Eglinton W condo parking lot plan

Toronto Parking Authority may sell site to developer
Plan could include new 9-storey condo and underground lot
China House restaurant on Eglinton W could be lost in mix
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Jan. 31)

China House restaurant may have to move if new parking lot/development project is approved. Town Crier file photo.

The Toronto Parking Authority is set to make a major development deal near Bathurst and Eglinton and a popular Chinese food restaurant may be lost in the mix.
The city-owned parking authority plans to sell 935 Eglinton Ave. West, which is home to a 43-space surface lot that’s been around for over 50 years. Developer BSAR Eglinton wants to buy the site from the parking authority and build a condo, retail space and a new parking lot.
BSAR already entered into a conditional agreement with N. Kwinter Holdings and Harryetta Holdings to buy an adjacent site at 925 Eglinton Ave. West that’s home to China House restaurant, according to city documents.
The developer wants to consolidate the two sites and purpose a nine-storey condo with main floor retail and an underground parking lot, according to the report presented at a government management committee meeting on Jan. 31.
Councillor Joe Mihevc said there’s been no formal development application yet.

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Fixing illegal parking in North Toronto

Many illegal front yard parking pads in old York
Councillor Moscoe tackles issue head on with pilot project
Kris Scheuer
(Written Aug. 20 for Town Crier.)

A North Toronto councillor are cracking down on homeowners with illegal front yard parking pads, even if it means losing votes in the upcoming municipal election.
Within just a few blocks of each other in ward 15, there are at least least 100 illegal front yard parking pads mixed in with 95 legal spots in Ward 15.
Local councillor Howard Moscoe has been hearing complaints for years about illegal parking pads.
“A lot of people in my ward resent the fact they have to pay for a legal pad and are paying an annual fee around $100,” Moscoe said. “And their neighbours, who have illegal pads, don’t pay.

Vacant shops on Yonge strip

Businesses find it hard to survive in Midtown
High rents, aggressive parking enforcement, few shoppers
(Written for Town Crier April 27/09)

Town Crier and Vaughan Today colleagues at the OCNA awards. Kris Scheuer in the centre with glasses, dark hair and black dress.

I wrote this story a year ago, but tonight, it was up for the Best Business & Finance Story category at the Ontario Community Newspaper Association awards ceremony. I didn’t win. I came third out of the 67 or 68 entries in that category. But it was a fun night with some Town Crier colleagues and a chance to catch up with my two favourite Humber College journalism professors Terri Arnott and Carey French.

Now here’s the story I wrote…

Clifford Wong closed his Yonge Street clothing store Basique Attitude. He was not the only struggling shop.Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

By Kris Scheuer
By the time you read this Clifford Wong will have closed up his Yonge St. clothing shop Basique Attitude.
He’s not alone. A visit on Yonge between Eglinton and Lawrence Aves. on April 22 reveals about dozen vacant shops along this busy North Toronto strip.
“I’ve been here 16 months. It’s hard to survive,” says Wong just days before his shop was to close for good on April 25. “I love this area, but it’s very difficult to survive.”
He’s had three stores in Richmond Hill for 15 years, but says it costs $7,000 monthly for commercial rent and property taxes in Toronto for his store at 2581 Yonge St. He also mentions street parking enforcement that acts as a deterrent for shoppers.
“People are scared to park here,” he says.
The Uptown Yonge Business Improvement Area’s members have noticed the same problems.

Bloor West Village bike lane study

Survey shows shoppers & businesses support bike lanes
Study indicates even if parking removed, support is strong
Some local businesses not a fan of losing parking
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier March 19)

Study floats idea of bike lanes on Bloor West. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

A controversial new survey of businesses and shoppers in Toronto’s Bloor West Village shows a willingness to sacrifice street parking to make room for bike lanes or expanded sidewalks.
The study, undertaken by bike lane supporters the Clean Air Partnership, indicates the majority of the 510 visitors surveyed either walk or take transit to shop in the busy commercial hub on Bloor Street West, between Kennedy Avenue and Jane Street. In total 47 percent of shoppers in the area walk to their destination while 24 percent said they take transit, 21 percent drive and five percent cycle.

Polling for patios and parking

Councillor Sandra Bussin wants the list used for polling updated.

Neighbours decide when new patios and parking pads approved
But political reps say polling lists are outdated and flawed
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Nov. 18 for Town Crier.)

Want front yard parking or a patio for your café?
Better hope your neighbours like you, because they’re the ones who vote to approve your application to the city.
But the city’s outdated poll lists mean some ballots are sent to homes of tenants and homeowners who may no longer live in the neighbourhood.
And, if too few ballots are returned you’re out of luck.
Unless you throw yourself at the mercy of community council and appeal, that is.
That’s just what the owners of Il Gelatiere Artigianale at 647A Mount Pleasant Rd. did at Toronto and East York Community Council
Nov. 10.
The owners’ lawyer, Marc Kemerer, said his client’s story highlights the problems that come from an archaic municipal polling system.
“The polling is meant to strike a balance between commercial interests and residents, but it’s fraught with some problems,” says Kemerer, with White, Duncan and Linton.
“It goes to people who don’t live there anymore.”