcar and bus routes Denzil Minnan-Wong stands near the Eglinton Crosstown LRT location at Don Mills where a mix of residential buildings commercial buildings and a school are being built Denzil Minnan-Wong said the Eglinton Crosstown and the Ontario Line are a mixed blessing the projects have also resulted in a “dramatic increase in development applications” in the Don Mills Road and Eglinton area “You’re going to see a massive increase in the number of people living in the area which is already under stress,” the councillor said “The number of development applications has skyrocketed … We’ve got at least 20 new buildings proposed (or under construction).” Minnan-Wong said the large number of new residential buildings will not be welcomed by residents He’s also concerned about additional congestion on Eglinton Avenue due to increased density and the reduction of one lane in each direction to accommodate the LRT Both the Ontario Science Centre and the Aga Khan Museum “With a dedicated Science Centre stop right in front of our building this light rail transit line will help make our location more accessible and bring more visitors to the Centre,” Ontario Science Centre spokesperson Vanessa Lu said in an email Aga Khan Museum chief operating officer Moyez Jadavji said the LRT will “attract new visitors and provide returning guests with an environmentally friendly alternative to visiting us by car.” STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Reporter Andrew Palamarchuk wanted to learn what impact the Eglinton Crosstown LRT might have on the Flemingdon Park area which is a densely-populated low-income neighbourhood Read the entire Crosstown series here He has been covering the crime beat since 2002 and has a passion for giving a voice to those affected by tragedy and looking at societal issues that may have contributed to it One theatre program in Flemingdon Park is working to make sex education less intimidating to youth The North York neighbourhood became a flashpoint in 2015 during the controversy over Ontario’s updated sex education curriculum a parent-led campaign kept thousands of students home to protest the curriculum changes which introduced concepts such as gender identity public health advocate and artist Shira Taylor created a program called SEXT — or Sex Education by Theatre — which teaches teens how to talk openly about relationships and sexual health through theatre “My goal was to bring my theatre background and use theatre as a way that we could stop making this topic so serious and stigmatized and make it more relatable and even just fun,” she explained Taylor adds that sexually transmitted infections are on the rise among young Torontonians particularly in underserved communities like Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park with a lot of newcomer youth SEXT has toured over 55 high schools across Canada said the program helps him feel more at ease discussing what his family considers a taboo topic so I didn’t know how she would feel if I told her,” Ibraheem the program initially had a marketing problem So Flemingdon Health Centre decided to promote it as NEXT — Newcomer Education By Theatre — to encourage teens to sign up “I think one of the approaches we took was changing the name of the program from Sex Education by Theatre to Next Education by Theatre to offer a more inclusive approach and a less intimidating approach for both the youth and the parents,” said Salma Sufi a community health worker at Flemingdon Health Centre some of the youth who finished the program have graduated to become peer mentors “I didn’t get a formal birds and the bees talk with my family but I think that through the program and [with] the youth now…we’re coming up with ways to find to deliver information in a way that is relevant to them through the use of theatre because they see themselves in these characters,” the 24-year-old said “I think it allows us to kind of open up that conversation [about] mental health and our bodies.” Join the thousands of Torontonians who’ve signed up for our free newsletter and get award-winning local journalism delivered to your inbox Jen Quinlan was just trying to get Roma kids to the dentist She ended up picking a fight with one of Canada’s richest real estate companies Jen Quinlan stood waiting on a corner in Toronto’s Flemingdon Park neighbourhood scanning the street for any sign of the residents of 31–35 St Dennis Drive Quinlan is the director of health services at Flemingdon Health Centre a collection of gently aging doctor’s offices and waiting rooms grafted onto the first floors of an apartment tower near Don Mills and Overlea The daughter of a small-town Alberta nurse and doctor the dark-haired 35-year-old is a true believer in community health — someone who goes to workshops about intersectionality on her days off and dutifully orders one of the rare vegetarian options at the neighbourhood’s Turkish restaurant because she believes Their plan was simple: bring busloads of tenants to the gleaming corporate headquarters of The Minto Group demand a meeting with whoever was in charge and deliver a petition insisting on an end to proposed rent hikes — a not-so-subtle show of force to let Minto know that the tenants would not be pushed around Quinlan had booked two yellow school buses for the journey Helping lead a guerrilla protest against a corporate landlord wasn’t something that naturally fell into a public health worker’s job description but Quinlan was jumping into the task with characteristic enthusiasm greeting each new potential protestor like a bubbly party host The bus trip was the result of months of conversations and town hall meetings with the community about their housing concerns was for the tenants to present a united front But as the 9:15 departure time came and went It wasn’t hard to figure out who was missing the composition of both the building and the neighbourhood had changed dramatically nearly half of the residents of 31–35 St Dennis Drive are Roma — part of a wave of asylum seekers from Slovakia and the Czech Republic who have arrived in Toronto over the last five years and settled seemingly invisible to the rest of the city in just a handful of apartment buildings in Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park Quinlan had spent years working to build trust with the community out of her attempt to improve the health of the new arrivals But as the morning wore on and the streets remained empty it increasingly looked like the Roma weren’t coming To begin with — before sparking a public battle between an apartment full of low-income refugee claimants and one of the wealthiest real estate companies in Canada — Jen Quinlan was just trying to figure out how to get some kids to go to the dentist It was the fall of 2015 and the staff at Flemingdon Health Centre had noticed a troubling pattern parents were bringing them forms from the local school that said that their children hadn’t followed through on their immunizations and dental screenings It wasn’t just a few families — it was dozens of parents each casually passing on frustrating evidence that they’d simply neglected to provide their kids with free and vital health care Finally the schools themselves began calling We think all these people are your clients,’” Quinlan remembers the issue was simple: the families didn’t speak English and so treated them as yet more pieces of paper in an endless shuffle of inconsequential field trip permissions and school announcements Didn’t they have trusted community members who could tell them how important these health visits were How was it possible that so many of her clients were falling through the cracks The clients were Roma refugee claimants — members of an ethnic group often called Gypsies though the term is now considered pejorative The families had begun arriving around 2012 with smaller numbers from the Czech Republic And the vast majority had settled in the neighbourhood served by Quinlin’s community health centre Flemingdon Health Centre serves about 2,000 Roma clients The clinicians at the centre are used to treating low-income immigrant families But providing care to the Roma presented specific challenges they had never worked with a population that was so new an Ismaili Muslim from Afghanistan — who arrives in Toronto and enters an established community with a network of people who have been here for decades — the Slovak Roma families were a population without roots in Canada Roma asylum seekers from Hungary had arrived in the 2000s but they were an entirely different community The most established Slovak Roma Quinlan was able to find had only been here since 2011 “If the first wave is someone who has only been here for seven years and is still living in poverty still experiencing lots of barriers to employment that’s not necessarily someone who has a lot of social capital to help the person who’s been here a month,” says Quinlan Flemingdon Park has long been one of this city’s landing strips — a spot for successive waves of immigrants to touch down there were other characteristics that made the Roma population distinct a staff physician at Health Access Thorncliffe Park noticed that Roma patients often came in complaining of pain and physical ailments that were revealed to have their root in trauma or mental illness and depression seem quite dominant,” says Ihnat The community suffered from a huge number of untreated chronic conditions Doctors found a higher than normal number of auditory problems and Quinlan began to suspect that the problem stemmed from the fact that her clients hadn’t been treated for simple ear infections when they were children the Roma families she spoke with seemed to have existed entirely outside of social services in their home countries Quinlan is an enthusiastic patient advocate someone who strides through the halls of the health centre wielding her smile like a scythe determined to cut through any grumbling and naysaying with brute positivity But the question of how to help the Roma population weighed on her “I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Quinlan says “I’ve worked in five priority neighborhoods I’ve worked with a ton of newcomer populations Tucked between the two branches of the Don River just south of Eglinton the neighbourhood is a dense collection of ill-kept Flemingdon and neighbouring Thorncliffe Park have more visible minorities than any other neighbourhoods in the Toronto Central LHIN Nearly 70 percent of the population speaks a mother tongue other than English — the nearby foodmart filled with the sounds of Urdu and Gujarati When Miroslav Mizikar landed in Toronto on a cold day in March he didn’t know anything about Flemingdon Park He didn’t know anything about the city