Vive le West Toronto CI by TIM FORAN Inside Toronto
French public board to buy high school for $21.5 million
A west end high school closed since last summer will likely be sold to the French public school board for more than $20 million, if trustees at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) give the go ahead to the sale at their next board meeting.
TDSB staff are recommending the board declare the 38-year-old West Toronto Collegiate Institute and the 8.5-acre property it sits on surplus for sale. The Brockton-area school, located on Landsdowne Avenue just north of College Street, closed in August after years of declining enrolment.
According to provincial regulation, the TDSB's French counterpart, the Conseil Scolaire Viamonde, has first right to buy the property for fair market value and it has stated its intention to do so. A third-party to the two school boards has assessed the value of the school site at $21.4 million, according to a memo from the Toronto Lands Corporation, the TDSB's realty arm.
Following the sale, the TDSB intends to lease back a large chunk of the third floor of the high school to use for continuing education programs, a proposal for which the French board has expressed support, according to a staff report. Adult ESL programs will run weekdays and other community programs, yet to be determined, will be offered to seniors two days a week and to the community one evening a week. The continuing education space will be dedicated to the TDSB and there will be a designated entrance to ensure safety and security of the French school's students.
The use of West Toronto for continuing education programs is intended to be a short term solution however. TDSB staff are recommending the board explore the creation of a long-term location as part of its redevelopment of its schools at Bloor Street and Dufferin Avenue. The TDSB owns three schools in that area - Kent Senior Public School, Bloor Collegiate Institute, and the former Brockton High School and Stadium - though the board has already approved the closure of Kent. The TDSB intends to generate cash by redeveloping the property, leaving one high school of 1,200 students on the property, perhaps on the site of Brockton H.S.
The French school board has also indicated it will allow the community access in non-school hours to the West Toronto building and playfield through its permit system.
The TDSB staff report is scheduled to go before the board's planning and priorities committee Wednesday, Jan. 26 and to the full board for a final decision February 9. Visit www.tdsb.on.ca for more information.
....
Now my only question: Why didn't we hear about this from either Councillor Ana Bailao or School Trustee Maria Rodrigues? As usual, no notice to residents like me who live right across the street. sigh.
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* Update: Tweet from Ana 10 am Jan27: "@Ward18AnaBailao Sorry to hear of West Toronto Collegiate sale. Significant loss to our area. Space must continue to serve local groups link
My response tweet was to point out that Ana should lease constituency space there, since it has excellent disabled access, is centrally located within the ward, and has community buses and great TTC access from a number of directions. It also has great facilities to hold town halls!
Showing posts with label public space. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public space. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Monday, October 18, 2010
How to Fix An Election
How To Fix Our Elections
TEN IDEAS for next time we try the democratic thing, so that the choice of the majority actually gets elected and we have a level field for all:
*Update: More voices being heard in the major disappointment the media has been in this election: http://oct25.ca/mediamessup
TEN IDEAS for next time we try the democratic thing, so that the choice of the majority actually gets elected and we have a level field for all:
- Ban newspapers from deciding on who they call the front-runners: require that they report on all the candidates at the start of the campaign when registrations close. Short profiles.
- Use a Ranked Ballot system where voters prioritize who they'd like to see elected... 1,2,3, etc. This might avoid 20% deciding who gets elected - the way it is now.
- Ban public polling being released from January 1 to Election Day: candidates may have their own polls, but would be severely financially penalized if they released information.
- Make voting day a statuatory holiday, but make voting mandatory with financial penalties, only exceptions require valid medical waivers. Advance polls would still be available. Would require a 'None of the Above' option for voters to express dissatisfaction.
- Ban political parties from endorsing candidates and close the loophole whereby paid party staffers can work on campaigns as 'free volunteers' and inflate election war chests.
- City should erect 'Election Kiosks' at intersections and in public spaces like parks, libraries and community centres. Require candidates to post 8x10 sign outlining their platform, same size for all. No more waste production than necessary.
- Ban anyone from doing outside work (erecting signs, dispensing litereature, etc.) unless they are over 18 years of age. No more oops! mistakes about flouting election laws.
- City of Toronto Election Website should devote a web page to each of the candidates to upload their platforms and information. Allow 311 or a voicemail service to connect callers to 60 second audio pitch of candidates running in their wards.
- Limit mayoral debates to one a week in each of the city's 44 wards.
- Prohibit a sitting Mayor from publicly endorsing any candidates.
*Update: More voices being heard in the major disappointment the media has been in this election: http://oct25.ca/mediamessup
Sunday, September 26, 2010
PUBLIC ASSETS? PUBLIC SAY !
TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT? School Boards, City, Province Not On the Same Page
We keep hearing this election that our city is in financial trouble... or not.
We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem... or not.
We have assets that the city should sell to get revenue... or not.
It's a confusing situation with extreme ideas being thrown out by desperate candidates wanting to make the news with the latest outrageous statements, at least in the race for mayor.
What it does show is how truth gets distorted by personal persepective and the immediate and short term needs of those who might govern us. No one it seems is taking the longer view and realizing that the status quo in how we are governed needs to change to meet our far future needs.
Take the example of closing schools - like West Toronto, right across from where I live.
