City Place group marks first year by inviting new members

By Steve Kee –

Steve Kee

It takes years for a community to take shape—but one group of local residents hopes they can effectively steer and speed up this process.

While the year-old City Place Residents’ Association (CPRA) may not be well-known right now, the members intend to be a driving force for initiatives in the community for the future.

Bordered by Front St. to the north, Bathurst St. to the west, York St. to the east and Lakeshore to the south, the association has an ambitious agenda and is quickly taking action to make meaningful change in the community.

The biggest challenge, according to association president Dean Maher, is getting the word out to all the buildings in the area. “We have had success in finding residents who want to participate in our association from many of the buildings,” said Maher. “But we want to represent all residents, including owners and renters, and just getting the word out is a challenge.”

The goals of this association are to be a voice and advocate for residents of the City Place community, to foster an environment where residents feel connected to the community, to become a forum to engage residents and raise awareness on community activities, issues or concerns, and to work with elected city politicians on issues that impact the City Place community. Members are all volunteers: they discovered their common interests as neighbours and also with the help of some of the management teams at the various condominiums in the area.

As part of community efforts, the CPRA organized a community meeting with Metrolinx, where officials updated residents on construction and transit plans for the future. Also, the association is in regular contact with Adam Vaughan’s office and has met with him to discuss community issues. “We have great support from [his office],” added Maher. “They see us as an important, and future link, to the community and help us address area issues.”

Plans are to set up a meeting with the mayor’s office in the fall to discuss City Place’s importance within the Downtown core and make suggestions on how to make life for residents, visitors and business better in the area. As the community expands and buildings are completed, the voters’ list will expand substantially. “We have a chance to be a real voice and liaison between this growing community and city hall,” Maher added. “They will see our area as an important voting block in future elections.”

But the community has suffered some growing pains and keeping ahead of all the issues of a young community can be a full time job. CPRA members have advised the city on everything from traffic patterns to safety issues, security and even removal of graffiti in Canoe Landing Park and under the Spadina walking path west of the Rogers Centre.

“We recommended everything from adding crosswalks along the south side of Spadina Ave. connecting Bremner and Fort York to the placement of garbage containers,” added Maher. “This is a work in progress and we will continue to look for any, and all ways, to build on the area.”

Some of the items on the CPRA’s wish list include discussions over the creation of a dog park near Canoe Landing Park and potentially bringing in a farmer’s market to the area on weekends. “A community is a meeting place for people and anything we can do to increase interaction with the residents is welcome,” added Maher.

CPRA membership is open to all residents—renters or owners—living within its boundaries. Any resident can present ideas and volunteer. To learn more about the association, its mandate and members, visit www.cityplaceresidentsassociation.com.

The CPRA will be offering a special Blue Jays night promotion in August. Check the web site for details and a special code for discounts.