in general beyond the scraps he’d heard from a friend who had moved here a few years earlier: that it was a place where someone who was Roma could not only survive A handsome 19-year-old with bright eyes and a quiet charisma Mizikar had come from the Czech Republic with his parents the family moved in with a friend for a few days then spent two months in a family shelter in Newmarket he began seeking out other Roma people in Toronto on Facebook And nearly everyone he messaged said the same thing: they were living in Flemingdon Park they were living in a single building — 31–35 St Dennis Drive a hulking ten-story low-rise just off the Don Valley Mizikar and his family found a spot and moved in The apartment was crowded — an ill-kept two-bedroom in an aging building — but Flemingdon immediately felt like home growing up in the town of Hulin in the Czech Republic had meant surviving in an atmosphere of constant hostility only to be rejected after employers learned he was Roma Mizikar went to the park with his friends when three men suddenly appeared then threw him to the ground and kicked him some more At least you have food and people take care of you.” but exactly how or why the group ended up in eastern Europe 1,500 years ago is unclear They’re the largest single ethnic minority group in Europe beneath the lazy stereotypes about Gypsy fortune tellers and caravans The anti-Roma discrimination Mizikar experienced in the streets is mirrored at the highest levels of society There have been multiple reports of police violence against Roma settlements in Slovakia Czech President Miloš Zeman casually declared that 90 percent of his country’s “unadaptable” citizens are probably Roma it was after twenty years in a country in which his people were badly educated and poorly treated by health and social services walking through the mall with his fiancée or asking for directions on the street he was constantly surprised by the way people spoke to him “When I came here and white people were helping me Mizikar saw people like Quinlan trying to reach out to Roma families And he saw members of his community refusing to engage branch head Adele Lamphier struggled to create programming for the growing number of Roma kids who were visiting her library “We didn’t know what to do,” says Lamphier “All of our traditional approaches weren’t working.” The kids all seemed to like to dance whenever she tried anything too structured His people didn’t trust outsiders — a wariness formed over generations that couldn’t be changed with a couple of dance classes people are offering free programs and good things,” says Mizikar “But they don’t know how to inform this community Because this community is very careful with someone who is not Roma.” Quinlan brought in a Toronto Public Health nurse who spoke Slovak to work with the parents The problems with children’s vaccination and dental visits were quickly resolved we realized that that was just such a small part of the settlement,” says Quinlan The Roma were suddenly a fifth of her clients and the community health centre wasn’t able to help them with their biggest problems but there were no official Romani interpreters in the system because Romani is not historically a written language translation services had no way of certifying a Romani interpreter they would use an interpreter who spoke Czech or Slovak often a speaker’s second or third language after multiple Romani dialects It was a language that usually held negative connotations It was also one in which many clients were illiterate The more Quinlan learned about the community the more she understood the massive barriers that stood between them and accessing health care When it came to the social determinants of health — the way that things like race and education social exclusion and income all come together to influence someone’s wellness — the Roma seemed to tick all the boxes it’s mindboggling how many of those system challenges come together in one family,” says Quinlan the Flemingdon Health Centre received a grant from the city to hire members of the Roma community to act as outreach workers and what better way to show that they were truly invested in the community than to hire some of their own One of the first people to apply was Miroslav Mizikar Mizikar had been busy trying figure out how to build a life for himself and his growing family he spent days listening to English music and watching Baywatch or Fifty Shades of Grey — anything to improve his language skills and Slovak and he found that English came relatively easily he and Pistolova were expecting their first child When they visited the health centre for a prenatal check-up their doctor gave them a flyer announcing the new positions Mizikar did his interview through an interpreter Quinlan worked with him to get his work permit delaying the grant until his papers came through Mizikar began work as the project coordinator of the “Resiliency in Roma Communities Project.” “They don’t understand how this guy has learned English so quickly how he knows how to fill out the forms.” Today He accompanies families to the hospital and visits them at home speaking to the community in their own language and helping them navigate the idiosyncratic bureaucracies of their new country he learned that one of the interpreters on the language line — a Slovak speaker on the phone from London England — had been injecting racist commentary into the interactions between doctor and patient when he told the gathered doctors and nurses The information squared with what they had experienced in their appointments that the health centre was serious about helping the Roma population But to Quinlan it still often felt like they weren’t connecting Patients might nod agreeably when a doctor suggested a course of action but at the next meeting the physicians would find they’d been completely ignored What seemed to doctors like a vital prescription or medical screening was put aside as families dealt with other worries — things like employment the clinic’s Tuesday afternoon drop-in had become an ad hoc housing clinic “So many people were coming with their eviction notices with the fact that there were leaks,” says Quinlan And the vast majority of complaints came from 31–35 St Dennis The building had recently been bought by the Minto Group — a massive real-estate company that manages 13,000 multi-residential units across Canada and whose founders are the 74th richest people in Canada according to Canadian Business but with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT set to be completed in a few years it seemed inevitable that rents in the area would rise Tenants said Minto had invested in the lobby and the exterior of the building while ignoring calls to fix their units Mizikar took pictures of various units in disrepair and broken windows left open to the bitter cold “The landlord’s position has been that they will evaluate the unit and they will determine whether the repairs are needed,” says Minto spokesperson John Dickie “People are not entitled to cosmetic upgrades.” Dickie doesn’t dispute that during the cold snap last winter the building didn’t have heat for nearly a week Now Minto was asking for a rent increase of 4.8 percent well above the 1.8 percent provincial guideline in order to pay for their investments in the building Quinlan began the process of learning how to be a housing advocate She contacted Cole Webber and Kevin Laforest lawyers who had helped organize the Parkdale rent strikes of 2017 which had won significant concessions from corporate landlords explaining that their actions would not affect their refugee hearings that their housing situation could only improve if they acted together “Part of that is to actually address the things that are most pressing to these communities And housing seems to be on everyone’s list.” as Quinlan stood waiting on the streets of Flemingdon Pistolova was pregnant with their second child and that morning they were both at the hospital it was like a silent signal had been broadcast across the neighbourhood Quinlan walked over to 31–35 St Dennis to try to round up tenants and returned ten minutes later She had found plenty of Roma families who said they really supported their actions They just all said they were busy that day Quinlan had to make the call: the Roma weren’t coming and the four tenants boarded the bus and drove north to Minto’s offices They were hustled into a board room with Martin Tovey goateed executive wearing a polo shirt from “Latitude Margaritaville,” Minto’s series of retirement communities inspired by “the music and lifestyle” of Jimmy Buffett any righteous anger the small group might have felt seemed to shrink “I’m not sure what it is you’re looking to me for,” Tovey told the group Last winter they had been without heating for a week an immigrant from Pakistan who has lived at St Dennis for 8 years presented Tovey with the petition — 128 signatures demanding Minto “withdraw all pending rent increases.” I think that went really well,” she said cheerily But the trip had underlined the difficulty of the kind of work she and the rest of the workers at the Flemingdon Health centre were taking on The entire philosophy behind the community health centre — the approach to medicine that Quinlan was so passionate about — was about not simply treating a client’s illness but trying to change the factors that made them sick it seemed as if just making sure the kids in the neighbourhood went to the dentist and got their vaccinations was difficult enough building a foundation of trust — that was a job that had no end the housing battle had become a full-fledged rent strike with 200 tenants agreeing to withhold rent until Minto gave up on their above-guideline rent increases The strike earned headlines across the country — the latest example of a low-income community taking collective action against a corporate landlord “We’re in an affordable housing crisis in the greater Toronto area,” said the lawyer Kevin LaForest “People are being displaced because landlords are trying to maximize profits.” “Minto has put almost 6 million dollars of major repairs into the project,” says Dickie “New heating system and improvements for the hot water heating They have improved many aspects of the building That work needs to be paid for.” On August fourth they sent papers to tenants starting the eviction process Mizikar became the face of the strike and the voice of the community reassuring families who were going through refugee hearings that they had rights as tenants in Canada Living at 31–35 St Dennis meant never being able to leave his work for a Roma person to know someone like him a person with the slightest bit of institutional power was “like a miracle.” At