rdaner
Senior Member
The building that was used by the Jehovah’s Witness Church is looking empty. Taken 6 April.
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- Thread starter sungs
- Start date
christiesplits
Senior Member
Via Gord Perks' newsletter, there's an upcoming open house for the West Toronto Junction Heritage Conservation District study.
SubHuman
Active Member
Jun 2021 Google street view
The building with the now unusual sight of angled parking in front of it, is apparently being turned into a medical building, going by the signs.
rdaner
Senior Member
Extensive renovation to bring more retail/housing along Dundas West north of Bloor. Btw I think that it may be time to separate this stretch Dundas from The Junction as it is becoming a distinct neighbourhood centred around Dundas West/Bloor GO station. Ideas?!
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AlbertC
Superstar
The area is also known as West Bend.
I remember seeing the application details for that building. I believe it's for some kind of Healthcare facility though.
I remember seeing the application details for that building. I believe it's for some kind of Healthcare facility though.
Towered
Superstar
Gelato place replacing Famous Last Words.
AlbertC
Superstar
They risk missing the boat if they can't open before the end of summer, or even late September.
Towered
Superstar
Indeed. While I'm all for more gelato and ice cream places opening, how do they make money during the 8 months of the year where the weather is not hot or nice??? There's no demand during that lengthy period...
AlbertC
Superstar
If they can pivot to selling winter treats and drinks like hot chocolate then they may have a chance. But it would get increasingly tough the later they open if they can't get into the market when the weather is still decent.
bedoozled
New Member
You laugh, but Ruru Baked (albeit they already had a frothing customer base) opened in December 2021 and had lines out the door for months. However, as a Junction resident I can't see anyone lining up for this - on their website it says it'll be a café too, which would be a game changer for the neighbourhood. Being able to get coffee after 5pm is quite difficult - thank goodness for Doc's and sometimes Noctua is open later for espresso needs.
Towered
Superstar
I wish our puritan burg would pivot to a European model where it's normal to go and have coffee at a cozy cafe late in the evening.
Northern Light
Superstar
I don't think its a particularly puritan thing, LOL
General traditions aside.........Toronto and most other North American cities don't have a huge culture of post-dinner noshing out. There's the bar/club scene on a weekend........but much less of a get out be social
culture post 8pm etc.
There are a variety of reasons for this...........but its not as simple as plunking down a resto/cafe that serves espresso after 8pm.
1) Part of the dining out culture in the south of Europe in particular (Spain, Italy etc.) is a relative lack of air conditioning..... this is how you get a culture of working early (from 7/8am) then taking a siesta.... (a mid-day nap from noon-4pm) then going back to work til 7/8pm, then dinner out...... then staying out post-dinner until your place cools down.....and you hit the hay after midnight.
Air conditioning is more widespread here, and siestas don't exist............. and that's not changing.
2) The Viennese coffee culture is a bit different, Austria is not a siesta place or an all-night place.........generally. But they do love their coffee and their beer, not as much a wine place.
In Austria, the post-dinner coffee or beer is very much a cultural tradition.........but you also see less of many of things we might take for granted here by way of entertainment options.
3) Small apartments are a huge driver in both cases of people going out to meet friends/family. When the average apartment is under 550ft2, and when fridges are often 1/2 sized by our standards, its more of a challenge to entertain at home.
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There are things we can do which will create more of a dining out culture, they won't take it to European levels for reasons noted above.
1) Money is part of the issue, the cost of dining out, meal or snack, is comparatively high here, and disposible income is relatively low. Remember how many Vienna residents living in non-profit/gov't housing (a majority).
That leaves more money for going out.
Here, more affordable housing, a higher minimum wage and lowering certain resto costs (particularly booze) by giving restaurants true wholesale prices (at least 40% below retail), and by reducing excessive excise taxes on beer and spirits.
The latter would benefit places that do good trade in coffee as well, presuming they also sell alcohol.
2) I would highlight three other things............ the physical size of restos (tend to be too large here), the extensiveness of menus (large inventory and complex cooking processes drive down profit) simple menus and restos right-sized to their average volume night, not their busiest night keeps rents down. Finally, portion sizes........in food and in pop, coffee etc. Europe is able to offer comparatively lower prices, in part, because the portion sizes are smaller.
3) Work/Life balance. More paid time off, and shorter work weeks and commutes are key. You need free time to go be social People having worked an 8.5 hour day, after an hour long commute in the AM, then another after work....are often quite done once they hit the couch. Get that down to a 8 hour day and 35m commute, and people are more open to heading back out for some people time.
Northern Light
Superstar
Ok, I need to borrow someone from the area........a 311 request is required, but it can't be me, this time.
As I was walking south on Keele just south of the driveway for 301, I spotted a problem with stone retaining wall. (photo taken today, August 25th, 2025)
The lean of the stone which is very heavy is substantial, while its solid'ish for the moment, it won't be for all that long. If that fell over on any part of someone it would break bone. I also imagine kids walking across the top of this, because kids will do that sort of thing, if the stone gave at such a moment, the result could be very tragic, including throwing them into traffic.
The open crack on the top, behind the leading edge will fill with water later in the fall winter, will then freeze solid and push the stone out, if it lasts that long. But a patch job is not appropriate here. The stone needs to be craned out and re-set or replaced.
I didn't take enough time to be sure, but it looks to me as though there may be some undermining of the lower course of stone as well.
As I was walking south on Keele just south of the driveway for 301, I spotted a problem with stone retaining wall. (photo taken today, August 25th, 2025)
The lean of the stone which is very heavy is substantial, while its solid'ish for the moment, it won't be for all that long. If that fell over on any part of someone it would break bone. I also imagine kids walking across the top of this, because kids will do that sort of thing, if the stone gave at such a moment, the result could be very tragic, including throwing them into traffic.
The open crack on the top, behind the leading edge will fill with water later in the fall winter, will then freeze solid and push the stone out, if it lasts that long. But a patch job is not appropriate here. The stone needs to be craned out and re-set or replaced.
I didn't take enough time to be sure, but it looks to me as though there may be some undermining of the lower course of stone as well.
Northern Light
Superstar
AlbertC
Superstar
Yes, I can contact 311 for this today.