fourONEsixSTYLE

The journey starts in the Toronto office of Vice, in Parkdale, where Derrick Beckles is doing an impression of God creating woman (read boobs). It’s the intro to Beckles’ piece on Paraguay for the Vice Guide to Travel, out on DVD. Sitting with him is Johnny Knoxville to whom he reveals he’s heading to Nueva Germania to see what still remains of the place that survived briefly as an “Aryan utopia” in the 1800’s and later became a refuge for exiled Nazis after the war. The answer is not much, just a couple bricks left to disintegrate.

With no real story to follow Beckles piece starts falling apart here too. To keep it going he finds some backwoods brothers rumoured to have turned to cannibalism. He asks the geezers a few questions, none of which get to the heart of the dark deed. It’s journalism-lite but Vice seems happy just to prove to us they can look danger in the face and take us along for the ride.

In the guide, which Vice co-founder Suroosh Alvi calls a “60 Minutes meets Jackass” kinda thing, Vice correspondents take us on a tour of 7 not-so-hot tourist destinations like the most radioactive place in the world, Chernobyl’s Red Forest, and then a Pygmy village in the heart of the Congo in search of a dinosaur.

Finding a prehistoric beast or a wild boar with two heads presents a serious challenge and the guys in Vice don’t always get their goal. Maybe that’s why I was most impressed with Suroosh’s own segment in which he hooks up a visit to the largest illegal gun market in the world in Darra, Pakistan, a place where we see kids casually making bullets by hand. The BBC couldn’t gain access to this dangerous place but Surroush walks in, charms the locals, buys a gun and gets his money shot.

While the debate about gentrification in TO continues, many areas are receiving substantial funding to renew derelict sites across the city. The Distillery District was nothing but haunted halls used by film crews a few years back. Now the Brickworks will attempt to model the Distillery’s success but with a more arts and eco-friendly community. Twenty million in funding will help to get the ball rolling on the site beside the DVP.

Yesterday, a new announcement of funding came in the tune of 3 million dollars, this time to restore Wychwood’s TTC repair “barns” into what’ll become known as Artscape’s Green Arts Barns, offering a safe-haven to not-for-profit arts groups like The Storytellers School of Toronto and the Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace as well as environmental groups such as LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) and Citizens’ Environment Watch.

Fortunately for everyone, environmental and arts causes are getting attention. They seem to have become as chic as Brad Pitt in his Gucci glasses pretending to build homes in India. But what about community centres? Are they not the centre of the community? And what about Wabash?

Just off Sorauren, close to Roncesvalles, two abandoned buildings sit on one side of a park just waiting for some love and attention. Years ago they housed a Linseed factory, now they are part of a plan for the future Wabash Community Rec Centre. One plan’s price tag is $13 million and would include a full reno but no pool. For an extra $7 mil the building would be fully-restored along with the addition of a swank new clubhouse and a place for kids to play Marco Polo.

For some reason though, the project has been struggling for funds since day one, even though this area of Toronto desperately needs a place like this. Up until now, residents have been buying a brick at a time to help build Wabash. Just like the Revue Theatre, it was the residents who decided Wabash should be saved, but it would be great to hear that some level of government would step up to support the project or maybe Brad Pitt can come by and lend a hand.

image: Kevin Steele

Parkdale residents and politicos assembled Monday night to debate the question “Where Goes The Neighborhood?” The idea was to tackle the hot topic of gentrification. I’d attended hoping that, somehow, we could all band together to create a vision for the wayward community, but hope was not to be found. With widely respected panelists such as Spacing’s Matthew Blackett and the brain behind 401 Richmond, Margaret Zeidler, I’d hoped we’d do more than establish affordable housing as a priority and bash the former Harris government. Area MPP Cheri DiNovo stood up for comment too, saying she’s asked for 20,000 units of affordable housing to be built in this part of TO. I’m not sure where she intends to put it though, maybe that should have been on the debate agenda instead.

As it stands amongst other Toronto communities, Parkdale currently has a large percentage of renters and, Councilor Gord Perks pointed out, is one of only a few communities that still has legal rooming houses. Perhaps Parkdale is already doing its fair share to support those in the city with lower incomes and it may not have the infrastructure in place to help the resource dependant community. Parkdale is like Kensington was years ago, a place where newcomers to Toronto settle and try to build a future. Many young families are moving in as well, renovating homes and taking pride in their new neighborhood. No one wants any displacement of current residents however, so what it needs is a plan for growth and a way to ensure that rent and property taxes don’t skyrocket.

Businesses in the area are also seeing a shift. There is a much smaller percentage of variety and grocery stores, while home decor and reno stores are gaining popularity. However, commercial vacancy currently sits at 13%, making me think that gentrification isn’t the real problem. I can think of a few new cafes and bars in Parkdale too but nothing too chichi or chic that it’s going to get condo-dwellers buying into the “dream” of living right in the middle of the action. Ultimately it’s the high-rise condos that will anchor Queen Street West, in Parkdale’s neighboring ward just east of the tracks, that frighten Parkdale residents. Though, it could bring more focus westward and Parkdale could begin to see some necessary improvements. Perhaps it’ll start with a few new facades, some new parks, a community centre, then a renovated building or two. There’s so much promise in Parkdale, all that’s needed is a plan and a way to ensure it includes all kinds of people. That’s the only way Parkdale will retain its unique charm and character.