St Dennis he received dozens of visits a day — people knocking on his door “The landlord now wants to hear from the tenants,” said Mizikar slowly fixing things that hadn’t been fixed before And the relationship between the Roma and the health team in their neighbourhood was improving “The Roma community does not trust anyone,” said Mizikar declaratively “The Roma community does not trust anyone until that person shows them that they want to help.” Jen Quinlan and the Flemingdon Health Centre team were still trying to show them Nicholas Hune-Brown is an award-winning magazine writer and Executive Editor at The Local. Follow @nickhunebrown.bsky.social, email nick@thelocal.to award-winning journalism thanks to the generous support of readers you're contributing to a new kind of journalism—in-depth from corners of Toronto too often overlooked recognize stories on everything from life expectancy to encampments to waste management to the bereavement industry Every year The Local conducts a diversity survey among staff and contributors Candidates for TDSB trustee in Ward 11 are up against winter weather and election fatigue in a ward that will have four votes in less than a year We are looking for motivated and thoughtful individuals to join our volunteer board of directors the program provides training and mentorship to aspiring and emerging journalists from communities underrepresented in Canadian media even the most modest bike lane proposal is met with outsized anger and fear Gather ‘round the warm glow of The Local Slack channel as we chat through our favourite stories of the year The 55-year old museum shuttered without warning one Friday in June Then devastated staff were given four months to dismantle it A former employee on the last days of a beloved institution The Toronto District School Board chair beat out former right-wing columnist Anthony Furey in a fiercely partisan battle The only place to find fact-checked biographies and election platform summaries for all the candidates in Ward 15—Don Valley West's by-election for city councillor on November 4 Join the thousands of Torontonians who've signed up for our free newsletter and get award-winning local journalism delivered to your inbox non-profit journalism from corners of Toronto too often overlooked The new Ontario Line subway under construction in Toronto will include many individual achievements that will collectively form the 15-stop 15.6-km transit line connecting Exhibition Place with the recently-shuttered Ontario Science Centre This includes the first subway tunnel that will be constructed through downtown Toronto in over six decades as well as the first significant new elevated crossing of the Don River Valley built in almost a century A recent Metrolinx blog post outlines plans for three "landmark" bridges planned as part of the Ontario Line which the transit agency promises "will transform the cityscape." The flashiest of the bunch will be the Lower Don Bridge which will cross the Don River in the West Don Lands and Riverside neighbourhoods with a steel network tied arch structure allowing a clear span over both the river and adjacent DVP with no piers required in the river or on the highway that will truly stand out with their sheer scale The future Don Valley Crossing Bridge will rise as high as 38 metres above the valley floor at its highest point with a balanced cantilever design becoming the first high-level crossing of the valley constructed since the Leaside Bridge was built in 1927 It will be joined by a second bridge spanning the West Don which will feature the same construction method linking separate guideways serving the Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park stations was quoted as saying that the transit agency "wanted something very slender and elegant "We aimed to minimize the visual clutter that often mars the beauty of civic structures Potter says that the resulting minimalist designs frame "the valley itself is the feature." the North York Mirror looks at the changing trends and demographics in its neighbourhoods Data courtesy Statistics Canada via the City of Toronto Urdu is the most common non-official language in Flemingdon Park 7.4 per cent of residents listed Urdu as their Mother Tongue and 5.2 per cent listed Urdu as their Home Language Key changes in the neighbourhood between 2001 and 2011 Key changes in the neighbourhood between 2006 and 2011 VIEW FLEMINGDON PARK ON AN INTERACTIVE MAP designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Two Row Architect for Cityzen Development Group approximately 95% of the privately-owned Flemingdon Park Golf Club would be donated as open space for public use This would be one of Toronto’s largest private land contributions ever The site accounts for the entire golf club while the area for residential development is on the northern end of the subject site along St Dennis Drive Looking northeast towards the towers of 155 image from submission to the City of Toronto The proposal calls for four mixed-use condominium buildings. Hariri Pontarini Architects with Two Row Architect have created designs influenced by the surrounding landscape The four towers would stand at 42 (Tower 1) An aerial view of the development and park sites The proposed buildings feature similar designs that vary in height and facades for a “family” of buildings They would be connected by a base building with a shape inspired by the flowing water nearby the design calls for 2,397 bicycle parking spaces Looking southwest to the towers of 155 St Dennis Dr Drivers currently have the Don Valley Parkway and Eglinton Avenue East to reach the subject site There are several bicycle lanes around the area and the site is within 250m of multiple TTC bus routes The proposal includes improvements to transportation connections for pedestrians and cyclists The site is also about 300m from the coming Wynford stop along the Eglinton Line 5 LRT and is also about 1.4km away from the future Flemingdon Park Station along the Ontario Line targeted to open around the end of the decade as designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Two Row Architect for Cityzen Development Group The proposal includes approximately 4,460m² of indoor amenity space on storeys two and three of the base buildings There would also be about 4,167m² of outdoor amenity space mostly found on the base building’s rooftop terrace an off-leash dog area is incorporated in the design on the west side of the ground level With architectural plans showing four elevators per building that would mean for each elevator there would be 116.5 units in Tower 1 One of the more controversial parts of this proposal is the floodplain located south of the site Although the development site is located outside of this area the proposal calls for some minor altercations to improve grading and sculpting within the floodplain Looking southeast from St Dennis Drive to the development site Beacon Environmental has completed a Natural Heritage Impact Study as part of the proposal The study concludes that the development is not expected to have any negative impact on ecological function of the valley and does not pose any risk to public safety or health The proposed repurposing of the golf club for public and residential use comes with a variety of benefits Along with the development and intensification of the development site there is also the ecological restoration of the golf course lands and partnerships with several Indigenous groups that the developers held discussions with as part of the proposal.  Restored river valley landscape at 155 St Dennis Dr you can learn more about it from our Database file where you will find many more renderings that tracks projects from initial application calls for a new 37-storey residential building and another one that is 12-storeys Already on the property is a 17-storey apartment building that is home to low income residents An online petition asks for a delay in the proposed project but Toronto city council has already approved a draft plan of the project A group of community members in Flemingdon Park are fearful that a housing development proposed for their area will bring two large condo towers causing overcrowding and the eventual “displacement” of low income residents already living there Toronto city council approved the draft plan of subdivision for the project during a meeting Wednesday It’s now up to the developer to get site plan approval and building permits from the city The proposal by the Preston Group calls for a new 37-storey residential building and another one that is 12-storeys as well as 32 townhouses near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East is a 17-storey apartment building that is home to low income residents The development proposal calls for 552 new units and community members fear that a large share of those homes will be condos that residents there now won’t be able to afford Residents have organized an online petition against the project that so far has garnered 1,266 names They argue that it will take away green space from an “already financially disadvantaged neighbourhood,” increase population density in a community that is already well above Toronto’s average and put pressure on transit routes and overcrowded schools in the area “This project is the beginning of an unbridled intensification and financialization process that would eventually displace (Flemingdon Park) residents who are some of Toronto’s most essential workers and vulnerable communities,” Sahar and Salwa Abdalla and Dimitri Popov They had asked that the city delay approval of the draft plan for the project until residents could receive more consultation about it But those efforts failed with council’s decision to approve the subdivision plan Wednesday number of units and density were given the go-ahead by council in 2018 in a settlement offer with the developer after the proposal was appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (now called the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal or LPAT) including that the rental housing on site be retained a proposed above-ground parking garage be taken out of the plans and the proposed building heights be reduced – there was an original proposal for a 44-storey highrise Community members say the settlement agreement was reached without adequate consultation with them The group says that according to the city of Toronto only 50 people attended a community consultation meeting about the project in 2016 after 7,000 notices were sent out to residents in English only “That is less than 1 per cent of residents in a neighbourhood with 22,000 people,” the Abdalla sisters and Popov say in their release adding that more than half of the residents in