We have one taxpayer whose money goes to providing them - buildings, land, maintenance, staffing, etc. Yet who is in control? The Province ultimately, because education is a provincial responsibility. The Province allows for a democratically elected local ward government in the form of School Trustees who make up a board of control. That board is required by law to balance budgets and if it gets out of line, the Province can step in (and has) and does what it wants. Then we have the City, also under the control of the Province with seperate elected Councillors and Mayor. The Province has a lighter touch with city government, but still has the control and can punish or reward cities for meeting their agendas (just look at Transit funding issues).
In the real, physical world we still have the one taxpayer who finances the acquisition of land and infrastructure - like West Toronto. Yet, we have THREE governing bodies with an interest in the decisions that affect that single physical thing.
The Province wants to balance its budget and to get a good return on that thing.
The Scool Board wants to maximize use of schools, balance budgets and that means selling that thing.
The City wants to ensure that there is sufficient community space for increasing population densities and that means trying ti gain control of that thing.
THREE governments with different agendas competing for control of one thing.
... kind of like three hands in the one taxpayer's pocket in a way, isn't it?
Schools are unique. They are geographically and strategically placed in our communities so they are at the core of local neighbourhoods. They are built in such a way that they usually have significant green space surrounding a large, accessible structure that can accomodate large numbers of people. Often they are easily areached by public transit or are in walking distance to large residential areas. They are natural 'Community Hubs' as was the topic of a Social Planning conference that I attended just this past Friday.
Schools are extremely valuable assets that we must not misuse or dispose of without a tremendous amount of forethought - the kind that looks DECADES into the future and not just the next budget.
Despite the complexities of competing government powers and short term demands of budgets, we MUST save our schools for the children and communities of the future. All that is required is political will to change what we need to to make this happen. We owe it to our collective future.... because ...
We keep hearing this election that our city is in financial trouble... or not.
We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem... or not.
We have assets that the city should sell to get revenue... or not.
It's a confusing situation with extreme ideas being thrown out by desperate candidates wanting to make the news with the latest outrageous statements, at least in the race for mayor.
"Here's my great idea... yes it costs... but we'll just sell..(fill in the blank..Toronto Hydro, etc)."
What it does show is how truth gets distorted by personal persepective and the immediate and short term needs of those who might govern us. No one it seems is taking the longer view and realizing that the status quo in how we are governed needs to change to meet our far future needs.
Take the example of closing schools - like West Toronto, right across from where I live.
We have one taxpayer whose money goes to providing them - buildings, land, maintenance, staffing, etc. Yet who is in control? The Province ultimately, because education is a provincial responsibility. The Province allows for a democratically elected local ward government in the form of School Trustees who make up a board of control. That board is required by law to balance budgets and if it gets out of line, the Province can step in (and has) and does what it wants. Then we have the City, also under the control of the Province with seperate elected Councillors and Mayor. The Province has a lighter touch with city government, but still has the control and can punish or reward cities for meeting their agendas (just look at Transit funding issues).
In the real, physical world we still have the one taxpayer who finances the acquisition of land and infrastructure - like West Toronto. Yet, we have THREE governing bodies with an interest in the decisions that affect that single physical thing.
The Province wants to balance its budget and to get a good return on that thing.
The Scool Board wants to maximize use of schools, balance budgets and that means selling that thing.
The City wants to ensure that there is sufficient community space for increasing population densities and that means trying ti gain control of that thing.
THREE governments with different agendas competing for control of one thing.
... kind of like three hands in the one taxpayer's pocket in a way, isn't it?
Schools are unique. They are geographically and strategically placed in our communities so they are at the core of local neighbourhoods. They are built in such a way that they usually have significant green space surrounding a large, accessible structure that can accomodate large numbers of people. Often they are easily areached by public transit or are in walking distance to large residential areas. They are natural 'Community Hubs' as was the topic of a Social Planning conference that I attended just this past Friday.
Schools are extremely valuable assets that we must not misuse or dispose of without a tremendous amount of forethought - the kind that looks DECADES into the future and not just the next budget.
Despite the complexities of competing government powers and short term demands of budgets, we MUST save our schools for the children and communities of the future. All that is required is political will to change what we need to to make this happen. We owe it to our collective future.... because ...
DAVENPORT DESERVES BETTER !
Sunday, March 28, 2010
PUBLIC SPACE VERSUS DEVELOPMENT
MIDTOWN YONGE-EGLINTON SQUARE: PEOPLE OR DEVELOPMENT ?
I support the choice of making the corner square at Yonge-Eglinton a ground level public space for people, but it needs a smart renovation plan to make it friendlier and more attractive to use. We certainly don't need more enclosed and restrictive shopping malls, even if they do promise a rooftop green space. As soon as it is deemed private space at ground level, it can be restricted by private security and thereby such rare and valuable public space is lost forever. (Story: http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/03/28/13387896.html )
Its always nice to see a local grassroots group forming to protect city assets (YES = Yonge Eglinton Square) and remind councillors just who owns this city. This is the way democracy should work, everywhere.
I support the choice of making the corner square at Yonge-Eglinton a ground level public space for people, but it needs a smart renovation plan to make it friendlier and more attractive to use. We certainly don't need more enclosed and restrictive shopping malls, even if they do promise a rooftop green space. As soon as it is deemed private space at ground level, it can be restricted by private security and thereby such rare and valuable public space is lost forever. (Story: http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/03/28/13387896.html )
Its always nice to see a local grassroots group forming to protect city assets (YES = Yonge Eglinton Square) and remind councillors just who owns this city. This is the way democracy should work, everywhere.
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