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PNLT SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHES A COMMUNITY CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION
On October 28th 2015, the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust celebrated its first Annual Members Meeting.
Bonar-Parkdale Presbyterian played host to more than 120 members and supporters, with all three levels of government represented in the audience. “The turnout was amazing, we did not expect such a full house,” enthused PNLT chair Judy Josefowicz. “It’s so gratifying to see so many people, interested and committed and engaged.”
Local MPP Cheri DiNovo made a short speech to get the ball rolling, and was joined by Diane Sigouin-Daniel of the Ontario Trillium Foundation—a provincial agency which recently awarded the trust with $210,600 over three years to support a staff and program costs. Next up, PNLT Development Coordinator Joshua Barndt presented a short “PNLT 101” for curious audience members. He also outlined the financial pressures facing Parkdale today, and outlined some of the ways in which a community land trust (CLT) can help to combat gentrification. “This is a smarter way to invest in communities,” Barndt explained at the meeting. “With a community land trust, Government investments in community assets stay in a community, ensuring long-term affordability and social impact.”
One of the most dramatic moments was a vote to approve the trust’s proposed bylaws, an important step for any non-profit (picture above). “It’s baby steps, having had this meeting and passing the bylaws we can now make the case to be a charitable entity, which means we can now receive gifts of land and money,” explained Willis as the ballots were being tallied. There was never any question of needing a recount: the trust’s new bylaws were unanimously approved by a colourful show of voting cards. As the last major item of the night’s agenda, 12 community members competed for ten positions on the CLT’s Board of Directors. Each delivered an impassioned speech on the merits of their candidacy, and we’d like to congratulate Vijaya Laxmi Agrawal, Ric Amis, Dick Bacchus, Tish Carnat, Kalsang Dolma, Lesli Gaynor, Claire-Helene Heese-Boutin, Zachary Michael Lathrop, (Rev. Dr.) Jason Thomas McKinney and Meegan Scott on their election.
With these impressive and diverse residents taking a leadership role PNLT has become a truly community controlled organization. With over 250 registered members, bylaws in place and committees on track, 2016 is shaping up to be a trailblazing year for the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust!
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PARKDALE COMMUNITY PLANNING UPDATE
Parkdale Community Forum
by Kalsang Dolma - PNLT Board member
Feb 27, 2016 - On a warm, sunny winter Saturday, the auditorium in Parkdale library was packed with over 100 community and organization members in attendance for the Parkdale Community Forum, organized by the Parkdale Community Economic Development Project. This participatory planning and community visioning was carried out with multiple stakeholders over a year and was unveiled in the form of a draft planning study report.
As the report was shared with the public, some questions arose in my mind, chief among which was, “what kind of actions will follow these issues?” With Parkdale growing increasingly desirable for homeowners, developers and investors, it is getting harder and harder for the economically disadvantaged to access affordable housing within the neighbourhood. How can the existing community of residents and organizations do all the wonderful work envisioned in the planning study to help promote community shared wealth, and equitable development?
After breaking for some juicy Tibetan momos and chit chat with familiar faces, it was back to business. Working group discussions were held on seven key areas of opportunity. I chose “Community Financing”. Our table had a spirited discussion on how to finance our initiatives and resolve pertinent issues. So much to do in so little time! Passion and skillful debating were certainly not lacking, as each group presented their discussion points. My skepticism subsided as it became clear that each of the seven areas intertwined with all the rest, and success in one area ensured victory in the others.
Read more...
Learn more about the PCED Report here.
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Goodbye, Good Catch!
In the past few months, PNLT has been working hard to produce a series of videos on neighbourhood change in Parkdale. Each clip will tell the story of a different community project, local business or housing issue from the perspectives of the amazing people involved. One of these videos profiled Jola Sobolak's Good Catch General Store, a unique and community-oriented venture at 1556 Queen West. Customers and neighbours agree that this was a special business that contributed greatly to the vitality of Parkdale.
Offering an eclectic mix of local products, instruments sold on consignment, healthy foods, toys and so much more, the Good Catch broke all the rules in all the right ways. Most importantly, it helped those living on a tight budget to buy the goods they needed on credit, using a one-of-a-kind tab system. Just this week we were sad to find out the Good Catch will be closing. As Jola explained via Facebook: "After 10 years of building it up, I hesitate to announce that we've got 10 days to pull it apart. Rent is in arrears and Good Catch has been asked to vacate its premises by April 1st."
So with a heavy heart we are releasing this video just too late. This is a pressing reminder that with rising rents and costs, all those local businesses we love need more support now than ever.
A grand wake for the Good Catch will be held on March 31st, so come out and show your support!
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DISPLACEMENT IN PARKDALE
GENTRIFICATION, RESISTANCE AND CHANGE
On Monday September 21st , 2015, nearly a hundred community members gathered at Toronto’s Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre (PARC) to discuss gentrification-driven displacement in Parkdale. As part of the event former tenants from 1521 Queen, now Roncey Hotel, spoke about their tragic experience being evicted with 7 days notice after a developer (BSAR) bought the building. Click here to read Sula Sidnell-Greene's report-back for Shameless!
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WHY ARE WE NOT INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE?
THE PROBLEM WITH THE 2016 CITY BUDGET
By Rick Eagan - PNLT Board member
On Wednesday, February 17, Toronto City Council approved the 2016 City Budget.
Several Councillors (including Ward 14 Councillor Gord Perks) moved motions to increase the residential property tax recommended by the Budget Committee and Executive Committee. At the end of the day, the property tax increase remained at 1.3% for residential homes.
A 1.3% inflationary increase to property tax will barely maintain current service levels. On the actual day of the vote, inflation was actually 1.6% according to Statistics Canada. That rate is calculated using a Canada-wide average of prices for a standard set of goods (food, clothes, transportation, housing, phone, etc.). This means that if it cost you $100 to buy a shopping basket of these standard goods in 2015, that same basket would cost approximately $102 today. If you were low income and the only thing you were buying is food, your cost would be $105 in 2016, as food costs have increased an average of 5%. If you were feeding a family of 4 on $100/week, over a year you would need to spend $260 dollars more to provide the same amount of food.
Read more...
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