the area who would be impacted by the development speak another language at home other than English Sahar Abdalla said residents are also unhappy because the price of the new units will be beyond what they will ever be able to afford “We want the developer to work with the community … to give us more affordable options,” she said in an interview “Even mid-range priced units will be out of reach for most residents,” she went on to say said the “horse has left the barn” in terms of the project going forward He agreed that not all residents were given notification but added this was later “corrected” by the city In terms of the community’s complaints about overcrowding he said the Flemingdon neighbourhood is set to get “the largest investments in the city,” including a new $88-million community centre a new school to be developed on city property near Eglinton and Don Mills as well as new transit lines that will run near the community — the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and the Ontario Line Minnan-Wong said there was “no rational reason” for council to defer approving the draft subdivision plan The proposed timetable for the start of construction for the highrise and townhouse project is unclear The Star reached out to the Preston Group for comment Nawal Ateeq is a longtime community member in the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood who organizes meet ups in local parks and walks in ravines to help get residents into green spaces Her goal is to combat some of the isolation that many residents face because of income pressures ravine walks and local litter cleanups in her Flemingdon Park neighbourhood she's noticed a disturbing connection between green space and the affordability crisis she’s noticed a disturbing connection between green space and the affordability crisis Talking about climate change can be unsettling Some of its challenges seem almost too big to comprehend But there things that can have a real impact And climate “action” doesn’t always look like you think it might the Star profiles Torontonians who are making grassroots contributions in their communities Ask Torontonians what the greenest neighbourhoods in the city are and whether they think you mean leafy-green or money-green The three neighbourhoods with the highest percentage of tree canopy are the ultra-wealthy Bridle Path and the rest of the top 20 per cent is studded with similarly tony enclaves Nawal Ateeq doesn’t live in any of these places Ateeq moved to Flemingdon Park from Pakistan more than 20 years ago and leafiness is part of what she came to love about the neighbourhood “There’s so much green space,” she said she noticed something: her neighbours weren’t using those spaces very much Research increasingly backs up her observations demonstrating how important nature is for our physical and mental well-being Climate change makes access to green spaces ever more critical “park equity” is becoming a major issue in cities around the world But to tackle this problem on a bigger scale some say: we need to think more like Ateeq “We’re still really viewing equity quite narrowly in terms of just direct access to greenspace “But there’s a new movement to expand that conversation to recognize social access .. which is looking more at the invisible dimensions of comfort and safety and belonging that have quite profound impacts on peoples actual ability to use green space.” On a map of Toronto, Stark added, downtown clearly has big expanses of grey whereas the inner suburbs appear to have swaths of green “But if you talk to the residents living there there’s no amenities in those spaces People don’t have a reason to use them their neighbourhoods are not walkable to get to to them.” From her years living here and from her day job as a settlement counsellor for The Neighbourhood Organization Ateeq sees firsthand some of the reasons Flemingdon Park’s greenspaces have been underused Part of the problem is how the neighbourhood was designed Living in a highrise adds extra layers of effort to getting outside “you do have to walk a considerable amount to get anywhere,” Ateeq said “The way the buildings are structured it’s just a little bit more challenging.” But there is another factor she keeps coming back to: “Look how expensive life has become,” she said If the connection between green space and the affordability crisis isn’t immediately obvious Ateeq cited the example of a recent family she worked with in the settlement office They are a family of four who recently arrived through the skills program meaning they saved up all their own money to immigrate here they were stunned to discover that a one-bedroom apartment rents for more than $2,500 and since they have no references or credit history in this country they would have to put down six months worth of rent up front This problem doesn’t just affect newcomers Ateeq added — longtime residents are struggling too They are also hesitant to share their problems with anyone else “People are just struggling,” she said “They don’t really have time to go relax in the park.” Ateeq founded a group called Flemingdon Community Support Services initially to tackle food insecurity But seeing the need to get residents outside she got microgrants from Park People and other organizations to establish weekly health and wellness meetups in local parks to bring residents on walks into Toronto’s vast and unique ravine system and to educate people about climate change — both what they can do to lessen their own footprint and also identify some of the consequences can be particularly acute for people living in older highrise buildings that don’t have air conditioning The green spaces in Flemingdon Park look different these days “A lot of people who join us on walks they will tell you about plants they know in their countries they might find similarities or differences “A lot of people have reported that their mental health has improved.” Toronto police have released security footage of three suspects wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Flemingdon Park A 32-year-old man was killed and three others were injured after the suspects opened fire at two different buildings in the area of Vendome Place and Grenoble Drive on July 2 The male suspects then fled the scene in a dark Honda CRV The vehicle has since been recovered in York Region RELATED: Victim identified, 3 suspects wanted in fatal Flemingdon Park shooting The first suspect is described as a man with a light complexion and a slim build who was wearing a light-coloured hoodie and pants The second suspect is described as man with a light complexion with a medium build and was dressed in a black hoodie and black pants The last suspect is described as a man with a medium to heavy build and was also wearing a black hoodie with black pants Security camera footage has been released by investigators and any witnesses are asked to contact police Don Valley East Councillor Jon Burnside at the private Flemingdon Park Golf Club which has seen a proposal to turn course into a 40 acres of public parkland along with a residential development Dale Booth is president of Innovation7 and an Indigenous consultant for Don Valley ReConnects a proposed project that would transform the private Flemingdon Park Golf Club into 40 acres of public parkland along with a residential development A rendering of a proposed 40-acre public parkland along with a residential development in the Flemingdon Park area An aerial photo of the Flemingdon Park Golf Club where a 40-acre public parkland is proposed along with a residential development Public feedback is being sought on a proposal to transform a privately-owned North York golf course into 40 acres of public parkland along with four residential towers proposes to repurpose about 95 per cent of the Flemingdon Park Golf Club land into a park for public use while a residential development would be built on the remaining five per cent of the site “We’ve gone public with this (proposal) now so that we can start engagement on it and we can get feedback from the local community and other stakeholders on how this project could be shaped to best reflect and meet their needs,” said Craig Lametti a partner at Urban Strategies and the project’s master planner A submission to the city for the project is expected to be made early next year Tercot Communities and Greybrook Realty Partners An aerial photo of the Flemingdon Park Golf Club land where a 40-acre public parkland is proposed along with a residential development Lametti said the proposal delivers “much needed new housing” near a new rapid transit station while providing new parkland for the community “This is an area that we know is experiencing lots of new development There’s 17,500 units either planned or proposed in the immediate area,” he said “This is a tremendous opportunity to not just add new homes in the area but actually deliver significant community benefit in the form of 40 acres of new public open space so we think that this would be a tremendous benefit for the people living nearby who would have immediate access to valley lands which are currently a privately owned golf course that only a few people in the immediate area would have access to.” The proposed residential development consists of four “organically shaped” buildings ranging from 42 to 56 storeys with a total of 2,400 to 2,500 units “The architecture is one that is being shaped by the site itself so these aren’t rectangular boxes but they’re very sinuous and reflect the landscape around them,” he said “They’re being designed in a way to promote and preserve views and actual physical connections right through the site Dennis Drive right down into the parkland itself.” A portion of the development would be affordable housing The project also proposes to partner with Indigenous communities and organizations to recognize showcase and celebrate Indigenous culture and ways of life Dale Booth is president of Innovation Seven and an Indigenous consultant for Don Valley ReConnects a proposed development that would transform the private Flemingdon Park Golf Club land into 40 acres of public parkland along with a residential development president of Innovation 7 and an Indigenous consultant for the project said there are “continuing discussions” but no agreements yet with Indigenous groups “There’s an opportunity for the communities to be able to tell the story and the history of the Don River according to them the pre-contact story about how the land was used,” he said the reconciliation activities and initiatives that could emerge from a project like this is very exciting.” The project proposes to also complete “the missing links” in the Don Valley Trail network creating an uninterrupted trail