Read what people have to say about it at blogTO, so far there are 19 comments making it one of the top posts of the month.

image: avp17

Four corners streetcar
Originally uploaded by 416style.

In a vain search to see where 416style’s recent TTC strike piece ended up in Google’s search priority list I came across this streetcar pic I’d posted on flickr now heading up Spacing wire’s story of the same subject. I was so pleased. Spacing is a fantastic Toronto-based publication (web + print) that features stories and photographs about public spaces and urban planning. Seems Torontonians care a ton about how our public spaces are used and abused. Want to find out more? Check out Spacing for yourself. You’ll get insight into things such as what a Toronto Flaneur is and does, and how many colours and shapes make up the Toronto subway system.

Every year Doors Open is an event to look forward to, for many it is our only chance to peek into hidden corners of Toronto’s rich cultural and historical background. For no admission fee, except perhaps a little patience, you can wander back in time to see what made places like The Carlu, Liberty Grand or St. Lawrence Hall thrive. New to the list this year is the much talked about Palais Royale, currently undergoing a 2 million dollar renovation. Even though it isn’t fully completed, the public is allowed in (Sunday only) to view the work-in-progress. Also new to the list are the Cadbury Chocolate Factory, the tall ship Empire Sandy and MTV’s new digs at The Masonic Temple. Popular photographer hang-out, the Don Valley Brick Works, will also be open to sightseers with representatives from Evergreen on-hand to show you a bit about the site’s proposed enviro-friendly redevelopment strategy and help you plant a tree. Bring your friends, family and your camera.

Jim Harris rides the C-Train
Originally uploaded by Grant Neufeld.

I’ve been campaigning with the Green Party in the Parkdale High Park riding for a couple weeks now. I’ve been to several All-Candidates meetings and met many business owners who reassured me that the idea of electing a Green candidate is not far off. Many welcome the idea that the Green Party’s policy is both fiscally responsible and environmentally sustainable.

What impresses me, after reading all federal party platforms, is that green leader Jim Harris and the Greens have a clear vision and also have very realistic objectives with which to reach their goals for the future of this country. I didn’t seem to find this with any other party. Sure, the Liberals will throw cash at their “issues” which might help in the short term, and the NDP’s words tell us they believe in the environment while all their actions point in support of dirty dirty industry.

The Liberals have an appaulling record at meeting Kyoto standards - carbon emissions have gone up 24% since 1993 instead of their promised 20% decline; and Harper’s party is starting to remind us of why we hated them in the last election, telling the papers the Conservatives will scrap Kyoto altogether. Even though they say Harper’s a changed man doesn’t mean he won’t set us back 10 years to a time when the lack of certain freedoms and liberties repressed and alienated friends and neighbours.

The Green Party seems to be the only one thinking ahead. They are socially progressive, want to change the way government and tax is structured, do away with corporate campaign donations and give us all a place to live where we can breath freer, fresher air.

On January 23rd, vote Green. Tell Ottawa we are ready for a greener country and a greener government.

If you need more information visit greenparty.ca.

Welcome to the Neighborhood
Originally uploaded by steffiejupe.

Heard a great Parkdale story last night: a guy was giving his wife grocery money in the car and got arrested since the cops thought he was a john. Great neighborhood, if you can contend with crack users at 9 in the morning. Still, some people get upset when neighborhoods go through “gentrification”. What would you rather live in, a community that’s rebuilding or an abandoned one like parts of Detroit with no momentum unless its crime related?

Parkdale’s feeling some pressure now that the lovely little stretch of Toronto called West Queen West is seeing a rivival. Charming galleries and shops line the streets. The Drake and Gladstone Hotel (which opened last night) have tried their best too to make something that the artsy neighborhood would appreciate. But now here comes Starbucks and everyone freaks out. This picture was published in Now and eye magazines this week to further their social commentary about the nasty beast called gentrification.

Sure, there’ll always be those that suffer as things change. People won’t always be happy. But The Stardust Motel, which is now The Drake, did nothing to make this city sparkle, and to be honest I can’t even remember what was on this corner of Dovercourt previously.

On the opposite side of the street there is now a big sign and a very unusual structure which looks like a climbing wall with mirrors, but it’s actually a condo office for Westside Lofts. That should make the neighbors happy, or crazy, depending what side of the tracks they’re on. A recent article in the Toronto Star featured the lofts at 48 Abell, where my boyfriend Craig used to live. Seems these lofts will be torn down since it can’t be brought up to code. So these tenants, who’ve had great rent and some of the best true lofts in the city will now have to find a new place. I do feel for them, but they’ve had a great ride.

It’s a fantastic new location and I couldn’t help put my name “on the list” for the new condo’s marketing campaign, as stupid as their message was. Go to the site for westsidelofts to see it for yourself. Girl and guy line up outside a club, but they’re “not on the list”. “Get yourself on the list” it says. Pretty gay, but condo advertising usually is. I didn’t know much about these condos when I signed up but I heard that plans might be to build two towers, one a low income building “with a mind to the art crowd” the paper says, and one tower with “snappy condominiums [for] hipsters that can afford real estate”. I think I’m out. Towers in this neighborhood are a bad idea and anyone who thinks they can market condos to wanna-be “hipsters” needs to be a bit more dialed in to this neighborhood’s personality.