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St Clair West

RR dug up

I was going along St. Clair West this morning going from Runnymede Road towards Cobalt Avenue. I noticed yellow caution tape on the south side where the railway crosses St. Clair. The tracks had been dug up!

Are they removing ALL the tracks that had serviced the industries in that area? (Is the RR right-of-way available for a LRV right-of-way?) Or are they just doing maintenance? Can anyone find out?
 
Those tracks once served a variety of industries, but in recent years only served the large Bunge factory at Keele and St. Clair. Since the factory closed this year, the tracks are no longer needed, so they're gone for good.

I also wonder what they'll do with the land. Perhaps there will be a pedestrian path of some sort. I hope that this time the tracks will be removed from the roadway. The area had rail connections to almost every factory. They're gone now, but at every road crossing, the tracks were never removed and continue to slow down cars and bicycles to this very day.
 
Buck Mulligan said:
This seems to be an inactive thread, but I wanted to comment on the Earlscourt Lad's amazing picture of Dufferin and St.Clair. It's hard to believe that that building has been a CIBC branch for nearly a hundred years. The exterior hasn't changed much, except for the addition of a wheelchair ramp. And those bow windows above the neighbouring stores are still there, if memory serves. A little further to the right, though, there's a large, windowless building, almost like an armoury. No idea what that is, unless it's the elementary school the Lad mentioned in his post. I used to work out at the fitness centre that now occupies most of the site, but that must be part of a much later structure.

Interestingly, if you look closely at St. Clair itself, I think you can just make out the surveyor's markings for the 'new' streetcar right of way...
Click to expand...

An identical theatre was at Queen & Roncesvalles. Now home to an antique store I believe. The elementary school is farther east on St. Clair, past St. Clare's church. The fruit market on Northcliffe is just visible and is also essentially unchanged.
 
I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to hear some opinions on this neighborhood today. I'm considering moving to the St. Clair W/Bathurst area and would appreciate hearing pros/cons.
 
Not sure about the cons, but the the pros are: close proximity to transit - the 512 car, St. Clair West Station, the frequent bus to Bathurst Station; Loblaws Forest Hill Market is close by; lots of small shops west of Bathurst, including a great little green grocer near the corner and Dutch Dreams ice cream parlour (!!); and close to Forest Hill Village and Yonge & St. Clair :)
 
St. Clair Ave. W.: New life for an old strip

St. Clair Ave. W.: New life for an old strip


March 6, 2010

Paula Kulig

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Read More: http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/realestate/article/774651--st-clair-ave-w-new-life-for-an-old-strip

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When Larry Blankenstein talks about St. Clair Ave. W., he sounds like a father watching his child get on a bike for the first time: The ride is a little wobbly initially, with a fall here and a scraped knee there, but progress is steady and the open road beckons. For Blankenstein, the tired, old strip of St. Clair west of Bathurst St. is ripe for growth and opportunity. As it turns out, his development company is both a driver of that growth and, along with the community, a beneficiary.

"We're in the middle of a transition for this whole neighbourhood and I think the neighbourhood will reap the benefits," says Blankenstein, president of Lash Development Corp., which, along with The Goldman Group, is building two highrise condominium towers at the northwest corner of St. Clair and Bathurst.

"People are very happy that we're developing it and they hope that more developers will come in, because it's changing the whole face of the neighbourhood."

Another thing that has changed the face of the neighbourhood is the new St. Clair streetcar right-of-way, which Blankenstein says is a major reason why the developers chose to locate the condos where they did. But he acknowledges that not everyone has embraced the line, in part because the lengthy project created upheaval in the community.

"There have been a lot of growing pains because it took longer than expected. But I think it will be the way of the future," he says, noting that new restaurants and stores have been popping up along the strip.

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junctionist said:
I also wonder what they'll do with the land. Perhaps there will be a pedestrian path of some sort. I hope that this time the tracks will be removed from the roadway. The area had rail connections to almost every factory. They're gone now, but at every road crossing, the tracks were never removed and continue to slow down cars and bicycles to this very day.
Click to expand...

Are you referring to the land at the NW corner of Keele/St. Clair?

http://www.trinity-group.com/?q=node/432
 
Hello - anyone know more about how the Avenues Study will continue to be implemented in the St. Clair W (of Bathurst) area?
I've moved into the area and am hopeful to see some new development. Everything seems to be very slow. Lots of closed and shuttered shops (kind of depressing). Am hopeful the next 2-5 years brings some of these changes!
 
I don't know exactly how, but I assume the facade revitalization will continue, and hopefuly they will get going on the bump-outs on north-side streets and increasing patio and open space.
 
khrt said:
Hello - anyone know more about how the Avenues Study will continue to be implemented in the St. Clair W (of Bathurst) area?
I've moved into the area and am hopeful to see some new development. Everything seems to be very slow. Lots of closed and shuttered shops (kind of depressing). Am hopeful the next 2-5 years brings some of these changes!
Click to expand...

This is part of the Hillcrest Village BIA. I suggest you ask them, facade improvement is run through the local BIA.

www.hillcrestvillage-bia.com

An area along St. Clair Avenue from Christie Street west to Winona Drive where shoppers can enjoy a wide range of services, with clothing stores galore, beauty salons, travel agencies, quality restaurants and fast food outlets. It is perhaps most recognized for the interesting selection of restaurants and live music venues which have opened in the last few years, providing tastes and sounds for every appetite. Established in 1983, Hillcrest Village is comprised of more than 100 businesses along St Clair Ave West, between Christie and Winona.
 
Front Parking Pad

Anyone in the St. Clair area recently try to get a permit to install a front parking pad?
wondering if it's worth trying, getting a bit tired of haggling over the street spots, and with winter coming...

thanks

(and on that topic, are there specialist firms who do the drawings you need for the city building permit?)
 
khrt said:
Anyone in the St. Clair area recently try to get a permit to install a front parking pad?
wondering if it's worth trying, getting a bit tired of haggling over the street spots, and with winter coming...

thanks

(and on that topic, are there specialist firms who do the drawings you need for the city building permit?)
Click to expand...

Depends on the street and where you are in general. In my area east of Oakwood and south of St Clair there seems to be very little front-pad parking. North and west it becomes more common, particularly west of Dufferin. If you don't have lane or mutual drive parking you might have a shot. Anyone else have front-pad on your street? Then you may get lucky.
 
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