from Lake Ontario to the north end of the city Jon Burnside stands at the Flemingdon Park Golf Club land which would be turned into a 40-acre public park under a proposed development that would also see a residential development Jon Burnside said engaging with the developer the community and city staff on the project is among his priorities we have to think of how people who are already there are going to be impacted as well as how it will fit into the surrounding community for the new people that are going to buy these units,” he said “We all recognize that we need to build more housing and with that comes challenges to neighbourhoods But most people would agree that there’s a feeling that we don’t really get much back from these developments … This looks to be a case where the community as well as the city is going to get something very substantial in return.” STORY BEHIND THE STORY: When reporter Andrew Palamarchuk learned about a proposal to transform a North York golf course into 40 acres of public parkland along with a residential development he wanted to find out more details on the plans and how it may impact the neighbourhood 2022: this version clarifies that privately-owned Flemingdon Park Golf Club is open to the general public Toronto police are concerned for the safety of a 15-year-old boy who went missing several weeks ago He is described as about 5’9” tall with a medium build Mustafa was last seen wearing a grey Nike hoody sweater Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5500, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com bilingual journalist with more than a decade of diverse experience A graduate of Ryerson University’s Journalism Program she is a breaking news reporter for toronto.com With nearly 1,800 students from various backgrounds Mark Garneau Collegiate Institute in Flemingdon Park is among Toronto’s biggest high schools So when it comes to ensuring every student can have universal access to a wholesome breakfast and lunch it’s a task that’s no small feat The home base for the school’s culinary arts and hospitality programs is in an expansive kitchen and teaching space on the first floor prep tables and all the cooking utensils one would need dozens of students can be found in the kitchen throughout the day He’s fresh off a provincial Skills Ontario competition where he finished second after preparing a three-course Italian dinner “It’s like something where me and my mom kind of bonded over cooking,” he said Ali said they’ve made Pakistani and Chinese cuisine he can cook for marks and learn more about the culinary industry Ali said baking is one area he has honed his cooking abilities some of the lessons extend beyond the walls It doesn’t matter from which culture you’re from If you can make food and other people obviously enjoy food people can get along and get together,” Ali said The culinary arts and hospitality program is in the middle of a massive project Students are creating a cookbook using tried-and-true recipes from homes across Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park “You have people from pretty much everywhere Buddhist … so having a chance for everyone’s recipes and stuff to come together I feel like it’s something special,” he shared Ben MacPherson is a professional chef-turned-teacher He teaches culinary skills and green industries courses in the rooftop greenhouse MacPherson is one of the faculty members helping with the cookbook “It increases their engagement as well They feel like they kind of have a say in what’s going on,” he said The collective mission for many in the program is to help feed hungry students from food-insecure households The students use fresh produce to ensure the dishes are well-balanced participants also help fill catering orders for social events in the school MacPherson said students have landed part-time jobs in bakeries and restaurant kitchens in and beyond Flemingdon Park “A student had recently kind of reached out … it was a message of gratitude,” he said noting they enrolled in George Brown College’s culinary program “They weren’t quite sure … if they could be doing what they’re doing right now if they didn’t get that guidance in high school.” Ali hopes students will keep enrolling in the hospitality program “It’s something where if you put the time to it or you have people to be with it’s something everyone can learn.” Students and staff are trying to raise donations to help fund and distribute the cookbook as well as kitchen equipment so the program can expand to assist the community further “I think if you talk to any hospitality teacher and we’re all strapped and we’re running on shoestring budgets So we’re fortunate to have the community involvement and support that we have,” MacPherson said adding they’ve even received donated food products from certain nearby businesses For anyone who wants to help, click here for more information A woman suffered serious injuries following what police believe is a targeted shooting in Flemingdon Park Police say they responded to reports of shots being fired at a townhome complex on Vendome Place in the area of Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East around 3:30 p.m Police discovered a female in her 40s suffering from gunshot wounds to the leg Paramedics transported her to a trauma centre in serious but non-life threatening condition Police say their preliminary investigation revealed a total of three suspects approached the townhome in a white sedan Two of the suspects got out and opened fire before they all fled in the vehicle along Grenoble Drive Police believe this was a targeted shooting but that the female victim was an innocent bystander but with the Ontario Science Centre closed residents say no one will feel the impacts more than those living right around this community staple A local resident still shocked to hear the news said she came to the area to take one last walk around the building “So close to my heart and now it’s very very sad to see this go,” the resident said The Ontario Science Centre first opened in 1969 near Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East It would have been 55 years old in September The landmark was the world’s first interactive science centre and was located right in the heart of Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park which are the two densely populated neighbourhoods now directly hit by this loss “There’s a lot of STEM programming, a lot of recreational programming that happens,” said Karma Lhamo, manager of community development and special projects at The Neighbourhood Organization “As an underserved community of Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park this is going to have a huge impact on us.” Provincial officials decided to immediately close the Ontario Science Centre after citing an engineering report that found the roof is at risk of collapsing “This makes no sense,” said Sameer Sayed, a local resident and a supporter of the advocacy group Save Ontario Science Centre “The only example I can think of is Canada’s Wonderland What you do is you basically isolate that area and fix it If there was a report saying some roof panels required some repairs Advocates have been fighting to keep the Ontario Science Centre in its original location since Premier Doug Ford announced in 2023 it would be moved to Ontario Place during the revitalization of the waterfront area It’s a move that prompted accessibility concerns I know that for many kids in the neighbourhood this is the only place they can afford to go to,” said Sayed “Right now they can just walk across the street and just get to the programming but that’s going to be a huge challenge for them,” added Lhamo Local politicians who visited the now-blocked-off attraction on Saturday said they are still taken aback by the sudden decision “It’s also an architectural gem that has been celebrated over and over again,” said Toronto deputy mayor Ausma Malik “It’s not just Torontonians’ eyes that are on this the eyes from people across the globe are on this really important and precious site.” Mayor Olivia Chow said the City of Toronto will explore options to keep some programs running “We’ll see what we can do to provide any kind of space for [the Ontario Science Centre] at least for the exhibits to continue,” said Chow residents are wondering where they can turn to next “It won’t just affect this generation it will affect generations to come,” said Sayed Chow said she will support a motion coming to next week’s city council meeting that explores the province’s responsibilities related to the Ontario Science Centre a community rally in support of the Ontario Science Centre will be held on Sunday at 12 p.m A man is recovering after being shot in North York's Flemingdon Park neighbourhood Monday night.The incident happened at Don Mills Road and Gateway Boulevard at 8:38 p.m A man is recovering after he was allegedly shot in North York’s Flemingdon Park neighbourhood Monday night the incident happened at Don Mills Road and Gateway Boulevard at 8:38 p.m suffered a gunshot wound and was taken to hospital in non-life-threatening condition Police are asking anyone with dash or surveillance camera footage to come forward. People with information can call 54 Division at 416-808-5400 four-storey rental apartment buildings containing a total of 128 two-bedroom units Location of site on the south side of Rochefort Drive What is proposed for the site is a three-tower predominantly residential redevelopment that would rise to 30 and 46 storeys and have a total of 1,322 residential units including the replacement of all 128 existing rental units and the construction of 1,194 new ones. The arrangement of building heights would provide a transition up from existing low-rise housing to the site's east The total gross floor area of the site would be 97,485m² 7-11 Rochefort Drive by Diamond Schmitt Architects for Damis Properties A key element of the proposed development is the developer's objective of replacing its existing 128 rental apartment units with new efficiently designed units with modern appliances and energy efficient mechanical systems Such units would also have access to a much wider range of new amenities New replacement units would be provided within the 30-storey building The other two towers would be comprised solely of condo units.  11.4% of non-replacement units are proposed as three-bedroom layouts the majority of which are proposed within the podium levels Every unit is designed with a balcony or terrace Residents of all three buildings would have use of 2,644m² of indoor amenity area and 3,365m² of outdoor amenity area and a ground level space overlooking a new 0.213-hectare public park at the east end of the property Top down look at the roof level of the development Additional elements of the proposed development include a 199m² café and eating establishment at the corner of Rochefort and Don Mills as well as a publicly accessible private open space (‘POPS’) featuring pedestrian and bicycle trails.  