News

Sidewalk with boarded up former retail stores.

MPAC and derelict high streets

The DPRG has over the last couple of years advocated for animating all the vacant storefronts in the area as we wait for the developers to, well, develop, but as we saw with our pickleball courts, the path to animated high streets is not a smooth one. As soon as a vacant site is activated with any kind of temporary/interim activity, the province’s Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) will reclassify the property from vacant to commercial triggering a much higher tax rate. 

Distressed-looking man in chair surrounded by fans

Hot apartments

Councillor Matlow’s more than a decade long crusade to see a maximum allowable indoor temperature by-law will take effect in Summer 2027. This is a timeline that was moved up by at least two summers from what was originally recommended by City staff. The bylaw would require all rental units to stay below 26ºC, including buildings that currently do not have air conditioning.

Full garbage bags leaning against a sign about volunteers restoring nature.

Avoca stewardship update

For anyone concerned about the Vale of Avoca, there’s no need to wait for the completion of the master plan, important though that is. Last month community volunteers got to work on ecological stewardship of the ravine through a joint project between the Midtown Ravines Group and Toronto Nature Stewards. 

Wooden footbridge over creek with rock walls.

Vale of Avoca – contract awarded

With summer temperatures reaching peak levels, our local Vale of Avoca ravine continues to provide a natural refuge for Deer Park residents doing their best in the heat. Measures leading to rehabilitation of the ravine will soon be entering a more active phase. The City of Toronto has recently awarded a contract for the development of a master plan for the ravine to engineering, architectural and environmental consultancy GHD.

Very tall building surrounded by shorter buildings with city skyline in distance.

135 St. Clair Ave. West update

We have something of an update relative to the pending project at Avenue and St Clair, which is a 50-storey purpose-built luxury rental being developed by Fitzrovia. The Fitzrovia team indicates that they are still working through design and technical details of the 50-storey purpose-built luxury rental project at Avenue Rd. & St. Clair. Scheduling is still largely unknown, but a consultation meeting is possible for August and demolition of the existing site is still scheduled for the fall.

Low red brick building with shops at ground level with taller buildings behind.

Delisle Court redevelopment update

As many of you know, there is a plan to demolish Delisle Court to construct a community/cultural/theatre centre. There are a number of objections to the proposal, including: a building taller than the existing structure; an entrance atrium rising to the height of the eighth floor of the adjacent apartment building at 10 Delisle; a four-storey mechanical penthouse; a rooftop outdoor amenity space overlooking private balconies and terraces; and the absence of street-level retail along the entire Yonge Street frontage, creating an inactive streetscape reminiscent of the Eaton Centre.

Man standing at front of meeting holding microphone in front of many seated adults

AGM Summary

Thanks to all of you who took the time to attend our AGM on June 11, 2026 at Calvin Presbyterian Church. In addition to all the standard AGM topics and highlights of the board’s activities, Councillor Matlow led a town hall.

Stream bed in foreground with path beyond and trees and bridge in distance.

The Vale has a phragmites problem, and it’s growing

One of the most invasive plants currently plaguing southern Ontario is the Phragmites reed (Phragmites australis ssp. australis). It is seen in increasing large swathes alongside many highways. The stalks can be over 5m tall, swaying majestically in the wind. Despite its serene appearance, phragmites are very harmful to local ecosystems, and there are at least two colonies in the Vale of Avoca.

Line drawing of proposed building

Delisle Court Redevelopment

We have recently had our attention drawn to a planned redevelopment of Delisle Court. There has been no public notice visible to the neighbourhood as with many other developments in the area, so we confess surprise.

We then asked the Councillor’s office to organize a virtual meeting for us with a representative from Choice Properties REIT (George Weston Limited is the parent company), the entity which is developing the site to take us through the plans. This happened on Friday May 8, and from our perspective (and that of our neighbours at 10 Delisle), the news is not good.

Rendering of proposed tall building surrounded by lowrise buildings and houses with cluster of tall buildings in background.

1233 Yonge St.

Despite a long list of speakers and a blizzard of letters and submissions objecting, Councillor Dianne Saxe’s motion to refuse the application for this development was defeated.

Only Councillor Matlow supported Saxe’s refusal motion. Councillor Perks, who was thought to support the motion, voted against it while blaming the Province although the application was more than 3 times the density guided by the Province itself.

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