Public meeting for 41 Wabash condo

Addison Plumbing, 41 Wabash Avenue

Well-known to locals and film art directors as Addison Plumbing, the property at 41 Wabash Avenue directly across the street from the Sorauren Fieldhouse and abutting Charles G. Williams Park is being redeveloped.

Toronto City Planning is holding a public meeting February 21 to seek feedback on a zoning amendment application for the current proposal.

Date:    February 21, 2019
Time:    6:30 to 8:30 PM
Place:    Gymnasium, St Vincent De Paul School, 116 Fermanagh Avenue

The application proposes to amend the Zoning By-law to a permit a four-storey rear addition to the existing three-storey warehouse building, which would be renovated and converted. The proposal includes a total of 16 residential units. The property was sold following the death of Addison Inc.’s owner Jim Addison in 2017.

You can view a copy of the City Planning Preliminary Report providing background information at: https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2019/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-124051.pdf

If you are unable to attend the meeting, please forward your comments to Kirk Hatcher, City Planner, Kirk.Hatcher@toronto.ca and/or Councillor Gord Perks, councillor_perks@toronto.ca

Next SPark LAB Youth Council meeting Feb. 20

SParkLab_Feb20

The next meeting of the Sorauren Park Youth Leadership Advisory Board — SParkLAB — is Wednesday, February 20 at 7 pm, Sorauren Park Fieldhouse.

All youth ages 14-18 are invited to attend. SParkLAB is just getting going and there are lots of opportunities to help shape future youth programs and projects, and give youth a say in the development of the new Wabash Community Centre. Plus, get volunteer hours… and free pizza.

Family Day Fun at Sorauren Farmers Market

The Sorauren Farmers Market is always extra-special when it falls on a holiday Monday, and that’s the certainly the case this coming Family Day, February 18.

Drop by the Market indoors at the Sorauren Fieldhouse for fun family activities in addition to shopping from great local farmers and vendors.

The Market runs every Monday from 3 – 7 pm at the Fieldhouse, 50 Wabash Avenue.

UPDATE: Come early at from 2 – 4 pm to enjoy the Family Day Skate at the Sorauren Rink, hosted by MPP Bhutila Karpoche. Free hot chocolate!

Have your say Jan. 31 on the Community Centre

Interior rending showing new gym on basement level. View is west towards main entrance off Wabash Avenue on left. From 2009 Wabash Green Feasibility Study (concept study).

The Friends of Sorauren Park are holding a consultation January 31, 2019 on the plans for the Wabash Community Centre. This is the first step in our efforts to aggregate community input and formulate a summary report to submit to the City of Toronto later this year.

Sign up to attend… your responses will help us greatly to plan the event. If you signed up earlier, no need to do it again… we’ll be in touch.

The all-volunteer, non-profit Friends of Sorauren Park, incorporated as the Wabash Building Society, has advocated for the enjoyment and completion of Sorauren Park since 2006. Among our accomplishments: Fieldhouse (2008), Town Square (2014), Bake Oven (2017) and festivals, outdoor movies and the natural ice rink, among other free programs.

The consultation will take place at the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse starting at 7 pm, January 31. Sign up today!

The Friends are undertaking this community-driven public consultation process to parallel efforts of the City of Toronto. The community effort will be meaningful, organized, transparent and respectful. The resulting findings and recommendations will be presented to the broader community and the City.

That was fun: Celebrity Shinny photo album

 

The West End Phoenix squad
Sorauren Hosers All-Stars
Opening face-off
Staring down the attack
All eyes on the puck
Half-time scrape
Bench strength
All-Stars attack
The set-up
Puck duel
Oh no you don’t
Fridge

Nobody kept score after the first half-dozen goals or so, but everybody was counting the smiles before, during and after the first-ever (first annual?) “Celebrity Shinny” match at the Sorauren Rink Feb. 2. The mighty red team from The West End Phoenix stared down the home-town Sorauren Hosers All-Stars sporting their blue tops.

The all-ages game went two hours in perfect conditions (just before the thaw that has closed the rink until further notice).

Staff and friends from publisher Dave Bidini’s local independent newspaper were fended off by Hosers including Arif Virani, MP Parkdale-High Park, and ringer Emily in goal. Volunteer Hosers who build and maintain the rink, led by Joël Campbell, chair of Friends of Sorauren Park, demonstrated the speediness, poise and puck-handling for which they are, uh, renowned.

Officials kept trash talk to a minimum and there were no penalty minutes.

Snacks by Scott Mifflin and main photography by Susan Peschken, thanks both!

The two non-profits depend on community support to serve residents. Subscribe for home delivery of the monthly West End Phoenix, devoted to telling the stories of our diverse, compelling and quickly evolving west-end neighbourhoods including Roncy, Parkdale, Brockton, High Park and beyond. Friends of Sorauren Park relies on volunteers and supporters to promote the enjoyment and completion of Sorauren Park.

The rink should open again as soon as the weather improves with a return to below-zero temperatures. Watch for updates on SoraurenPark social media.

Celebrity Shinny Feb. 2, cheer for your side

Poster for the shinny game showing players on the ice at Sorauren Park natural ice rink

Game on! Cheer for your side in the First Annual Sorauren Park “Celebrity Shinny Match” this Saturday, February 2 starting at 1 pm.

Two neighbourhood institutions will take on each other, as The West End Phoenix takes on the Sorauren Hosers All-Stars.

The all-volunteer Hosers have done an incredible job this week, clearing up after the storm and fighting the polar vortex (and frozen hoses) to keep the rinks flooded.

Drop by the info booth to learn what’s happening at the park and The West End Phoenix newspaper, and how you can get involved in park life and consultations for the new Wabash Community Centre. Pick up some cool WEP and Sorauren Park merch.

Note there are two skating pads at the rink, so public skating will be available at all times during shinny.

PS: Forecast calls for an almost tropical -2 deg C, just enough to keep the rink — but not spirits — frozen.