Top down look at the base of the new development A combined total of 802 parking spaces are proposed underground including 132 visitor spaces and 670 resident spaces This would be accompanied by 1,191 long term and 133 short term bicycle parking spaces The site is located one block to the south of Eglinton Avenue East and within 300 metres of the soon to be completed Science Centre Station on Crosstown LRT It is also located about that distance to the north of the future Flemingdon Park station on the proposed Ontario Line Several bus routes also currently service the area Proximity of the site to new transit infrastructure You can learn more from our Database file for the project linked below 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’s new data research service, UrbanToronto Pro, offers comprehensive information on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal right through to completion stages. In addition, our subscription newsletter, New Development Insider drops in your mailbox daily to help you track projects through the planning process Flemingdon Park is an area that might be best known for being the locale of our beloved Ontario Science Centre: maker of childhood memories and host of school buses galore since 1969 Other than the domed roof of the Science Centre's IMAX theatre there are few other places in Flemingdon Park that The Ontario Science Centre is Flemingdon Park's most frequented destination In fact, the neighbourhood has historically been viewed as a place to avoid, largely in part to the fact that Flemingdon Park is a predominantly residential area, but also partly due to the neighbourhood's slow-tapering reputation for gun violence and gang activity Residents are already facing rent hikes in response to the upcoming completion of the Eglinton LRT Today, Flemingdon Park is mostly an epicenter for construction, and as with all communities located anywhere near the upcoming Eglinton LRT The Flemingdon Park Shopping Centre is a main hub for residents Drive along this stretch of Don Mills and you'll find an area rife with giant developments like the 60-acre Wynford Green and ensuing battles against rising rents residents of the highly diverse community remain the face of Flemingdon Park Seton Park connects to other parks running along the Don River Bordered by the DVP to the east and a branch of the Don River to the west, with Eglinton to north and ending just south of Gateway Boulevard, Flemingdon Park is surprisingly lush. The area behind the Ontario Centre, E.T. Seton Park Part of a chain of parks along the Don River biking trails here lead south from Sunnybrook Park and on any given summer day you'll find people making use of the frisbee golf nets scattered around the area The Seton Park Archery Range is free to visit and open all year The best-kept secret however is Seton Park Archery Range Accessed through a series of hidden trails it's forbidden to park in the close-by Ontario Science Centre employee parking lot located behind the centre If arriving by car, your best bet is using the Overlea Parking Lot a 10-minute walk away (I highly recommend following the instructions on the range's web site) A series of pathways make up the covered outdoor plaza of the Flemingdon Park shopping centre After a quick nature jaunt (or a private archery lesson maybe) you can take an eight-minute walk back to civilization east across Don Mills to Flemingdon Park Shopping Centre Sunny Foodmart carries a wide array of ethnically-diverse products The busiest spot here is undoubtedly Sunny Foodmart the local grocery chain with ethnically-diverse products You won't find many other grocery stores with signs in Arabic directing you to aisles of Filipino snacks and Indian spices There's a popular halal butcher counter at Sunny Foodmart There's also an outstanding butcher section for halal meats to supply the large South Asian and Muslim communities here and in neighbouring Thorncliffe Park. Pioneer Deli is an Eastern European grocery store Serving the large community of Eastern Europeans in the same plaza is also Pioneer Deli a grocery store that's been around for years The meat counter at Pioneer offers a wide array of sausages and cold cuts and Romanian (among other nationalities) cuisine The store offers snacks like the Hungarian curd treat Túró Rudi and for those not too familiar with Eastern European food it's easy to get caught up with the huge number of international treats available like Túró Rudi  — popular Hungarian chocolate-coated curd snacks — in the fridge The sheltered outdoor pathways of Flemingdon Park Shopping Centre are also peppered with a number of restaurants for quick food fixes Mulan Chinese Cuisine is a spot for quick Cantonese takeout The longtime oldschool restaurant Mulan Chinese Cuisine is still an essential spot for speedy and affordable takeout with Cantonese favourites like fried chicken wings or sweet and sour chicken Caribbean Palms has daily specials on dishes like curry chicken and fried chicken with fries Shaheen Tikka and Kabab House is a clean spot with halal Lahori-style breakfasts, while the 15-year old Guyanese-run Caribbean Palms offers jerk chicken specials and $5 fried chicken specials with fried rice Kabul Restaurant and Bakery has two storefronts with a bakery in the back selling cookies and jams The two-storefront affair Kabul Restaurant and Bakery might look like separate entities but signage indicates they're one in the same The bakery section right across from Sunny is a tiny space with a small counter selling cookies for $8.99 a pound and shelves selling Mazafati dates Kabul's restaurant storefront has kebabs and shawarmas with a charming interior  with an entrance accessible at the front of the plaza Decked out with a wall of fake greenery and hanging vines it's a surprisingly charming space with a counter selling Afghani kebabs and shawarma Bolani is traditional Afghani flatbread stuffed with a variety of fillings which is traditional flatbread stuffed with ingredients like leeks or spinach and served with a side of yogurt sauce for a quick bite Flemingdon Park is a family area — a neighbourhood where new Canadians come to foster roots in the city Though it may have a reputation that precedes it the parks and small shops which make up this area leave a greater impression Toronto police Chief Mark Saunders and Angela James join a ceremonial face-off to help launch the 2015-2016 ProAction Hockey League season at Angela James Arena The rink has reached the Top 10 finalists in Kraft’s Hockeyville contest An arena in Flemingdon Park is in the running for a $100,000 Kraft Hockeyville prize - which is not only the lone Toronto Top 10 finalist this year but marks the first time a city rink has ever made it this far in the competition’s decade long history beat out a record-breaking 3,192 submissions this year to make it to the Top 10 which operates out of the Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue area arena “I freaked out when I found out (the arena made the Top 10).” and the women’s change room has outgrown its current size “It’s not in the greatest condition right now,” he said “One hundred thousand dollars would go a long way.” the rink will automatically receive $25,000 which would go towards things like a water fountain and a television screen with information in different languages for the largely immigrant community but the grand prize is needed to really make much-needed improvements “We really want to upgrade the arena,” Yunus said who was dubbed the ‘Wayne Gretzky of women’s hockey’ and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010 the arena also offers public skating and is the training ground for Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute hockey players and several other nearby leagues are hoping to gather enough online votes in the East region to make it to the Top 2 to guarantee the $100,000 grand prize The two communities that receive the most votes in each of the East and West regions will each receive $100,000 and will move on to the Top 2 final round of voting will be awarded an NHL pre-season game hosted in their community “We’re really trying to get the word out,” Yunus said of voting Yunus noted many Flemingdon families have never heard of ice hockey in their home countries yet they’ve embraced Canada’s unofficial sport immigration has meant that many of these youth have never been given the opportunity to play ice hockey themselves the raw passion the community have for the sport would never let you believe that this is the case Hockey has formed a crucial element in the lives of these first-generation Canadians as they discover their identity within the ever-changing Canadian demographic...as a priority neighbourhood within Toronto the arena provides a safe space for youth within the community to stay active within the winter The opportunity to host a pre-season NHL game will increase interest in the sport Many of the youth in this community may never have the opportunity to attend an NHL game so bringing the NHL to them will let them see their favourite players up close for the first time and will increase their love of the sport.” said one of the program’s goals is to protect the future of hockey in Canada “Community builds hockey and hockey builds community,” she said “It’s exciting to see the passion and commitment We received three times the amount of applications than we did last year We encourage everyone to vote as often as possible.” To vote visit KHV2016.ca A man was seriously injured following a shooting in Flemingdon Park just off Don Mills Road near the Ontario Science Centre around 7:30 p.m police located evidence of gunfire outside the building that houses a public library and licensed day care centre along with a victim who was transported to a trauma centre in serious condition Police say the suspect arrived in an older model Honda Civic and fled eastbound on St Police add there are a number of security cameras in the area which should give them a better idea of who they are looking for and what actually happened “Because the victim is currently being treated in hospital we haven’t been able to speak with him yet so we haven’t been able to learn what happened from his perspective,” said Insp “But we do know from witnesses that were here that he appears to have run towards the library to evade the shots that were being fired at him.” scattered among two existing rental buildings on the property.  Looking northeast over existing and proposed towers in the Flemingdon Park area and surroundings image courtesy of Osmington Gerofsky Development Corp WJ currently owns and maintains the two rental buildings that are currently on the property; 7 St Dennis Drive which is 17-storeys tall and houses 278 units and 10 Grenoble Drive which also stands 17-storeys arranged in a Tower-in-the-Park style on the site with copious landscaped areas and surface parking around them would remain in situ while the four new buildings would be built on the under-utilized parts of the property Four towers could join two rental buildings on the site 10 Grenoble's towers, designed by architects—Alliance, would offer a total of 2,197 new units to the area.  Looking towards proposed public space at 10 Grenoble the proposal includes significantly upgraded outdoor spaces including a new public park The new public park would separate the existing property into two distinct sites and more addresses other than "10 Grenoble" would be employed across the properties Outdoor spaces are designed by The MBTW Group.  the new buildings would offer multiple pedestrian mid-block connections and pathways featuring wide walkways landscaped with colourful plantings.  Street level of new buildings at 10 Grenoble will be located on the west side of Don Mills Road and just to the southwest of this site.  Flemingdon Park Station on the Ontario Line Several other densification proposals nearby have also been triggered by the comping rapid transit stations. You can locate them with pins place on the UrbanToronto Map UrbanToronto will continue to follow updates for this development you can learn more from our Database file for the project UrbanToronto’s new data research service, UrbanToronto Pro, offers comprehensive information on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal right through to completion stages. In addition, our subscription newsletter, New Development Insider Toronto police are investigating a drive-by shooting that happened Friday July 10 in North York’s Flemingdon Park Toronto police are investigating a drive-by shooting that happened late this afternoon in North York’s Flemingdon Park area police said they received reports of multiple gun shots being heard near Don Mill Road and Eglinton Avenue East investigators said they located a vehicle with “numerous bullet holes” they also said they found numerous shell casings and “multiple crime scenes” SHOOTING: (UPDATE)Don Mills Rd & Eglinton Ave E- police o/s- heavy police presence in the area- investigators advised there are multiple crime scenes- COMMAND POST: set up at Rochefort Dr & Foresters Ln- any info please call 4168082222/8085400/222TIPS#GO1279010^al A command post has now been set up at the corner of Rochefort Drive and Foresters Lane Police have very little information about the suspected shooter and the vehicle he was reportedly seen driving The suspect is only described as a Black male who was last seen driving a black SUV eastbound on Rochefort Drive There are no reports of injuries or any victims at this point There is a heavy police presence in the Don Mills and Eglinton area People are advised to use caution in the area Anyone with information should contact police at 416-808-2222 or 416-808-5400, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com Toronto police are investigating a shooting in the Flemingdon Park area that sent one person to hospital and resulted in nearby schools being placed in hold and secures Police say they were called to the West Don River Trail and Gateway Boulevard area just before 1 p.m was located and taken to hospital in serious but stable condition Nearby Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute was placed in a hold and secure as a precaution but police say the shooting did not take place at the school Two other nearby schools were also placed in hold and secures as a precaution All of the hold and secures have now been lifted police said they were looking for three suspects who fled westbound Flemingdon Park has traditionally served as a landing spot for many new Canadians seeking affordable housing in the city but this could soon change with redevelopment changing the neighbourhood All communities located along the upcoming Eglinton LRT line are facing big changes, but the 60-acre Wynford Green project may be the biggest Two high-rise luxury condos, a dozen condos, hundreds of townhomes, retail shops and multi-use centre and a redefined subway station And in November, city council approved a plan for two more towers none of which seem to fall under the Flemingdon definition of affordable There does seem to also be a 27-storey, mixed-use building in the works that will include rental units along with some retail But that may be cold comfort to those who stand to lose more than they'd be gaining the tall condo towers seem to be casting a long shadow creating a possibly dark future for the residents who have always called the area home Ameer Shash has lived his whole life in the subsidized housing at Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East with his family 20-year-old Ameer Sash has lived in Flemingdon Park his entire life is the only community I've ever known," he told blogTO The 20-year-old York environmental justice student feels uncertain about the future as his family's building is one in the area not protected under heritage status "When construction shifts toward our low-income block in the next few years "What will happen to us? Does the city even care about us? By the fact that our TCHC complexes are not protected under heritage status Without heritage status to protect his home as well as many others could be driven out of the community should the buildings be sold to private developers Shash also wonders what all of the changes will mean for the deep history and diversity of the area, including Flemingdon Park a natural corridor that is surrounded on all sides by social housing and acts as the community hub of the area "The corridor is where people come to interact with each other and play cricket stuff like that; it's the cradle of the community," Shash says "But when you strip away those social housing projects that space is rendered useless because it's meant for those people that live there."  who got into his studies with aspirations to better his community and other communities hopes for the best for the young people who have found a strong support system in the area "Many students in the area come from troubled families and circumstances," he says "I hope at least there will there be enough time to allow these youth to remain in the area and maybe make something of themselves."  Flemingdon Park resident Firdous Nabizada died after being stabbed during an Oct a 19-year-old man who died after being stabbed during a Halloween party in the Annex A community memorial for Firdous Nabizada, a 19-year-old man who died after being stabbed during a Halloween party in the Annex, will be held on Thursday, Nov. 14 in Flemingdon Park Organized by members of the Flemingdon and Thorncliffe neighbourhoods the gathering — titled ‘A Night to Remember Firdous Nabizada’ — will run from 5 to 7 p.m The memorial will be held beside the Paradise Playground who grew up in the Flemingdon Park area and recently graduated from Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute but had called Canada home since 2013 and was a citizen Nabizada was well-known in the Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park communities, as he had played on a number of local soccer leagues. On Saturday, Nov. 2, the Canadian Afghan Sports Association posted a tribute video for Nabizada on its Facebook page In the days following Nabizada’s death a GoFundMe page was set up to raise funds to build wells in Afghanistan in his name The now-closed campaign collected just under $8,000 is facing a second-degree murder charge in Nabizada’s death Toronto police want to speak to anyone who attended the Oct 31 party or anyone who had any video footage or photos from that area Call 416-808-2222 or Crime Stoppers at 416-222-8477 if you have any information Would you like to read more stories from Beaches and East York? Click here to get you update to date on news in the community Metrolinx has shared new images of the next major bridge coming to Toronto planned as part of the Ontario Line subway that will bring 15 new stations along a 15.6-kilometre subway line running between Exhibition Place and the Ontario Science Centre The transit agency released new renderings on Friday showing off the new bridge that will carry the subway route over the scenic valley New renderings! Check out a glimpse of the future Don Valley Crossing bridge. Travelling north from Cosburn Station, Ontario Line trains will emerge from underground via a tunnel portal onto the new bridge which will carry them across the valley. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/eX2L5HelwH Metrolinx states that trains travelling north from Cosburn Station will emerge from the eastern embankment of the Don Valley using a tunnel portal at Minton Place, located south of the existing Leaside Bridge, and travel over the bridge to an elevated guideway running through the Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood. A second bridge known as the West Don Crossing will carry the subway line across the valley and over the E.T. Seton Park area, connecting the Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park guideways and stations. Only three sets of support piers are planned for the new crossing, made possible through the use of an advanced construction method known as balanced cantilever segmental construction. This will allow for a maximum span of 137 between bridge piers, and reduce impacts on the Don Valley during construction. Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page developed many of the high-rise apartments in the master-planned North York community that rose over the east and west branches of the Don River in the 1960s and early ’70s Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience Levy is replacing one of those buildings – a 55-year-old apartment block at 25 St a firm that takes its name from Salomon’s initials “is paving the way for what is going to be an incredible revitalization of Flemingdon Park,” Levy says which was a very luxurious apartment neighbourhood back in the ’60s and ’70s.” Metro Park more than doubles its predecessor in height with 552 suites spread over two towers and two blocks of three-storey townhomes designed by North York’s Kirkor Architects two- and three-bedroom configurations range from 485 to more than 1,500 square feet the suites will feature smooth 8.5-foot ceilings in all principal rooms and programmable thermostats with on-demand heating and cooling Kitchens and bathrooms will sport designer cabinetry ceramic tile backsplashes and frameless glass shower enclosures As DBS gears up to launch public sales in early February this year Levy says he expects “a lot of interest from people who are excited about the option of living in a brand-new building in the neighbourhood where they grew up as well as from young professionals and young families who are looking for great value.” Levy believes the neighbourhood is “underappreciated despite all the new infrastructure going in.” For starters the glass-panelled Science Centre Station at Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road Connecting to both the Eglinton Crosstown and Ontario Line rapid transit routes that are slated to open in late 2022 and 2030 the transit hub will yield an “incredibly high-value proposition for Metro Park purchasers,” says RARE Real Estate’s Yair Rabinovich DBS is building a new playground-equipped public park designed by the landscape architects at Strybos Barron King that will be transferred to the City of Toronto upon the project’s scheduled completion in 2025 Overlooking the park and offering unobstructed views of Toronto’s downtown skyline a wraparound amenity terrace on the seventh floor of the main tower will be home to plush lounge seating fitness facility and co-working lounge will round out the 25,000 square feet of amenities DBS — which is also at work on the 2Fifteen luxury rental project in Forest Hill — “looks for ways to build efficiently and durably (while) investing in high-quality materials,” according to Levy A short walk north of Metro Park, the Aga Khan Museum, celebrating Islamic and Persian art and culture, is an architectural gem from Pritzker Prize winner Fumihiko Maki. 77 Wynford Dr. Just south of Lawrence Avenue, the CF Shops at Don Mills is home to 70-plus retail outlets totalling over half a million square feet of fashion, food and more. 1090 Don Mills Rd. Snaking through the ravines and green spaces lining its namesake river, the East Don Parkland provides a prime venue for strolling, cycling, jogging, disc golf and other outdoorsy pursuits. 1240 Sheppard Ave. E. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account The toughest hazard facing golf enthusiast Paul Hottmann this year is not being permitted to play Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Don't have an account? Create Account COVID-19 rules have proven to be much harsher than hitting the ball into the water We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentAt 93 years old he would rather take his chances on the 50-acre Flemingdon Park Golf Club than spend his time “sitting in a chair” in a lonely apartment “Golf keeps me young and healthy,” said the veteran of the Second World War It was painful to see him with a driver at the first tee while unable to swing as he has done for almost 60 years at this Toronto course which was created in the early 1960s on the old farm of former 1800s mayor Robert John Fleming It was thrilling to finally go there after hearing my Newstalk 1010 pals It’s a real family affair where they have pictures on the wall of Mayor John Tory Team Canada world juniors winning-goal shooter Akil Thomas and others including late NHL legend Bob Nevin and Canadian actor Art Hindle Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Your Midday Sun will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. It’s a course for the Average Joe who can play the nine-hole beauty twice for a reasonable price and enjoy a homemade muffin and coffee in the original clubhouse that looks like it’s from the movie Caddyshack. When it comes to mental health, this place offers the best therapy possible. The only thing anybody is likely to catch is a dose of much-needed positivity. “This is as much a social club as it is a public golf club,” said co-owner Vito Schiavone. “We believe in everybody having a good time and being part of our family.” Of course, under this provincial stay-at-home order, nobody is golfing or having any fun. Yet, travel a kilometre in any direction of the legendary gem tucked next to the Don Valley Pkwy. and Eglinton Ave., and you’ll find plenty of businesses with lineups. How garden centres are allowed to be open while golf courses remain closed is a mystery. “Golf has always been a spread out, socially-distanced game anyway,” said Vito. “It’s perfect for people to get lots of exercise and sunshine while being safely distanced.” But like schools, pubs, theatres, and small retailers, Premier Doug Ford‘s “doctatorship” government won’t budge. It means tough times for Vito and his family members who earn their living here. Everybody is a pro, greenskeeper, cook and grass cutter. Everybody pitches in. All hands on deck, all the time. “Our bills and taxes are the same, but our revenue is zero,” said Vito. “There were 20 million rounds of golf played in Ontario during the pandemic last year and there was not one case of coronavirus, but our industry has been closed down as if there were outbreaks.” Still, there was that beautiful course Monday sitting dormant while so many other businesses around the area find ways around the silly game. “People forget that we are a seasonal business that relies on good weather,” said Vito. “We have already proven that we can operate safely under pandemic rules while helping people with their exercise and morale.” This bogey should be charged to our leaders and doctors. Instead of scoring a hole-in-one, the province has erected the worst course impediment ever. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Toronto police are investigating after a man was found dead in the backseat of a vehicle in Flemingdon Park Residents of the building had become suspicious of a black two-door sedan which had been parked in the rear parking lot since Oct they found a deceased man in the back seat a black long-sleeve shirt and a green jacket with brown fur around the collar There have been no further details released Investigators are looking to speak to anyone who interacted with Noori after Oct 19 or anyone with information surrounding his death The Toronto Police Service is requesting the public’s assistance with a suspicious death investigation A loaded Glock pistol and a quantity of fentanyl were reportedly seized during a series of July 1 search warrants in the Flemingdon Park area A 31-year-old Toronto man is facing nine gun- and drug-related charges following a series of July 1 raids in Flemingdon Park Toronto police executed search warrants near the Don Valley Parkway and St they arrested a man who allegedly had a loaded Glock pistol containing nine rounds of .40 calibre ammunition concealed in his waistband Investigators also allege at an address where children reside officers located an over-capacity magazine loaded with 29 rounds of .40 calibre ammunition They also reportedly recovered 243 grams of fentanyl Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5500, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.222tips.com Below you'll find more information about the 15 Ontario Line stations, as well as the other new infrastructure projects required for the Ontario Line. KING-BATHURST STATION: This station will be located in the heart of Toronto's Fashion District. QUEEN-SPADINA STATION: This station will make it easier to enjoy Queen West and popular spots like Graffiti Alley. OSGOODE STATION: An expanded Osgoode station will link the Ontario Line directly to Line 1. QUEEN STATION: An expanded queen station will be a vital transfer point with the existing Line 1. MOSS PARK STATION: An estimated 7,300 people will use Moss Park Station during the busiest travel hour. CORKTOWN STATION: This station will be only minutes away from the popular Distillery District. EAST HARBOUR STATION: Will be a new transit hub for Ontario Line and GO services. RIVERSIDE-LESLIEVILLE STATION: The station is located in one of the city’s most distinct spots for one-of-a-kind shopping. GERRARD STATION: An estimated 3,300 people are expected to use Gerrard Station during the busiest travel hour. PAPE STATION: This station will make it easier to get to and from the Greektown neighbourhood. COSBURN STATION: This station will help bring more customers to and from Pape Village and East York. THORNCLIFFE PARK STATION AND MAINTENANCE & STORAGE FACILITY: This station will bring much-needed rapid transit to this community. FLEMINGDON PARK STATION: This station will help meet the significant demand for transit in the neighbourhood. DON VALLEY STATION: This station will connect to the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and local bus services. TRAINS AND TECHNOLOGY: The Ontario Line will use modern technology adopted by subway systems around the world. LOWER DON BRIDGE AND DON YARD PORTAL: Trains will emerge from the Don Yard portal and continue east on a new bridge across the Don River. LAKESHORE EAST JOINT CORRIDOR: Where the Ontario Line will run alongside GO services through Riverside and Leslieville GERRARD TUNNEL PORTAL: The Ontario Line will move from above-ground tracks to tunnels north of Gerrard Station. PAPE SOUTH: The Ontario Line will be underground once it reaches Pape Avenue and Riverdale Avenue. DON VALLEY CROSSINGS: New bridges will carry the Ontario Line across the Don Valley in the north segment. Community noticesInformation about planned and ongoing work in your neighbourhood. Click hereRelated ProjectsYonge North Subway ExtensionExtending the TTC’s Line 1 service north from Finch Station to Vaughan Extending Line 2 subway service 7.8 km farther into the heart of Scarborough Extending the Eglinton Crosstown LRT 9.2 km farther west into Etobicoke and Mississauga A midtown connection between east and west Toronto with 25 stations along a dedicated route Improvements are underway along the Lakeshore West Line to support more frequent Toronto police have asked for the public’s help finding missing 14-year-old boy Mustafa Rafiqzad Toronto police are asking for the public's help finding a missing 14-year-old boy last seen in the city's Flemingdon Park neighbourhood Toronto police are asking for the public’s help finding a missing 14-year-old boy last seen in the city’s Flemingdon Park neighbourhood Mustafa Rafiqzad was last seen in the area of Don Mills Road and St He is described by police as 5’6” with a thin build He was last seen wearing a grey Nike track suit and blue Nike Air Jordan shoes Police shared his photo and asked for help finding him Tuesday Investigators are concerned for his safety and asking anyone with information about his location to contact them at 416-808-5550. Anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers at 222tips.com or 416-222-TIPS (8477)